April 30th

On another chilly and bright morning there were a great many singing birds but little had changed from from the previous few days. On our walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Green Wall we counted 13 Reed Warblers, 31 Whitethroats, 29 Sedge Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 20 Linnets, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Goldfinches, 4 Tufted Duck, 4 Mallard, 8 Sand Martins, 8 Swallows W, 4 Shelduck, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Greenshank, 2 Grey Partrdges and 1 Cuckoo.

Male Linnet

April 29th

Although the sun was shining this morning there was a chilly wind blowing in off the sea as we walked from Shuart to the sea and back by way off Brooksend and Netherhale. We counted 10 Blackcaps, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Reed Warbler, 16 Goldfinches, 2 Lapwings, 7 Sedge Warblers, 8 Whitethroats, 15 Linnets, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 7 Mallard, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Tufted Duck, 24 Swallows, 10 Sand Martins, 6 Greylag Geese, 6 Coot, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Greenfinch, 1 male Wheatear, 2 Jays, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and 1 Common Buzzard.

Male Yellow Wagtail

Singing male Sedge Warbler

April 28th

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Reculver and back. We saw 19 Whitethroats, 8 Goldfinches, 6 Cetti's Warblers,11 Reed Warblers, 33 Linnets, 3 Swallows, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Mallard, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Greenshank, 4 Shelduck, 6 Oystercatchers, 24 Sedge Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Turnstone, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Little Egret, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Coot and 1 Grasshopper Warbler, a different bird to yesterday below the seawall near Coldharbour that I could even hear!

Singing Meadow Pipit

April 27th

At last the wind had dropped as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall. It even warmed up and turned out to be a beautiful spring morning. We recorded 1 Blackcap, 10 Goldfinches, 26 Whitethroats, 7 Reed Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 34 Swallows flying W, 39 Sedge Warblers, 22 Linnets, 1 Curlew, 12 Common Scoter, 2 Whimbrel flying S, 8 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Oystercatchers, 22 Turnstone, 1 female Wheatear, 2 Stonechats, 4 Ringed Plovers, 5 Sand Martins W, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Terns, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Marsh Harrier.

Female Wheatear

During the day, Chris Tedder found 5 Lesser Whitethroats (162nd) along the railway embankment and saw 2 Barnacle Geese flying W out at sea.

April 26th

On another overcast, cold and windy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall and back along the Green Wall and counted 5 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Whitethroats, 22 Linnets, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldfinches, 29 Sedge Warblers, 5 Reed Warblers, 4 Swallows W, 8 Mallard, 4 Oystercatchers, 40 Turnstone, 2 Stonechats, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Gannet E and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Summer plumaged male Bar-tailed Godwit

Matt was also out during the morning and walked the Shuart, Neterhale and Brooksend loop. He recorded 7 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Lesser Redpolls W, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 30 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 20 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls feeding behind a tractor, a Greylag Goose family, 1 Little Grebe, 6 Tufted Ducks, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Whitethroats, 1 male Shoveler, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Sedge Warblers and 1 Reed Warbler.

April 25th

This morning dawned completely different to yesterday with a cold and blustery NE wind blowing making birding unpleasant. Matt started at Minnis Bay where in half an hour he counted 42 Sandwich Terns flying E, 6 Common Scoter and 1 Great Crested Grebe. He then met us at Chamber's Wall from where we all walked to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall. We recorded 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Whitethroats, 6 Goldfinches, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 15 Sedge Warblers, 5 Swallows W, 17 Linnets, 6 Mallard, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Greenshank, 7 Turnstone, 9 Whimbrel on the shingle by the seawall before flying W, 1 Stonechat, 2 Tufted Duck and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Derek Smith was also out birding walking from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment. He saw 4 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 2 Lapwings, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Swifts flying E (161st), 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Willow Warbler, 12 Chiffchaffs and 6 Blackcaps.

