March 31st

This morning Matt walked from Bishopstone to Plumpudding and back meeting us on the seawall after we had walked in from Chamber's Wall. He also met Dave Smith who was out early and also birding. The final totals for this morning were 20 Chiffchaffs, 3 Shoveler W, 13 Shelduck, 4 Little Egrets, 10 alba Wagtails W, 13 Meadow Pipits W, 3 Lesser Redpolls W, 5 Sedge Warblers, 4 Stonechats, including a pair carrying nesting material, 80 Corn Buntings, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Black Redstart, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Yellow Wagtails (143rd), 10 Sand Martins, 1 Spotted Redshank flying S (144th), 1 Red-breasted Merganser flying E, 2 Greylag Geese, 3 Great Crested Grebes and 33 Little Gulls feeding offshore. He also saw 2 Curlews, 12 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 10 Blackcaps, 1 singing Firecrest, 1 Red Kite flying W, 2 Lapwings, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 7 Coot, 1 Snipe, 5 Grey Plovers, 3 Teal, 1 Little Owl, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Bearded Tit, 1 Reed Warbler (145th), the earliest Reed Wabler ever recorded at Reculver beating 2011 by four days, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 6 continental Song Thrushes, 18 Chaffinches, 30 Linnets, 3 Redwings and 2 Short-eared Owls. 

Male Chaffinch in Blackthorn bush

On his drive home Matt found a White Stork (146th) circling low over the Thanet Way at Shuart. He phoned me and I managed to see it circling very high over Minnis Bay. Matt managed to take some good photos and it appears that the bird was not ringed.

White Stork - Matt Hindle

March 30th

Matt was out at dawn this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back via the railway embankment and we met up with him and walked along the seawall. On a wonderful early spring morning between us we saw 2 Little Owls, 2 Shelduck, 2 Grey Herons, 10 singing Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Partridge, 13 Chiffchaffs, 4 Stonechats, 5 Sedge Warblers (141st), 1 Canada Goose, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Greylag Geese, 8 Common Scoter, 50 Corn Buntings, 4 Rock Pipits, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Blackcaps, 5 continental Song Thrushes, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Lesser Redpolls flying W (142nd), 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Lapwing, 2 White Wagtails, 1 adult male Eider and 29 Sand Martins at the headland.

Adult male Eider feeding on crabs

 On his way home Matt dropped in at Reculver and Shuart and at Reculver saw 7 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Tufted Ducks and 1 Great Crested Grebe and at Shuart recorded 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 10 Redwings, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Bullfinch and 4 Tufted Ducks.

At 1250 an adult Red Kite flew NW over our house at Bishopstone.

March 29th

We spent an enjoyable morning birding walking along the seawall between Reculver and Coldharbour with the tide a long way out. We saw 4 Goldfinches, 4 Pied Wagtails, 6 Oystercatchers, 22 Linnets, 15 Meadow Pipits, 1 White Wagtail, 24 Corn Buntings, 8 Mallard, 2 Curlew, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 male Stonechat, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Wheatear (138th), 1 Sand Martin flying W (139th), 4 Shelduck and 1 Snow Bunting catching flies on the seawall.

Summer and winter

Dave Smith was out this evening at the Shuart end of the Marsh and saw 1 Swallow (140th) and 1 littoralis Rock Pipit.

March 28th

On an unpleasantly blustery morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Wantsum outflow and recorded 5 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldfinches, 8 Chaffinches, 13 Skylarks, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Linnets, 2 Greylag Geese, 5 Mallard, 1 Redshank, 1 Snipe, 1 Coot, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Shelduck and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Chiffchaff singing

A juvenile White-tailed Sea Eagle flying W was photographed on the shore at Reculver by Sian Davies and was later seen flying W at Hillborough by June Elliott. It then flew on to the Stour Valley. This bird is part of the reintroducton scheme based on the Isle of Wight with ring number G461.

