November 15th

Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment to Coldharbour where we met him before we all walked back to Reculver. He saw a good range of species including 4 Lesser Redpoll W, 1 Siskin W, 393 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 13 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Shelduck, 60 Mallard, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Egyptian Geese flying W over the Oyster Farm, 8 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 6 Bearded Tits, 1 Water Rail, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe and 1 male Merlin hunting over the sea. We also saw 120 Carrion Crows, 6 Stonechats, 38 Pied Wagtails, 3 Chiffchaffs, 120 Linnets, 150 Starlings, 11 Fieldfares, 1 Redwing, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Waxwing flying W along the embankment (189th), 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 44 Golden Plovers, 1 male Goldeneye flying in from the E and landing on the sea (190th), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Razorbill W, 16 Mute Swans, 2 Corn Buntings and 15 Sanderling.

Male Goldeneye

Male Goldeneye - Matt Hindle

Stonechat

November 14th

On our walk this morning from Reculver to Coldharbour we saw 3 Pied Wagtails, 360 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 16 Mute Swans, 21 Mallard, 19 Goldfinches, 5 Redshank, 2 Corn Buntings, 52 Carrion Crows, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Turnstone, 2 Marsh Harriers, 6 Grey Partridges, 1 Shelduck, 7 Oystercatchers, 42 Cormorants, 24 Chaffinches W, 9 Meadow Pipits, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Chiffchaff calling from the conifers at the car park and 1 Common Buzzard.

Corn Bunting

November 13th

With a gale force south westerly wind blowing in showers I imagine all the action will have been along the Channel as it certainly wasn't at Reculver. In just over an hour we only saw 4 Great Crested Grebes, 32 Gannets, 30 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Red-throated Diver and 9 Common Scoter.

On a sunny but blustery afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and counted 15 Stock Doves, 1 Jay, 1 Common Buzzard, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Green Woodpecker, 12 Mallard, 18 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Gadwall, 1 Peregrine and 1 Greylag Goose.

November 12th

On an overcast, calm and chilly morning we walked inland at Reculver and then had a look at the sea. We saw 2 Goldfinches, 3 Pied Wagtails, 2 Kestrels, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 23 Coot, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Redshank, 4 Little Grebes, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 3 Goldcrests, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Water Rail and 4 Chaffinches. At Reculver we counted 110 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Gannets, 26 Common Scoter flying E, 1 immature Arctic Skua flying E, 2 Sanderling, 2 adult Little Gulls flying W, 2 Stonechats and 1 Grey Heron.

Adult Herring Gull

Derek Smith was out between 0745 and 1300 and covered the area from Shuart to Plumpudding, Coldharbour and the railway embankment. He recorded 16 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 340 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 female Goosander flying W, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 9 Gannets E, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 37 Lapwings, 160 Sanderling, 72 Redshank, 26 Grey Plovers, 2 Golden Plovers, 36 Dunlin, 21 Curlews, 3 Snipe flying W, 1 Water Rail, 1 Fieldfare W, 7 Redwings W, 800 Starlings W, 32 Skylarks W, 3 Rock Pipits, 4 Stonechats, 75 Chaffinches W, 1 Siskin W, 17 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 9 Goldcrest and 1 Snow Bunting flying over at Coldharbour.

November 11th

Although there was a cold westerly breeze blowing this morning it was a beautiful sunny morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 25 Meadow Pipits, 211 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Skylarks W, 77 Carrion Crows, 51 Mallard, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Oystercatchers, 18 Goldfinches, 11 Dunlin W, 1 Shelduck, 5 Ringed Plovers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 36 Chaffinches W, 23 Turnstone, 1 Little Grebe, 9 Redshank, 1 adult male Peregrine, 1 Kestrel and 2 Red-throated Diver E.

Dave Smith was also out this morning at Shuart, Coldharbour and Plumpudding and recorded 400 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 22 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 35 Stock Doves E, 100 Oystercatchers, 30 Grey Plovers, 30 Ringed Plovers, 20 Curlew, 53 Redshank, 20 Turnstone, 10 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Fieldfares, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Siskin and 1 Corn Bunting.

November 10th

On a calm and sunny morning we walked at Reculver and recorded 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 7 Goldcrests, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 24 Coot, 12 Mallard, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Redshank, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Goldfinches, 90 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Kittiwake E and 1 Sandwich Tern E.

With the forecast saying that the wind would move to the north west and strengthen this afternoon we spent two hours at Reculver where we counted 25 Gannets W, 14 Little Gulls W, 26 Razorbills W, 26 Kittiwakes W, 51 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Curlew and 4 Sandwich Terns W.

November 9th

This morning we managed to dodge the showers as we walked along the seawall to Coldharbour. It was relatively quiet but we did manage to record 125 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 14 Meadow Pipits, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Kestrel, 13 Mallard, 46 Carrion Crows, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Corn Buntings, 3 Redshank, 19 Mute Swans, 4 Oystercatchers, 7 Goldfinches, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Jay.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese

November 8th

It was wet and windy this morning so we spent an hour seawatching at Reculver where we recorded 75 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Little Egrets, 13 Gannets, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull W, 2 Red-throated Divers, 24 Common Scoter, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Turnsone, 1 Sandwich Tern E and a flock of 500 Starlings W.

