October 12th
With the cool, east wind continuing to blow and on an overcast morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour before visiting Reculver on the way home. On our walk from Chamber's Wall we saw 4 Song Thrushes, 2 Kestrels, 7 Chiffchaffs, 19 Cormorants, 29 Goldfinches, 11 Chaffinches, 8 Skylarks, 46 Goldfinches, 34 Golden Plovers, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 136 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Ring Ouzels, 5 Linnets, 2 Stonechats, 4 Redshank, 14 Reed Buntings, 24 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlews, 28 Mallard, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Teal, 31 Carrion Crows, 12 Lapwings, 4 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret, 1 Bearded Tit, 44 Lesser Redpoll W, 2 Swallows, 1 Kingfisher, 12 Robins and 1 Firecrest.
At Reculver we recorded 1 male Marsh Harrier, 10 Goldcrests, 6 Stonechats, 1 Swallow, 1 Brambling, 12 Song Thrushes, 18 Chaffinches and 30 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Female Stonechat

At Bishopstone Dave Smith saw 1 Short-eared Owl, 3 Bramblings, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Chiffchaffs and lots of Goldcrests. At Reculver Church he also found a Yellow-browed Warbler and at Coldharbour a Firecrest.
Derek Smith was also out this morning walking from Shuart to Brooksend and seeing 1 Merlin, 96 Skylarks N, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 6 Swallows S, 60 Song Thrushes, 20 Redwings, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, 19 Chiffchaffs, 65 Goldcrests, 22 Siskins W, 52 Lesser Redpolls W, 65 Chaffinches W, 1 Brambling W and 1 Coal Tit.
This morning Terry Wilson saw a Short-eared Owl, 15 Meadow Pipits and 5 Goldcrests at Plumpudding and 15 Brent Geese and 1 Kingfisher at Grenham Bay.
This afternoon Micky Baldock found a quite showy Dartford Warbler (187th) on the cliffs below the Miramar Rest Home at the extreme western end of our recording area.

Dartford Warbler - Julian Perry