October 31st
This morning we walked around at Reculver and saw 75 Chaffinches W, 2 Chiffchaffs, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Goldcrests, 135 Coot, 95 Mallard, 65 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 3 Pintail, 4 Shoveler, 45 Teal, 3 Little Grebes, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Redshank, 2 Wigeon, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Stonechat, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Pied Wagtail.
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| Pintail |
October 30th
On a glorious late autumn morning we walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding lagoon and back. We saw 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Rock Pipit, 11 Oystercatchers, 86 Sanderling, 10 Meadow Pipits, 11 Skylarks, 16 Cormorants, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 28 Mallard, 9 Goldfinches, 2 Curlew, 1 Kestrel, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Redshank and 1 Snow Bunting.
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| Snow Bunting |
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| Goldfinch |
Brendan Ryan was also out this morning and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and his highlights were 9 Mute Swans, 1 Canada Goose, 32 Mallard, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 9 Red-legged Partridges, 280 Stock Doves, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings, 8 Sanderling, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 14 Cormorants, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted and 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Jay, 26 Carrion Crows, 2 Ravens, 20 Skylarks, 2 Chiffchaffs, 11 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Blackcap, 19 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests, 1 Mistle Thrush, 14 Song Thrushes, 27 Redwings, 26 Blackbirds, 2 Fieldfares, 12 Robins, 5 Stonechats, 24 Chaffinches, 1 Bullfinch, 12 Linnets, 1 Redpoll, 28 Goldfinches, 2 Corn Buntings and 28 Reed Buntings.
He the visited Bishopstone and recorded 44 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 12 Skylarks, 3 Chiffchaffs, 9 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Blackcap, 4 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests, 450 Starlings, 7 Robins, 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Chafinches, 3 Linnets, 1 Redpoll, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Siskin, 1 Corn Bunting and 2 Reed Buntings.
October 29th
It was cloudy with a moderate westerly breeze blowing as we walked inland at Reculver and then at the Towers this morning. We counted 134 Coot, 55 Mallard, 65 Gadwall, 80 Teal, 2 Pintail, 4 Shoveler, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Wigeon, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 8 Pied Wagtails, 6 Mute Swans, 6 Meadow Pipits, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaffs, 15 Siskin, 1 Kestrel and 1 Marsh Harrier.
Our walk at the Towers produced 626 Chaffinches flying W in an 45 minutes, 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Purple Sandpiper on the rocks below the car park, 1 House Martin feeding round the Towers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Brambling flying W, 25 Meadow Pipits, 16 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 30 Common Scoter and 1 Sandwich Tern flying E.
October 28th
As we left our house this morning on the way to Reculver, 48 Fieldfare flew W over our garden. At a windy Reculver we walked up to Coldharbour and counted 15 Linnets, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Reed Buntings, 17 Meadow Pipits, 1 Redshank, 10 Corn Bunting, 24 Cormorants, 7 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Shelduck, 4 Mallard, 4 Stonechats, 2 Skylarks, 210 Carrion Crows, 9 Mute Swans and 250 Starlings.
October 27th
On another cool and windy morning we walked at Reculver and counted 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 135 Coot, 58 Mallard, 4 Tufted Ducks, 4 Shoveler, 10 Blackbirds, 6 Mute Swans, 88 Teal, 1 Redshank, 65 Gadwall, 4 Little Grebes, 8 Wigeon, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Pintail.
October 26th - 200th species for 2025
We birded Reculver a couple of times today but only recorded 25 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 41 Cormorants, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Rock Pipit, 9 Teal and 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls W.
Ray O'Reilly visited Reculver today and his highlights included 1 Whooper Swan (200th), 1 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Firecrests and 1 Ruff.
October 25th
On a morning with a fresh and cold westerly wind blowing Dave Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour. He counted 160 Greylag Geese, 20 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Barnacle Geese, 1 Canada with 5 hybrid young, 12 Mute Swans, 3 Shelduck, 14 Mallard, 10 Stock Doves, 4 Coot, 37 Golden Plovers, 40 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 30 Turnstone, 40 Sanderling, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 8 Skylarks, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 3 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, 1 Stonechat, 7 Meadow Pipits, 15 Chaffinches, 30 Linnets, 4 Redpoll and 20 Goldfinches.
At Reculver we saw very little, just 1 Green Woodpecker, 400 Starlings, 8 Chaffinches, 12 Linnets, 1 Grey Herons, 3 Goldfinches, 3 Meadow Pipits and 55 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.
