Saturday 28 February 2015

February 28th
February ended on a blustery note as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and also visited Reculver this morning. We saw 37 Mute Swans, 21 Mallard, 4 Coot, 7 Cormorants, 11 Curlew, 10 Redshank, 1 Shelduck, 8 Grey Plovers, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Chiffchaff out on the Marsh may have been an early migrant, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Green Sandpipers, 6 Pochard, 16 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Friday 27 February 2015

February 27th
After unsuccessfully trying to find the Richard's Pipit at Swale NNR this morning we returned to Reculver this afternoon and completed a walk inland. We saw 4 Goldfinches, 24 Fieldfares, 33 Mute Swans, 13 Mallard, 1 Teal, 5 Pochard, 16 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Coot, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 620 Brent Geese, 32 Meadow Pipits, 1 Gadwall, 2 Sparrowhawks, 116 Corn Buntings, 60 Stock Doves, 53 Yellowhammers, 29 Tree Sparrows, 70 Reed Buntings and 1 Chiffchaff.
This morning Julian Perry walked round the Oyster Farm. Birds seen included 700+ Brent Geese, 1 Barnacle Goose, 45 Mute Swans, 2 Mallards, 1 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels, 2 Oystercatchers,  4 Lapwings, 1 Grey Plover, 7 Ringed Plovers, 18 Redshanks, 5 Sanderlings, 5 Skylarks, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Rock Pipit and 2 Reed Buntings.

Thursday 26 February 2015

February 26th
We arrived at Reculver at 0800 on a blustery morning and walked up to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 500 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, including the leucistic individual, 5 Shelduck, 36 Mute Swans, 1 Kestrel, 1 Greylag Goose, 52 Redshank, 12 Ringed Plovers, 8 Oystercatchers, 8 Mallard, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechats, 9 Turnstone, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Grey Wagtail and 22 Golden Plovers.

Wednesday 25 February 2015

February 25th
This morning Julian Perry walked the Shuart -  Brooksend - Plumpudding - Shuart loop. Birds seen included 47 Mute Swans, 3 Mallards, 7 Gadwalls, 7 Tufted Ducks, 3 Common Scoters, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Grey Herons, 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Kestrels, 8 Moorhens, 10 Coots, 8 Oystercatchers, 5 Redshanks, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 100+ Stock Doves, 825+ Woodpigeons, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Barn Owl making a successful hunt, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 50+ Rooks, 50+ Jackdaws, 25+ Carrion Crows, 15 Skylarks,  13 Pied Wagtails, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Stonechat, 15 Goldfinches, 1 Greenfinch  and 6 Reed Buntings.
We only ventured out after lunch and visited Minnis Bay as the tide was coming in and saw 184 Oystercatchers, 48 Redshank, 54 Grey Plovers, 8 Curlews, 59 Turnstone, 125 Dunlin, 15 Sanderling, 6 Ringed Plovers, 12 Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret and 16 Common Scoter.

Sanderling

On the way home we dropped in at Reculver and saw 12 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mallard, 9 Fieldfares, 2 Gadwall, 2 Coot and 850 Brent Geese.

Tuesday 24 February 2015

February 24th
On another bright and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back around the Green Wall before dropping in at Reculver on the way home. We saw 47 Mallard, 6 Chaffinches, 3 Coot, 3 Little Grebes, 26 Oystercatchers, 4 Grey Plovers, 443 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 10 Redshank, 5 Stonechats including "rubicola" type male with striking white rump, 8 Mute Swans, 1 Grey Heron, 80 Golden Plovers, 1 Lapwing, 1 Jay, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 18 Tufted Duck.

This morning I received information about two French ringed birds we caught at Shuart last year. The first was a Reed Warbler we caught on 20th August 2014 that had been ringed on 18th August 2012 at Roseliere Parent, Guines, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE (70 km SE)  and the other was a Sedge Warbler caught on 25th July 2014 that had been ringed at Tour aux Moutons, Dognes, Loire Atlantique, FRANCE (511 km SSW) on 20th July 2011.