April 24th

We had an excellent morning's birdwatch with Matt walking inland from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and Anne and me walking the Chamber's Wall, Coldharbour and Green Wall circuit. Between us we totalled 1 Common Buzzard, 11 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 40 Whitethroats, 19 Reed Warblers, 39 Sedge Warblers, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Jays, 3 Kestrels, 1 Wheatear, 2 Yellowhammers, 3 Grey Partridges, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 12 Swallows, 8 Song Thrushes, 6 Tufted Ducks, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Whimbrel, 5 Sandwich Terns, 2 Stonechats, 12 Sand Martins, 2 Common Gulls, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Common Redstarts, 2 males and 1 female, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Greenshank, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Redshank, 30 Linnets, 6 Oystercatchers, 34 Turnstone, 2 Grey Plovers, 180 Sanderling, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin and 1 Grasshopper Warbler.

Male Yellow Wagtail - Matt Hindle

Grey Plover - Matt Hindle

Turnstone with a Dunlin - Matt Hindle

 Derek Smith was also out and between 0600 and 1130 walked from Shuart along the embankment and on to to Coldharbour then back via Plumpudding and Brooksend. He saw 1 Little Grebe, 2 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Sandwich Terns, 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Common Buzzards, 8 Green Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, 3 Whimbrel, 3 Curlew, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Yellow Wagtails,   1 Tree Pipit W (160th) , 1 Stonechat, 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 male Redstart, 42 Whitethroats, 36 Sedge Warblers, 7 Reed Warblers, 12 Blackcaps and 14 Chiffchaffs.

Ring Ouzel - Derek Smith

In addition Julian Perry heard 2 Grasshopper Warblers, there are now at least 3 birds on the Marsh, and  Bob Hinge saw 3 Short-eared Owls.

April 23rd

Matt was out between 0530 and 1015 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and on to Reculver returning along the railway embankment. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour where we met up with him and between us we saw 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 50 Sedge Warblers, 48 Whitethroats, 7 Blackcaps, 7 Reed Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 14 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Jays, 3 Greylag Geese, 8 Shelduck, 2 Lapwings, 1 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Tufted Ducks, 4 Stonechats, 2 Common Terns and 2 reeling Grasshopper Warblers. We also saw 4 Common Scoter, 4 Whimbrel, 19 Turnstone, 305 Sanderling, 95 Linnets, 2 Sandwich Terns, 3 Grey Plovers, 23 Sand Martins, 1 Little Owl, 6 Swallows, 1 Little Egret, 1 Common Gull, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Coot, 10 Corn Buntings, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 female Common Redstart, 1 Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Greenfinch.

Corn Bunting

Sanderling

Julian Perry and Mike Longdon had a Cuckoo (158th) calling from the Oyster Farm this morning.

This afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 28 Mallard, made up from 2 family parties, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Reed Warblers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Coot, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 14 Sand Martins and 2 Turtle Doves  flying E over the railway (159th).

A Short-eared Owl was also seen in the Oyster Farm this evening.

April 22nd

We had a change of scenery this morning and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and back by way of Chamber's Wall and Potten Street Road. We counted 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 5 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 8 Mallard, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Whitethroats, 21 Mute Swans, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Reed Warblers, 16 Sedge Warblers, 12 Goldfinches, 37 Linnets, 1 Corn Buntings, 4 Sandwich Terns on the red buoy at Minnis Bay, 1 male Stonechat, 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstone, 10 Redshank, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Swallow flying W, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 24 Chaffinches, 1 singing Goldcrest, 3 Common Buzzards, 15 Rooks' nests with young birds at Wade House and 1 Kestrel.

Roosting Redshank

April 21st

With thick fog coming and going on a chilly NE breeze this morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Oyster Farm lagoons. We saw or heard 2 Swallows, 11 Mallard, 20 Sedge Warblers, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Grey Partridges, 6 Whitethroats, 7 Linnets, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Plovers, 6 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers and 12 Skylarks.