Whilst we were at Reculver Matt was at Minnis Bay and counted 24 Razorbills, 70 Gannets, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Common Scoter, 4 Starlings, 13 Lesser Redpoll W, 1 Goldcrest, 16 Sanderling, 57 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Red-throated Divers, 4 Sandwich Terns and 2 Mediterranean Gulls.

At midday Mike Longdon found a Snow Bunting at Plumpudding.

November 7th

On another sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. We saw 15 Skylarks, 13 Meadow Pipits, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Stonechats, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 35 Chaffinches, 2 Song Thrushes, 14 Goldfinches, 1 Golden Plover, 21 Blackbirds, 4 Coot, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Little Egret, 4 Mallard, 4 Oystercatchers, 6 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 1 Grey Partridge calling and 3 Lesser Redpoll W.

Matt was also out this morning at 0700 and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. He counted 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests, 1 Jay, 3 Gannets, 8 Rock Pipits, 2 Kingfishers, 13 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Red-throated Divers, 58 Mallard, 9 Ringed Plovers, 14 Sanderling, 9 Curlew, 141 Carrion Crows, 1 Peregrine, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 62 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Corn Buntings, 39 Redshank, 4 Stonechats, 1 Little Egret, 1 Swallow W, 9 Siskins W, 1 Brambling W, 19 Lesser Redpoll W, 18 Grey Plovers, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Bearded Tits, 19 Stock Doves, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Wigeon, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 40 Skylarks, 60 Chaffinches W and 1 Kestrel.

November 6th

On a sunny morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and counted 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Rock Pipits, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Kestrels, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 15 Skylarks W, 23 Mallard, 1 Short-eared Owl being mobbed by Carrion Crows in the Oyster Farm, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 31 Meadow Pipits, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Turnstone, 25 Corn Buntings, 20 Linnets, 46 Carrion Crows, 8 Goldfinches, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Grebe, 14 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Stonechat and 1 Lesser Redpoll.

Reculver Marshes

Dave Smith was also out before us and covered the eastern end of the Marsh. He saw 1 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Ringed Plovers, 6 Redshank, 4 Turnstone, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 male Hen Harrier at the Oyster Farm and then flying S (188th), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Jay, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Dartford Warbler at Chamber's Wall, 2 Goldcrests, 4 Song Thrushes, 2 Redwings, 1 Fieldfare, 40 Lesser Redpolls W and 2 Corn Buntings.

November 5th

The morning began overcast and drizzly with a fresh WNW wind but the sun soon came out although it remained windy. We walked at Reculver and counted 1 adult Mediterranean Gull W, 2 Common Scoter E, 43 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Sandwich Tern E, 8 Chaffinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 24 Coot, 27 Cormorants, 1 Great Crested Grebes, 26 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 3 Little Grebes, 8 Mallard, 5 Mute Swans, 5 Moorhens, 1 Water Rail, 2 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Goldcrest.

Dave Smith spent two and a half hours at the Towers from 0650 and saw 160 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 34 Common Scoter, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Arctic Skuas, 5 Razorbills, 2 Little Gulls W, 13 Kittiwakes W, 9 Mediterranean Gulls W, 8 Red-throated Divers and 2 Little Egrets.

November 4th

We spent two hours at Reculver this morning in the wind and rain and counted 12 Cormorants, 69 Gannets flying E, 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Swallows around the car park, 9 Arctic Terns flying E, 1 Redshank, 4 Common Scoter flying E, 68 Kittiwakes flying E, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Turnstone.

November 3rd

After yesterday's storm today dawned bright and breezy. We walked along the seawall and recorded 3 Pied Wagtails, 88 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 9 Goldfinches, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Gannet, 13 Oystercatchers, 5 Swallows, 11 Corn Buntings, 23 Linnets W, 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 13 Mallard, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Grey Heron, 45 Carrion Crows, 1 Kestrel, 5 Ringed Plovers, 4 Turnstone, 1 Golden Plover, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull at the Wantsum outflow, 100 Herring Gulls, 500 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Grey Plovers, 11 Meadow Pipits and 1 Redshank.

November 2nd

With Storm Ciarán causing mayhem along the south coast and producing some good birds between Thanet and Folkestone, things were much quieter at Reculver this afternoon even though it was still wet and windy. In one hour all we counted was one 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 10 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 20 Cormorants, 1 Sandwich Tern flying W, 1 Turnstone, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Little Egret and 14 Ringed Plovers.

November 1st

As this morning was wet and windy we didn't visit Reculver until after lunch when we recorded 53 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Stonechat, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Razorbill, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Gannets, 1 Little Egret, 6 Goldfinches, 17 Coot, 20 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 10 Gadwall, 3 Wigeon, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Green Sandpiper, 8 Skylarks, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Raven.