March 27th

Dave Smith was out this morning and his highlights included 1 Black Redstart at Reculver and 1 male Bearded Tit by the Wantsum outflow.

We were unable to go out until after lunch when we walked inland at Reculver and saw 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grey Partridges, 6 Mallard, 3 Moorhens, 1 Pied Wagtail. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Jays, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Coot and 1 Kestrel.

Great Crested Grebe

March 26th

There had been a significant increase in the southerly wind overnight as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Wantsum outflow. Birds we saw included 3 Cetti's Warblers, 11 Chaffinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Shelduck, 5 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 Greylag Goose, 11 Mallard, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 8 Ringed Plovers, 262 Sanderling, 8 Dunlin, 58 Turnstone, 8 Goldfinches W, 1 Grey Wagtail W and 7 Linnets.

Sanderling

Sanderling and Dunlin

March 25th

The fine, early spring weather continued this morning as we walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. We recorded 3 Pied Wagtails, 9 Chiffchaffs, 2 Little Egrets, 64 Oystercatchers, 6 Ringed Plovers, 22 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 29 Turnstone, 80 Corn Buntings, 2 Coot, 12 Grey Plovers, 10 Redshank, 6 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Curlew, 85 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 3 Greylag Geese, 3 Stonechats, 1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 3 Bearded Tits, 3 Rock Pipits, 12 Common Scoter and 6 Red-throated Divers.

Grey Plovers

 March 24th

On another lovely morning we birdwatched the Marsh north of the railway line. We recorded 2 Black Redstarts at Reculver, 14 Chiffchaffs, 8 Rock Pipits, 5 Stonechats, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Snow Bunting, 1 Golden Plover, 80 Sanderling, 29 Grey Plovers, 4 Dunlin, 1 Little Egret, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Common Scoter, 5 Red-throated Divers, 5 Siskins flying W, 38 Redshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Curlew, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Redwing, 28 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Shelduck, 1 Little Ringed Plover on the flooded fields behind the seawall at Coldharbour (137th), 5 Goldfinches, 3 Mallard, 2 Greylag Geese, 14 Turnstone, 14 Linnets and 1 Red Kite flying W towards Hillborough.

Rock Pipit - Matt Hindle

Snow Bunting - Matt Hindle

March 23rd

It was another fine early spring morning as we walked from Shuart to Brooksend and back to Shuart via Plumpudding. We counted 5 Chiffchaffs, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Redwings, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Greylag Geese, 43 Mute Swans, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Corn Bunting, 11 Ring-necked Parakeets, 13 Goldfinches, 2 Fieldfares, 7 Greenfinches, 8 Grey Herons, 1 Firecrest, 31 Mallard, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Jays, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Moorhens, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Gadwall, 15 Tufted Duck, 1 Shoveler, 2 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 17 Coot, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 6 Lapwings, 95 Sanderling roosting on the rocks at Plumpudding, 6 Red-throated Divers, 2 Rock Pipits, 3 Siskins flying W and 2 Long-tailed Tits.

In addition, at Reculver, Matt recorded 46 Red-throated Divers, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Owl, 40 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Shelduck, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Brambling, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Jays.

March 22nd

On a very pleasant morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back by way of the railway embankment. Birds we saw included 87 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Shelduck, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Green Sandpiper, 10 Oystercatchers, 8 Linnets, 5 Redshank, 110 Corn Buntings, 9 Mallard, 15 Red-throated Divers flying E, 11 Meadow Pipits, 15 Turnstone, 35 Fieldfares W, 5 Mute Swans, 1 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Coot, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Greylag Geese, 1 Little Owl calling, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Kestrel.

