April 15th

Matt braved the pouring rain this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding. He counted 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Little Egrets, 1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Stonechats, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Gadwall, 1 female Merlin, 2 Avocets on the tideline at Plumpudding, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Tufted Duck and 10 Swallows.

Avocets - Matt Hindle

 On a sunny afternoon we had a walk at Plumpudding where we saw 3 Skylarks, 8 Goldfinches, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Swallow, 2 Sandwich Terns, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Linnets, 2 Whitethroats, 4 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Mallard, 1 singing Stonechat and 1 Blackcap.

Sandwich Terns

Yesterday we received the ringing information of a female Blackcap we controlled at Shuart on April 12th. It had been ringed at Titchfield Haven NNR, Hampshire as a first year bird on 20th September 2024. Shuart is 184 km ENE of Titchfield Haven.

April 14th

On another sunny morning Matt completed his regular walk to Plumpudding and we met him at Chamber's Wall before we all walked back to Reculver. His final totals included 14 Chiffchaffs, 1 Little Owl, 9 Little Egrets, 12 Swallows W, 21 Whitethroats, 1 Grey Heron, 18 Yellow Wagtails W, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Shelduck, 2 Tree Pipits W, 2 Greylag Geese, 5 Reed Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 5 Lapwings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Canada Geese, 1 Kestrel, 1 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 2 Sandwich Terns and good numbers of Sedge and Cetti's Warblers.

Goldfinch - Matt Hindle

 

Wall Brown - Matt Hindle

 April 13th

On a mild and sunny morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment.  He counted 12 Chiffchaffs, 40 Mediterranean Gulls E, 19 Whitethroats, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the Oyster Farm (149th), 5 Little Egrets, 2 Shelduck, 10 Tufted Duck, 5 Blackcaps, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Snipe, 1 Tree Pipit W, 2 Swallows, 5 Lapwings, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (150th), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover W, 1 Sand Martins and good numbers of Sedge Warblers and Cetti's Warblers.

Whitethroat - Matt Hindle

 While Matt was doing this we walked at Reculver and saw 4 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Little Egret, 1 Swallows, 6 Greylag Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Sand Martins, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Shelduck, 14 Gadwall, 22 Coot, 12 Teal, 2 Whitethroats, 14 Tufted Duck, 6 Mallard, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Garganey, a male and female (151st), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Willow Warbler.

Male Garganey

 

Male and female Garganey - Matt Hindle

Later Matt saw yesterday's Wryneck still at Bishopstone cliffs. 

Derek Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart, along the embankment and then on to Chamber's Wall and Brooksend. He saw 3 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Canada Geese, 9 Greylag Geese, 6 Barnacle Geese, 18 Tufted Duck, 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Lapwings, 98 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Chough from the Dover Castle reintroduction scheme, 2 Wheatears, 19 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 12 Whitethroats, 43 Sedge Warblers, 9 Blackcaps, 21 Chiffchaffs and 1 Firecrest.

April 12th

We spent a sunny morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 6 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 8 Ring-necked Parakeets, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Sedge Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers,  1 Whitethroat, 4 Skylarks, 20 Linnets, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Jays, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 5 Mallard, 2 Greenfinches, 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Long-tailed Tits.

Birds ringed 19: Wren 2, Chiffchaff 2, Long-tailed Tits 2, Robin 1, Blue Tit 2, Whitethroat 1, Great Tit 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Linnet 1, Blackcap 1, Dunnock 4, Song Thrush 1.

We had a call from Marc Heath to say that he had found a Wryneck (147th) and a male Pied Flycatcher (148th) on the cliffs at Bishopstone. He managed to show me the Wryneck but we couldn't refind the flycatcher. 

April 11th

On a glorious spring morning Matt completed his regular walk from Reculver to Plumpudding and Anne and I walked in from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back. Between us we saw 2 Stonechats, 7 Yellow Wagtails W, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Tree Pipit W, 14 Mediterranean Gulls, 33 Sedge Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Shelduck, 8 Chiffchaffs, 6 Tufted Duck, 20 Meadow Pipits W, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Snipe, 9 Swallows, 3 Greylag Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Redpoll W, 5 Lapwings, 1 female Hen Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 10 Sand Martins W, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Sandwich Tern and 1 Greenshank.

