January 31st

On another bright and breezy morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. We saw 7 Redshank, 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Corn Buntings, 22 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Little Egret, 1 Curlew, 11 Turnstone, 30 Oystercatchers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 30 Ringed Plovers, 1 Sanderling 60 Common Scoter, 8 Snow Buntings, 2 Stonechats, 1 Kestrel and 1 female/immature male Black Redstart.

Bar-tailed Godwit with Oystercatchers

Matt was out early and walked as far as Plumpudding and recorded 4 Stonechats, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Great Crested Grebes, 60 Common Scoter, 2 Velvet Scoter, 1 Bewick's Swan, 219 Oystercatchers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 20 Ringed Plovers, 30 Turnstone, 30 Grey Plovers, 1 Kestrel, 13 Curlew, 2 Little Grebes, 31 Redshank, 20 Dunlin, 3 Red-throated Divers, 1 Little Egret, 8 Snow Buntings and 1 female/immature male Black Redstart.

January 30th

On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Reculver to the Wanstum outflow and saw 33 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Snow Buntings, 1 Shelduck, 24 Mallard, 3 Redshank, 2 Golden Plovers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Carrion Crows, 55 Chaffinches and 1 Yellowhammer.

Also this morning, Julian Perry had a female Blackcap (117th) in his garden at Bishopstone.

January 29th

This morning we had a wander on the Marsh south of the railway and recorded 1 Bewick's Swan, 1 Raven, 2 Golden Plovers, 1 Woodcock, 2 Coot, 2 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Yellowhammers, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Linnets, 8 Reed Buntings, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Common Buzzard.

Earler this morning Marc Heath had 1 Tawny Owl and 2 Woodcock at Shuart.

January 28th

It was a much more pleasant morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland. We counted 160 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Corn Buntings, 8 Snow Buntings, 62 Mallard, 4 Redshank, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 adult male Peregrine hunting along the beach, 1 Curlew, 4 Coot, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Stonechats, 22 Mute Swans, 1 juvenile Bewick's Swan, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Yellowhammers, 300 Chaffinches and a stunning male Brambling.

Corn Bunting

Marc Heath was out early and heard a Tawny Owl at Shuart.

January 27th

This morning we began by birding inland at Reculver where we recorded 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Coot, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Raven, 2 Kestrels, 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 Goldfinches, 1 juvenile Bewick's Swan, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Redwing and feeding on a grain spill on the road we found 250 Chaffinches, 2 Brambling (116th) and 5 Yellowhammers. Later at Shuart we saw 8 Goldfinches, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Redwing, 1 Green Woodpecker and 2 Kestrels.

Dave Smith was out early in the Shuart and Plumpudding area and counted 125 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 75 Oystercatchers, 55 Grey Plovers, 3 Curlew, 44 Turnstone, 33 Dunlin, 1,000+ Cormorants flying out to sea, 1 Barn Owl and 1 Woodcock.

January 26th

This morning we visited Reculver and Shuart and recorded 2 Pied Wagtails, 38 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Redshank, 1 Mallard, 1 Common Buzzard, 7 Mute Swan, 1 juvenile Bewick's Swan, 6 Red-legged Partridges, 7 Goldfinches, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Firecrest, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Kestrels, 3 Goldcrests, 10 Redwings and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

January 25th

On a cold morning we birded inland at Reculver and recorded 1 Kestrel, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Water Rail, 10 Yellowhammers, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Snipe, 1 Redwing, 4 Goldfinches, 8 Linnets, 16 Chaffinches, 1 Pied Wagtails, 1 Dartford Warbler and 1 juvenile Bewick's Swan.

January 24th

It was another dull morning with a cold NE wind blowing as we walked from Reculver to the Oyster Farm lagoons and then inland. We saw 180 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 12 Redshank, 8 Snow Buntings on the beach quite near to Reculver, 31 Mallard, 9 Redwing, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Moorhens, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 12 Mute Swans and 1 juvenile Bewick's Swan.

Snow Buntings

January 23rd

On another dull and overcast morning with the tide out we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland. We recorded 1 female/immature male Black Redstart at the Towers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Little Owl (115th), 510 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Stonechat, 15 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 1 male Wigeon, 39 Mallard, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Coot, 1 Little Egret, 10 Turnstone and 8 Snow Buntings on the beach near Reculver. On our walk inland we recorded 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Coot, 1 Redshank, 4 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 17 Mute Swans and 1 juvenile Bewick's Swan. 

In addition, Dave Smith saw a Firecrest at Shuart.

January 22nd

It was overcast with a chilly northerly breeze blowing this morning as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 2 Common Buzzards, 11 Redshank, 335 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 73 Mallard, 23 Carrion Crows, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 3 Goldfinches and 7 Snow Buntings. On the the way home we looked from the cycle track gate near the Roman Galley and found the juvenile Bewick's Swan with 28 Mute Swans.

