Sunday 30 November 2014

November 30th
Matt arrived at Reculver early and walked inland recording 2 Goldcrests, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Water Rails, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtails, 3 Teal, 11 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, 6 Pochard, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Great Crestd Grebe, 3 Redwings and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
We met him at the Towers and walked up to Coldharbour in the mist and murk and saw 436 Brent Geese, 30 Cormorants, 80 Oystercatchers, 4 Gannets, 12 Mute Swans, 5 Pied Wagtails, 2 Kestrels, 11 Redshank, 14 Red-throated Divers, 1 Kittiwake, 2 Little Egrets, 15 Snow Buntings, 2 Stonechats, 2 Little Grebes, 14 Goldfinches, 4 Lapwings, 2 Turnstone, 2 Curlews, 62 Carrion Crows and 2 Snipe.
This afternoon I had a text from Barry Wright to say had seen a Pomarine Skua close in at Reculver and this evening Matt saw a Long-eared Owl  (188th) at Shuart.

Saturday 29 November 2014

November 29th
At last a pleasant morning that had a good effect on the variety of birds to be seen. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 104 Fieldfares, 7 Redwings, 12 Chaffinches, 166 Cormorants, 121 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Corn Bunting, 42 Golden Plovers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 9 Redshank, 32 Linnets, 10 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Stonechat, 3 Curlews, 12 Teal, 3 Mallard, 21 Snow Buntings, 1 male Hen Harrier, 64 Carrion Crows, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Raven E along the  seawall and then out to Shuart, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 1 Peregrine.

Snow Bunting

Friday 28 November 2014

November 28th
The sun gradually came out as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. We managed to see 431 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 18 Meadow Pipits, 16 Mute Swans, 2 Curlews, 1 Pied Wagtail, 23 Redshank, 4 Little Egrets, 8 Goldfinches, 2 Linnets, 2 Ringed Plovers, 10 Oystercatchers, 19 Cormorants, 2 Kestrels, 2 Mallard, 3 Stonechats, 4 Lapwings, 2 Grey Plovers and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Thursday 27 November 2014

November 27th
On another miserable morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour where the tide was miles out. We saw 2 Redwings, 1 Tufted Duck, 12 Chaffinches, 80 Brent Geese, 7 Oystercatchers, 3 Mallard, 28 Carrion Crows, 3 Grey Plovers, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Curlews, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Kingfisher.

Wednesday 26 November 2014

November 26th
On a dull, dreary and damp morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 330 Brent Geese, 17 Oystercatchers, 9 Mute Swans, 204 Cormorants, 23 Redshank, 2 Little Egrets, 16 Goldfinches, 2 Kestrels, 1 Water Rail, 2 Grey Plovers, 10 Ringed Plovers, 10 Snow Buntings, 2 Stonechats, 2 Curlews, 1 Turnstone, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Meadow Pipits and 1 Rock Pipit.

Tuesday 25 November 2014

November 25th
On a sunny morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 155 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Curlews, 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Grebes, 32 Red-throated Divers, 20 Oystercatchers, 1 Dunlin, 20 Grey Plovers, 2 Turnstone, 3 Stonechats, 19 Starlings in off the sea, 5 Ringed Plovers, 9 Mallard, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Wigeon, 13 Gannets, 245 Cormorants, 3 Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 8 Snow Buntings.
Julian Perry was also out later this morning and saw 1 Shorelark at Coldharbour and 9 Snow Buntings by the Wantsum outflow.
This afternoon we spent an hour seawatching from Minnis Bay and counted 6 Great Skuas E, 9 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 31 Sanderling, 6 Guillemots E, 5 female Eiders W, 4 Gannets, 3 Kittiwakes E and 1 Pomarine Skua E.
Today, with  a stiff easterly blowing, Ron Dubbins did a 90 minute seawatch in the morning seeing 8 Gannets, 10 Great Crested Grebes, 23 Common Scoter distantly E, 7 Red-throated Divers and 6 auks, probably Guillemots.  In the afternoon he did another hour and saw 1 Velvet Scoter E before it dropped onto the sea quite close in as well as 3 more Gannets, 4 Red-throated Divers and 3 Guillemots.

Monday 24 November 2014

November 24th
We spent a cold and sunny morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 35 Tree Sparrows, 8 Mute Swans, 90 Fieldfares, 3 Bramblings, 2 Water Rails, 20 Redwings, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 14 Mallard, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kestrel, 11 Cormorants, 2 Green Woodpckers, 1 Grey Heron, 120 Blackbirds, 15 Song Thrushes, 30 Skylarks, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 320 Brent Geese, 3 Snipe, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 25 Reed Buntings and 1 Hen Harrier.

