May 4th
It was a dull morning as we completed our walk and saw 2 Blackcaps, 16 Reed Warblers, 16 Skylarks, 10 Sedge Warblers, 21 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chaffinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Moorhen, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Linnets, 1 Shoveler, 3 Shelduck, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Coot, 18 Oystercatchers, 1 Ringed Plover, 15 Turnstone, 2 Gannets E, 6 Meadow Pipits, 1 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Cormorants, 12 Swallows, 1 Pied Wagtail, 110 Sanderling, 1 Common Tern, 5 Greylag Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Mallard, 4 Swifts, 1 Chiffchaff and 4 Goldfinches.

Sanderling moulting into summer plumage

Sea Kale

May 3rd
This morning on our walk we recorded 5 Blackcaps, 1 Common Buzzard, 6 Chaffinches, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Coot, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Whitethroats, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Sedge Warblers, 1 Sand Martin, 6 Skylarks, 2 Mallard, 72 Carrion Crows, 18 Mute Swans, 4 Reed Buntings, 2 Swallows, 3 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel and 2 House Martins.

Mute Swan nest

Between 0530 and 0900 Marc Heath walked from Chamber's Wall to Reculver and back. He recorded 18 Whitethroats, 20 Reed Warblers, 27 Sedge Warblers, 5 Mallard, 7 Skylarks, 4 Pheasants, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Chaffinches, 1 Blackcap, 14 Linnets, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Shelduck, 8 Reed Buntings, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Cormorants, 2 Shoveler, 4 Meadow Pipits, 13 Oystercatchers, 7 Greylag Geese, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Redwing, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 22 Turnstone, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Sandwich Tern, 15 Corn Buntings, 3 Coot, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Stonechat, 2 Little Egrets, 33 Swallows, 14 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins, 1 Kestrel, 12 Mute Swans, 3 Swifts, 2 Gadwall, 2 Common Terns, 138 Sanderling, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Tufted Duck and 1 Willow Warbler.

May 2nd
It was bright and breezy this morning as we walked around the area and recorded 6 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Chaffinches, 31 Sand Martins, 5 Goldfinches, 7 Whitethroats, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Reed Warblers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Coot, 3 Swallows, 3 Reed Buntings, 4 Skylarks, 1 Whinchat (157th), 2 Meadow Pipits, 15 Linnets, 2 Common Terns, 2 Shelduck, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 male White Wagtail, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

Whinchat

Marc Heath was out from 0530 to 0845 and walked from Chamber's Wall to Reculver and back. He saw 4 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 17 Whitethroats, 13 Reed Warblers, 25 Sedge Warblers, 6 Reed Buntings, 11 Linnets, 7 Mallard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Pheasants, 6 Skylarks, 11 Shelduck, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 1 Coot, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Greylag Geese, 18 Turnsone, 1 White Wagtail, 6 Meadow Pipits, 84 Sanderling, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Stonechats, 1 Canada Goose flying W, 37 Corn Buntings, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Little Egrets, 6 House Martins, 8 Sandwich Terns, 1 Gadwall, 2 Common Sandpipers W, 16 Swift, 16 Mute Swans, 4 Sand Martins. 12 Swallows, 3 Common Terns, 2 Shoveler and 1 Willow Warbler.

Male Shoveler - Marc Heath

Alex Perry found a Black Redstart at Reculver Towers this morning.

