November 30th

We had an excellent morning's birding whilst we were ringing on the Marsh south of the railway. We saw 48 Fieldfares, 4 Yellowhammers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Partridge, 5 Redwings, 20 Blackbirds, 1 Snipe, 1 Lapland Bunting, 176 Lapwings, 6 Bewick's Swans, 5 adults and 1 juvenile,  flying W and calling all the time (205th), 1 Marsh Harrier, 13 White-fronted Geese flying W, 1 Barnacle Goose with 12 of the Whitefronts and 2 Grey Herons, 

Birds ringed 20: Reed Bunting 3, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 7, Fieldfare 8.

Fieldfare

This afternoon Matt spent an hour and a half at Minnis Bay and counted 27 Common Scoter, 12 Great Crested Grebess, 27 Red-throated Divers, 16 Gannets, 30 Russian White-fronted Geese W, 1 Shoveler W, 24 Wigeon W, 2 male Eiders, 1 Great Northern Diver W, 1 Lapwing, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 male Goosander E, 90 Sanderling, 96 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 immature Peregrine in off the sea, 2 Curlews and 1 first winter Mediterranean Gull W.

Bob Dean was out and about from 0730 to 1030 and walked from Chambers Wall through to the sea and along the sea wall towards Reculver and then back via Coldharbour. He saw 18 Russian White-fronted Geese in a flock on the fields on the seaward side of the railway line. They flew onto the sea at Coldharbour, where he counted 14.  They were close to, but separate from, 97 Dark-bellied Brent Geese on the sea.  Whilst he was watching them the Whitefronts flew onto the fields and mingled with more Brent Geese. He had a very good couple of minutes near the west end of Coldharbour, when he saw a Bearded Tit and a Snow Bunting. On the groynes there was a female Kingfisher. It caught a fish and flew away over the sea, stopping at the next groynes before disappearing.

November 29th

After yesterday's beautiful weather this morning had returned to being overcast and damp as we again walked from Chamber's Wall to the Wantsum outflow. We saw a good range of species including 14 Blackbirds, 83 Cormorants, 3 Redwing, 1 female Merlin, 174 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Stonechat, 9 Mallard, 6 Redshank, 70 Ringed Plovers, 1 Shelduck, 29 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 16 Linnets, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 male Snow Bunting, 150 Oystercatchers, 6 Russian White-fronted Geese, 2 Curlew, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 9 Mute Swans, 20 Golden Plovers and 1 Kestrel.

Russian White-fronted Geese

Adult Russian White-fronted Goose

Male Snow Bunting

Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0900 and 1200 walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment. He recorded 5 Russian White-fronted Geese, 400 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 11 Wigeon, 11 Mallard, 90 Lapwings and at the Plumpudding roost there were 65 Grey Plovers, 120 Sanderling, 36 Redshank and 44 Ringed Plovers. He also saw 2 Stonechats, 6 Cetti's Warblers and 22 Siskins at Shuart.

During the morning Chris Gibbard saw a ring-tailed Hen Harrier near Brooksend.

There were another 8 Russian White-fronted Geese south of Reculver this afternoon as well as 36 Mute Swans, 2 Wigeon and 2 Chiffchaffs.

November 28th

On a beautiful winter's morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Wantsum outflow. Birds we saw included 32 Blackbirds, 190 Cormorants, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Goldfinches, 21 Redwings, 4 Goldcrests, 3 Greenfinches, 8 Fieldfares, 29 Chaffinches, 3 Stonechats, 8 Redshank, 2 Mallard, 11 Linnets, 5 Red-throated Divers, 124 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Gannets, 1 Great Northern Diver flying E, 12 Turnstone, 56 Ringed Plovers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel and 2 Snow Buntings feeding in the shade of the seawall before being flushed by two runners and flying towards Minnis Bay.

Snow Bunting

Chris Tedder saw a Sandwich Tern which is by far and away the latest record for the area.