Tree Sparrow - Matt Hindle

A walk along the seawall from Reculver this afternoon produced 80 Brent Geese, 2 Stonechats, 1 Guillemot, 10 Snow Buntings, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Shelduck.



Sunday 23 November 2014

November 23rd
We managed to walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour this morning before the threatened rain arrived. We saw 25 Cormorants, 8 Chaffinches, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Stonechats, 1 Little Egret, 14 Redshanks, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Curlews, 38 Meadow Pipits, 6 Linnets, 1 Corn Bunting, 6 Mallard, 10 Reed Buntings, 5 Goldfinches, 2 Ringed Plovers, 5 Brent Geese, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 male Marsh Harrier and 14 Blackbirds.
Matt had a seawatch in the rain this afternoon and saw 15 Gannets, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Great Skua, 1 Shag and 4 Little Gulls.

Saturday 22 November 2014

November 22nd
Matt spent 40 minutes seawatching at Reculver this morning before we all walked along the seawall to Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment. Between us we saw 1 male Pintail, 16 Shelduck, 357 Cormorants, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 male Eiders, 2 Grey Herons, 7 Pied Wagtails, 8 Mute Swans, 1 Marsh Harrier,  62 Lapwings, 18 Redshank, 7 Little Grebes, 18 Linnets, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Turnstone, 10 Brent Geese, 6 Stonechats, 17 Goldfinches, 20 Meadow Pipits, 9 Gannets, 3 Grey Plovers, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Kestrels, 9 Corn Buntings, 14 Gadwall, 1 Little Egret, 12 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 13 Red-throated Divers, 5 Snow Buntings, 37 Teal, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Common Scoters, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Oystercatchers, 13 Fieldfares, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Goldcrests and 11 Redwings.

Friday 21 November 2014

November 21st
On another overcast morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 2 Redwings, 7 Grey Partridges, 3 Skylarks, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Lapwings, 1 Marsh Harrier, 22 Goldfinches, 11 Mallard, 10 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 7 Gannets E, 2 Turnstone, 23 Teal, 11 Cormorants, 5 Linnets, 1 Golden Plover, 32 Carrion Crows, 1 Curlew, 3 Red-throated Divers E,  Grey Plovers, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Snow Buntings, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 7 Brent Geese, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Kestrel. We also found a dead Porpoise on the beach.
This afternoon I had a text from Derek Smith to say he had found 4 White-fronted Geese at Brooksend. He also saw 9 Corn Buntings, 2 Peregrines, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 35 Lapwings and 2 Stonechats.

White-fronted Geese - Derek Smith

Thursday 20 November 2014

November 20th
On an overcast morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 2 Cetti's Warblers, 23 Goldfinches, 2 Stonechats, 7 Redshank, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Red-throated Divers E, 46 Brent Geese, 1 Marsh Harrier, 24 Cormorants, 3 Snow Buntings, 17 Golden Plovers, 1 Kestrel, 9 Turnstone, 5 Gannets E, 3 Mallard, 15 Carrion Crows and 1 Shelduck.

Wednesday 19 November 2014

November 19th
With patchy fog gradually dispersing we walked along the seawall at Reculver towards Coldharbour. We saw 4 Teal, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Curlew, 9 Redshank, 20 Meadow Pipits, 2 Rock Pipits, 7 Cormorants, 85 Brent Geese, 1 Kestrel, 2 Ringed Plovers 4 Little Egrets, 5 Turnstones 2 Goldfinches and 26 Linnets.

Monday 17 November 2014

November 17th
We spent the morning ringing at Shuart where we recorded 3 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 20 Tree Sparrows, 2 Bullfinches, 2 Snipe, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 30 Redwings, 80 Blackbirds, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 3 Goldcrests, 1 Water Rail, 15 Skylarks, 2 Yellowhammers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kestrel and 1 Common Buzzard.

Female Bullfinch - Matt Hindle

On an overcast afternoon we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 180 Brent Geese, 10 Redshank, 15 Mute Swans, 1 Little Grebe, 23 Goldfinches, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Wagtail, 13 Oystercatchers, 4 Curlews, 4 Turnstone, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 8 Mallard, 3 Grey Plovers and 1 Kingfisher.