May 1st
On a sunny and blustery morning the showers appeared to slipping past south of us as we completed our walk in the area. Birds we saw between us included 1 Kingfisher, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 55 Corn Buntings, 9 Greylag Geese, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Wheatear, 9 Sandwich Terns, 8 Whimbrel, 46 Turnstone, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Eider 1 flying E, 1 Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Tufted Ducks, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Shoveler, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 130 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 2 Sand Martins W, 8 Swallows W, 9 Swifts W, 2 Common Terns, 1 female Stonechat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler in the Oyster Farm, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Little Ringed Plovers W (156th), 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ravens W, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Lapwings, 3 Blackcaps, 15 Sedge Warblers, 12 Skylarks, 17 Reed Warblers, 17 Linnets, 25 Whitethroats, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Mallard, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank, 7 Ringed Plovers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Meadow Pipits, 8 Reed Buntings and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Greylag Goose family

Ringed Plover

Sanderling

Marc Heath walked from Chamber's Wall to Reculver and back between 0530 and 0900. He recorded 19 Sedge Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 12 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard, 7 Reed Buntings, 7 Cormorants, 8 Skylarks, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grasshopper Warbler at Chamber's Wall, 3 Pheasants, 3 Swallows, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 9 Linnets, 3 Shoveler, 17 Shelduck, 2 Corn Buntings, 4 Oystercatchers, 5 Mallard, 7 Greylag Geese, 1 House Martin, 3 Sand Martins, 1 Redshank, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Meadow Pipits, 6 Turnstone, 4 Ringed Plovers, 110 Sanderling, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Wheatears, 2 Stonechats, 29 Mute Swans, 1 Gannet, 5 Sandwich Terns, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 6 Common Terns, 1 Dunlin and 3 Swifts.

April 30th
It was blustery and showery this morning on our daily walk and we saw 1 Cuckoo, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Curlew, 10 Whimbrel, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Sanderling, 1 Grey Plover, 2 pairs of Stonechat, 21 Shelduck including 15 flying E, 12 Swallows W, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Swift W, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Common Terns, 8 Greylag Geese, 3ad + 5juv, 1 Sand Martin W, 2 House Martins W, 4 Sandwich Terns W, 1 Short-eared Owl and 1 Fulmar. We also recorded 130 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 28 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper (155th), 3 Wheatears, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Little Egret, 2 Shoveler, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Merlin W, 1 Goldcrest,  1 Firecrest singing, 16 Whitethroats, 10 Sedge Warblers, 6 Skylarks, 10 Reed Warblers, 3 Goldfinches, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 6 Oystercatchers, 8 Ringed Plovers, 2 Coot, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Blackcap and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

April 29th
This morning dawned with sunny periods and the odd light shower early on. During our walk we recorded 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 7 Whimbrels W, 1 Curlew, 1 Greenshank W, 11 Bar-tailed Godwits W, 8 Dunlin, 2 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Short-eared Owl, 37 Turnstone, 6 Shelduck, 28 Oystercatchers E, 28 Swallows W, 2 Common Terns, 3 Grey Plovers E, 9 Redshank, 6 Ringed Plovers, 14 Yellow Wagtails W, 2 Little Egrets, 75 House Martins W, 2 Sand Martins W, 1 Grey Partridge, 11 Swifts W, 2 Fulmars, 65 Corn Buntings, 1 Stonechat, 1 Hobby W, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Sanderling, 2 Blackcaps, 13 Reed Warblers, 10 Skylarks, 14 Whitethroats, 2 Chaffinches, 15 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 11 Sedge Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Linnets W, 3 Greylag Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Coot, 2 Reed Buntings and 1 Kestrel.

Turnstone moulting into summer plumage

Marc Heath was also out this morning and between 0545 and 0915 walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall. He saw 3 Blackcaps, 1 Kestrel, 9 Whitethroats, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 18 Oystercatchers, 5 Reed Buntings, 6 Sedge Warblers, 3 Meadow Pipits, 5 Shelduck, 5 Grey Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, 13 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 7 Dark-bellied Brent Geese E, 5 Linnets, 8 Mallard, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Pheasants, 4 Reed Warblers, 2 Curlew, 4 Little Egrets, 38 Corn Buntings, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Stonechat, 7 Skylarks, 3 Greylag Geese, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Shoveler, 1 Wheatear, 1 Short-eared Owl, 6 Dunlin, 2 Mediterranean Gulls W, 50 House Martins, 6 Swifts, 20 Swallows, 1 Greenshank, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Common Terns and 3 Redshank.
A Red Kite flew E at Bishopstone at 1320 just before the rain arrived.