Monday 23 February 2015

February 23rd
On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Reculver to the Wantsum outflow and saw 780 Dark-bellied Brent Geese including one very pale individual and also a Barnacle Goose. Other birds seen included 34 Mute Swans, 4 Stonechats, 14 Redshank, 3 Ringed Plovers, 32 Dunlin, 41 Oystercatchers, 12 Mallard, 2 Curlew, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Snow Buntings, 16 Sanderling, 1 Little Egret and 1 Little Owl.

Barnacle Goose

Pale Brent Goose

I was notified today that a Song Thrush we ringed at Shuart on 22nd October 2008 had been hunted and killed at Luis Carlos Ferreira Lemos Santos, Monsanto, Alcanena, Portugal on 4th January 2015. This was 1,534 km SSW of where we ringed it. This was a first year "continental" Song Thrush we caught in October on its autumn migration south, a journey it had made seven times before being killed.






Sunday 22 February 2015

February 22nd
It was sunny but frosty this morning as we walked inland at Reculver and saw 1 Mistle Thrush, 34 Blackbirds, 35 Chaffinches, 1 Common Buzzard, 10 Mallard, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 4 Coot, 7 Gadwall, 2 Jays, 1 Little Grebe, 28 Mute Swans, 600 Woodpigeons, 1 Kestrel, 105 Reed Buntings, 5 Grey Partridges, 5 Skylarks, 88 Stock Doves, 5 Yellowhammers and 78 Corn Buntings.

Saturday 21 February 2015


February 21st
With rain still falling we walked along the seawall from Reculver and then inland and recorded 813 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 Barnacle Goose in with them, 6 Shelduck, 6 Red-throated Divers, 30 Mute Swans, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Little Egrets, 9 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 23 Oystercatchers, 1 Stonechat, 2 Ringed Plovers, 15 Mallard, 2 Grey Plovers, 10 Tufted Ducks, 2 Shoveler, 2 Pochard and 4 Coot.
Whilst doing his Turnstone count at Minnis Bay Terry Wilson found a Purple Sandpiper (114th) on a breakwater at White Post Hole with 42 Turnstone.

Friday 20 February 2015

February 20th
On a rainy but still morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver and then inland. We saw 880 Brent Geese, 31 Mute Swans, 1 Lapwing, 26 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Dunlin, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 2 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Shoveler, 4 Pochard, 6 Gadwall, 13 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests and 1 Marsh Harrier.

Thursday 19 February 2015

February 19th
On a sunny but blustery morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then back along the Green Wall. We recorded 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 420 Brent Geese, 2 Common Buzzards, 20 Redshank, 2 Shelduck, 1 Rock Pipit, 35 Oystercatchers, 14 Dunlin, 18 Grey Plovers, 2 Curlews, 22 Mallard, 21 Carrion Crows, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Partridges, 18 Tufted Ducks, 1 Pochard (112th), 1 Little Grebe and 2 Coot.
Mike Roser found a Barnacle Goose (113th) in with the 850 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Wednesday 18 February 2015

February 18th
We spent a sunny morning ringing out on the Marsh where the highlight was a Whooper Swan (111th) flying S. This is an unusual species at Reculver and only the fourth record in the last 10 years. Other birds we saw included 172 Corn Buntings, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 11 Tree Sparrows, 131 Fieldfares, 50 Stock Doves 4 Yellowhammers, 140 Starlings, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Mute Swans, 8 Lapwings, 500 Woodpigeons, 50 Reed Buntings, 1 ring-tail Hen Harrier and 11 Golden Plover.

Tuesday 17 February 2015

February 17th
Although it was sunny this morning there was a biting northerly wind blowing as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. We saw 836 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 7 Ringed Plovers, 5 Snow Buntings, 20 Mute Swans, 3 Shelduck, 7 Mallard, 2 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 1 Stonechat, 1 Dunlin, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Little Grebe, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Coot and 4 Gadwall.

Monday 16 February 2015

February 16th
We arrived at Chamber's Wall just as the early morning fog was lifting and walked up to Coldharbour and then along the seawall. Birds we saw included 1 Snipe, 1 Golden Plover, 4 Ringed Plovers, 127 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Gadwall, 3 Shelduck, 53 Mute Swans, 10 Redshank, 1 Grey Plover, 4 Snow Buntings, 35 Mallard, 9 Oystercatchers, 1 Sanderling, 4 Turnstone, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Pied Wagtail, 42 Carrion Crows, 8 Skylarks, 16 Tufted Duck, 2 male Shoveler and 2 Coot.