Sunday 16 November 2014

November 16th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where the strangest bird we recorded was a Common Whitethroat. It appeared to have a slightly injured wing which may have been the reason it hasn't migrated. Other birds we saw included 2 Jays, 3 Goldfinches, 6 Redwings,. 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, 2 Water Rails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Bullfinch, 1 Lapland Bunting, 63 Cormorants, 5 Mallard, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Siskins, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Pochard, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Tree Sparrows, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard and 5 Lesser Redpolls.
Derek Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and back and recorded 73 Gannets E, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harriers, 6 Stonechats, 3 Bearded Tits, 3 Water Rails, 6 Chiffchaffs, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 26 Goldcrests, 80 Blackbirds, 36 Song Thrushes, 8 Fieldfares and 16 Redwings.
November 15th
Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and Plumpudding this morning. He recorded 2 Goldcrests, 8 Grey Partridges, 14 Redwings, 21 Chaffinches, 22 Song Thrushes, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Fieldfares, 1 Sparrowhawk, 29 Mallard, 5 Teal, 5 Water Rails, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 29 Lapwings, 2 Shelduck, 2 Bearded Tits, 21 Skylarks, 45 Meadow Pipits, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Stonechat and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Friday 14 November 2014

November 14th
On a wet and windy morning we birded at Reculver and saw 11 Gannets, 7 Teal, 2 Common Scoter, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 314 Cormorants, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Stonechats, 1 Snow Bunting, 2 Shelduck, 30 Goldfinches, 160 Brent Geese and 4 Curlews.

Thursday 13 November 2014

November 13th
This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Kestrel, 9 Skylarks, 36 Meadow Pipits, 14 Blackbirds, 10 Mute Swans, 10 Reed Buntings, 4 Oystercatchers, 554 Brent Geese, 18 Redshank, 2 Turnstone, 16 Linnets, 4 Snow Buntings, 22 Carrion Crows, 1 Little Egret, 1 Curlew, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Lapwings, 9 Redwings and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Wednesday 12 November 2014


November 12th
With a fresh and blustery S wind blowing we walked along the sea wall from Reculver and recorded 475 Brent Geese, 14 Meadow Pipits, 16 Mute Swans, 2 Stonechats, 7 Redshank, 8 Pied Wagtails, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Kestrel, 5 Linnets, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Grebe
 and 2 Lapwings in off the sea.

Tuesday 11 November 2014

November 11th
We had to wait in this morning for the men to trim our trees and we therefore didn't get out until after lunch. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Wagtail, 7 Redshank 10 Mallard, 12 Carrion Crows, 7 Teal, 3 Brent Geese and 16 Cormorants.
This morning Barry Woolhouse walked from the Towers to Coldharbour and back and noted 500+Brent Geese, 30+Meadow Pipits, 2 Snow Buntings, 2 Kestrels, 2 Stonechats, 12 Grey Plovers, 7 Sanderling, 2 Canada Geese, 1 Turnstone, 2 Dunlin, 9 Ringed Plovers, 5 Pied Wagtails, 20 Redshank, 1 Reed Bunting, 12 Mute Swans, 2 Curlews and 6 Goldfinches. There was no sign of the Shorelark.

Monday 10 November 2014

November 10th
We were unable to visit Reculver until 1000 and found that the Desert Wheatear had apparently departed over night. After heavy rain earlier we walked along the seawall in bright sunshine and saw 4 Pied Wagtails 525 Brent Geese, 17 Mute Swans, 1 Little Owl, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Little Egrets, 28 Cormorants, 6 Redshank, 2 Stonechats, 1 female Red-breasted Merganser E, 1 Kestrel and 1 Jay.

Sunday 9 November 2014

November 9th
This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland. We saw 552 Brent Geese, 7 Lapwings, 1 Rock Pipit, 15 Mute Swans, 1 Black Redstart, 7 Stonechats, 1 Great Northern Diver W, 5 Grey Wagtails, 506 Chaffinches W, 1 male Desert Wheatear, 4 Shelduck, 21 Redshanks, 15 Turnstone, 107 Cormorants, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 33 Mallard, 13 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Kestrels, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlews, 3 Grey Plovers, 2 Snow Buntings, 4 Gadwall, 1 Shorelark, 8 Skylarks, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 200 Golden Plover, 2 Bramblings, 15 Goldfinches, 4 Redwings, 50 Blackbirds, 10 Song Thrushes, Corn Bunting, 1 Water Rail, 2 Great Skuas W and 500 Starlings.

Shorelark

Saturday 8 November 2014

November 8th
Matt was out at Reculver early this morning and we arrived later to join the mass of birdwatchers looking at the Desert Wheatear. Between us we recorded 1 Great Northern Diver (187th), 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 male Desert Wheatear, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Curlews, 2 Grey Plovers, 500 Brent Geese, 15 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 Teal, 19 Mallard, 2 Stonechats, 1 Wheatear, 1 Shorelark, 3 Wigeon, 2 Snow Buntings, 3 Pied Wagtails, 10 Meadow Pipits and 13 Mute Swans.