April 28th
There had been a sigmificant change in the weather overnight and this morning was rainy with a chilly NE wind blowing. Birds seen on a very wet walk included 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats singing along seawall, 4 Mediterranean Gulls flying W, 1 Whimbrel E, 8 Swallows E, 2 Fulmars, 2 Shoveler,3 Greylag Geese, 2 Sandwich Terns E, 1 Stonechat, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits E and 1 large auk E.
This afternoon we saw 4 House Martins (153rd), 4 Swifts (154th), 30 Swallows, 8 Whimbrel and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits.

April 27th
This morning we saw 5 Blackcaps, 11 Skylarks, 13 Reed Warblers, 3 Mallard, 16 Whitethroats, 15 Sedge Warblers, 2 Swallows, 10 Reed Buntings, 12 Linnets, 2 Chaffinches, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Redshank, 1 Shelduck, 23 Sand Martins, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Sanderling, 2 Turnstone, 2 Meadow Pipits, 29 Mute Swans, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 4 Coot, 2 Shoveler, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Gadwall, 1 Cuckoo and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Male Gadwall

Alex Perry also heard the Grasshopper Warbler and saw 2 Mediterranean Gulls.

Sedge Warbler - Alex Perry

Bob Hinge also saw 1 Short-eared Owl and 1 summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit.

April 26th
With the fine sunny weather continuing we completed our regular walk and recorded 11 Blackcaps, 1 Turtle Dove (150th), 9 Whitethroats, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Chiffchaffs, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Skylarks, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Mallard, 10 Reed Warblers, 39 Mute Swans, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Reed Buntings, 2 Sand Martins, 7 Linnets, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Mediterranean Gulls NW, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Hobby (151st), 14 Swallows, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Kestrel, 2 Wheatears, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Sedge Warblers, 1 Pied Wagtail and 2 Mistle Thrushes.

Turtle Dove

Marc Heath walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall between 0545 and 0930. Birds he saw included 3 Chiffchaffs, 12 Whitethroats, 3 Little Egrets, 30 Mediterranean Gulls E, 1 Kingfisher, 11 Stock Doves, 19 Sedge Warblers, 4 Shelduck, 4 Meadow Pipits, 15 Linnets, 4 Redshank, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Whimbrel, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Avocet E, 4 Pheasants, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Wheatear, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Jay, 2 Bullfinches (152nd), 10 Corn Buntings, 10 Reed Warblers, 8 Mallard, 6 Reed Buntings, 29 Turnstone, 1 Greylag Goose, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Shoveler, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Swallows, 1 Fulmar and 3 Ringed Plovers.
A Red Kite flew W at Bishopstone at 1310.

April 25th
On an overcast morning with a chilly NE wind blowing we completed our walk and recorded 2 Blackcaps, 14 Whitethroats, 5 Swallows, 4 Goldfinches, 7 Reed Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 9 Skylarks, 10 Mallard, 8 Linnets, 5 Chaffinches, 15 Sedge Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Kestrels, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Shoveler, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Fieldfare, 5 Reed Buntings, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 8 Shelduck, 44 Carrion Crows, 1 Raven flying E and 1 Corn Bunting singing.

Reed Bunting collecting nesting material

Hoary Cress aka Thanet Weed

April 24th
With the fine weather continuing this morning our walk produced 14 Skylarks, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Moorhens, 8 Reed Warblers, 6 Reed Buntings, 12 Linnets, 12 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 24 Sedge Warblers, 2 Chaffinches, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Short-eared Owl, 4 Mallard, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Shoveler, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 38 Carrion Crows, 2 Coot, 3 Shelduck, 1 Redshank, 1 Meadow Pipit, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Swallows W, 2 Greylag Goose, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Kestrel and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Male Yellow Wagtail