Mallard are beginning to pair up and display

Sunday 15 February 2015

February 15th
On a beautiful, springlike morning we walked inland at Reculver and saw 42 Fieldfares, 17 Mute Swans, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 500 Woodpigeons, 4 Coot, 11 Mallard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Gadwall, 14 Tufted Duck, 1 Teal, 12 Goldfinches, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Stonechat, 184 Redwings, 1 Grey Heron, 84 Corn Buntings, 100 Reed Buntings, 6 Yellowhammers, 4 Tree Sparrows, 2 Long-tailed Tits and 3 Greenfinches.

Saturday 14 February 2015

February 14th
This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland at Reculver. We recorded 2 Pied Wagtails, 520 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 21 Mute Swans, 82 Oystercatchers, 17 Cormorants, 12 Ringed Plovers, 25 Redshank, 22 Linnets, 4 Snow Buntings, 2 Stonechats, 1 Little Egret, 18 Lapwings, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Shelduck, 2 Green Woodpckers, 23 Mallard, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Green Sandpipers, 14 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, 2 Coot, 1 Grey Heron and 600 Woodpigeons.
During this morning's visit to Reculver, Alex and Julian Perry managed to find the Common Sandpiper at the Oyster Farm.

Thursday 12 February 2015

February 12th
We spent the morning ringing on the Marsh and saw 1 Common Buzzard, 6 Fieldfares, 20 Yellowhammers, 15 Tree Sparrows, 90 Corn Buntings, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Sparrowhawk, 17 Greylag Geese (8S, 9W), 150 Reed Buntings and 110 Stock Doves.

Male Yellowhammer

Wednesday 11 February 2015

February 11th
This morning we ringed at West Brook Valley and caught 17 Chiffchaffs including one with a Belgian ring. Other birds we saw included 800 Woodpigeons, 40 Fieldfares, 3 Grey Wagtails, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Sparrowhawk, 70 Rooks, 8 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Bullfinch.
This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back via the Green Wall and railway embankment. Birds we saw included 372 Cormorants S, 52 Golden Plovers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Redshank, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Greylag Geese W, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 37 Grey Plovers, 27 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 35 Oystercatchers, 1 Stonechat, 8 Snow Buntings, 16 Ringed Plovers, 650 Brent Geese and 1 Grey Heron.

Tuesday 10 February 2015

February 10th
We spent an exciting morning ringing on the Marsh where we ringed 138 birds of which 115 were Reed Buntings! The totals of birds seen during the morning were 120 Corn Buntings, 700 Fieldfares, 2 Sparrowhawks, 22 Yellowhammers, 20 Tree Sparrows, 250 Reed Buntings and 80 Stock Doves.

Male Reed Bunting

Female Reed Bunting

Female Yellowhammer

Fieldfare
This afternoon Terry Wilson found a Short-eared Owl at the Oyster Farm.

Monday 9 February 2015

February 9th
On an overcast morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 490 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 31 Redshank, 1 Kestrel, 13 Mute Swans, 7 Sanderling, 7 Grey Plovers, 26 Linnets, 2 Curlew, 4 Ringed Plovers, 26 Oystercatchers, 1 Turnstone, 28 Mallard, 3 Shleduck, 1 Little Egret, 8 Snow Buntings, 13 Dunlin, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Golden Plovers, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Stonechat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1Water Rail, 2 Gadwall, 9 Tufted Duck, 2 Coot and 1 Common Buzzard.

Male Snow Bunting

Sunday 8 February 2015

February 8th
On a beautiful sunny morning with a chilly N wind blowing we completed the Chamber's Wall/Coldharbour/Green Wall loop and recorded 1 Jay, 1 Kestrel, 16 Reed Buntings, 2 Little Grebes, 16 Oystercatchers, 7 Grey Plovers, 6 Redshank, 142 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 28 Mallard, 18 Carrion Crows, 1 Curlew, 2 Dunlin, 1 Marsh Harrier, 15 Lapwings, 13 Mute Swans, 3 Shelduck, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Kingfishers, 8 Corn Buntings, 10 Magpies 6 Tufted Duck and 2 Sparrowhawks.
This morning Julian Perry spent an hour along the West Brook Valley where he recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 300+ Woodpigeons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 7 Skylarks, 20+ Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Wagtail and 11 Meadow Pipits.