We then birded at Shuart with the hope that the Booted Eagle that arrived at Broadstairs last night and was seen flying north at Ramsgate this morning would come our way. In the event it didn't, but we did see 3 Red Kites W, 5 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Siskin W and 30 Mediterranean Gulls feeding on a newly cultivated field.

Derek Smith was also out early and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and back via Brooksend. He counted 2 Little Grebes, 1 Little Egret, 4 Marsh Harriers, 8 Common Buzzards, 3 Sparrowhawks, 1 Red Kite W, 12 Greylag Geese, 6 Barnacle Geese, 32 Tufted Duck, 1 Shoveler, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Sandwich Terns, 4 Lapwings, 2 Grey Herons,  3 Snipe, 5 Sanderling, 17 Swallows W, 21 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Blackcaps, 5 Whitethroats, 34 Sedge Warblers, 17 Chiffchaffs and 3 Corn Buntings.

 April 10th

It was cloudy this morning with a cold north breeze blowing as Matt completed his usual walk from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment to Coldharbour where we met him. The final totals for the morning were 156 mainly adult Mediterranean Gulls flying E with 128 then feeding on cultivated fields at Chamber's Wall and also 3 Shelduck, 14 Chiffchaffs, 2 Stonechats, 14 Sedge Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Black Redstart at Coldharbour, 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Snipe, 5 Swallows, 4 Lapwings, 1 Greenshank flying S (146th), 1 Blackcap, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Grey Herons, 5 Whimbrel and 1 Red-throated Diver E.

Linnet - Matt Hindle

 

Mediterranean Gulls - Matt Hindle

April 9th

It was cloudy, windy and cold at Reculver this morning and a quick look from the Towers produced 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 4 Sandwich Terns. We then walked inland and counted 4 Linnets, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler (145th), 4 Grey Herons, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 13 Gadwall, 6 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Greylag Goose, 5 Teal, 12 Coot, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Sand Martins and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

At Shuart we saw 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 singing Firecrest, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Golden Plovers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Mallard and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

 April 8th

On a beautiful if chilly morning Matt walked from Netherhale to Coldharbour where we met him along with Derek Smith. We then walked back to Reculver along the seawall with Matt whilst Derek returned to Shuart along the embankment. Our final totals were 10 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps, 8 Swallows W, 1 Redwing, 9 Song Thrushes, 26 Mediterranean Gulls E, 2 Kestrels, 2 Jays, 19 Sedge Warblers, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Marsh Harriers, 7 Lapwings, 1 Redpoll W, 6 Whitethroats, 3 Snipe, 4 Shelduck, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Great Crested Grebes, 45 Turnstone, 80 Sanderling, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Grey Plovers, 13 male Common Scoter E, 1 Stonechat, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, male and female E, 1 Red-throated Diver E, 1 Gannet, 2 Green Sandpipers, 27 Mute Swans and 1 Little Owl.

Little Owl

 

 April 7th

On another sunny but cool morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour where we met Matt who had already walked up to Plumpudding and returned to Reculver with us. His final counts were 3 Little Egrets, 3 Sandwich Terns, 6 Shelduck, 6 Sedge Warblers, 10 Mediterranean Gull E, 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Gadwall, 4 Snipe, 8 Curlew, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Black-throated Divers flying W (143rd), 12 Common Scoter, 12 Redshank, 1 Ruff, 150 Sanderling, 34 Turnstone, 2 Stonechats, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Blackcaps, 7 Lapwings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Swallows W, 3 Greylag Geese, 1 Siskin, 1 Grey Heron, 26 Mute Swans, 3 Gannets E, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Canada Geese and 1 Whitethroat (144th).

