March 21st

With limited time this morning I walked at Reculver where I saw 15 Goldfinches, 300 Woodpigeons, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Chiffchaffs, 12 Mallard, 12 Chaffinches, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 16 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 10 Mute Swans, 14 Coot, 4 Teal, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Little Grebes, 8 Pied Wagtails, 2 Kestrels, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 41 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and an immature Black Redstart in the carpark (127th). 

Immature Black Redstart

Matt walked along the seawall from Reculver to Plumpudding and returned along the embankment. He saw 10 Chiffchaffs, 2 Rock Pipits, 3 Curlew, 3 Red-throated Divers, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Goldcrest, 51 Woodpigeons N, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 3 Little Egrets, 7 Redshank, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Grey Wagtails E, 60 Linnets, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 47 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Snipe, 2 Redwings, 2 Grey Herons, 12 Lapwings, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 immature male Black Redstart, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Tree Pipit  flying E along the embankment which is the earliest spring record at Reculver (128th), 1 Bearded Tit (129th) and 1 Sand Martin (130th).

March 20th

On another fantastic spring morning, Matt was out at daybreak and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment to Coldharbour where we met him. He counted 27 Chiffchaffs, 25 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Little Owl, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 30 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, 100 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Shoveler, 1 Grey Partridge, 2 Shelduck, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Corn Buntings, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 males and 1 female (124th), 12 Redshank, 1 Short-eared Owl (125th), 2 Red-throated Divers, 3 Rock Pipits, 3 Teal, 11 Coot, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Common Buzzards, 14 Lapwings, 1 Snipe, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Ruff flying E (126th), 2 Stonechats, 1 Curlew and 1 Firecrest at the car park.

Sunrise at Reculver - Matt Hindle

 

 March 19th

On a beautiful, early spring morning we walked from Reculver to the Wantsum ouflow with the tide going out. Birds we saw included 5 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 21 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 23 Linnets, 1 Little Owl (122nd), 15 Redshank, 6 Mallard, 2 Stonechats, 1 Sparrowhawk, 12 Corn Buntings, 24 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit (123rd), 1 Curlew, 12 Dunlin, 1 Water Rail, 2 Little Egrets and 1 Chiffchaff.

This afternoon we walked inland at a sunny Reculver and saw 85 Chaffinches, 1 Common Buzzard, 10 Goldfinches, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Tufted Duck, 19 Gadwall, 6 Mallard, 1 Chiffchaff, 24 Teal, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Shelduck, 18 Coot, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 female Brambling and 3 Yellowhammers.

Little Owl

 March 18th

It was bright and breezy this morning as we walked at Reculver and recorded 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 18 Mallard, 4 Greylag Geese, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Tufted Duck, 3 Shelduck, 16 Gadwall, 6 Teal, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 2 Pied Wagtails and 1 Little Egret.

 March 17th

On another chilly and breezy morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumudding before walking back along the  embankment to Chamber's Wall where we met him and then walked back along the seawall to Reculver. His morning's totals were 4 Marsh Harriers, 1 Little Egret, 375 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Ravens, 1 Chiffchaff, 11 Lapwings, 7 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Greylag Geese, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying E, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Stonechats, 1 Curlew and 1 Snipe.

 March 16th

It was a sunny morning but the cold north-easterly wind was still blowing as we walked at Reculver and then at Shuart this morning. At Reculver we recorded 10 Goldfinches, 16 Chaffinches, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 17 Mallard, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Raven, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Shelduck, 25 Gadwall, 1 Redshank, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Teal, 4 Little Grebes, 13 Tufted Duck, 10 Coot, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Moorhens, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 12 adult Common Gulls on the sea. 

At Shuart we saw 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 singing Firecrest, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Jay, 10 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Mallard and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Goldfinch feeding on alder

 Derek Smith was also out this morning and covered most of the eastern half of the recording area between 0800 and 1130. His highlights included 5 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebes, 120 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Barnacle Geese, 2 Shelduck, 27 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Lapwings, 46 Oystercatchers, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs and 2 Firecrests.

This afternoon at Netherhale we counted 320 Stock Doves feeding on a newly planted field of cereal.

March 15th

With a fresh and cold, north-easterly wind blowing we spent a short time at Reculver before walking inland. We saw 18 Red-throated Divers, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 large auk, 4 Gannets, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 30 Chaffinches,1 Jay, 20 Goldfinches, 11 Mallard, 4 Shelduck, 29 Gadwall, 3 Teal, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 male White Wagtail, 15 Coot, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Redshank, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 6 Moorhens.

We then drove down to Netherhale where we saw 20 Tufted Ducks, 1 Barnacle Goose, 10 Greylag Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Merlin, 4 Mistle Thrushes and 2 Green Woodpeckers.

Male Ring-necked Parakeet

March 14th

On another cold morning there was not a great deal to see as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to the Wantsum outflow. We counted 13 Magpies, 1 Redshank, 10 Linnets, 1 Stonechat, 3 Meadow Pipits, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Ringed Plovers, 250 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Skylark, 3 Oystercatchers, 1 Turnstone and 2 Cetti's Warblers. On our way home we also saw a Red Kite flying over the fields by Hillborough church. 

