April 30th
The last day of April dawned sunny but cool so we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 1 Pied Wagtail, 38 Mute Swans, 27 Linnets W, 2 Marsh Harriers, 18 Cormorants, 48 Swallows W, 9 Whitethroats, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Shelduck, 11 Oystercatchers, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Redshank, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Dunlin, 1 Gadwall, 7 Mallard, 13 Goldfinches, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 House Martin W, 4 Turnstone, 1 Black Redstart, 40 Sand Martins, 6 Reed Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Grey Herons, 9 Tufted Ducks, 2 Common Buzzards and 1 Great Spotted Woodpeckers. We also met two birders who had seen a Common Sandpiper (157th) in the Oyster Farm.
Later I saw a Red Kite flying W at Chamber's Wall as I was looking unsuccessfully for the Wryneck (158th) seen by Jim Bloor earlier at Chamber's Wall car park. However Alex and Julian Perry and Derek Smith refound it after lunch and we had extremely good views of this often difficult to see species. We usually see this species in autumn with only eleven out of the thirty six Reculver sightings in spring.

Wryneck - Alex Perry



April 29th
On a completely different day to yesterday with a fresh, cool SW wind blowing we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then inland at Reculver. We saw 16 Mallard, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Grey Heron, 12 Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Reed Warbler, 11 Cormorants, 3 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Lapwing, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls E, 16 Turnstone, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Little Egret, 20 Sand Martins, 12 Tufted Ducks, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 1 Willow Warbler.

Male and female Mallard

April 28th
We had excellent weather and excellent birds this morning as we walked east from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland to Chamber's Wall and back along the railway embankment and the Oyster Farm. We saw 1 Black Redstart, 5 Pied Wagtails, 12 Swallows W, 52 Mute Swans, 34 Whitethroats, 5 Shelduck, 1 Little Owl, 51 Linnets W, 17 Turnstone, 2 Whinchats, 3 Marsh Harriers, 8 Little Egrets, 10 Mallard, 3 Redshank, 32 Goldfinches W, 7 Oystercatchers, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Gadwall, 4 Ringed Plovers, 13 Cormorants, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Swifts W, 4 Grey Partridges, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Common Terns (155th), 1 Whimbrel, 2 Shoveler, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Lapwing, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 female Common Redstarts, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Hobby (156th) and 25 Sedge Warblers.

Immature Cormorant

This afternoon we walked inland from Reculver and recorded 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 7 Blackcaps, 5 Mallard, 12 Tufted Ducks, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Reed Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 20 Sand Martins and 1 Yellow Wagtail.
At Grenham Bay today Terry Wilson had 4 Common Scoter and at Minnis Bay he saw 3 Swallows, 1 House Martin and his first Swift this year.
This evening Julian Perry found a Red Kite flying W at Chamber's Wall.

April 27th
On another cold, sunny and blustery morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall before visiting Reculver on the way home. We recorded 23 Mute Swans, 12 Mallard, 25 Whitethroats, 8 Shelduck, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cuckoo, 11 Cormorants, 21 Linnets, 2 Gadwall, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 15 Sand Martins, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Coot, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Reed Warblers and 2 Green Woodpeckers.
This afternoon at Shuart and Chamber's Wall we saw 2 Cuckoos, 1 female Common Redstart, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Ring Ouzel.

Male and female Shelduck

April 26th
With a cold northerly wind blowing on a sunny morning we walked at Reculver and Shuart. Birds we saw at Reculver included 4 Goldfinches, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 continental Song Thrush, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Mallard and 6 ducklings, 1 Turtle Dove, 12 Tufted Ducks, 2 Coot, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Bramblings, 1 Little Egret, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
At Shuart we found 4 Blackcaps, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Goldcrests, 5 Whitethroats, 8 Lapwings, 8 Whimbrel in from the SE, 2 Grey Herons, 1 female Common Redstart, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Jay, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Kestrel.

April 25th
Although the weather was miserable this morning we ended up with a good tally of species. We started and finished at Reculver and between these visits walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. At Reculver we saw 1 Black Redstart, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 14 Blackcaps, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 24 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows, 9 Tufted Ducks, 1 House Martin, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Bramblings, 2 Reed Warblers and 1 Red Kite W.
At Chamber's Wall and Coldharbour we had 1 Cuckoo, 2 Willow Warblers, 9 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 House Martins, 1 Swallow, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Tree Pipit W, 1 Common Redstart, 2 Gadwall, 7 Mallard, 14 Linnets, 1 Marsh Harriers, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank and 2 Tufted Ducks.

Male Brambling

Red Kite

April 24th
I arrived at Chamber's Wall just as the early morning rain ceased although there was still a biting NW wind blowing. I walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then visited Reculver and saw 8 Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Mallard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Wheatear, 1 Fulmar E, 16 Sanderling, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Swallows, 11 Tufted Duck, 16 Sand Martins, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Turtle Dove and 1 Kestrel.

April 23rd
The cool and breezy weather with a northerly wind continued this morning as we walked at Reculver and Shuart. We recorded 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 7 Goldfinches, 9 Blackcaps, 7 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kestrel, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Mallard, 11 Tufted Ducks, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Shelduck, 2 Lapwings, 2 Jays, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Red-legged Partridges, 8 Linnets, 1 male Stonechat and 18 Sand Martins.

Male and female Tufted Duck

April 22nd
On a chilly morning with a fresh NE breeze blowing in off the sea we visited Chamber's Wall, Coldharbour and Reculver. Birds we saw included 5 Whitethroats, 1 Green Woodpecker, 7 Chiffchaffs, 7 Mallard, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Redshank, 2 Shelduck, 4 Swallows W, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Curlew, 7 Turnstone, 5 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Goldfinches, 14 Tufted Ducks, 20 Sand Martins and 1 Common Buzzard.

