Saturday 31 January 2015

January 31st
There was rain, sleet and snow at various times this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall up to the seawall. We managed to see 2 Jays, 5 Redwings, 5 Skylarks, 6 Corn Buntings, 2 Common Buzzards, 51 Mute Swans, 47 Carrion Crows, 2 Little Grebes, 17 Redshank, 7 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 4 Turnstone, 2 Stonechats, 9 Snow Buntings, 13 Chaffinches, 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 32 Linnets, 1 Kestrel, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Coots and 1 Grey Wagtail.
This morning Julian and Alex Perry completed a circuit at the eastern end of the recording area from Shuart to Brooksend, then through to the sea and back to Shuart. During the walk birds seen included 2 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Pheasant, 8 Greylag Geese (109th), 16 Mute Swans, 8 Tufted Ducks, 1 Gannet, 3 Kestrels, 5 Coots, 1 Oystercatcher, 7 Redshanks, 50 Sanderlings, 25 Turnstones, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 3 Long-tailed Tits, 6 Song Thrushes, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 4 Greenfinches, and 7 Goldfinches.

Friday 30 January 2015

January 30th
We arrived at Reculver this morning just as the rain and sleet finished. We had an uneventful walk up to Coldharbour seeing 1 Kestrel, 20 Mute Swans, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebes, 21 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Stonechats, 17 Carrion Crows, 6 Redshank, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Egret, 6 Chaffinches, 2 Coot, 4 Tufted Duck and 1 Grey Heron.
Terry Wilson was out at Grenham Bay and saw 25 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Common Scoter, 4 Curlews and 4 Snow Buntings.

Thursday 29 January 2015

January 29th
The sun was shining brightly but there was a cold W wind blowing as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour this morning. Birds we saw included 22 Corn Buntings, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Gadwall, 12 Cormorants, 1 Stonechat, 3 Little Grebes, 9 Redshank, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Little Egret, 56 Oystercatchers, 23 Carrion Crows, 22 Mallard, 2 Turnstone, 9 Snow Buntings, 1 Sanderling, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Tufted Duck and 2 Coot.

Snow Bunting

Wednesday 28 January 2015

January 28th
On a blustery and drizzly morning we walked around Shuart and then dropped in at Reculver on the way home. We saw 4 Moorhens, 13 Mute Swans, 27 Blackbirds, 12 Song Thrushes, 1 Kestrel, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Jay, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 18 Fieldfares, 1 Redwing, 5 Tufted Ducks, 1 Teal, 2 Coot, 2 Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Grey Wagtail and 200 Woodpigeons.
At Minnis Bay Matt saw 1 Fulmar (108th) flying past

Tuesday 27 January 2015

January 27th
We spent the morning out on the Marsh ringing by a field where the farm had left last year's wheat crop and where large numbers of buntings have been feeding. During the morning we counted 166 Corn Buntings, 200 Reed Buntings, 6 Yellowhammers, 35 Tree Sparrows, 1 Common Buzzard, 34 Stock Doves, 1 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harriers and 76 Fieldfares.

Corn Bunting

Tree Sparrow

This afternoon we completed the Chamber's Wall/Coldharbour/Green Wall loop and recorded 275 Cormorants flying S towards the Stour Valley, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Little Grebes, 7 Redshank, 4 Stonechats, 7 Shelduck, 22 Mallard, 5 Turnstone, 336 Brent Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 14 Lapwings, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 6 Tree Sparrows, 1 Common Buzzard and 7 Yellowhammers.

Monday 26 January 2015

January 26th
This morning we began with a brief seawatch at Minnis Bay and saw 1 Great Skua (107th), 5 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Red-throated Divers and 150 Cormorants.
Next we drove over to Reculver where we found 65 Stock Doves, 40 Corn Buntings, 5 Yellowhammers, 100 Reed Buntings, 5 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Goldcrests, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Wagtail,1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Jays.

