April 30th
The last day of April dawned sunny with a fresh SW breeze. We walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 2 Pied Wagtails, 5 Sandwich Terns, 19 Linnets W, 1 Whitethroat, 8 Cormorants, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Kestrel, 1 Whimbrel W, 18 Swallows W, 2 Swifts W, 4 Redshank, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 22 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Cuckoos including a hepatic female, 5 Common Terns, 1 Mallard, 2 Sand Martins W, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Wheatears, 8 Sedge Warblers, 7 Reed Warblers, 1 Little Owl, 8 Turnstone, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Little Egrets and 2 Shelduck.
We also met David Barnes who had arrived before us and had seen a Little Ringed Plover on the beach.

Turnstone

April 29th
On a very blustery morning we completed our usual walk and recorded 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 18 Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 16 Linnets, 5 Swallows, 4 Golden Plovers, 2 Cuckoos, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Lapwings, 5 Cormorants, 10 Sedge Warblers, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Mallard, 8 Goldfinches W, 43 Oystercatchers, 4 Sandwich Terns W, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Mute Swans, 7 Coot, 3 Wheatears, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Turnstone, 2 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron and 32 Sand Martins.

Male Northern Wheatear

April 28th
On a similar morning to yesterday but with a SW wind blowing instead of NE we did our usual walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and inland. We counted 21 Whitethroats, 16 Linnets, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 2 Cuckoos, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Garden Warblers having a vocal contest, 11 Mallard, 4 Common Terns, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Oystercatchers, 6 Ringed Plovers, 12 Goldfinches W, 18 Swallows W, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 8 Sedge Warblers, 1 Turnstone, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whimbrel, 6 Coot, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 25 Sand Martins and 1 Green Woodpecker.
Derek Smith was also out this morning at 0600 and spent four hours walking from Shuart to the seawall, on to Chamber's Wall and back along the railway embankment. He saw 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Sandwich Terns W, 120 Swallows W, 8 House Martins W, 3 Yellow Wagtails W, 36 Meadow Pipits W, 74 Goldfinches W, 31 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps, 28 Sedge Warblers,3 Reed Warblers, 4 Willow Warblers, 10 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 1 Wheatear.

Male Yellow Wagtail

April 27th
On a cool, blustery but sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then inland. We saw 19 Whitethroats, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 21 Linnets, 3 Chiffchaffs, 13 Sedge Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 30 Swallows, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Reed Warblers, 8 Coot, 12 Mallard, 7 Redshank, 2 Gadwall, 1 Whimbrel, 9 Mute Swans, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Gannet E, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Turnstone, 3 Common Terns, 3 Greenshank, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Tufted Duck, 10 Sand Martins, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrels and 1 Garden Warbler.

Ringed Plover

April 26th
As forecast there was an overnight change in the weather so that as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Reculver there was a fresh and cool NE breeze blowing heavy drizzle in off the sea. We managed to see 5 Blackcaps, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Green Woodpecker, 10 Reed Warblers, 8 Mute Swans, 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Swift (154th), 30 Sand Martins, 1 Garden Warbler, 15 Swallows, 1 Gannet E, 11 Sandwich Terns E, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 migrant Song Thrushes, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Merlin, 12 Shelduck, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 13 Mallard, 1 male Whinchat, 11 Oystercatchers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Sedge Warblers, 4 Dunlin, 1 Shoveler, 2 Curlew, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Whimbrel, 1 Little Egret, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Common Tern and 1 Hobby.
Between 0600 and 1000 Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and then along the railway embankment to Chamber's Wall and Potten Street. Birds he counted included 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Hobby W, 1 Merlin W, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 13 Blackcaps, 33 Whitethroats, 3 Reed Warblers, 27 Sedge Warblers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Cetti's Warblers and 3 Willow Warblers.

April 25th
This morning Matt arrived at Reculver before us and walked round the area and recorded a male Common Redstart, a male Channel Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 60 Sand Martins and 1 Wheatear.
 We then drove over to Chamber's Wall and walked back to Reculver seeing 3 Blackcaps, 29 Swallows W, 7 Whitethroats, 5 Wheatears, 12 Linnets, 11 Sedge Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Ring Ouzels, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Mute Swan, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 18 Yellow Wagtails W, 2 Gadwall, 2 Mallard, 5 Shelduck, 8 Redshank, 6 Common Terns E, 1 Whimbrel, 17 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Plover, 6 Turnstone, 2 Shoveler, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Little Owl.
Back at Reculver the three of us walked inland and simultaneously identified a Red-rumped Swallow (152nd) flying around with 60 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows and 10 House Martins. Matt managed to shoot off a few photos in the very dull conditions of this the fourth Red-rumped Swallow for the area.

Red-rumped Swallow

 Other birds seen on our walk included 1 Shelduck, 1 Jay, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 6 Coot, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler (153rd), 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 12 Mute Swans and 16 Tufted Duck.
I received a phone call from David Barnes at 1200 to say, that unaware of our sighting, he had just had a Red-rumped Swallow fly W at Bishopstone with 4 Swallows. I would imagine it was almost certainly the same bird we saw earlier.

April 24th
With the wind moving from NE to SW overnight it was much warmer this morning and good numbers of migrants had appeared as we walked at Shuart this morning. We saw 5 Chiffchaffs, 13 Blackcaps, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 11 Whitethroats, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Jay, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 12 Sedge Warblers, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 1 House Martin, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Snipe, 5 Swallows, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Eider, 1 Willow Warbler, 14 Linnets, 3 Mute Swans, 1 Golden Plover, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Lapwing, 1 Whinchat (150th), 2 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Hobby (151st).
We then visited Minnis Bay where Andy Luckhurst had seen an adult Yellow-legged Gull earlier but without success but we did see 2 Fulmars and 5 Sandwich Terns.
At 1140 2 Red Kites drifted W over our garden.
This afternoon we walked around the Oyster Farm lagoons and saw 12 Linnets, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Mallard, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Greenshank, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Redshank, 9 Turnstone, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Ringed Plovers, 4 Sandwich Terns W, 1 Whimbrel and 2 Wheatears.