Bar-tailed Godwits

April 21st
An early start could not refind the Iberian Chiffchaff at Reculver bushes so we drove to Chamber's Wall and saw 13 Linnets, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Gadwall, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Cormorants, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the rough field to the east of the White Poplars, 2 Whitethroats, 5 Mallard, 1 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Wheatear, 1 Curlew, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard, 14 Tufted Ducks, 1 Willow Warbler, 16 Sand Martins, 2 Swallows and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Male Wheatear buffeted by the cold NE wind

April 20th
We began the morning at Chamber's Wall and walked to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall with sun shining but a chilly easterly wind blowing. We saw 1 Common Buzzard, 6 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 26 Mute Swans, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Gadwall, 23 Linnets, 1 Willow Warbler, 11 Mallard, 1 Wheatear, 3 Redshank, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 33 Corn Buntings, 2 Little Egrets, 7 Cormorants, 3 Shelduck, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Kestrel.
We then visited Reculver and found 3 Blackcaps, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 26 Sand Martins, 11 Tufted Duck, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Coot and 1 Sparrowhawk.

At Reculver bushes this morning we initially heard and then saw a strange Chiffchaff but viewing conditions were difficult with the wind and this quick moving bird keeping on the far side of the bushes and within the foliage. Matt immediately said that he thought that it might be an IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF (154th) but looking at its plumage we persuaded ourselves that it could be an atypical Siberian bird. However looking at our not very good photos back at home its plumage seemed rather too bright for Siberian and it didn't have black legs. We decided to have another look after lunch which coincided with a call from Frank Cackett also suggesting it might be an Iberian Chiffchaff.
It was still singing intermittently when we refound it but approached very closely and sang repeatedly when we played an Iberian Chiffchaff recording a couple of times. Its full song which we managed to record was "chiff-chiff-chiff-weet-weet-weet and ended with a trill but for some of the time it only sang the first parts of its song. Its call note was a very distinctive downward "see-u."
In better light this afternoon we were able to see that it was brighter than it appeared this morning and managed some not very good photos in amongst the foliage which hopefully show most of the necessary detail.
Photos 3 and 4 in the series below were taken in the morning when light conditions were not so good.
This is a new species for Reculver Marshes and if accepted by BBRC it will be number 301.

Iberian Chiffchaff

April 19th
This morning, with the sun shining brightly, we walked from Shuart Farm to Plumpudding lagoon and then visited Reculver on the way home. Birds we saw included 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 10 Blackcaps, 4 Jays, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Sparrowhawks, 6 Chiffchaffs, 7 Whitethroats, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Swallows, 1 Sand Martin, 13 Sedge Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Whinchat (152nd), 18 Linnets, 19 Meadow Pipits, 1 Redshank, 24 Sanderling, 5 Turnstone, 2 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 White Wagtail, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Willow Warblers, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Turtle Dove (153rd) and 1 Goldcrest singing.

Male Pied Wagtail

April 18th
We had our first spring ringing session at Shuart this morning during which time we saw 1 Common Buzzard, 8 Blackcaps, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Whitethroats, 7 Lapwings, 2 Mallard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Siskins, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Mediterranean Gulls flying E and calling, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Jays, 6 Greenfinches, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 drumming Snipe, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Brambling, 1 Tree Pipit, 3 Swallows, 1 Kestrel, 1 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Red-legged Partridges.

13 birds ringed: 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Wrens, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Song Thrush.

Derek Smith was also out walking form Shuart, along the railway embankment to Chamber's Wall and back along Potten Street. He recorded 6 House Martins W, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (150th), 2 Yellow Wagtails,  1 Swift W (151st) and 1 male Ring Ouzel, 14 Blackcaps, 29 Whitethroats, 21 Sedge Warblers, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 19 Chiffchaffs and 2 Willow Warblers.

Grasshopper Warbler - Derek Smith

Ring Ouzel - Derek Smith

He also saw 5 species of butterfly; Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Peacock, Small White and Speckled Wood.

April 17th
This morning we birded at Reculver and also walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm. We saw 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Little Egrets, 11 Yellow Wagtails W, 4 Willow Warblers, 57 Linnets W, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Whitethroats, 9 Sedge Warblers, 23 Swallows, 1 Black Redstart, 7 Shelduck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Marsh Harriers, 12 Mallard, 7 Mute Swans, 4 Redshank, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Shoveler, 4 Turnstone, 13 Goldfinches W, 5 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Gadwall, 1 Kestrel, 5 Corn Buntings, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk and 9 Tufted Ducks.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese

Earlier Marc Heath had found 3 Ruff (149th) in the Oyster Farm lagoons.
Derek Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment to the White Poplars and recorded 6 Common Buzzards, 1 Red Kite W, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 40 Swallows W, 12 House Martins W, 6 Yellow Wagtails W, 1 Cuckoo, 1 male Common Redstart, 9 Blackcaps, 18 Whitethroats, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 16 Sedge Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler, 26 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers, 5 Cetti's Warblers and 15 Corn Buntings.

Lesser Whitethroat - Derek Smith

April 16th
As forecast it was a chilly and cloudy morning with a cool NW wind blowing. We started at Shuart and recorded 40 Linnets, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Jays, 1 Mallard, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Lapwing, 2 Swallows, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets and 1 Pied Wagtail.
Later at Reculver we found 4 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 15 Swallows, 17 Sand Martins, 1 House Martin, 11 Tufted Ducks, 2 Coot, 1 Whitethroat, 29 Mute Swans, 1 Teal and 1 Willow Warbler.

Male Linnet