Saturday 7 February 2015

February 7th
Thankfully the strong E wind had subsided overnight as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour with Julian and Alex Perry this morning. We saw 1 Kestrel, 887 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 22 Redshank, 3 Stonechats, 22 Oystercatchers, 9 Grey Plovers, 13 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 9 Mallard, 5 Ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlin, 18 Corn Buntings, 1 Little Egret, 1 Snipe, 2 Sanderling, 70 Rooks, 12 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall and 2 Coot.

Friday 6 February 2015

February 6th
A wander around at Reculver this morning only produced 150 Cormorants, 650 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Jay, 14 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Egret, 1 Mute Swan, 3 Mallard and 1 Teal.
In lovely sunshine but a biting NE wind Julian Perry visited Minnis Bay at lunchtime for a walk and some seawatching. Birds seen included 2 Brent Geese, 2 Common Scoters, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Fulmar, 50+ Oystercatchers, 12 Grey Plovers, 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Curlews, 15 Redshanks, 5 Turnstones, 10 Sanderlings, 10 Dunlins and 2 Great Skuas harassing the gulls.

Thursday 5 February 2015

February 5th
We visited various sites at Reculver and Brooksend this morning successfully dodging the wintry showers that were being blown in on a cold N wind. We saw 8 Tufted Ducks, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Coot, 1 Jay, 60 Corn Buntings, 85 Stock Doves, 150 Reed Buntings, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Yellowhammer, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Teal, 8 Gadwall and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
This afternoon we had a 40 minute seawatch at Minnis Bay and saw 66 Red-throated Divers E, 1 Great Northern Diver E (110th) with 5 Red-throated Divers, 180 Cormorants and 1 Fulmar.

Wednesday 4 February 2015

February 4th
This morning we completed the Chamber's Wall/Coldharbour/Green Wall loop and recorded 1 Grey Heron, 42 Corn Buntings, 680 Brent Geese, 1 Peregrine, 1 Yellowhammer, 3 Stonechats, 16 Redshank, 8 Shelduck, 11Mallard, 10 Oystercatchers, 9 Snow Buntings, 16 Carrion Crows, 12 Sanderling, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 12 Magpies, 7 Skylarks and 2 Kestrels.
This is the time of year when there is little work on the farms and workers are sent out to what is euphemistically called "tidy" the dykes, hedges and brambles. We watched a good deal of good winter cover and breeding sites destroyed this morning.

Tuesday 3 February 2015

February 3rd
On the Marsh this morning we counted 2 Common Buzzards, 162 Cormorants flying S, 8 Yellowhammers, 110 Corn Buntings, 20 Tree Sparrows, 250 Reed Buntings, 1 Kestrel, 104 Stock Doves, 14 Golden Plovers, 1 Marsh Harrier and 15 Fieldfares.

Male Yellowhammer

This afternoon, as wintry showers swept across in front of us, we had a 40 minute seawatch at Minnis Bay and saw 400 Cormorants, 15 Kittiwakes, 2 Red-throated Divers, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 42 Grey Plovers, 25 Dunlin, 251 Oystercatchers, 66 Turnstone, 5 Curlew and 120 Sanderling.



Monday 2 February 2015

February 2nd
On a sunny but freezing morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 678 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Mistle Thrush, 9 Shelduck, 3 Stonechats, 12 Mute Swans, 2 Peregrines, 200 Cormorants, 3 Turnstone, 9 Snow Buntings, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Sanderling, 1 Redshank and 1 Kestrel.

Sunday 1 February 2015

February 1st
In unpleasant conditions with a cold and strong NW wind blowing we spent half an hour at Minnis Bay this morning and did not see a great deal, just 11 Great Crested Grebes, 279 Cormorants, 2 Red-throated Divers and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
This morning Alex and Julian Perry braved the NW wind at Reculver and spent an hour and a half seawatching at the Towers seeing 52 Brent Geese, 2 Red-throated Divers, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Gannet and 3 Great Skuas, two of which showed very well as they passed by close in below the Towers. They then moved on to Minnis Bay for another half an hour and saw 3 Shelducks, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Gannet and a huge stream of 1000+ Cormorants moving W.