Matt was also out this morning and walked from Netherhale to Brooksend and Plumpudding. He counted 3 Firecrests, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Redwings, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 38 Tufted Duck, 23 Greylag Geese, 6 Barnacle Geese, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 22 Coot, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Corn Buntings, 150 Starlings, 1 Water Rail, 7 Lapwings, 1 Snipe, 2 Shelduck, 60 Golden Plover and 1 Chiffchaff.

 March 13th

This morning there was a chilly northerly breeze blowing with occasional sunny periods as we walked at Netherhale and Shuart. We counted 2 Kestrels, 44 Corn Buntings, 8 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Little Egret, 60 Chaffinches. 20 Goldfinches, 2 male White Wagtails feeding in a recently ploughed field, 1 Jay, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 singing Greenfinch (121st), 2 Common Buzzard and 9 Greylag Geese.

Matt was out at the same time but walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back along the embankment. He saw 2 Siskins, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Herom, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 17 Gadwall, 15 Tufted Duck, 19 Mallard, 5 Shelduck, 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Avocet, 25 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 16 Coot, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Kingfiaher, 62 Corn Buntings, 1 Gannet, 2 Stonechats, 1 Snow Bunting, 350 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Canada Geese, 1 Little Egret, 5 Red-throated Divers, 4 Fieldfares, 1 Golden Plover, 40 Linnets, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Raven and 1 Firecrest.

March 12th

This morning we walked along the seawall at Reculver and then inland. Birds we saw included 5 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Linnets, 17 Mallard, 1 Curlew, 120 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Pied Wagtails, 40 Chaffinches, 5 Shelduck, 2 Greylag Geese, 16 Coot, 23 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 16 Tufted Duck, 2 Kestrels, 4 Little Grebes, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 2 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans and 10 Goldfinches.

 March 11th

With a fresh NE wind blowing this morning Matt and I spent 90 minutes seawatching at the Towers. We did not see very much but with nearly everything flying E we counted 162 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 9 Red-throated Divers, 99 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Fulmars, 28 Common Gulls, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Gannet and 1 female Common Scoter.

We stopped our seawatch at 0815 and then had a walk at Netherhale where we recorded 19 Corn Buntings, 60 Chaffinches, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 21 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaffs, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 160 Linnets, 1 Sparrowhawk and 14 Greylag Geese.

 March 10th

This morning Matt walked from Reculver along the embankment to Plumpudding and then back along the seawall where we met him. We saw 6 Shelduck, 1 Grey Wagtail, 200 Black-headed Gulls W, 17 Curlew, 701 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 14 Great Crested Grebes, 14 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Stonechat, 2 Little Egrets, 200 Sanderling, 20 Dunlin, 11 Grey Plovers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 17 Redshank, 120 Oystercatchers, 1 Siskin W, 1 Golden Plover, 11 Lapwings, 4 Teal, 6 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Red-throated Diver E, 1 Water Rail, 2 large auks E, 1 male Snow Bunting, 26 Linnets and 1 Goldcrest.

I received information this afternoon about a first year male Blackcap we ringed at Reculver on 27th August 2023. It had been controlled at Bois-de-Lessines, Hainault, Belgium on 13th April 2024. This is 203 km ESE of Reculver.

 March 9th

A Long-eared Owl was calling again at Bishopstone at 0440.

It was another mild and sunny morning as we walked inland at Reculver and then out on to the Marsh. We counted 12 Mallard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 18 Coot, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Grey Wagtail, 12 Gadwall, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Teal, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Redwing, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Little Egret, 1 Skylark, 14 Mute Swans, 27 Chaffinches and 1 Jay.

March 8th

On another beautiful morning, unsurprisingly, the seawall became very busy as we walked up to the Wantsum outflow and back. We managed to see 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Shelduck, 7 Gannets flying E, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Linnets, 2 Mallard, 4 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 9 Mute Swans, 3 Oystercatchers, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Turnstone, 260 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Skylarks, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 male Snow Bunting, 3 Ringed Plovers and a pair of Stonechats.

Male Snow Bunting

 

Whilst we were at Reculver, Matt walked from Netherhale to Shuart and back by way of Plumpudding and Brooksend. He counted 42 Corn Buntings, 21 Lapwings, 6 Barnacle Geese, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 6 Siskins W, 2 Firecrests, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Gannets E, 1 Redwing, 22 Greylag Geese, 31 Tufted Duck, 17 Coot, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Kestrels, 1 Brambling and 2 Mediterranean Gulls.

At 2100 Marc Heath heard an Avocet (120th) flying over at Reculver. 

March 7th

After spending yesterday at Dungeness we returned to a sunny and mild Reculver this morning and walked along the seawall to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 11 Mute Swans, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Redshank, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Mallard, 6 Meadow Pipits, 1 male White Wagtail on the seawall, 6 Meadow Pipits, 1 male Snow Bunting, 10 Linnets, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Oystercatchers, 2 singing Chiffchaffs, 1 Great White Egret flying in off the sea at Coldharbour before landing in a dyke, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Shelduck and 166 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Matt was also out this morning and walked inland from Reculver to Coldharbour and then back. He counted 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Redshank, 22 Gadwall, 17 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebes, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Teal, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Grey Herons, 22 Coot, 50 Linnets, 250 Chaffinches, 60 Stock Doves, 1 Common Buzzard, 11 Yellowhammers, 2 Kestrels, 3 Siskins, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 157 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Stonechats, 1 Mediterranean Gull and 70 Corn Buntings.