February 29th
After the rain cleared we spent half an hour at Minnis Bay this afteroon where a SW gale was still blowing and managed to see 4 Great Crested Grebes, 105 Cormorants, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 first year Mediterranean Gull and 16 Redshank.

A through the window shot of a male Sparrowhawk with one of our local House Sparrows

February 28th
We arrived at Reculver earlier than usual to avoid the threatened rain and managed to walk to Coldharbour and back before it started. There wasn't a great deal different to see but we counted 314 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Kestrel, 18 Mallard, 20 Redshank, 5 Mute Swans, 10 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 16 Turnstone, 6 Shelduck, 16 Ringed Plovers, 80 Corn Buntings, 5 Skylarks and 7 Grey Plovers.

Mallard

February 27th
Matt braved the pouring rain this morning and visited Minnis Bay where he saw 1 male Eider (118th), 1 Rock Pipit, 12 Red-throated Divers, 20 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Curlew and 40 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

February 26th
It was a bit of a struggle this morning because although the sun was shinning strongly there was a cold and blustery westerly gale blowing as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to the Wantsum outflow. With the tide out we managed to count 570 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Oystercatchers, 26 Ringed Plovers, 6 Turnstone, 15 Redshank, 3 Shelduck, 18 Mallard, 75 Corn Buntings, 2 Curlew, 5 Mute Swans, 60 House Sparrows and 1 Kestrel.

Kestrel

This afternoon we drove down to Minnis Bay and on the way had 2 Ravens flying over the Thanet Way near Netherhale Farm. At Minnis Bay we saw 1 Great Northern Diver flying W (117th) and 6 Great Crested Grebes.

February 25th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 611 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 12 Redshank, 4 Mute Swans, 14 Mallard, 13 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 1 Marsh Harrier, 26 Ringed Plovers, 6 Turnstone, 40 Corn Buntings, 6 Shelduck, 2 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Greylag Geese.

February 24th
On yet another damp and very windy morning we walked inland at Reculver and recorded 10 Chaffinches, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Mallard, 7 Cormorants, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 84 Carrion Crows, 3 Stonechats, 1 Grey Heron, 30 Corn Buntings, 1 Jay, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 6 Goldfinches.
After this we spent half an hour at Reculver car park where there was nothing to be seen except the usual early morning westerly movement of gulls. We counted 110 Herring Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 6 Common Gulls, 1 first winter Mediterranean Gull and 30 Black-headed Gulls.
Matt was also out this morning and walked from Shuart to Brooksend and back via Plumpudding and recorded 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Common Buzzards, 3 Greylag Geese, 19 Tufted Duck, 12 Mallard, 3 Gadwall, 3 Teal, 19 Coot, 48 Mute Swans, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets,2 Stonechats, 24 Song Thrushes, 21 Blackbirds, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Jays, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Chiffchaff and 4 Long-tailed Tits.

February 23rd
It was another very windy day as we walked at Reculver and recorded 85 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 5 Chiffchaffs, 8 Cormorants, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 82 Carrion Crows, 1 Jay and 2 Stonechats.

Blackthorn and Coltsfoot in flower

February 22nd
There was a 40mph SW gale blowing this morning as we visted various sites in the Reculver area. We managed to record 195 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Curlew, 4 Shelduck, 60 House Sparrows, 36 Stock Doves, 1 Common Buzzard, 5 Chiffchaffs, 15 Cormorants, 3 Stonechats, 104 Carrion Crows, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Moorhen, 2 Jays, 4 Goldfinches and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

February 21st
This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 590 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 96 Carrion Crows, 2 Greylag Geese, 4 Mute Swans, 3 Redshank, 7 Oystercatchers, 21 Mallard, 24 Turnstone, 80 House Sparrows, 10 Corn Buntings, 1 Tree Sparrow, 76 Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Plovers, 28 Sanderling, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Stonechat, 1 Little Egret and 2 Shelduck,

Winter plumaged Sanderling

February 20th
It was a drizzly and windy morning as we walked at various sites at Reculver and recorded 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Common Buzzard, 11 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 7 Cormorants, 14 Chaffinches, 96 Carrion Crows, 1 Grey Heron, 1 ring-tail Hen Harrier hunting along the back of the Oyster Farm, 4 Stonechats, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Jays, 350 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Shelduck and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

February 19th
On another sunny morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 560 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Great Crested Grebe flying W, 47 Oystercatchers, 1 Shelduck, 12 Turnstone, 3 Mute Swans, 16 Mallard, 9 Redshank, 30 Corn Buntings, 55 Ringed Plovers, 1 Red-throated Diver flying E, 6 Dunlin, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Purple Sandpipers and 6 Skylarks.

Winter plumaged Grey Plover

February 18th
There was a gap in the awful weather we have had recently and the sun was shining brightly as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We recorded 1 second winter Mediterranean Gull flying W (116th), 3 Red-throated Divers, 13 Redshank, 11 Mute Swans, 2 Greylag Geese, 97 Oystercatchers, 34 Ringed Plovers, 29 Turnstone, 3 Shelduck, 4 Sanderling, 116 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 30 Corn Buntings, 9 Dunlin, 7 Mallard, 1 Peregrine, 2 Stonechats, 5 Curlew, 1 Little Egret, 6 Skylarks and 1 Common Buzzard.

Winter plumaged Dunlin

February 17th
On a morning with a gale force SW wind blowing in heavy showers we walked inland at Reculver and Shuart. Birds we saw included 10 Chaffinches, 1 Mistle Thrush, 15 Blackbirds, 1 Green Woodpecker, 48 Carrion Crows, 36 Stock Doves, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 7 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Stonechats, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Jays, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 12 Mute Swans and 2 Mallard.

February 16th
Matt braved the elements this morning and walked inland at Reculver and saw 1 Common Buzzard, 12 Cormorants, 1 Coot, 1 Water Rail, 1 Fielfare, 1 Redwing, 70 Corn Buntings, 1 Yellowhammer, 15 Chaffinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Jay.
Later at Minnis Bay he recorded 2 Little Egrets, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Red-throated Divers.

February 15th
It was very windy again this morning so we walked inland at Reculver and counted 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 30 House Sparrows, 45 Stock Doves, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Sandpiper, 54 Carrion Crows, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 1 Mistle Thrush, 7 Chaffinches and 1 Jay.