October 24th
Although the wind had decreased overnight and it was a sunny morning it was much colder as we walked at Reculver. We recorded 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Grey Partridges, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Redwing, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Siskins W, 130 Coot, 50 Mallard, 4 Shoveler, 86 Teal, 40 Gadwall, 10 Blackbirds, 2 Pintail, 8 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebes, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 1 juvenile Arctic Tern off the Towers and 2 Red-throated Divers.
Brendan Ryan birdwatched at Bishopstone and Reculver where he recorded 11 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 23 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests, 9 Grey Partridges, 16 Skylarks W, 2 Redpoll W,1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Corn Buntings, 2 Wigeon, 46 Teal, 17 Gadwall, 26 Coot and 3 Swallows. He then had a brief look at Shuart where he found 4 Common Buzzards, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 4 Goldcests and 1 Firecrest.
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| Grey Wagtail - Brendan Ryan |
October 23rd
We spent an hour at Reculver this morning in the pouring rain and with a gale force westerly wind blowing. We managed to see 1 Great Northern Diver flying W, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 12 Cormorants, 3 Common Gulls, 2 juvenile Arctic Terns, 1 Little Egret, 1 Gannet W and 1 Kittiwake E.
At Reculver this morning David Smith saw 1 Common or Pallid Swift, 2 Arctic Skuas, 1 Guillemot, 2 Kittiwakes, 3 Arctic Terns, 8 Sandwich Terns, 1 Red-throated Divers and 4 Gannets.
We also saw 3 Red-breasted Mergansers flying W at Reculver this afternoon.
October 22nd
It was much quieter this morning as we completed the same walk as yesterday. We saw 3 Grey Herons, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 26 Cormorants, 12 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 73 Meadow Pipits, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 12 Mallard, 25 Mute Swans, 130 Carrion Crows, 34 Linnets, 8 Reed Buntings, 5 Siskins W, 1 Stonechats, 3 Grey Wagtails, 8 Robins, 2 Chiffchaffs and 6 Skylarks.
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| Meadow Pipit having a wash |
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| Juvenile Arctic Tern - Derek Smith |
Brendan Ryan's highlights this morning on his walk from Shuart to Coldharbour and Chamber's Wall were 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 21 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Water Rails, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Marsh Harriers, 66 Carrion Crows, 7 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Firecrests, 19 Song Thrushes, 1 Redwing, 5 Stonechats, 3 Redpoll, 4 Crossbills, 1 Yellowhammer and 22 Reed Buntings.
October 21st
It was a bright and sunny morning as we walked from Reculver along the seawall to the Wantsum outflow. We counted 3 Pied Wagtails, 61 Meadow Pipits, 1 Swallow W, 3 juvenile Arctic Terns feeding close in by the Towers, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Stonechats, 29 Cormorants, 1 Redshank, 10 Reed Buntings, 29 Mallard, 14 Skylarks W, 10 Mediterranean Gulls, 140 Black-headed Gulls, 9 Sandwich Terns, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 120 Carrion Crows, 70 Linnets, 2 Kestrels, 1 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Common Tern, 1 Greenshank, 3 Corn Buntings, 11 Goldfinches and 4 Black Redstarts in the sunshine around the Towers.
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| Black Redstarts |
During the late afternoon Brendan Ryan walked at Chamber's Wall and Shuart and recorded 11 Chiffchaffs, 10 Goldcrests and 5 Firecrests.
October 20th
On showery and breezy morning Anne and I stayed around the Towers and recorded 2 Curlew, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaffs, 11 Goldfinches, 6 Skylarks, 9 Swallows, 8 Chaffinches, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls W, 2 Siskin W, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Black Redstarts, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtails and 1 Slavonian Grebe (199th) on the sea 200 metres off the car park surprisingly associating with a Great Black-backed Gull.
October 19th
With a south easterly breeze blowing this morning it felt a bit chillier than recently as we walked at various sites at Reculver. We counted 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Jays, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 8 Siskins, 135 Coot, 64 Gadwall, 60 Mallard, 21 Blackbirds, 6 Mute Swans, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 45 Teal, 5 Wigeon, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Grey Wagtail, 9 Goldfinches, 2 Common Buzzards, 7 Skylarks, Shoveler, 3 Redwings, a covey of 14 Grey Partridges, 6 Chaffinches, 8 Goldfinches, 15 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Black Redstarts, including a male singing, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 6 Meadow Pipits and 40 Starlings flying in off the sea.