November 27th

It was another dull and dank morning with a chilly north breeze blowing as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. We saw 1 Kestrel, 197 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Gannets, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Stonechats, 7 Corn Buntings, 4 Lapwings, 13 Turnstone, 14 Ringed Plovers, 1 Purple Sandpiper roosting on the beach with 10 Dunlin, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Redshank, 1 female Merlin flying out to sea by the Towers.

During the day Charlie Vint saw 1 Black Redstart on the rocks by the Towers and 1 Short-eared Owl at Oyster Farm lagoons.

November 26th

On a dull and overcast morning we walked from Reculver to Coldhabour and recorded 2,000+ Cormorants flying out to sea to feed, 4 Gannets, 1 Pied Wagtail, 72 Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshank, 334 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Curlew, 1 Kestrel, 22 Turnstone, 6 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 25 Oystercatchers, 26 Golden Plovers, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 4 Mallard, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Common Scoter E, 3 Red-throated Divers and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

November 25th

On our walk from Reculver to Coldharbour this morning we saw 132 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrels, 3 Pied Wagtails, 12 Meadow Pipits, 1 Little Egret, 2 Common Scoter flying E, 69 Ringed Plovers, 1 Corn Bunting, 17 Turnstone, 12 Reed Buntings, 21 Dunlin, 3 Red-throated Divers, 1 Water Rail calling, 4 Redshank, 1 Little Grebe, 120 Golden Plovers, 1 Stonechat, 9 Oystercatchers and 9 Mute Swans.

Grey Heron

Male Pied Wagtail

November 24th

This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Black Redstart, 40 Gannets, 2 Common Scoter, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Rock Pipit, 290 Cormorants, 2 Pied Wagtails, 29 Ringed Plovers, 5 Redshank, 2 Kestrels, 74 Oystercatchers, 6 Red-throated Divers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Plover, 10 Corn Buntings, 2 Dunlin, 17 Turnstone, 1 Siskin W, 8 Golden Plover, 2 Shelduck, 2 Stonechats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Curlew, 4 Little Grebes, 90 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 female Merlin.

Male Stonechat

November 23rd

We spent a still and increasingly sunny morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway and saw a good range of species including 5 Mute Swans, 3 Yellowhammers, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 25 Corn Buntings, 500 Cormorants, 1 Kestrel, 30 Chaffinches, 2 Fieldfares, 2 Snipe, 140 Golden Plover, 29 Tree Sparrows, 1 Sparrowhawk, 25 Reed Buntings, 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Pink-footed Geese with 1 adult White-fronted Goose flying S, 1 Peregrine and 1 Grey Heron.

Birds ringed 27: Chiffchaff 1, Wren 1, Lesser Redpoll 1, Reed Bunting 13, Linnet 1, Chaffinch 4, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 4.

Lesser Redpoll

Derek Smith was also out this morning between 0800 and 1230 and walked from Shuart, along the embankment and on to Plumpudding. He counted 90 Lapwings, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Merlin flying E along the coast, 65 Fieldfares W, 30 Redwings W, 1 Grey Wagtail, 9 Tree Sparrows, 2 Stonechats, 5 Redpoll W, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff and 9 Goldcrests.

This afternoon Matt walked form Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 5 Stonechats, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 200 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Wigeon, 110 Golden Plovers, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Short-eared Owls, 7 Snipe, 2 Curlews, 15 Corn Buntings, 3 Little Egrets and 1 Common Buzzard.

Red-breasted Mergansers - Matt Hindle

Short-eared Owl - David Elliott

November 22nd

On a still and cloudy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons and saw 11 Chaffinches, 7 Goldfinches, 10 Blackbirds, 5 Song Thrushes, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 4 Redshank,3 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 2 Oystercatchers, 161 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 28 Ringed Plovers, 1 Kestrel, 7 Turnstone, 11 Red-throated Divers, 3 Stonechats, 9 Meadow Pipits, 2 Coot and 8 Reed Buntings. 