Bar-tailed Godwit

April 23rd
Matt was out early and walked around the Reculver area recording 2 male Ring Ouzels, 2 Reed Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 9 Whitethroats, 1 Little Owl, 9 Sand Martins, 6 Shelduck, 2 Grey Partridges, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Jays, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Swallows, 2 Song Thrushes and 1 Cuckoo.
We met Matt at Reculver at 0750 and drove to Chamber's Wall before walking back to Reculver. We saw 2 Willow Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 38 Swallows, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 House Martins W, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Gadwall, 2 Sparrowhawks, 6 Mallard, 9 Mute Swans, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Eider, 8 Little Terns E (149th)  at Coldharbour, 1 Cuckoo, 22 Oystercatchers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Little Egrets W at sea, 4 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Fulmar W, 8 Linnets, 5 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Sand Martins, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Little Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Grey Herons and 2 Kestrels.

Mistle Thrush

April 22nd
With an easterly breeze still blowing we walked the Chamber's Wall/Coldharbour/Green Wall loop before dropping in at Reculver on the way home. Birds seen included 4 Blackcaps, 18 Sedge Warblers, 8 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 24 Linnets, 11 Mute Swans, 9 Mallard, 18 Oystercatchers, 9 Swallows W, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Shoveler, 7 Cormorants, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Corn Buntings, 1 Wheatear, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Grebe, 6 Coot, 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Buzzard and 8 Sand Martins.




Drake Mallard

Mark Chidwick and Derek Smith were also out this morning and Mark found a female Pied Flycatcher (147th) at Chamber's Wall and Derek found a singing Grasshopper Warbler (148th) at Shuart.



Grasshopper Warbler - Marc Heath



April 21st
On yet another beautiful, cloudless morning we visited various sites at Reculver and then had a walk at Chamber's Wall. We saw 10 Swallows W, 15 Goldfinches, 1 Curlew, 20 Linnets, 58 Sand Martins excavating holes at the Reculver colony, 1 Kestrel, 4 Shelduck, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Grey Partridges, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Mallard, 6 Whitethroats, 7 Mute Swans, 6 Coot, 8 Tufted Duck, 6 Sedge Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 male "Greenland" Wheatear.

Whitethroat

April 20th
This morning we completed the Chamber's Wall/Coldharbour/Green Wall circuit with Anne walking clockwise and me walking the opposite way. On a beautiful sunny morning between us we saw 5 Chiffchaffs, 17 Sedge Warblers, 12 Swallows W, 12 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 9 Cormorants,1 Fulmar W, 10 displaying Shelduck in Coldharbour, 8 Mallard, 2 Redshank, 18 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Terns (145th), 1 Curlew, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Corn Buntings, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Little Egret, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Gadwall, 4 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Little Grebe, 12 Sand Martins, 10 Tufted Duck, 6 Coot, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 House Martin.

Displaying Shelduck

Barry Hunt was also out this morning and saw a Red Kite at Chamber's Wall and a Reed Warbler (146th) at Reculver and in addition 1 Wheatear, 3 Whimbrel W, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit on the beach, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 1 Cuckoo calling at the bottom of Shuart Lane.

Red Kite



April 19th
It was overcast this morning with less wind as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall before visiting Reculver. We saw 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 19 Linnets, 8 Sedge Warblers, 5 Mallard, 6 Mute Swans, 21 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Turnstone, 3 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls E, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Swallows, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebes, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Goldfinches and 1 Common Buzzard.
Marc Heath was also out on the Marsh this morning and in addition saw 1 Turtle Dove (144th) and 2 Ring Ouzels.

April 18th
Almost the first bird we saw as we walked away from the car park at Chamber'sWall was a Great White Egret (142nd) flying east past the White Poplars against a brisk NE wind. Unfortunately it didn't stop. This was the fourth record for the area and the fifth bird. Other birds we saw on a blustery but sunny morning were 7 Mallard, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Common Redstart, 2 Swallows, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 8 Sedge Warblers, 5 Redshank, 27 Oystercatchers, 1 summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, 14 Mute Swans, 3 Goldfinches, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Shelduck, 10 Linnets, the first 2 Lesser Whitethroats (143rd) of the year, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 6 Coot, 10 Tufted Duck and 1 Grey Heron.

Summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit

April 17th
It wasn't a very exciting morning with a cool gusty E wind blowing as we walked to Coldharbour and then visited Reculver. We saw 2 Blackcaps, 5 Goldfinches, 2 Whitethroats, 12 Mallard, 3 Chiffchaffs, 14 Mute Swans, 5 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 5 Coot, 1 Sedge Warbler, 22 Oystercatchers, 8 Redshank, 5 Cormorants, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Golden Plovers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Scoter E, 1 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 18 Tufted Duck and 2 Swallows. There were also 20 Sand Martins beginning to excavate holes at the Reculver colony.

April 16th
With the weather reverting to a normal April morning with sunshine and a cool ENE breeze we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then visited Reculver on the way home. Birds we saw included 1 Common Redstart, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 10 Linnets, 5 Sedge Warblers, 12 Mute Swans, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Shoveler, 5 Coot, 4 Oystercatchers, 8 Redshank, 42 Turnstone, 1 Fulmar E, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 7 Mallard, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Swallows, 1 Little Grebe, 16 Tufted Duck and 1 Green Woodpecker.
This morning Micky Baldock had a Firecrest singing briefly at Bishopstone Glen.