October 31st

We spent another wet and windy morning seawatching for two hours at Minnis Bay where we counted 23 Gannets, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Guillemots, 8 Razorbills, 173 Chaffinches and 2 Bramblings flying W, 6 Red-throated Divers, 1 Common Scoter, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Great Skua flying W then back E, 58 Turnstone, 1 adult Mediterrnanean Gull E and 1 Little Egret.

Whilst out in the wind and rain this morning Julian Perry found a Snow Bunting on the beach between Reculver and Coldharbour.

October 30th

It was rainy and there was a strong southerly wind blowing this morning so we decided to have a sea watch from Minnis Bay. In two hours from 0800 we counted 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 21 Gannets, 4 large auks, 6 Red-throated Divers, 3 Little Egrets, 1 adult Kittiwake E, 2 Guillemots, 7 Curlew, 26 Turnstone, 14 Sanderling, 139 Oystercatchers, 4 Razorbills, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Teal, 3 Mediterranean Gulls E, 6 Dunlin and 22 Siskins W.

October 29th

On a windy morning we walked at various sites in the Reculver area and just got back to our car before the threatened rain arrived. We saw 1 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaffs, 52 Carrion Crows, 3 Common Buzzards, 20 Cormorants, 5 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Gannet E, 9 Meadow Pipits, 1 Sparrowhawk, 22 Mallard, 1 Marsh Harrier and 21 Mute Swans.

October 28th

On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then along the seawall to the Oyster Farm lagoons. We saw 6 Redwings, 31 Chaffinches, 41 Goldfinches, 3 Kestrels, 1 immature Peregrine, 3 Siskins W, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Coot, 14 Reed Buntings, 89 Mallard, 6 Redshank, 27 Linnets, 1 Little Egret and 23 Tree Sparrows and 150 House Sparrows in the bushes just to the west of the Wantsum outflow. We also saw 5 Pied Wagtails W, 6 Corn Buntings, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Golden Plovers, 1 Sandwich Tern E, 3 Turnstone and 11 Skylarks.

Tree Sparrows

October 27th

It was relatively quiet this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour until at 0900, Chaffinches began moving west in small flocks along the coast and over the sea. In 50 minutes we counted 393 flying W. Other birds we saw included 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 16 Mallard, 12 Goldfinches, 2 Stonechats, 4 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 3 Kestrels, 7 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Redshank, 2 Grey Herons, 100 House Sparrows, 1 Red-throated Diver and 4 Pied Wagtails W.

Male Chaffinch

October 26th

On an increasingly sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Wantsum outflow. Birds we counted included 34 Chaffinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Redwings, 12 Goldfinches, 2 Kestrels, 1 Greenfinch, 3 Bramblings, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Stonechats, 4 Coot, 3 Little Egrets, 10 Tree Sparrows, 2 Golden Plovers, 2 Little Grebes, 16 Reed Buntings, 140 Mallard, 3 Redshank, 1 Shelduck, 8 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Oystercatchers, 11 Ringed Plovers, 2 Turnstone, 1 Pied Wagtail, 8 Linnets, 1 male Merlin unsuccessfully chasing a singing Skylark, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Wigeon, 2 Blackcaps and 2 Jays.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese

October 25th

This morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 3 Grey Herons, 42 Meadow Pipits, 5 Redshank, 2 Stonechats, 1 Merlin in off the sea, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Pied Wagtails, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 350 House Sparrows, 2 Coot, 33 Reed Buntings, 1 Common Buazzard, 2 Golden Plover, 3 Corn Buntings, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Jays, 2 Song Thrushes, 14 Goldfinches, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Chiffchaff.

October 24th

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Wantsum outflow and back. We saw 30 Goldfinches, 1 Brambling, 22 Chaffinches, 10 Skylarks, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Stonechats, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Red-throated Diver, 14 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 4 Oystercatchers, 12 Meadow Pipits, 12 Ringed Plovers, 2 Curlew, 200 House Sparrows, 1 Tree Sparrow, 2 Dark-bellied Brent  Geese, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Redwing, 8 Linnets, 4 Song Thrushes and 5 Jays W.

Female Stonechat

October 23rd

This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and recorded 19 Goldfinches, 2 Kestrels, 40 Meadow Pipits, 4 Pied Wagtails, 2 Grey Herons, 7 Redshank, 4 Stonechats, 1 Grey Wagtail, 18 Reed Buntings, 13 Linnets, 49 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 4 Oystercatchers, 120 House Sparrows, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Snipe, 2 Bearded Tits, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Tree Sparrows, 1 Curlew, 1 Ringed Plover and 1 Brambling.

Derek Smith was out on the Marsh between 0800 and 1400 and walked from Shuart and along the embankment and then on to Plumpudding and Netherhale. He counted 38 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Peregrine, 10 Redshank, 25 Ringed Plovers, 1 Water Rail, 18 Jays flying W, 2,100 Starlings W, 142 Redwings W, 8 Stonechats, 4 Bearded Tits, 1 Tree Sparrow W, 448 Chaffinches W, 46 Brambling W, 42 Goldfinches W, 33 Siskins W, 12 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 5 Goldcrests and 5 Corn Buntings.