Dave Smith had an early morning walk from Shuart to Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment and recorded 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Willow Wablers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 11 Whitethroats, 30+ Sedge Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Snipe, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Tufted Ducks, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Greylag Geese, 3 Turnstone, 30+ Sanderling, 7 Oystercatchers and 4 Redshank.

April 20th

It was foggy this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldhabour and the Oyster Farm lagoons. We managed to record a reasonable range of species including 4 Whitethroats, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 19 Sedge Warblers, 2 Fieldfares, 3 Redwings, 1 Chiffchaff, 15 Linnets, 10 Oystercatchers, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Redshank, 2 Stonechats, 6 Turnstone, 2 Sandwich Terns, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whimbrel, 7 Grey Plovers, 2 Sanderling and 1 Dunlin.

An afternoon walk inland from Reculver produced 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Mallard, 6 Mute Swans, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Coot, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Sand Marins, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Fieldfare and 2 Grey Herons.

April 19th

On a dull, chilly and relatively calm morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and on to Chamber's Wall before returning along the Green Wall. We counted 2 Wheatears, 38 Linnets, 1 Song Thrush flying high in off the sea, 19 Mallard, 21 singing Sedge Warblers, 7 Oystercatchers, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Swallow W, 54 Turnstone, 5 Grey Plovers, 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Turnstone, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Redshank, 4 Coot, 1 Chiffchaff, 11 singing Skylarks and 1 Reed Warbler.

Female Wheatear

April 18th

We spent another sunny and chilly morning birding on the Marsh and recorded 6 Whitethroats, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Mallard, 22 Sedge Warblers, 11 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Goldcrest, 17 Linnets, 1 Long-eared Owl flying along a hedge, 2 Shelduck, 1 Grey Plover, 76 Turnstone, 4 Swallows, 23 Oystercatchers, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 1 "continental" Song Thrush, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Stonechat, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Blackcap.

A migrant Song Thrush sunning itself in the early morning sunshine

A wander inland at Reculver this afternoon produced 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Common Buzzard, 12 Sand Martins, 1 Coot, 1 Fieldfare and 1 Reed Warbler.

April 17th

It was still sunny this morning but the chilly NE breeze had strengthened a bit overnight as we completed the Chamber's Wall, Coldharbour and Green Wall circuit. Birds we counted included 6 Whitethroats, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 20 singing Sedge Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 7 Greylag Geese, 1 Mallard, 4 Oystercatchers, 66 Turnstone, 6 Ringed Plovers, 4 Grey Plovers, 10 Linnets, 5 Redshank, 8 adult summer plumaged Mediterranean Gulls flying E in a flock, 1 Snipe, 4 Corn Buntings, 3 Shelduck and 2 Yellowhammers.

Greylag Goose

Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0630 and 1000 walked from Shuart along the railway embankment to Coldharbour and then back via Plumpudding and Netherhale. He counted 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Shelduck W, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 13 adult Mediterranean Gulls flying E, including one flock of 11, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 16 Whitethroats, 26 Sedge Warblers, 6 Blackcaps, 7 Chiffchaffs and 2 Corn Buntings.

April 16th

This morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment and we walked the Chamber's Wall, Coldharbour and Green Wall circuit. Between us we recorded 3 Greylag Geese, 29 Sedge Warblers, 12 Whitethroats, 1 Stonechat, 72 Turnstone, 5 Grey Plover, 23 Corn Buntings, 1 Curlew, 4 Chiffchaffs, 4 Sandwich Terns, 13 Sanderling, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Tufted Ducks, 4 Coot, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Swallows, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Little Egret, 2 Shelduck, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 22 Linnets, 4 Song Thrushes, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Sedge Warbler

Today we received an interesting recovery of an adult Willow Warbler that we ringed on Reculver Marshes on 4th August 2020. It was found freshly dead at Shammerbaun, Kilkelly, Mayo, EIRE on 16th April 2021. Kilkelly is 735 km WNW of Reculver.