Shorelark - Matt Hindle

Friday 7 November 2014

November 7th
This morning Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour in pouring rain and returned in bright sunshine. He saw a good range of species including 37 Lapwings, 250 Golden Plovers, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Gannet, 4 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 34 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Snow Buntings, 1 juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard (186th) W along the seawall and then out to sea towards Essex, 1 Shorelark, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 36 Brent Geese, 20 Sanderling, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 male Desert Wheatear.
This afternoon he walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and saw 25 Redwing, 3 Goldcrests, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Peregrine, 150 Brent Geese, 8 Grey Plover, 90 Oystercatchers, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Fieldfares, 13 Curlew, 3 Teal, 140 Sanderling, 40 Ringed Plovers, 20 Dunlin, 6 Turnstone and 40 Mallard.



Male Desert Wheatear - Matt Hindle

Thursday 6 November 2014

November 6th
I managed to find a good bird this morning as we walked back along the seawall to Reculver. As we got to the entrance to the seawall I saw a wheatear which appeared to be very pale and have a black mask fly down from the wall and disappear behind the Oyster Farm buildings. After an anxious search we found it ten minutes later about 200 yards along the seawall. It was, as I had initially thought, a male DESERT WHEATEAR (185th). This was my third Desert Wheatear here and the fourth for Reculver. Although rather flighty I managed to get one or two passable photos before I had to leave.





Male Desert Wheatear

Other birds seen during the morning included 2 Little Egret, 3 Pied Wagtails, 242 Brent Geese, 23 Lapwings W, 38 Meadow Pipits, 1 Kestrel, 6 Mute Swans, 19 Redshank, 1 Red-throated Diver , 1 Curlew, 1 Grey Wagtail, 7 Cormorants, 9 Teal, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Little Owl,  1 Grey Plover and 2 Turnstones.
This morning while we were at Reculver Matt was ringing at Shuart and saw 89 Fieldfares, 99 Redwings, 2 Bullfinches, 6 Bramblings, 7 Tree Sparrows, 50 Chaffinches, 1 Woodcock, 1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Goldcrests, 70 Blackbirds, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Yellowhammer, 18 Skylarks, 1 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Chiffchaff, 25 Song Thrushes, 40 Greylag Geese and 1 Blackcap.
This afternoon a Little Auk found close inshore at Reculver was eventually killed by a gull.

Little Auk - Matt Hindle

Wednesday 5 November 2014

November 5th
This morning at 0745 I received a text from Derek Smith to say he had just had a Pomarine Skua (182nd) fly past the Towers. We drove down to the car park and sat in the car for an hour in the pouring rain but only saw 140 Brent Geese, 1 Red-throated Diver, 21 Gannets, 15 Lapwings W out at sea, 2 Curlews and 2 Kittiwakes.
Derek Smith spent the whole day seawatching from the Towers and his final totals were 8 Pomarine Skuas, 6 Great Skuas, 110 Gannets, 64 Kittiwakes, 16 Little Gulls, 1 Little Auk (183rd), 3 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers, 10 Shelduck, 4 Velvet Scoter (184th), 28 Common Scoter, 13 Wigeon, 16 Teal, 12 Dunlin, 4 Curlew, 5 Sandeling, 14 Lapwings, 22  Skylarks and 4 Rock Pipits.

Tuesday 4 November 2014

November 4th
After yesterday's washout it was nice to walk along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour this morning in bright sunshine. We saw, 294 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 16 Mallard, 15 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Ringed Plovers, 30 Golden Plovers, 45 Turnstone, 8 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin,  4 Skylarks, 3 Pied Wagtails, 73 Meadow Pipits, 1 Stonechat, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Chiffchaff, 9 Goldfinches and 4 Snow Buntings.

Monday 3 November 2014

November 2nd
A Black Redstart and 4 Snow Buntings were seen during the day.

Saturday 1 November 2014

November 1st
We spent the morning ringing near Reculver and saw 5 Goldfinches, 13 Siskins W, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Bramblings, 62 Chaffinches W, 3 Grey Wagtails, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Water Rail, 4 Cormorants, 2 Redwing, 4 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Fieldfares W, 1 Common Buzzard, 9 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Mallard, 5 Tufted Ducks 1 Marsh Harrier and 174 Starlings W.
Derek Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and back along the embankment. He saw 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 36 Song Thrushes 70 Blackbirds, 18 Redwings, 940 Starlings W, 77 Skylarks W, 3 Chiffchaffs, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 220 Chaffinches W, 2 Bramblings W, 18 Tree Sparrows, 2 Stonechats and 1 Yellowhammer W.

Tree Sparrows at the White Poplars - Derek Smith