January 15th

Matt spent an hour at the Towers this morning and counted 34 Red-throated Divers, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Velvet Scoter (117th), 2 Eiders, 1 Common Scoter and 200 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

January 14th

On an overcast and cold morning Matt walked inland at Reculver and saw 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 52 Mallard, 2 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, 11 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 27 Coot, 45 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Yellowhammers (114th), 140 Stock Doves, 1 Lesser Redpoll (115th), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 11 Redwings and 1 Grey Wagtail. He then visited Shuart where he saw 1 Woodcock (116th) and 1 Jay.

January 13th

It was even colder this morning and there was little to see as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. With the tide out, but starting to come in, all we counted were 616 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Curlew, 1 Golden Plover, 17 Oystercatchers, 9 Redshank, 58 Carrion Crows, 4 Mallard, 2 Shelduck and 1 Stonechat. Things improved significantly as we reached Reculver when we received a call from Matt to say Derek Smith had found a Cattle Egret (110th) in the horse paddocks at Netherhale. Luckily it was still there when we arrived, sitting in a tree. 

Cattle Egret - Matt Hindle

 

Cattle Egret

Matt walked from Netherhale to Shuart, Plumpudding and Brooksend and saw 1 Firecrest, 50 Chaffinches, the Cattle Egret found by Derek, 1 Little Owl (111th), 1 Mistle Thrusk, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 5 Little Egrets, 4 Common Buzzards, 14 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 34 Corn Buntings, 150 Linnets, 5 Fieldfares, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Shelduck, 200 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 70 Sanderling, 30 Redshank, 9 Grey Herons, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Shoveler (112th), 25 Coot, 28 Tufted Duck, 4 Wigeon, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Gadwall, 7 Golden Plover, 1 Greylag Goose and 1 Canada Goose with 4 hybrids and 1 female/immature male Black Redstart (113th).

Black Redstart - Matt Hindle

Derek Smith was out between 0800 and 1300 walking from Shuart to Brooksend, Plumpudding and Minnis Bay. He recorded 23 Red-throated Divers W, 16 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Gannet, 1 Cattle Egret, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 28 Tufted Duck, 6 Shoveler, 4 Wigeon, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 60 Redshank, 130 Sanderling, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 1 Kestrel, 25 Coot, 7 Golden Plover, 36 Rooks, 1 Little Owl, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 40 Stock Doves, 7 Fieldfares W, 23 Redwings, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 40 Chaffinches, 90 Linnets, 1 Firecrest and 7 Corn Buntings.

January 12th 

On an overcast, cold and drizzly morning we walked inland at Reculver and recorded 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Ravens, 24 Coot, 17 Teal, 62 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Wigeon, 7 Tufted Duck, 1 Redshank, 5 Mute Swans, 1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail and 120 Chaffinches. We then visited Shuart where we saw 1 Redwing, 1 Firecrest, 14 Goldfinches, 215 Linnets, 15 Chaffinches, 1 Jay and 1 Grey Heron.

January 11th

It was a another bright and icy morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 2 Meadow Pipits 2 Lapwings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 62 Redwings, 1 Fieldfare, 22 Blackbirds, 4 Song Thrushes, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 52 Golden Plovers, 46 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 1 Redshnak, 2 adult Kittiwakes, 421 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 51 Oystercatchers, 8 Grey Plovers, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Teal and 2 Chaffinches.

Julian Perry had a male Blackcap feeding in the olive tree in his garden at Bishopstone (109th).

January 10th

On another morning with a bitter east wind blowing we walked up to Coldharbour and back. We counted 462 Dark-bellied Bren Geese, 7 Redshank, 60 Mallard, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Kittiwakes flying E, 20 Oystercatchers, 6 Great Black-backed Gulls, 6 Teal, 145 Carrion Crows, 1 first winter Mediterranean Gull flying E, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Stonechats, 7 Grey Plovers, 1 Curlew, 36 Red-throated Divers flying E, 1 Greylag Goose, 16 Ringed Plovers and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

January 9th

On an icy but sunny morning with a biting easterly wind blowing Anne and I walked out onto the Marsh and then had an hour's seawatch at Reculver. On the Marsh there were only 3 Mute Swans and no Bewick's but other birds we saw included 14 Chaffinches, 1 Kestrel, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 75 Linnets, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Grey Wagtail and 7 Lapwings flying E (108th). At Reculver we counted 166 Red-throated Divers flying E, 18 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 first winter Mediterranean Gull E, 17 Common Gulls, 8 Dunlin, 4 Great Crested Grebes E, 2 Ringed Plovers and 1 adult Little Gull flying E close inshore.

