December 31st

On another unpleasant morning with a gale force westerly wind blowing in rain and drizzle we spent an hour at Reculver where we recorded 310 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Great Northern Diver flying high E, 3 Turnstone, 7 Cormorants, 2 Red-throated Divers E, 1 female/immature Black Redstart feeding in the rocks at the car park and 1 Common Buzzard sitting in a field looking for worms on our way home.

Matt braved the elements this morning and walked inland at Reculver where he saw 36 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 2 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Redwings and 1 Common Buzzard.

We ended the year having recorded 196 species, one less than last year.

December 29th

On a bright and breezy morning a walk at Reculver produced 9 Chaffinches, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Gadwall, 53 Teal, 1 Water Rail, 2 Coot, 1 Stonechat, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Song Thrush and 2 Green Woodpeckers.

Teal

December 28th

With a south-westerly gale blowing in rain I spent 40 minutes at Minnis Bay this afternoon. I counted 42 Dunlin, 35 Grey Plovers, 98 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 30 Common Scoter flying W, 11 Redshank, 15 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, 23 Turnstone, 82 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Red-throated Diver.

December 27th

This morning I had a walk around the Reculver area and recorded 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Redwings, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Coot, 1 Gadwall, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Moorhens, 57 Teal, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Reed Buntings, 1 Grey Wagtail, 32 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Eiders and 1 Great Northern Diver sitting on the sea off the Towers.

 December 26th

The male Long-eared Owl was heard calling again at Bishopstone a number of times at about 2320 hrs.

After overnight rain it was bright and breezy this morning as I walked at Reculver. Birds I saw 12 Chaffinches, 18 Goldfinches, 1 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 13 Lapwings, 43 Teal, 1 Raven, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Moorhens, 1 Grey Wagtail, 48 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Red-throated Divers W.

 December 25th

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Last night just before midnight we heard a Long-eared Owl call three times at Bishopstone.

This afternoon David, June and Robin Elliott had a walk at Reculver and saw 3 Short-eared Owls at the Oyster Farm.

 December 24th

This morning we walked from Reculver to the Green Wall and saw 1 Common Buzzard, 157 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 180 Lapwings, 1 Merlin hunting over the Oyster Farm lagoons, 8 Goldfinches, 2 Shelduck W, 32 Mallard, 32 Carrion Crows, 2 Redshank, 7 Corn Buntings, 2 Stonechats and 1 Kestrel.

December 23rd

After this morning's heavy rain we didn't venture out until after lunch when we walked out on to the Marsh. We didn't see a great deal, just 61 Mute Swans, 1 Kestrel, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 1 Yellowhammer, 122 Chaffinches and 1 Common Buzzard.

Reculver Marshes

 December 22nd

Our walk this morning from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding began in bright sunshine and ended in pouring rain. Birds we saw included 39 Redshank, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Shelduck, 204 Oystercatchers, 149 Sanderling, 271 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 53 Turnstone, 8 Goldfinches, 3 Linnets, 23 Meadow Pipits, 47 Carrion Crows, 13 Curlew, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 18 Mallard, 47 Grey Plovers, 120 Dunlin and 240 Lapwings.

Sanderling feeding on the seaweed at Minnis Bay

 While we were at Minnis Bay, Matt had a walk at Reculver and recorded 2 Fieldfares, 42 Teal, 2 Redshank, 49 Mallard, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Water Rail, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 95 Grey Plovers, 150 Chaffinches, 7 Yellowhammers, 130 Linnets, 20 Corn Buntings, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Tree Sparrows, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 240 Lapwings, 100 Stock Doves, 600 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Wigeon, 4 Red-throated Divers, 1 Stonechat and 1 adult male Black Redstart.

December 21st

This morning we managed to walk from Reculver to Coldharbour before the threatened rain arrived. We recorded 1 Kestrel, 279 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 32 Mute Swan, 4 Redshank, 62 Carrion Crows, 6 Meadow Pipits, 3 Stonechats, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Linnet, 65 Mallard, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Teal, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Pied Wagtail, 13 Oystercatchers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Coot, 24 Turnstone, 14 Curlew, 21 Lapwings and 1 Common Buzzard.

December 20th

This afternoon we had a walk at Reculver and recorded 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Coot, 250 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 male Pochard, 1 Tufted Duck, 5 Mute Swan and 2 Mallard.

December 19th

On a much milder but very windy afternoon I had a walk inland at Reculver and counted 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Coot, 9 Gadwall, 2 Mallard, 1 female Peregrine, 350 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 110 Lapwings and 1 Grey Heron.

December 18th

On yet another freezing morning we spent an hour at Reculver and saw 1 Common Buzzard, 134 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 114 Lapwings flying W out at sea, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers flying E, 6 Red-throated Divers, 1 Teal flying E, 2 Oystercatchers and 1 Curlew.

December 17th

Matt was out in the freezing weather this morning and walked at Reculver where he saw 40 Red-throated Divers, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 37 Redwings, 4 Snipe, 4 Green Sandpipers, 2 Water Rails, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Redshank, 56 Teal, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Goldcrest, 150 Stock Doves and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

This morning Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Brooksend and on to Minnis Bay and Plumpudding. Birds he saw included 7 Grey Herons, 1 Spoonbill at Brooksend flying SE towards Pegwell Bay where it was seen later, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 185 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 60 Teal, 2 Marsh Harriers, 5 Common Buzzards, 6 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 330 Lapwings, 35 Golden Plovers, 12 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 60 Redwings, 12 Mistle Thushes, 20+ Song Thrushes, 2 Stonechats and 1 male Snow Bunting at Plumpudding.

Male Snow Bunting - Derek Smith

 December 16th

On a very frosty and slippery morning I completed my regular walk from Reculver to Coldharbour. It was relatively quiet but I did see 5 Lapwings, 4 Sanderling, 94 Mallard, 31 Corn Buntings, 385 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Linnets, 2 Redshank, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Wigeon, 1 Grey Plover, 6 Golden Plover, 2 Stonechats, 11 Kittiwakes W, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Meadow Pipits and 1 Kestrel.

Matt walked inland at Reculver and then back by way of the Green Wall. He counted 15 Snipe, 37 Golden Plover, 15 Redwing, 3 Sparrowhawks, 6 Moorhens, 4 Redshank, 65 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 4 Kestrels, 59 Lapwings, 16 Song Thrushes, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Water Rail, 3 Yellowhammers, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Fieldfare, 24 Skylarks, 1 Rock Pipits, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Stonechats, 220 Linnets, 27 Mallard, 400 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 78 Corn Buntings, 130 Stock Doves, 1 Peregrine and 48 Mute Swans.