March 31st
On a showery and cool morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and along the seawall. We saw 1 Brambling, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Yellowhammer, 6 Mallard, 10 Chaffinches, 1 Little Egret, 14 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Redshank, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Sparrowhawk, 7 Wheatears, 6 males and 1 female sitting on the new fence at Coldharbour and 14 Corn Buntings.
Marc Heath was also out and his highlights were 2 Grey Partridges, 6 Wheatears, 4 Mediterranean Gulls and 1 Black Redstart and 1 Sand Martin W (135th) at the Towers.

Wheatear - Marc Heath

March 30th
This morning we met Matt at Reculver and walked around the area before walking up to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 1 Wheatear (133rd) , 41 Red-throated Divers W, 1 Kingfisher (134th), 4 alba Wagtails, 14 Meadow Pipits, 10 Shelduck, 11 Goldfinches, 11 Linnets, 1 Gannet E, 7 Mute Swans, 2 Curlew, 11 Redshank, 6 Oystercatchers, 7 Mallard, 2 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Black Redstart, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Tufted Ducks, 19 Teal, 9 Gadwall, 6 Mallard, 2 Coot, 12 Mute Swans, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Goldcrest.

Our first male Wheatear of the year - Marc Heath

Derek Smith and Patrick Giles were also out this morning and covered the east end of the Marsh between 0700 and 1100. Their highlights were 2 Fulmars W, 1 Peregrine, 2 Black Redstarts, 2 Firecrests, 1 Wheatear, 1 Brambling flying N, 1 Blackcap and 9 Chiffchaffs.
At Grenham Bay Terry Wilson counted 3 Curlews, 5 Turnstone, 23 Redshank, 6 Grey Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 10 Oystercatchers and 30 Common Scoter.

March 29th
It was nice to be back at Reculver on a calm, cold but sunny morning. We walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and counted 3 Pied Wagtails, 21 Mute Swans, 1 Little Owl, 1 Grey Plover, 8 Ringed Plovers, 39 Oystercatchers, 6 Redshank, 13 Shelduck, 6 Mallard, 56 Carrion Crows, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Curlews, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Red Kite W out at sea and 1 male Stonechat

March 28th - Alentejo and Algarve

Male Rock Bunting

During the last week Anne and I have been in Portugal doing a spot of birding, unfortunately our break coincided with Storm Hugo with 40 mph winds, showers and cool temperatures. There were very few migrants to be seen which probably explains their lack in the UK. Blackcaps had begun arriving in small numbers on 27th and there were a few Swallows to be seen but generally it was very quiet.
We did however see some excellent birds with the highlight being good views of 2 juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagles being mobbed by a Black Kite. Other birds seen included 8 Great Bustards, 2 Purple Swamphens and 4 Great Spotted Cuckoos.

March 26th
This morning Bob Hinge saw a Black Redstart at the Oyster Farm and 65 Redshank roosting at Plumpudding Lagoon.

March 25th
Matt was out early again and walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and also inland at Reculver.  Birds seen were 3 Shags, 2 adults and 1 juvenile, 10 Red throated Divers, 1 Common Scoter, 3 Rock Pipits, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 19 Shelduck, 1 Gannet, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Siskin, 48 Oystercatchers, 8 Magpies high E, 1 Sparrowhawk, 12 Golden Plovers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Skua E, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 8 Mallard and 2 Coot.

March 24th

Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and then returned via the railway embankment. Birds seen were 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Black Redstart, 22 Meadow Pipits E, 3 Red throated Diver, 23 Shelduck, 6 Pied Wagtail, 2 Canada Goose E and then back W, 1 Little Egret, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull E, 4 alba Wagtails E, 1 Grey Plover, 16 Mallard, 3 Gadwall, 45 Common Scoter, 4 Marsh Harriers, 2 Rock Pipits, 2 Wigeon, 4 Curlew, 2 adult Shags, 48 Brent Geese, 50 Mute Swans, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Song Thrushes, 1 Redwing and 85 Starlings in off.

Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Minnis Bay and found 13 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Gannets E, 2 Canada Geese E, 1 adult Shag, 11 Chiffchaffs, 42 Lapwings, 4 Marsh Harriers, 12 Redwings and 4 Cetti's Warblers.

Black Redstart - Marc Heath

Adult Shag - Marc Heath

 

March 23rd
Matt spent an hour at Reculver this morning and saw 1 Black Redstart on the rocks below the Towers, 3 Red throated Diver and 1 adult Shag on the sea below Towers before flying E.
Derek Smith was also out between 1400 and 1700 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and recorded 130 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Common Buzzards, 1 Woodcock, 1 adult Shag and 6 Chiffchaffs.


