April 15th

On a wet and breezy morning we spent an hour at Reculver and saw the following birds flying E: 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 17 Gannets, 10 Common Gulls, 6 Shelduck, 2 Fulmars and 2 Common Scoter flying W.

Matt was also out this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. He counted 2 Stonechats, 3 Wheatears, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 35 Sanderling, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 9 Little Egrets, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Gannets, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Swallow, 15 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck and 2 Greylag Geese.

The sun came out this afternoon so we had a walk at Reculver where we recorded 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Linnets, 2 Green Sandpipers, 8 Tufted Ducks, 4 Mallards, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Moorhens, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Reed Warbler, 4 Coot and 2 Grey Partridges. We also saw 6 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell butterfly.

Peacock feeding on Dandelion

April 14th

This morning Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and we met him at Coldharbour. Between us we saw 5 Shelduck, 2 Grey Herons, 12 Chiffchaffs, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 7 Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps, 3 Reed Warblers (138th), 21 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 20 Sedge Warblers, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Kestrels, 3 Stonechats, 3 Wheatears, 7 Sandwich Terns, 40 Sanderling, 5 Greylag Geese, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Marsh Harrier, 7 Swallows, 16 Teal, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 3 Fulmars, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 23 Turnstone and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull E.

Wheatear

April 13th

After yesterday's stormy weather there was not a lot new in this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. In sunny but cool and windy conditions we saw 8 Skylarks, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 12 Goldfinches, 6 Chiffchaffs, 11 Chaffinches, 6 Mallard, 12 Linnets, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 4 Redshank and 1 Whitethroat.

Male Chaffinch

Chiffchaff

April 12th

We managed to walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and also visit Shuart this morning before the forecast gale force winds and rain arrived. At Chamber's Wall we recorded 7 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Skylarks, 9 Linnets, 18 Chaffinches, 2 Blackcaps, 5 Sedge Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 10 Mallard, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Lapwing, 2 Coot, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Greylag Geese, 3 Redshank, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Swallows W, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Turnstone, 2 Little Egrets, 1 male Ring Ouzel flying along the River Wantsum, 2 Goldfinches and 1 Kestrel.

At Shuart we saw 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Willow Warbler and 2 Common Buzzards.

April 11th

Although it was sunny this morning there was a chilly and blustery westerly wind blowing as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 12 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Pied Wagtail, 9 Goldfinches, 5 Swallows flying W, 28 Linnets flying W, 1 Dunlin, 7 Mallard, 8 Oystercatchers, 2 Stonechats, 8 Ringed Plovers, 93 Turnstone, 3 Sedge Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 2 Redshank and 1 Green Woodpecker.

April 10th

There was persistent rain this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall as far the the Wade crossing. Most birds were keeping their heads down but we did manage to count 7 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Linnets, 6 Goldfinches, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 17 Chaffinches, 2 Swallows, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Whitethroat and 1 male Ring Ouzel.

April 9th

On a beautiful spring morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 7 Skylarks, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Mallard, 13 Linnets, 4 Blackcaps, 7 Goldfinches, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Sedge Warblers, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Swallow W, 2 Ringed Plovers and 1 male Ring Ouzel (137th).

Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0630 and 1100 walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment to Coldharbour and back to Chamber's Wall. He saw 2 Velvet Scoters offshore, 14 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 2 pairs of Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Swallow W, 7 Song Thrushes, 18 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Whitethroats (136th), 5 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 35 Chiffchaffs, 1 singing Firecrest at Chamber's Wall and 1 Goldcrest.

Whitethroat - Derek Smith

It was a warm and sunny afternoon as we walked inland at Reculver and saw 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 4 Mallard, 6 adult Mediterranean Gulls calling loudly, 2 Shelduck, 1 Green Woodpecker and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

April 8th

On a dull morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 10 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Skylarks, 11 Mallard, 4 Linnets and a small overnight arrival of 13 Chiffchaffs at Chamber's Wall car park. We also saw 2 Blackcaps, 10 Chaffinches, 4 Swallows, 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Ringed Plovers, 7 Oystercatchers, 4 Sedge Warblers, 1 Redshank, 1 displaying Lapwing and 1 Firecrest.