Marc Heath was out early and between 0545 and 0915 walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall. He saw 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Blackcaps, 21 Whitethroats, 5 Pheasants, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 10 Stock Doves, 26 Linnets, 7 Cormorants, 9 Oystercatchers, 1 Kestrel, 3 Whimbrel, 5 Meadow Pipits, 8 Mallard, 9 Skylarks, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Shelduck, 29 Sedge Warblers, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Gadwall, 1 Reed Bunting, 14 Turnstone, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 7 Greylag Geese, 7 Reed Warblers, 1 Cuckoo (149th), 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 10 Corn Buntings, 6 Swallows, 7 Sand Martins, 1 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Shoveler, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Marsh Harrier.

Male Marsh Harrier - Marc Heath

A Red Kite flew W over our garden at Bishopstone at 1300 whilst 2 flew S over David Elliott's garden at Hillborough at 1400. He had also seen 5 Common Buzzards during the morning.

April 23rd
On a beautiful calm spring morning we completed our walks and recorded 6 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps, 1 Firecrest, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (148th), 1 male Common Redstart, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 5 Greylag Geese, 1 Greenshank, 1 Knot, 2 Stonechats, 1 Lapwing, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 45 Corn Buntings, 13 Swallows, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Chaffinches, 6 Skylarks, 14 Reed Warblers, 34 Mute Swans, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Willow Warbler, 8 Mallard, 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Coot. 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Sand Martins, 9 Linnets, 13 Cormorants, 1 Kestrel, 1 Wheatear, 1 Moorhen and 1 Common Buzzard.
We also saw our first Hairy Dragonfly of the year.

Wheatear

Common Whitethroat

Hairy Dragonfly

This afternoon at 1500, 3 Red Kites drifted W behind our gardens at Bishopstone.

Two of the three Red Kites at Bishopstone - Alex Perry

April 22nd
The wind had dropped somewhat on yet another sunny morning. Birds we saw included 8 Goldfinches, 8 Chaffinches, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 5 Whitethroats, 8 Skylarks, 14 Reed Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 10 Sand Martins, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Coot, 2 Mallard, 25 Mute Swans, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits (147th), 2 Whimbrel, 3 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Terns, 5 adult Mediterranean Gulls E, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Shoveler, 2 Stonechats, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Shelduck, 11 Linnets, 1 Kestrel, 8 Cormorants, 8 Stock Doves and 1 Jay.

Cormorant in breeding plumage

Stock Dove

Marc Heath was out at Reculver and walked to Chamber's Wall recording 1 Common Buzzard, 1 male Hen Harrier flying W out at sea, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 10 Oystercatchers, 9 Mallard, 6 adult Mediterranan Gulls E, 16 Stock Doves, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Little Egret, 6 Meadow Pipits, 1 Kestrel, 19 Sedge Warblers, 2 Stonechats, 10 Whitethroats, 5 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 14 Linnets, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Tern, 2 Grey Partridges, 9 Turnstone, 5 Reed Warblers, 25 Corn Buntings, 4 Reed Buntings, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Skylarks, 3 Shoveler, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Redshank, 7 Swallows, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Mute Swans and 1 Whimbrel.

April 21st
The weather and the birds were similar to yesterday on our walk this morning. We recorded 13 Linnets, 6 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, 6 Whitethroats, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Jay, 11 Reed Warblers, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Coot, 11 Mute Swans, 2 Mallard, 3 Chaffinches, 4 Skylarks, 1 Kestrel, 2 Pied Wagtail, 6 Sand Martins, 3 Reed Buntings and 1 Common Buzzard.

A bank of Greater Stitchwort

April 20th
It was another sunny morning but the chilly NE wind had increased in strength even more resulting in a relatively limited list of birds seen. We counted 3 Chaffinches, 4 Goldfinches, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Whitethroats, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 5 Skylarks, 4 Reed Warblers, 3 Mallard, 3 Mute Swans, 6 Linnets, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 35 House Sparrows, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Meadow Pipits and 1 Mistle Thrush.