Sunday 25 January 2015

January 25th
As we were driving down to Reculver this morning we had a call from Matt to say that he had found a Pink-footed Goose (106th) on the wheat fields south of the Oyster Farm. We got reasonable views until a Peregrine flushed it.
Because there was a run involving hundreds of runners we turned off the seawall and walked around the Oyster Farm and recorded 551 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Peregrine, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Tufted Ducks, 3 Mallard, 28 Corn Buntings, 1 Kestrel, 7 Mute Swans, 11 Oystercatchers, 11 Redshanks, 32 Linnets, 2 Curlews, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Shelduck, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Little Owl and 21 Meadow Pipits.

Pink-footed Goose

Saturday 24 January 2015

January 24th
On a sunny but breezy and chilly morning we walked around the Shuart area and then visited Minnis Bay. At Shuart we recorded 1 Red-legged Partridge, 4 Moorhens, 35 Blackbirds, 3 Goldcrests, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 8 Skylarks, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Song Thrushes and 2 Long-tailed Tits.
A brief visit to Minnis Bay produced 650 Cormorants on the offshore sandbank, 2 Red-throated Divers and 3 Great Crested Grebes.

Friday 23 January 2015

January 23rd
This morning was calm but cold as we walked the Chamber's Wall/Green Wall/Coldharbour loop. We saw 62 Corn Buntings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Blackbirds, 9 Mute Swans, 1 Water Rail, 2 Bearded Tits, a male and female (105th), 1 Marsh Harrier, 17 Lapwings, 98 Brent Geese, 1 Snipe, 23 Redshank, 4 Grey Plovers, 1 Curlew, 28 Oystercatchers, 3 Stonechats, 12 Carrion Crows, 1 Little Egret, 7 Shelduck, 5 Mallard, 10 Magpies and 1 Common Buzzard.

Thursday 22 January 2015

January 22nd
It was overcast and cold with a light NE breeze blowing as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour this morning. Birds we saw included 595 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 22 Mute Swans, 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Egrets, 8 Skylarks, 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Lapwings, 23 Redshank, 6 Grey Plovers, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Stonechats 12 Oystercatchers, 1 ring-tail Hen Harrier (103rd), 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Dunlin, 2 Curlews, 14 Carrion Crows, 6 Mallard, 8 Snow Buntings, 1 Turnstone, 1 male Red-breasted Merganser E, 9 Linnets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 13 Meadow Pipits, 1 Tufted Duck and 1 Grey Heron.
Julian Perry was also out this morning and counted 9 Snow Buntings near Coldharbour as well as 2 Greenfinches (104th) at Reculver.

Snow Bunting

Wednesday 21 January 2015

January 21st
On another raw morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 12 Blackbirds, 1 Lapwing, 2 Stonechats, 2 Little Grebes, 7 Redshank, 59 Mute Swans, 76 Brent Geese, 24 Carrion Crows, 3 Curlew, 4 Shelduck, 10 Oystercatchers, 4 Grey Plovers, 2 Teal, 8 Mallard, 2 Turnstone, 8 Snow Buntings and 1 Little Egret.
After our walk we visited Netherhale and Minnis Bay and saw 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Fieldfare, 4 Corn Buntings, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits.
Terry Wilson walked from Minnis Bay to Reculver and counted 63 Turnstone. He also saw a male Eider at Grenham Bay.

Tuesday 20 January 2015

January 20th
After spending yesterday in the Dungeness area we arrived at a freezing Reculver today at 0830. We walked along the seawall to Coldharbour and saw 468 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 13 Redshank, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Plovers, 4 Stonechats, 1 Little Grebe, 7 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 8 Linnets, 14 Carrion Crows, 3 Shelduck, 1 Golden Plover, 11 Lapwings, 6 Oystercatchers, 8 Mallard, 2 Turnstone, 8 Snow Buntings, 1 Little Owl and 1 Jay. We arrived home just as it began to snow.

Female Stonechat

Sunday 18 January 2015

January 18th
On a rainy morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 470 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 11 Mute Swans, 4 Stonechats, the wintering Common Sandpiper  (102nd) still at the Oyster Farm, 3 Redshank, 18 Lapwings, 6 Mallard, 22 Carrion Crows, 2 Turnstone and 8 Cormorants.