Sedge Warbler

April 7th

There were a few more birds about than yesterday as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour on a lovely sunny morning. We counted 9 Skylarks, 10 Goldfinches, 28 Linnets, 7 Chiffchaffs, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Willow Warbler, 10 Mallard, 4 Swallows W, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 13 Oystercatchers, 20 Turnstone, 2 Yellow Wagtails W, 2 Shelduck, 2 Redshank, 3 Sedge Warblers, Little Egret and 1 Blackcap.

Derek Smith found the bird of the morning in the shape of another ALPINE SWIFT feeding for an hour over Uppper Hale Farm. This was the tenth for the recording area.

Alpine Swift - Alex Perry

Alpine Swift - Derek Smith

Alpine Swift - Marc Heath

 At lunchtime a Red Kite flew W at Bishopstone.

This afternoon we had a walk at Reculver and counted 1 Red Kite, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Jay, 6 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 9 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Little Grebe, 8 Tufted Ducks, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Kestrel.

Red Kite

April 6th

After the overnight rain had moved off to the east we walked up to Coldharbour but did not see a great deal. Birds recorded included 4 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Oystercatchers, 1 Kestrel, 12 Linnets, 7 Redshank, 1 male White Wagtail on the beach, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 male Stonechats, 5 Mallard, 8 Ringed Plover, 51 Turnstone, 1 Little Grebe calling, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Curlew, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Chiffchaff calling from the vegetation below the Towers.

Turnstone

April 5th

This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and recorded 22 Linnets, 9 Mallard, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Golden Plover, 14 Oystercatchers, 14 Redshank, 38 Turnstone, 4 singing Sedge Warblers, 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Stonechats, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls E and 1 Swallow W.

Meadow Pipit

This afternoon at Reculver we saw 1 Blackcap, 1 Common Buzzard, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Jay, 4 Shelduck, 9 Tufted Duck, 4 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

April 4th

On another beautiful spring morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 5 Goldfinches, 9 Mallard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Skylarks, 1 Blackcap, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Chaffinches, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Common Buzzard, 9 Linnets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Fieldfare, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull E, 14 Turnstone, 2 Teal and 2 Shelduck.

Dave Smith was also out this morning at 0642 and walked from Shuart to Minnis Bay and Plumpudding. He recorded 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Shelduck, 3 Pintail, 8 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 4 Grey Plovers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 12 Turnstone, 6 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, 2 Mediterranean Gulls E, 1 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Bearded Tits, 3 Sedge Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 13 Redwing, 7 Fieldfare and 2 Greenfinches.

This afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 8 Tufted Duck, 6 Moorhens, 4 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Yellowhammers and 25 Chaffinches.

Great Crested Grebe

 April 3rd

It was a beautiful early spring morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We recorded 4 Little Egrets, 1 Greylag Goose, 22 Linnets, 3 alba Wagtails, 2 Stonechats, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 9 Mallard, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Siskin flying S, 28 Turnstone, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Velvet Scoter, 2 Shelduck, 44 Black-headed Gulls E, 1 Redshank and 1 Common Buzzard.

Singing Stonechat

April 2nd

With a cold and strong northerly wind blowing this morning we spent and hour at Reculver where we counted 1 Fulmar E, 2 immature Kittiwakes E, 31 Gannets E, 8 Pintail E, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull W, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew and 19 Dunlin E.

After this we walked inland at Reculver and visited Shuart and saw 16 Mute Swans, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Coot, 16 Tufted Duck, 2 Yellowhammers, 1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Greylag Geese and 2 Mallard.

Dave Smith was also out and walked along the seawall from Reculver and recorded 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Shelduck, 27 Wigeon, 1 Redshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Fulmar E, 20 Gannets, including an ill bird sitting on the grass and 1 Sedge Warbler.

April 1st

On a soaking wet morning we had two brief walks, one at Reculver and the other at Shuart. We saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 23 Mute Swans, 1 Mistle Thrush, 6 Chiffchaffs, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Goldfinches, 7 Mallard, 20 Chaffinches, 2 Jays, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Canada Goose and 2 Ring-necked Parakeets.