As we neared Chamber's Wall crossing on our walk back to the carpark we heard a Skylark singing strongly high above us and on looking up saw that it was being vigorously chased by a Merlin. This is a strategy Skylarks use trying to prove to the Merlin that they are superfit birds and not worth chasing. After about two minutes the Merlin took the hint and gave up the chase and flew off.

Female Stonechat

November 21st

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall and recorded 2 Gadwall, 1 Fieldfare, 4 Redwings, 12 Blackbirds, 140 Golden Plovers, 88 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Curlew, 1 Little Egret, 2 Shelduck, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Redshank, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 female Merlin.

November 20th

I had to clear ice off the windscreen of my car for the first time this winter before we could drive to Chamber's Wall for our regular morning walk. The sun was shining as we walked to the Oyster Farm lagoons and saw 58 Golden Plovers, 4 Fieldfares, 7 Redwings, 10 Blackbirds, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Little Grebes, 71 Mallard, 61 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 9 Redshank, 2 Stonechats, 12 Corn Buntings, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Goldfinches and 1 Goldcrest.

November 19th

It was chillier this morning as we walked at Reculver and saw 140 Cormorants, 8 Chaffinches, 1 Kestrel, 2 Mute Swans, 7 Gadwall, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Long-tailed Tits and 35 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

This afternoon Minnis Bay was quiet and we only counted 5 Gannets, 2 Kittiwakes, 1 Guillemot and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

At Reculver, Richard Collins saw 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Redshank, 4 Gannets, 11 Kittiwakes, 2 Teal, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Common Scoter and 1 juvenile Sabine's Gull (204th).

November 18th

On another bright and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 10 Chaffinches, 7 Goldfinches, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 18 Mallard, 17 Meadow Pipits, 6 Skylarks, 15 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Grey Partridges feeding on the beach, 3 Stonechats, 2 Siskins flying W, 3 Pied Wagtails, 42 Ringed Plovers, 7 Oystercatchers, 5 Linnets, 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Redshank, 8 Blackbirds, 2 Redwings, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Marsh Harrier. 

We also saw a very late Wheatear on the beach and seawall near the Green Wall. This is the latest Wheatear ever record in the area beating the previous latest in 2010 by one day.

Female Wheatear

Chris Tedder had a Black Guillemot flying E (203rd) near Coldharbour at 1215 and she managed to take some record shots. This is only the fifth record of this species in the Reculver recording area. The bird was also seen at Minnis Bay during the late afternoon.

Black Guillemot - Chris Tedder

November 17th

On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour with the tide out but coming in. We recorded 375 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Pied Wagtails, 9 Redshank, 3 Stonechats, 66 Cormorants, 1 Kestrel, 24 Turnstone, 47 Ringed Plovers, 72 Mallard, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 10 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 2 Shelduck, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Bearded Tits, 1 Dunlin and 1 Little Grebe.

Adult winter plumaged Common Gull

This afternoon at Minnis Bay, Matt saw 15 Gannets, 2 Red-throated Divers, 9 Little Gulls flying W, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Razorbill flying W. Inland at Reculver he also saw 1 Tree Sparrow, 33 Mute Swans, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Jay and 7 Gadwall.

 

November 16th

This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and between us we saw 311 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Kingfishers, 40 Cormorants, 2 Pied Wagtails, 9 Stonechats, 87 Mallard, 2 Turnstone, 26 Gannets, 1 Wheatear, 1 Shelduck, 90 Golden Plovers, 7 Redshank, 2 Rock Pipits, 2 Great Northern Divers, 4 Curlews, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Wigeon and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Female Stonechat - Matt Hindle

 

Marc Heath had a Lapland Bunting calling and flying south over Reculver School at 0820. 

I have just received notification of the ringing location of a Goldfinch that Matt caught in his garden at Shingleton Farm on 29th October. It had originally been ringed at Rise Lane, Catwick, East Riding of Yorkshire on 10th April 2020 and had flown 314 km SSE.