January 15th

We decided to have a ringing session on the Marsh south of the railway this morning. It began sunny but fog soon spoiled the morning and we had packed away by 1000. With the limited visibility we only managed to see 30 Yellowhammers, 1 Golden Plover, 28 Corn Buntings and 13 Mute Swans.

Birds ringed 9: Yellowhammer 8, Dunnock 1.

Female Yellowhammer

January 14th

It was still cold as we walked out onto the Marsh this morning and were greeted by a fantastic sunrise.

Sunrise from the top of Brook hill

 Birds we counted included 1 Green Sandpiper, 8 Blackbirds, 45 Chaffinches, 1 Peregrine that had been roosting in a tree beside the railway, 35 Linnets, 12 Reed Buntings, 1 Snipe, 17 Skylarks, 68 Corn Buntings, 85 Carrion Crows, 4 Mute Swans, 31 Mallard, 11 Lapwings, 4 Goldfinches, 48 Teal, 8 Little Grebes, 21 Tufted Duck, 54 Coot, 52 Coot and 1 Redshank.

Corn Bunting

January 13th

On a marginally less cold morning we walked from Reculver along the seawall to the Green Wall. It was relatively quiet but we did see 2 Stonechats, 1,300 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Redshank, 1 Grey Plover, 10 Mallard, 21 Great Crested Grebes on the sea, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 52 Oystercatchers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Snipe, 4 Reed Buntings, 15 Golden Plovers and 5 Moorhens.

This morning Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back along the embankment. He saw 2 Water Rails, 53 Mallard, 34 Teal, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 64 Gadwall, 64 Coot, 25 Tufted Duck, 110 Corn Buntings, 23 Skylarks, 2 Redshank, 28 Lapwings, 6 Yellowhammers, 7 Stonechats, 4 Snipe, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Little Egret, 11 Wigeon, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 73 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 Gannets, 1,300 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 11 Golden Plovers, 1 Kingfisher, 29 Mute Swans, 2 Marsh Harriers, 5 Grey Partridges, 6 Tree Sparrows, 1 Woodcock, 30 Stock Doves, 25 Reed Buntings and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Derek Smith was also out this morning and birded at Shuart, Plumpudding and Brooksend. He counted 29 Greylag Geese, 1 Russian White-fronted Goose, 8 Grey Herons, 1 Water Rail, 38 Stock Doves, 1 Fieldfare, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Kestrel, 3 Common Buzzards, 9 Redshank, 4 Lapwings and 1 Golden Plover.

Russian White-fronted Goose - Derek Smith

This afternoon we found 4 Egyptian Geese feeding in  a winter wheat field near Reculver,

 January 12th

It was very cold and frosty and the sea was very quiet this morning as we spent forty minutes at Reculver. Other than a few gulls all we saw was 1 Gannet flying E, 410 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 3 Wigeon flying W.

Reculver Towers

January 11th

This morning Dave Smith walked at Minnis Bay and Plumpudding and counted 52 Greylag Geese, 1 White-fronted Goose, 1,200 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 12 Mallard, 40 Grey Plover, 10 Ringed Plover, 5 Lapwings, 15 Curlew, 15 Redshank, 20 Turnstone, 100 Sanderling, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Little Grebe, 17 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 20 Skylarks, 1 Song Thrush, 30 Fieldfares and 4 Stonechats.

After lunch after the frost had melted we walked at Reculver and saw 1 Grey Wagtail, 40 Stock Doves, 1 Sparrowhawk, 46 Mallard, 13 Teal, 65 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Tufted Duck, 46 Gadwall and 8 Little Grebes.

January 10th

In sub-zero temperatures and with a heavy frost we walked inland at Reculver. Birds we saw included 2 Little Egrets, 6 Teal, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Moorhens, 76 Coot, 40 Gadwall, 75 Mallard, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Heron, 8 Little Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Redshank, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Stonechat, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Chiffchaff and 7 Gannets fishing off the Towers.

This morning Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back along the embankment. He saw 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Green Sandpiper, 40 Yellowhammers, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Stonechats, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Grey Partridges (102nd), 83 Skylarks, 4 Snow Buntings, 1,258 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 16 Golden Plovers, 5 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Kingfisher.

Derek Smith was also out and walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding and back via Shuart and Brooksend. He counted 64 Great Crested Grebes, 300 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 58 Greylag Geese, 2 Canada Geese, 1 Gannet, 6 Teal, 1 Gadwall, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 4 Common Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Lapwings, 14 Grey Plovers, 38 Redshank, 47 Oystercatchers, 29 Turnstone, 87 Sanderling, 2 Great Spotted and 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Rock Pipit (103rd), 12 Meadow Pipits, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 13 Long-tailed Tits.

Rock Pipit - Derek Smith

 January 9th

Matt spent a cold morning at Reculver and at Netherhale and Brooksend. At Reculver he saw 2 Peregrines over the Towers, 13 Gannets, 5 Common Scoter W (97th), 350 Cormorants, 2 Great White Egrets flying W out at sea (98th), 3 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Kittiwakes W (99th), 1 second winter Yellow-legged Gull flying W (100th), 5 Red-throated Divers E, 5 Skylarks in off and 20 Common Gulls. 

At Netherhale and Brooksend he saw 2 Mistle Thrushes (101st), 5 Chiffchaffs, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Firecrest, 70 Chaffinches, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 160 Lapwings, 60 Greylag Geese and 2 Canada Geese and 3 hybrids.

January 8th

On another frosty morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver and recorded 1,027 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Meadow Pipits, 5 Wigeon, 12 Mute Swans, 2 Stonechats, 19 Mallard, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Redshank and 2 Goldfinches.