Brambling - Derek Smith

October 22nd

It was sunny and cold and the tide was out as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour this morning. We recorded 120 Starlings W, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Redshank, 10 Turnstone, 8 Oystercatchers, 30 Carrion Crows, 24 Meadow Pipits, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Pied Wagtails, 18 Goldfinches, 100 House Sparrows, 11 Ringed Plovers, 3 Little Egrets, 14 Mallard, 2 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 18 Sanderling, 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 2 Jays.

Goldfinch

October 21st

After heavy overnight rain with a strong NW wind and a significant drop in temperature we spent an hour at Reculver where we counted 2 Gannets W, 2 Razorbills flying E close inshore, 19 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Common Scoter, 2 large auks E, 1 Grey Plover W, 2 Eider, 1 Guillemot E, 22 Cormorants and 1 Kestrel. 

Brendan Ryan seawatched from the Towers between 1045 and 1230 and recorded 7 Goosanders flying W (190th), all red-heads and seen later at Swalecliffe, 22 Gannets, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 Guillemot.

Richard Collins was also at Reculver this morning and counted 12 Gannets, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 large auk and 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls.

October 19th

On an damp, overcast, breezy and very mild, morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 6 Redwings, 5 alba Wagtails W, 2 Sandwich Terns E, 1 Little Egret, 7 Redshank, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Rock Pipit, 23 Goldfinches, 2 Kestrels, 2 Stonechats, 8 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 31 Meadow Pipits, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Linnets, 8 Turnstone and 22 Ringed Plovers. 

When we got to Coldharbour Matt kept on walking to Plumpudding and recorded 1 female Merlin, 5 Stonechats, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Rock Pipits, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Gannets and 2 Cetti's Warblers.

October 18th

We had another interesting morning's ringing this time at Shuart where we saw 1 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Mallard, 2 Siskins, 3 Brambling, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Bearded Tits, 5 Kestrels, 7 Grey Herons, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Stonechats, 24 Song Thrushes, 15 Blackbirds, 25 Reed Buntings, 17 Skylarks, 250 Starlings W, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 5 Redwings and 2 Common Buzzards.

Birds ringed 53: Chiffchaff 1, Wren 2, Blackcap 4, Reed Bunting 19, Robin 1, Stonechat 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Great Tit 2, Bearded Tit 3, Goldfinch 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 7, Blackbird 8, Green Woodpecker 1.

Male and female Bearded Tit

October 17th

We had a very good ringing session at Reculver this morning with the highlight being ringing a new species for the Reculver Ringing Group in the shape of a first year Dartford Warbler.

First year Dartford Warbler

 

Other birds we saw during the morning included 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Grey Wagtails, 6 Brambling, 33 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 16 Jays, 3 Goldcrests, 2 Redwing, 10 Song Thrushes, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Peregrine, 1 Firecrest, 1 Grey Partridge, 715 Starlings, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 14 Siskins, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Marsh Harrier, 15 Magpies, 1 Kestrel, 35 Goldfinches, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 14 Skylarks and 35 Chaffinches.

Birds ringed 26: Goldcrest 3, Firecrest 1, Chiffchaff 2, Long-tailed Tit 7, Robin 1, Blackcap 3, Dartford Warbler 1, Great Tit 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 3, Blackbird 1.

Female Firecrest

First year Grey Wagtail

 

October 16th

We spent the morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where there was a good variety of birds to be seen and ringed. We saw 15 Redwings, 27 Bramblings, 7 Tree Sparrows, 2 Stonechats, 21 Golden Plover, 6 Yellowhammers, 60 Siskins W, 16 Corn Buntings, 16 Goldfinches, 45 Chaffinches, 22 Skylarks W, 15 Magpies S, 4 Grey Wagtails W, 10 Snipe, 20 Song Thrushes, 18 Blackbirds, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Mallard, 2 Sparrowhawks, 15 Linnets, 97 Starlings W, 60 Reed Buntings, 8 Jays, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Merlin and 1 ring-tailed Hen Harrier.

Birds ringed 80: Chiffchaff 2, Wren 1, Chaffinch 5, Goldfinch 7, Brambling 3, Reed Buntings 40, Robin 2, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 3, Stonechat 1, Dunnock 2, Corn Bunting 1, Redwing 1, Song Thrush 5, Blackbird 6.

Male Brambling

Adult male Stonechat

Derek Smith was out all morning and walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment to Coldharbour and on to the Green Wall and Chamber's Wall before returning to Shuart. He counted 2 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 1 Teal, 4 Common Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 6 Kestrels, 3 Golden Plover E, 45 Lapwings, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 8 Jays flying S, 39 Magpies W, 97 Redwings W, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 900 Starlings W, 22 alba Wagtails W, 3 Bearded Tits at the Oyster Farm, 8 Stonechats, 1 Wheatear, 11 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Dartford Warbler beside the Wantsum (188th), 12 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, 24 Brambling W, 566 Chaffinches W, 128 Goldfinches W, 46 Siskins W and 6 Corn Buntings.

Dartford Warbler - Derek Smith

3 Whooper Swans (189th) were photographed flying past the Towers by Michael Linklater and were later seen at Swalecliffe and Capel Fleet.