Carrion Crow

January 21st

It was a lovely sunny winter's morning as we walked at Brooksend and then inland at Reculver. At Brooksend we recorded 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Jays and 6 Goldfinches. Later at Reculver we saw 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Jays, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Coot, 5 Mallard, 1 male Wigeon, 11 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 juvenile Bewick's Swan with 25 Mute Swans. 

East Blean Woods is a couple of miles south of our recording area so on a sunny and calm afternoon we made a visit to add a few woodland species to our year list. In just under an hour we counted 4 Nuthatches, 1 female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Treecreeper, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 1 Green Woodpecker.

East Blean Woods

January 20th

On another cold and frosty morning, but this time with a fresh west wind blowing, we completed our regular walk up to Coldharbour. We didn't see a great deal, just 189 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Shelduck W, 1 Kestrel, 40 Mallard, 1 male Wigeon, 2 Goldfinches, 29 Carrion Crows, 1 Peregrine, 1 Sanderling and 1 Stonechat. We also saw the juvenile Bewick's Swan in fields near the Roman Galley.

A sunny Reculver Towers

January 19th

We spent a sunny and frosty morning birding in the Reculver area. We saw 315 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Goldfinches, 60 Mallard, 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Redshank, 3 Kestrels, 2 Red-throated Divers, 4 Stonechat, 15 Chaffinches, 2 Redwings, 5 Golden Plover, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Coot, 1 Wigeon, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Green Sandpiper, 13 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 31 Mute Swans, 1 juvenile Bewick's Swan and 70 Stock Doves. 

Herring Gull

This morning Julian Perry walked from Bishopstone to the Oyster Farm and saw 21 Sanderling, 6 Snipe, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1Kestrel, 1 Bearded Tit, 2 Redwings, 1 colour ringed Rock Pipit and 8 Snow Buntings.

Dave Smith had a short walk out onto the Marsh this afternoon and saw 36 Golden Plovers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 5 Tree Sparrows, 8 Corn Buntings and 25 Yellowhammers.

January 18th

On another cold and frosty morning and in bright sunshine we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 290 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Red-throated Divers, 8 Snow Buntings, 6 Goldfinches, 42 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Corn Buntings, 7 Golden Plovers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 55 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 2 Sanderling, 55 Lapwings, 2 Stonechats, 2 Redshank, 2 Turnstone and 1 juvenile Bewick's Swan with 30 Mute Swans.

Snow Bunting

Matt was also out this morning and walked on the Marshes inland from Reculver. He counted 2 Grey Wagtails, 4 Goldcrests, 6 Chiffchaffs, 31 Yellowhammers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Redshank, 1 Wigeon, 9 Teal, 90 Chaffinches, 115 Stock Doves, 1 Kestrel, 4 Common Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 1 juvenile Bewick's Swan, 30 Mute Swans, 400 Linnets, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Redwings, 1 Woodcock (113th), 3 Siskins (114th), 6 Long-tailed Tits, Sparrowhawk, 2 Water Rails and 7 Grey Partridges.

Juvenile Bewick's Swan - Matt Hindle

January 17th

There was no wind this morning but it was very cold but sunny with a temperature of -3℃ as I arrived at Reculver. I walked up to Coldharbour and back and counted 580 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 female/immature male Black Redstart, 1 Curlew, 3 Goldfinches, 46 Mallard, 2 Redshank, 2 Stonechats, 32 Ringed Plovers, 4 Velvet Scoter drifting down towards Minnis Bay, 1 Snipe, 6 Oystercatchers, 21 Mute Swans and 1 Kestrel.

Dunnock feeding on the beach

As I walked along the seawall I met Dave Smith who had been out from 0730 and had walked to Plumpudding. His highlights were 3 Teal, 4 Velvet Scoter, 40 Common Scoter, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 26 Grey Plovers, 66 Lapwings, 20 Ringed Plovers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit (111th), 2 Dunlin, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Bearded Tits, 1 Black Redstart, 3 Stonechats and 8 Snow Buntings.

Matt was out for most of the day and walked inland at Reculver to the seawall, up to Minnis Bay and back along the railway embankment. He recorded 11 Redwings, 18 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 23 Teal, 7 Wigeon, 19 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Coot, 10 Yellowhammers, 20 Moorhens, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Kestrels, 3 Grey Herons, 4 Common Buzzards, 4 Stonechats, 30 Red-throated Divers, 1 Black Redstart, 56 Mallard, 8 Snow Buntings, 6 Golden Plovers, 1 Greylag Goose, 60 Common Scoter, 200 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Velvet Scoter, 1 Water Rail, 7 Lapwings, 1 Marsh Harrier, 38 Corn Buntings, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Tree Sparrows, 33 Mute Swans, 1 Snipe, 80 Stock Doves, 140 Linnets, 1 juvenile Bewick's Swan in field with Mute Swans (112nd), 60 Chaffinches, 30 Reed Buntings, 3 Chiffchaffs and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

This afternoon a walk at Shuart produced 120 Lapwings, 8 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Grey Herons, 150 Stock Doves, 1 Barn Owl, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 42 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck and 2 Mallard.