January 3rd

On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 8 Bewick's Swans, 346 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Redshank, 13 Mute Swans, 30 Mallard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 28 Oystercatchers, 90 Carrion Crows, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Little Grebes, 9 Goldfinches, 2 Stonechats, 4 Ringed Plovers, 24 Linnets and 2 Sanderling.

Matt was also out this morning and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and recorded 10 Fieldfares, 6 Stonechats, 26 Corn Buntings, 1 Rock Pipit (94th), 7 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Snipe (95th), 1 Wigeon, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 450 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Shelduck, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Kestrel, 2 Redwings, 6 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Common Buzzard.

Snipe - Matt Hindle

January 2nd

This morning we spent an hour at a very wet Reculver and saw 100 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Razorbill flying W, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull flying W (93rd), 1 Shelduck and 1 Red-throated Diver.

 January 1st

As usual on January 1st we spent the day trying to record as many species as possible in the Reculver Marshes Recording Area. Matt and I started at Reculver in the dark and after an hour's birding we went our separate ways meeting after lunch at Minnis Bay for a seawatch. Our highlights included 1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Firecrests, 8 Bewick's Swans, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Bearded Tits, 2 Barn Owls, 1 Guillemot, 1 Razorbill, 4 Kittiwakes, 1 Wigeon and 1 Great Skua. We ended the day with 85 species recorded.

Derek Smith was also out today and counted 71 species including seven species we didn't see and taking the grand total for the day to 92 species. He walked from Shuart to Brooksend and Plumpudding returning via Coldharbour and the railway embankment. His highlights included Sparrowhawk, 10 Grey Herons, 42 Stock Doves, 8 Little Egrets, Greylag Geese (86th), 40+ Corn Buntings, 2 Marsh Harriers, Greenfinch (87th), 1 Merlin at Brooksend (88th), Chiffchaff, 33 Tufted Duck, Grey Plover (89th), Ringed Plover (90th), Dunlin (91st) ,1 Peregrine, 8 Bewick's Swans and 5 Bar-tailed Godwits flying W (92nd).

December 31st

An hour at Reculver this morning produced 230 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Jays, 1 Redshank, 4 Sanderling, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Grey Plovers, 14 Mute Swans and 8 Bewick's Swans, 6 adults and 2 juveniles.

December 30th

This morning we walked inland from Reculver and recorded 108 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Ravens, 14 Chaffinches, 32 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 22 Coot, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Redwing, 2 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 19 Mute Swans, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Stonechat, 22 Linnets, 8 Bewick's Swans and 2 Pied Wagtails.

December 29th

The wind had dropped significantly this morning as we walked out onto the Marsh and counted 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Sandpiper, 40 Chaffinches, 21 Mute Swans, 8 Bewick's Swans, 8 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Skylarks, 62 Carrion Crows and 1 Pied Wagtail.

Bewick's and Mute Swans

December 28th

On another very windy and showery morning we walked inland at Reculver and saw 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 11 Mute Swans, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Gadwall, 23 Coot, 34 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Teal and 2 Pied Wagtails.

December 27th

We got out early this morning before the forecast gale force winds of Storm Gerrrit arrived. We walked inland at Reculver and recorded 2 Green Woodpeckers, 50 Rooks, 20 Jackdaws, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 23 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 36 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Mute Swans, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Chiffchaffs, 340 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Little Egret, 2 Teal and 1 Kestrel.

December 26th

On a beautiful, sunny, winter's morning we walked from Chamber's Wall as far as the Wantsum outflow and saw 1 Merlin, 27 Mute Swans, 8 Fieldfares, 4 Chaffinches, 23 Redwings, 667 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 65 Carrion Crows, 45 Linnets, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Oystercatchers, 20 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Grebe, 51 Redshank and 8 Bewick's Swans.

Derek Smith was out this morning at 0800 and walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding and along the embankment to the Green Wall. He recorded 6 Red-throated Divers, 13 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Bewick's Swans, 600 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Guillemot on the sea at Coldharbour, 66 Golden Plovers, 94 Redshank, 80 Fieldfares, 60 Redwings, 3 Bearded Tits, 6 Stonechats, 12 Cetti's Warblers and 9 Corn Buntings.

 December 25th

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

An hour at Reculver this morning produced 782 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Bewick's Swans, 6 adults and 2 juveniles, 19 Mute Swans and 2 Pied Wagtails.

Julian and Alex Perry had a male Blackcap in their garden at Bishopstone.

December 24th

On another very windy morning we walked inland at Reculver and then had a quick seawatch. We counted 85 Rooks, 1 Little Egret, 3 Chiffchaffs, 21 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 15 Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 610 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Mute Swans, 27 Stock Doves, 30 Jackdaws, 60 Common Scoter and 2 Red-throated Divers.

December 23rd

This morning we walked out on to the Marsh at Reculver and recorded 1 singing Mistle Thrush, 1 Kestrel, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 41 Chaffinches, 174 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 44 Mute Swans, 200 Rooks, 8 Bewick's Swans, 6 adults and 2 juveniles, 1 Golden Plover, 500 Starlings, 65 Stock Doves, 50 Jackdaws, 17 Mallard, 19 Coot, 1 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Tufted Duck and 1 Little Grebe.

Adult Bewick's Swan

Whilst Anne and I walked out onto the Marsh at Reculver Matt walked from Shuart to the embankment and Plumpudding. He recorded 1 Goldcrests, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker, 19 Redwing, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 35 Fieldfares, 2 Little Grebes, 9 Grey Partridges, 8 Redshank, 650 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 10 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, 27 Curlew, 200 Oystercatchers, 60 Ringed Plovers, 30 Dunlin, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Stonechats, 12 Corn Buntings, 3 Grey Herons, 6 Canada Geese and 1 Greylag Goose.

December 22nd

On another very windy morning we did the same as yesterday and saw 3 Mute Swans, 30 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Mallard, 5 Moorhens, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Redshank, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Teal, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Green Woodpecker, 44 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 105 Common Scoter offshore, 1 Red-throated Diver, 12 Cormorants and 2 Pied Wagtails.

December 21st

It was very windy this morning as we walked inland at Reculver and then had a brief look at the sea. We saw 70 Rooks, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrests, 15 Mallard, 22 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Redshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Water Rail, 1 Chiffchaff, 169 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 70 Common Scoter.

December 20th

On a bright and breezy morning we walked out onto the Marsh and saw 240 Stock Doves, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 28 Mallard, 23 Coot, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Grey Herons, 44 Mute Swans, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal, 2 Kestrels, 30 Chaffinches, 180 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 12 Linnets, 5 Bewick's Swans, 3 adults and 2 immatures, 104 Fieldfares, 13 Redwings and 9 Grey Partridges.

Bewick's and Mute Swans