Saturday 17 January 2015

January 17th
On a sunny and frosty morning we met Matt at Reculver and walked up to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 479 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Little Owl, 1 Kittiwake, 5 Oystercatchers, 31 Redshank, 1Sanderling, 9 Ringed Plovers, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Shelduck, 4 Snipe, 6 Stonechats, 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Kestrel, 8 Snow Buntings, 14 Mallard, 18 Carrion Crows, 8 Chaffinches, 2 Linnets, 2 Little Grebes, 16 Grey Plovers 7 Lapwings, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Mute Swans and 4 Turnstone.

Friday 16 January 2015

January 16th
We managed to avoid the rain this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour in bright sunshine. We counted 239 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Kestrel, 32 Linnets, 65 Redshank, 48 Cormorants, 10 Mute Swans, 4 Turnstone, 8 Lapwings, 8 Snow Buntings, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Snipe, 3 Oystercatchers, 1 Sanderling, 1 Little Owl and 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull W (101st).

Wednesday 14 January 2015

January 14th
This morning we had a very chilly walk at Minnis Bay and saw 45 Oystercatchers, 57 Grey Plovers, 55 Dunlin, 126 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Eiders, 3 Curlew, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Linnets W, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Redshank, 3 Turnstone, 9 Ringed Plovers and 17 Sanderling.


Little Egret

Tuesday 13 January 2015

January 13th
As it was pouring with rain this morning we went shopping and waited until after lunch to go out when better weather had been promised. In the event we only had about an hour's birding between the heavy showers. Walking along the seawall from Reculver we only saw 10 Mute Swans, 650 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Redshank, 15 Lapwings, 26 Common Scoter and 2 Stonechats.

Monday 12 January 2015

January 12th
On yet another unpleasant and very blustery morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 1 Kestrel, 470 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Little Egret, 13 Oystercatchers, 3 Shelduck, 34 Carrion Crows, 2 Curlews, 6 Snow Buntings, 2 Stonechats including "rubicola" type male with striking white rump, 2 Little Grebes and 2 Redshank.
This afternoon we walked inland from Reculver and recorded 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 17 Mute Swans, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Mallard and 1 Goldcrest.

Sunday 11 January 2015

January 11th
On a sunny but breezy morning we walked around the Shuart area and saw 2 Ring-necked Parakets, 4 Moorhens, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Chiffchaff, 15 Corn Buntings, 42 Mute Swans, 27 Linnets, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrels, 2 Common Buzzards and 2 Marsh Harriers.

Saturday 10 January 2015

January 10th
It was extremely difficult to keep vertical and look through binoculars on the seawall this morning with a SW gale blowing. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw very little, just 12 Reed Buntings, 2 Redshank, 2 Mute Swans, 7 Snow Buntings, 22 Oystercatchers, 2 Mallard and 20 Carrion Crows. On the drive home there were 22 Fieldfares in the field by the windmill at Brook Farm.
During the afternoon we spent half an hour at Minnis Bay where we saw a flock of 14 female Common Scoters sitting on the sea, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Eider and 1 Red-throated Diver.

Friday 9 January 2015

January 9th
This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then along the seawall. We saw 1 Kestrel, 26 Mute Swans, 1 "rubicola" type male Stonechat with a striking white rump, 2 Grey Plovers, 4 Turnstone, 5 Redshank, 14 Shelduck, 12 Oystercatchers, 310 Brent Geese, 18 Carrion Crows, 7 Snow Buntings, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Grebes and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Thursday 8 January 2015

January 8th
With torrential rain all morning we didn't get out until after lunch when we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 11 Mute Swans, 500 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Kestrels, 12 Cormorants, 72 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 Short-eared Owl (100th), 12 Linnets, 6 Stonechats, 3 Turnstone, 14 Reed Buntings, 10 Carrion Crows, 6 Chaffinches, 2 Goldfinches and 1 Shelduck.
January 7th
Julian Perry completed a lunchtime walk around Shuart and through to the sea and it produced 12 Red-legged Partridges, 76 Mute Swans, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Oystercatcher, 5 Redshanks, 50 Turnstones, 1 Sanderling, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 20 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Goldcrests, 2 Stonechats, 4 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Pied Wagtails and 35 Linnets.