Little Egret

Matt was out at first light and walked as far as Plumpudding and then back to Reculver. He recorded 3 Stonechats, 12 Rock Pipits W, 216 Red throated Divers E, 4 Teal, 2 Grey Herons, 5 Greylag Geese, 6 Curlew, 161 Oystercatchers, 40 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Little Egret, 47 Grey Plovers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Knot, 100 Sanderling, 5 Common Scoter, 6 Chiffchaffs, 47 Redshank, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Goldcrests, 3 Coot, 8 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, 2 Siskin W, 1 Redwing, 35 Fieldfares, 45 Corn Buntings, 2 Short-eared Owls, 3 Snipe, 2 Shelduck, 1 Little Owl, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 1 Firecrest, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Common Buzzard.

March 20th

This morning we walked inland at Reculver and saw 18 Chaffinches, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Kestrel, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tits, 6 Linnets, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Moorhen, 1 Common Buzzard, 6 Mallard, 2 Grey Wagtails, 25 Rooks nests at the rookery, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Lapwing, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Teal.

Drake Teal

Marc Heath visited Reculver this morning and his highlights were seeing the Snow Bunting, 1 Fulmar flying E and 19 Russian White-fronted Geese. At about 1210, he texted me to say that a Red Kite (136th) was flying our way and I was just in time to see an adult flying back W over the cliff tops at Bishopstone.

March 19th

We visited the eastern end of the Marsh for our morning walk and covered the Brooksend and Netherhale areas. Birds we recorded included 2 Jays, 4 Red-legged Partridges, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 18 Goldfinches, 3 Moorhens, 12 Mallard, 12 Coot, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls flying N out to the sea, 2 Pied Wagtails, 20 Tufted Ducks, 2 Grey Herons, 36 Mute Swans, 4 Common Buzzards, 2 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 9 Gadwall, 2 Greylag Geese and 1 Corn Bunting.

Ring-necked Parakeets

A pair of Common Buzzards

March 19th

After overnight rain, this morning dawned bright and breezy as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons. We recorded 8 Chaffinches, 1 Redwing, 3 Fieldfares, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Mallard, 2 Coot, 7 Skylarks, 12 Meadow Pipits, 2 Little Grebes, 11 Redshank, 113 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Red-throated Divers flying E, 37 Corn Buntings, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 adult Peregrine and 800 Starlings.

Dave Smith was out early and walked from Reculver to Coldhabour and back and his higlights were 1 Snow Bunting and a first winter Kittiwake flying E.

March 18th

There was a rather chilly northerly wind blowing in rain showers this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 130 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 13 Redshank, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Stonechats, 7 Mallard, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 first winter Mediterranean Gull, 5 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Snow Bunting, 2 Coot, 18 Russian White-fronted Geese, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 36 Black-headed Gulls in two groups flying high E, 1 Little Egret and 1 Kestrel.

The Snow Bunting was feeding on the beach closer to Reculver this morning

March 17th

With a fresh NW breeze blowing this morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then on to the Oyster Farm lagoons. Birds we saw included 22 Chaffinches, 7 Goldfinches, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 42 Redwings, 71 Fieldfares, 10 Blackbirds, 1 Lapwing, 4 Coot, 1 Shelduck, 11 Skylarks, 6 Bearded Tits, 5 Mallard, 9 Redshank, 124 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Linnets, 1 Kestrel, 4 Oystercatchers, 55 Corn Buntings, 800 Starlings, 2 Curlew, 18 Russian White-fronted Geese, 1 male Marsh Harrier and 15 Meadow Pipits.

Female Bearded Tit

A walk around the Shuart, Brooksend and Netherhale loop this morning produced 687 Redwings feeding on fields and moving west, 3 Chiffchaffs, 14 Greenfinches, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Little Owl, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 21 Fieldfares, 16 Corn Buntings, 129 Chaffinches, 32 Goldfinches, 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Common Buzzards, 39 Pied Wagtails, 6 White Wagtails, 500 Starlings, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Grey Herons, 1 Canada Goose (135th), 27 Tufted Ducks, 2 Shoveler, 9 Teal, 20 Mallard, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Wigeon, 5 Greylag Geese, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 93 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 47 Mute Swans.