Goldfinches feeding on Yellow Horned Poppy seeds

 January 7th

It was bright and frosty this morning as we walked at various sites at Reculver. We counted 6 Great Black-backed Gulls, 226 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Shelduck, 1 Red-throated Diver, 6 Skylarks, 10 Chaffinches, 1 Redwing, 100 Woodpigeons, 76 Coot, 40 Mallard, 30 Gadwall, 8 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 8 Little Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 50 Jackdaws, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sparrowhawk and 6 Pied Wagtails.

Matt was also out this morning and walked from Bishopstone to Reculver and Coldharbour and saw 6 Stonechats, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 1,000 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Grey Herons, 5 Common Buzzards, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 8 White-fronted Geese flying over the Brent Geese and then W, 27 Mute Swans, 2 Kestrels, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Sparrowhawk.

January 6th

Today I received information about a first year female Reed Bunting we ringed at Shuart on 1st November 2024. It was controlled at Abbey Farm, Bedlam Court Lane, Minster on 29th December 2024 and had moved 8 km SSE.

 January 5th

It was raining heavily as Matt had a seawatch at Minnis Bay between 0800 and 0930. There wasn't a great deal to see, just 8 Great Crested Grebes, 20 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Gadwall flying W, 1 male Pintail flying W (96th), 1 Mallard, 1 Red-throated Diver flying E and 1 Gannet.

January 4th

It was another frosty morning as we walked out onto the Marsh at Reculver and counted 80 Woodpigeons, 1 Green Sandpiper, 40 Chaffinches, 1 Redwing, 1 Merlin (90th)  70 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Common Buzzards, 9 Skylarks, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Pochard, 8 Shoveler, 45 Mallard, 28 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Tufted Duck, 8 Goldfinches, 8 Little Grebes, 72 Coot, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Redshank and 1 Chiffchaff.

Matt was also out and walked from Brooksend to Netherhale, Plumpudding and Shuart. He saw 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 12 Grey Herons, 6 Teal, 83 Greylag Geese, 2 Canada Geese (91st) with 3 hybrids, 2 Egyptian Geese , 1 White-fronted Goose (92nd), 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveler, 20 Coot, 1 Ringed Plover (93rd), 1 Stonechat, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Water Rail, 1 Firecrest, 140 Stock Doves, 1 Kestrel, 2 Goldcrests and 1 Jay.

Dave Smith walked at Minnis Bay and Plumpudding and his highlights included 2 Egyptian Geese flying E (94th), 5 Gadwall, 7 Teal, 3 Golden Plover, 4 Little Grebes, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard and 2 Stonechat.

Derek Smith also saw 2 Bramblings (95th) at Upper Hale.

Brambling - Derek Smith

 January 3rd

On a sunny and frosty morning we birded at Brooksend, Netherhale and Shuart where we saw 26 Chaffinches, 1 Pied Wagtail, 55 Greylag Geese (81st), 8 Ring-necked Parakeets (82nd), Great Spotted Woodpecker (83rd) , 1 Jay, 1 Sparrowhawk (84th), 55 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Kestrel, 80 Stock Doves, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Barn Owl (85th) and 1 Grey Heron.

This morning Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment. He saw 1 Firecrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 61 Coot, 1 Tufted Duck, 5 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 8 Little Grebes,  1 Grey Wagtail, 41 Gadwall, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 49 Yellowhammers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 65 Mallard, 1 Pochard, 4 Stonechats, 120 Chaffinches, 56 Skylarks, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Snipe (86th), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Peregrine (87th), 11 Golden Plovers, 1 Marsh Harrier (88th), 27 Lapwings, 1 Kingfisher, 800 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Tree Sparrows (89th), 80 Linnets, 1 Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

A first year male Reed Bunting we ringed at Shuart on 1st November 2024 was controlled by the East Kent Wildlife Group at Richborough, Sandwich on 27th December a distance of 9 km SSE.

 January 2nd

Although the gale force winds had abated this morning it was breezy and much colder as we walked along the seawall from Reculver. Birds we saw included 1 Jay, 1 Common Buzzard, 450 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Stonechats, 30 Carrion Crows, 2 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, 22 Mallard, 5 Mute Swans, 3 Corn Buntings, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher (74th), 5 Meadow Pipits and 1 Green Woodpecker (75th).

Male Stonechat

This morning Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall. He saw 2 Redwings (76th), 4 Kestrels (77th), 2 Shelduck, 13 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 800 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 600 Cormorants, 6 Linnets (78th), 150 Corn Buntings, 1 Grey Heron (79th), 22 Mute Swans, 30 Yellowhammers, 120 Stock Doves, 12 Song Thrushes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Woodpecker and 20 Fieldfares (80th).

January 1st

Matt and I spent a stormy morning battling the wind and trying to see how many species we could record on the first day of the year. Matt arrived at Shuart in the dark where he managed to find 1 Woodcock and 3 Lapwings. He then drove over to Reculver where I met him at 0730 and we had an hour's walk where birds we saw included 1 Water Rail, 64 Coot, 20 Mallard, 40 Gadwall, 1 female Pochard, 2 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Grebes, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Yellowhammer and 1 Firecrest. We then drove to Minnis Bay where we recorded 14 Gannets, 50 Dunlin, 120 Oystercatchers, 20 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 40 Grey Plovers, 20 Turnstone, 100 Sanderling, 18 Curlew, 1 Shelduck W, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 20 Redshank, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Stonechat, 3 Snow Buntings, 1 Little Egret, 2 Long-tailed Tits and 2 Wigeon flying W. Our final total for the day was 71 species. 

Julian Perry was also out today and in addition to species we saw had Great Tit (72nd) and Corn Bunting (73rd).