Adult Shag - Derek Smith



Coltsfoot - Derek Smith

March 22nd
Matt was out early and birded most of the western end of the area. He started at Bishopstone and walked to Cold Harbour before returning to Bishopstone on an inland route.  Birds seen were 88 Brent Geese, 19 Shelduck, 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Goldcrests, 8 alba Wagtails, 8 Goldfinches, 3 Kestrels, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Curlew, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 20 Fieldfares W, 161 Golden Plovers, 82 Starlings, 2 Little Egrest, 5 Song Thrushes, 1 Rock Pipits, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Snipe, 270 Redwings W, 9 Corn Buntings, 1 Cettis Warbler, 12 Chaffinches, 1 Yellowhammers, 4 Siskin W (132nd), 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Firecrest, 3 Green Sandpipers, 87 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 1 Tufted Duck, 5 Gadwall, 9 Mallard, 1 Coot, 1 Heron, 2 Jays, 6 Grey Partridges and 13 Skylarks.

March 20th
Although still windy it was not as bitter as it has been over the last few days. This morning we had a walk in the Reculver area and recorded 41 Teal, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Green Woodpecker, 7 Gadwall, 4 Mallard, 1 Tufted Duck, 13 Mute Swans, 1 Shoveler, 1 male Goosander, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Coot, 100 Woodpigeons, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 51 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 Pied Wagtail.
Derek Smith was also out this morning birding Shuart, Plumpudding and Minnis Bay. He saw 1 Firecrest, 3 Chiffchaffs, 18 Song Thrushes, 40 Blackbirds and 320 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.
Dave Smith also saw a Firecrest at Bishopstone.

Male Goosander

March 19th
The bitter and strong E wind was still blowing this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then visited Reculver. We counted 81 Teal, 1 Green Woodpecker, 18 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Peregrine, 12 Shelduck, 10 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret, 18 Oystercatchers, 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Mute Swans, 4 Tufted Duck, 8 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 1 Redshank and 1 immature Kittiwake flying E.

March 18th
On another freezing morning Marc Heath walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall and found 3 Avocets (131st) on the Marsh south of Coldharbour, 1 Snipe, 2 Green Sandpipers, 20 Reed Buntings, 50 Corn Buntings, 1 Peregrine, 3 Yellowhammers, 2 Little Egrets, 14 Shelduck, 2 adult Little Gulls, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Marsh Harrier and 50 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.
During the morning one of the local residents found a colour ringed White Stork in the field by the Doctors' Surgery at Bishopstone. It turns out to be a captive bred male from the Swedish reintroduction scheme and was last seen flying towards Plumpudding.

White Strok

March 17th
After yesterday's glorious weather winter returned with a vengeance this morning with a freezing gale force easterly wind blowing in continuous snow. Marc Heath arrived at the Towers for a seawatch at 0645 followed by Matt and then me. Together we stayed there until 0930 and saw the following mainly flying east: 10 Barnacle Geese (128th), 3 Sandwich Terns (129th), 1 Snow Bunting briefly on the rocks, 1 Pintail W, 3 Fulmars, 25 Kittiwakes, 16 Little Gulls, 3 Shoveler W, 12 Teal W, 14 Shelduck W, 12 Wigeon W, 2 Grey Plovers, 160 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Common Scoter, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Turnstone, 7 Oystercatchers, 1 Knot, 3 Redshank, 1 Snipe, 1 Gannet, 1 Great Northern Diver (130th) and 2 Gadwall 2.
The Sandwich Terns were the earliest Reculver record beating the previous 2013 record by three days.

March 16th
On another beautiful spring morning we parked one car at Reculver and then drove the other to Minnis Bay and walked back to Reculver. We saw a good range of species including 212 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Linnets, 4 Stonechats, including 3 striking "continental" birds, 12 Redshank, 23 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 4 "alba" Wagtails W, 45 Common Scoter, 4 Ringed Plovers, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 33 Oystercatchers, 3 adult Little Gulls, 2 W out at sea and 1 inland at the Oyster Farm, 19 Shelduck, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Knot, 10 Mallard, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Little Egrets, 1 first winter Mediterranean Gull W, 35 Carrion Crows, 1 Slavonian Grebe (126th) on the sea off the Green Wall before flying E, 32 Corn Buntings and 11 Turnstone.
Also this morning Mike Puxley found 2 Black Redstarts, including an adult male at Reculver.

Knot

This afternoon we walked inland at Reulver before have a half hour seawatch. We saw 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 11 Mute Swans, 50 Stock Doves, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Ducks, 6 Teal, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels, 2 Eider (127th) offshore from the Towers and 6 Red-throated Divers.
The fine weather today brought out our first butterfly, a Small Tortoiseshell, as well as flowering Coltsfoot.



Small Tortoiseshell - Derek Smith

Coltsfoot

March 15th
The morning began with heavy rain but had dried up by mid-morning. We walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Chiffchaff on the rocks at Reculver, 1 Jay, 3 Black Redstarts, including 1 adult male, 134 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 16 Redshank, 2 White Wagtails, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Mute Swans, 87 Cormorants, 20 Oystercatchers, 9 Ringed Plovers, 17 Mallard, 17 Shelduck, 3 Gadwall, 5 Turnstones, 1 Marsh Harrier, 40 Carrion Crows, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egrets, 40 Common Scoter and 4 Great Crested Grebes.
In the late afternoon Derek Smith found 8 Chiffchaffs between Shuart and Plumpudding.