Tuesday 6 January 2015

January 6th
With limited time this morning I walked inland at Reculver and saw 2 Jays, 200 Woodpigeons, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Tufted Duck, 26 Mute Swans, 1 Kestrel, 6 Fieldfares, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Lapwings, 2 Marsh Harriers and 4 Mallard.

Monday 5 January 2015

January 5th
On an overcast morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 78 Cormorants, 10 Blackbirds, 430 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Cetti's Warbles, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Kestrel, 10 Redshank, 2 Little Grebes, 34 Oystercatchers, 9 Mallard, 1 Teal, 5 Mute Swans, 6 Shelduck, 16 Carrion Crows, 13 Linnets, 7 Snow Buntings, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Little Egret, 1 Stonechat, 2 Fieldfares, 8 Tree Sparrows, 10 Chaffinches, 8 Reed Buntings and 2 Redwings.

Sunday 4 January 2015

January 4th
With fog coming and going we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour where we met Matt who had walked in from Shuart. Between us we recorded 1 Pied Wagtail, 578 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 11 Snow Buntings, 22 Redshank, 1 Golden Plover (98th), 1 Curlew, 7 Mute Swans, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Stonechats, 4 Turnstone, 22 Ringed Plovers, 46 Carrion Crows, 10 Mallard, 5 Shelduck, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (99th), 4 Linnets, 2 Yellowhammer, 6 Tree Sparrows, 1 Peregrine, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 5 Fieldfares.

Saturday 3 January 2015

January 3rd
We awoke to pouring ran and decided to have a look at the sea at Minnis Bay where there was some shelter. In forty minutes we saw 7 Red-breasted Mergansers E (96th), 23 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Eiders, 29 Brent Geese, 15 Red-throated Divers, 1 Rock Pipit and 270 Cormorants.
On the way home we found 8 Grey Partridges at Reculver.
During the afternoon Matt found a Bar-tailed Godwit at Minnis Bay (97th).

Friday 2 January 2015

January 2nd
This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 8 Mute Swans, 7 Snow Buntings, 16 Redshank, 1 Stonechat, 36 Ringed Plovers, 2 Turnstone, 6 Shelduck, 1 Dunlin, 230 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 14 Carron Crows, 1 Little Egret and 1 Kestrel.
Matt was out early and visited various sites in the area and added Tree Sparrow (93rd), Kittiwake (94th) and Common Scoter (95th) to the 2015 area list.

Snow Buntings

Thursday 1 January 2015

January 1st
Matt picked me up just after 0700 and we drove to our ringing site at Reculver where we recorded 1 Grey Heron, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Tufted Ducks, 1 Mallard, 2 Fieldfares, 12 Mute Swans, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Stonechats, 1 Common Whitethroat, obviously the injured bird we ringed in November still surviving, 2 Green Sandpipers and 1 Grey Wagtail.
From Reculver we drove over to Shuart and saw 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 17 Linnets, 4 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Woodcock, 4 Goldcrests, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Barn Owl and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Our next stop was Minnis Bay in the hope of seeing some waders and seabirds. In the event we counted 8 Gannets, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Eider, 4 Gadwall W, 450 Cormorants, 110 Grey Plovers, 10 Turnstone, 23 Red-throated Divers, 120 Oystercatchers, 20 Brent Geese, 16 Shelduck, 150 Dunlin, 1 Curlew, 24 Sanderling and a Merlin flying in off the sea and being dive bombed by the local Herring Gulls.
This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour where we saw 12 Corn Buntings, 3 Yellowhammers, 3 Stonechats, 57 Fieldfares, 80 Brent Geese, 10 Redwings, 1 Marsh Harrier, 10 Skylarks, 1 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebes, 5 Redshank, 1 Ringed Plover and 9 Snow Buntings.
Matt and I ended the day having seen 83 species.
Marc Heath and Julian and Alex Perry were also out today and in addition to what we saw recorded Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit and Tawny Owl taking the January 1st total to 92 species.