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| Meadow Pipit |
Between 0700 and 1130 Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Brooksend, Plumpudding and the embankment and counted 2 Grey Herons, 17 Little Egrets, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 1 Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Stonechats, 1 Black Redstart, 45 Chaffinches W, 6 Bramblings W, 7 Crossbills SW, 16 Redpoll E, 19 Siskins W, 34 Goldfinches W, 21 Chiffchaffs, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler and 42 Goldcrests.
Dave Smith walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and back and recorded 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Barnacle Geese, 7 Mute Swans, 3 Golden Plovers, 30 Ringed Plovers, 2 Lapwings, 13 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 20 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 1 Guillemot, 3 Arctic Terns close in shore, 3 Little Grebes 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 12 Skylarks, 1 Reed Warbler, 8 Swallows, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 10 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 12 Goldcrests, 3 Firecrests, 5 Song Thrushes, 7 Redwings, 10 Blackbirds, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Stonechats, 95 Chaffinches, 3 Brambling, 4 Redpoll, 12 Crossbills and 8 Siskins. ||Later at Reculver he recorded a Yellow-browed Warbler.
October 18th
On a calm and dull morning we walked at various sites at Reculver and counted 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 62 Gadwall, 1 Goldcrest, 135 Coot, 2 Common Buzzards, 10 Chaffinches, 58 Mallard, 3 Little Grebes, 13 Mute Swans, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 3 Ruff flying W, 1 Snipe, 1 Woodcock, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 60 Siskins, 2 Redpoll, 1 Sparrowhawk chasing Siskins, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Fieldfares, 10 Redwings, 20 Blackbirds, 22 Linnets, 12 Meadow Pipits, 1 Curlew, 2 Great Crested Grebes. 28 Common Scoter and 40 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.
Dave Smith walked from Bishopstone to Reculver and back and recorded 300 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 13 Teal, 1 Golden Plover, 14 Lapwings, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Gannet, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Jay, 3 Skylarks, 1 Swallow, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcaps, 12 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, 660 Starlings, 6 Song Thushes, 14 Redwings, 25 Blackbirds, 49 Fieldfares, 2 Black Redstarts, 5 Stonechats, 1 Tree Sparrow, 1 Grey Wagtail, 15 Chaffinches, 2 Brambling, 60 Redpoll, 8 Siskins and 5 Corn Buntings.
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| Male Black Redstart - Dave Smith |
Brendan Ryan began the morning at Reculver where he saw 7 Wigeon, 2 Red-throated Divers, 60 Lapwings, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests, 7 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Mistle Thrush and then at Chamber's Wall he saw 2 Barnacle Geese, 1 Canada Goose, 2 Marsh Harriers, 25 Skylarks, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrests, 5 Bramblings and 14 Reed Buntings. At Shuart Farm he counted 5 Chiffchaffs, 7 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, 1 Brambling and 2 Redpoll.
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| Female Brambling - Brendan Ryan |
October 17th
On a cloudy but bright morning Anne and I walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. We counted 35 Meadow Pipits, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Pied Wagtails, 5 Crossbills flying W, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Redshank, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Stonechats, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Grey Herons, 46 Mallard, 4 Mediterranean Gulls flying E, 23 Cormorants, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 152 Carrion Crows, 115 Starlings, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Kingfisher, 8 Skylarks, 1 Wheatear, 1 Kestrel and 1 Red-throated Diver.
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| Wheatear |
Matt was also out and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and returned along the railway embankment. He saw 1 Black Redstart, 1 Red-throated Diver, 10 Stonechats, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Rock Pipits, 160 Carrion Crows, 4 Kingfishers, 6 Little Egrets, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Curlew, 2 Chiffchaffs, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 7 Redshank, 80 Sanderling, 50 Ringed Plovers, 40 Turnstone, 48 Mallard, 1 Blackcap, 1 Sparrowhawk, 12 Goldcrests, 6 Redwings, 268 Greylag Geese, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Ravens, 4 Brambling, 1 Water Rail, 4 Redpoll, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Peregrine, 1 Snipe and 7 Corn Buntings.
Derek Smith covered the eastern half of the recording area this morning and counted 3 Grey Herons, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 White-fronted Geese, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Grey Plover 10 Golden Plovers, 40 Sanderling, 1 Curlew, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 2 Stonechats, 1 Raven, 90 Chaffinches W, 34 Siskins W 12 Redpolls, W, 8 Bramblings, 17 Chiffchaffs and 19 Goldcrests.
In addition, Geoff Burton saw 4 Glossy Ibises flying north over the Thanet way near the Reculver turn-off.