Matt was out birding after us and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. He saw 60 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Stonechats, 2 Shelduck, 1 adult Little Gull E, 3 Snipe, 500 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 40 Redshank, 26 Curlew, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 60 Grey Plovers, 110 Sanderling, 45 Ringed Plovers, 120 Dunlin, 160 Oystercatchers, 1 Lapwing, 2 Grey Partridges, 100 Golden Plovers and 80 Carrion Crows.

The 9 Bewick's Swans were back in their usual field this afternoon.

January 8th

With a strong easterly wind blowing in wintry showers this morning we spent two hours seawatching at Reculver with most birds flying east. We recorded 950 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 794 Cormorants flying out to sea from the Stour Valley, 1 second winter Yellow-legged Gull, 1 adult Kittiwake, 92 Red-throated Divers, 9 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Razorbills, 30 Common Scoter, 1 adult Little Gull, 3 large auks, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Guillemots and 1 Gannet.

January 7th

This morning there was a fresh and cold northerly wind blowing in regular showers as Matt spent two hours seawatching at Reculver. He counted 46 Red-throated Divers E, 1 Great Crested Grebe E, 1 immature male Eider E (105th), 6 Wigeon W, 18 Kittiwakes E, 491 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 39 Common Scoter, 1 Gannet W, 1 large auk, 1 Guillemot E, 1 Razorbill E, 1 first winter Caspian Gull E (106th) and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls E.

Derek Smith had a seawatch at Minnis Bay from 0800 to 1030 with most birds he saw flying east. He recorded 32 Red-throated Divers, 16 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Little Egrets, 12 Common Scoter, 1 female Goldeneye flying W (107th), 2 Gannets, 58 Kittiwakes, 32 large auks, 2 Guillemots, 12 Curlew and 3 Grey Plovers.

January 6th

It was windy and cold this morning as we walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding lagoon. We counted 450 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 154 Sanderling, 17 Turnstone, 2 Grey Plovers, 24 Dunlin, 82 Oystercatchers, 35 Mallard, 1 male Wigeon, 19 Curlew, 56 Redshank and 4 Meadow Pipits.

Dave Smith was also out on the Marsh this morning for over four  hours. He counted 2 Greylag Geese, 9 Bewick's Swans, 2 Shelduck, 1 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 7 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Stock Doves, 1 Grey Plover, 125 Golden Plovers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Snipe, 70 Redshank, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Fulmar E (104th), 20 Little Egrets, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Song Thrushes, 17 Redwings, 20 Fieldfares, 4 Stonechats and 2 Corn Buntings.

January 5th

There was a gale force north-westerly wind blowing and rain as we arrived at Reculver at 0800 for eighty minute seawatch. There was not a great deal moving but we did see 166 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 male Stonechat on the car park rocks, 1 female Red-breasted Merganser flying W close inshore (99th) and 5 Pintail flying W (100th).

This morning Matt began with a seawatch at Minnis Bay where he recorded 15 Wigeon, 2 Common Scoter, 15 Red-throated Divers, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 adult Little Gulls flying W (101st), 6 Pintail flying W, 1 Snow Bunting flying W over the sea (102nd) and 1 Kittiwake. Next he visited Netherhale and Brooksend and recorded 1 Mistle Thrush, 20 Tufted Ducks, 1 Greylag Goose and 1 Canada Goose (103rd) with 4 hybrids, 1 Goldcrest, 20 Chaffinches, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and 1 Firecrest. Finally at Reculver he counted 22 Coot, 65  Mallard, 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Gadwall, 5 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Grey Wagtail.

January 4th

On a bright sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 2 Kestrels, 19 Chaffinches, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Fieldfares, 35 Redwings, 100 Carrion Crows, 133 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Magpies, 3 Grey Partridges (96th), 1 Skylark, 7 Mallard, 9 Redshank, 2 Little Grebes, 10 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Red-throated Diver, 11 Linnets, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Song Thrushes and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Redwing

Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and his highlights included 9 Bewick's Swans, 7 adults and 2 juveniles, 3 Stonechats, 1 Kingfisher (97th), 4 Golden Plovers (98th), 10 Redwings, 1 Water Rail, 20 Skylarks, 2 Red-throated Divers and 3 Great Crested Grebes.

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).