April 6th

It was still sunny with a chilly easterly wind blowing this morning as we walked at Reculver and Shuart. At Reculver we counted 4 Chiffchaffs, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 16 Mallard, 1 Greylag Geese, 14 Gadwall, 20 Coot, 2 Green Sandpipers, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. At Shuart we saw 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Tufted Duck and 4 Mallard.

Tufted Duck are pairing up

 Derek Smith was also out between 0630 and 1000 and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and back via Plumpudding and Brooksend. He saw 3 Little Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 6 Lapwings, 2 Snipe, 1 Ruff in Plumpudding lagoon, 8 Redshank, 7 Curlew, 60 Sanderling, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Swallows, 9 Song Thrushes, 16 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 22 Chiffchaffs, 1 Firecrest and 2 Corn Buntings.

Ruff in Plumpudding lagoon - Derek Smith

Dot-winged Bee-Fly - Derek Smith

 April 5th

On a sunny but windy morning Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to Reculver. He saw 1 Chiffchaff, 10 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Little Egrets, 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls E, 6 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel E (140th), 7 Great Crested Grebes, 32 Common Gulls E, 2 Common Scoter, 8 Gannets E, 2 Swallows and 2 Eiders, a male and female, E.

Eiders - Matt Hindle

 We met Matt at the Towers and then we all walked inland and counted 4 Chiffchaffs, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 14 Sand Martins, 4 Greylag Geese, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 male Blue-headed Wagtail ( 141st), 15 Gadwall, 13 Tufted Duck, 1 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Teal, 1 House Martin (142nd), 15 Mallard, 16 Coot, 6 Mediterranean Gulls W, 2 Pied Wagtails and 4 Skylarks.

Male Blue-headed Wagtail - Matt Hindle

 April 4th

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back and counted 7 Mallard, 17 Linnets, 12 Skylarks singing, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Common Buzzard, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 13 Chaffinches, 23 Mute Swans, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Little Egret, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Mediterranean Gull E, 1 Canada Goose, 14 Magpies and 2 Grey Herons.

Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and Plumpudding before returning along the embankment. He recorded 13 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcap, 12 Tufted Duck, 23 Coot, 4 Little Grebes, 11 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Corn Buntings, 4 Sedge Warblers, 2 Bearded Tits, 9 Lapwings, 4 Shelduck, 6 Curlew, 3 Snipe, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 17 Mediterranean Gulls flying E in one flock, 1 Swallow, 40 Sand Martins at the Bishopstone colony and 1 Firecrest.

 April 3rd

Although there was still an easterly breeze blowing it was less chilly this morning as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. It remains relatively quiet but did count 1 Rock Pipit, 35 Linnets, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Swallow W, 2 Mallard, 2 Redshank, 6 Ringed Plovers, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Stonechats, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Greylag Geese, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 12 Turnstone, 22 Mute Swans, 1 Kestrel and 1 Sedge Warbler singing.

April 2nd

With little change in the weather from yesterday we walked at Reculver and then visited Shuart. At Reculver we saw 1 Little Egret, 14 Goldfinches, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Sand Martins, 25 Chaffinches, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Song Thrushes, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Blackcap, 24 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 12 Gadwall, 12 Coot, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Shelduck, 2 Mute Swans and 8 Meadow Pipits.

At Shuart we counted 2 Red-legged Partridges, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 singing Greenfinch, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldfinches, 14 Tufted Duck, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 2 Coot, 2 Greylag Geese and 1 Common Buzzard.

This afternoon we spent half an hour at a very breezy Minnis Bay and recorded 5 Gannets flying E, 4 Sandwich Terns flying E, 200 Sanderling going to roost, 12 Curlew and 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying W.

 April 1st

April began as March ended with bright and sunny conditions but with a chilly NE wind blowing. At Reculver we saw 6 Cetti's Warblers, 23 Linnets, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Redshank, 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck, 12 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 1 Blackcap, 4 Sand Martins, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 7 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Mallard and 1 Grey Heron.

A noisy Greylag Goose