Monday 30 April 2018

April 30th
It's been a while since I haven't been out all day but today the weather was diabolical!! There was a cold, gale force northerly wind bringing non-stop heavy rain with 34 mm falling by 1600 and it's still raining.

Sunday 29 April 2018

April 29th
With a cold and fresh north wind blowing in drizzle we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then on to the Oyster Farm and recorded 7 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Reed Warblers, 4 Goldfinches, 4 Linnets, 2 Blackcaps, 10 Chaffinches, 7 Mallard, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Shelduck, 6 Swallows, 6 Oystercatchers, 5 Sedge Warblers, 9 Mute Swans, 34 Carrion Crows, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Turtle Dove and 1 Chiffchaff.
It felt like a winter's morning as Marc Heath walked from the Towers to Chambers Wall car park and back and noted 3 Blackcaps, 1 Red legged Partridge, 13 Whitethroats, 2  Chiffchaffs, 5 Stock Doves, 10 Mute Swans, 10 Oystercatchers, 5 Swallows, 6 Shelduck, 3 Reed Buntings, 6 Sedge Warblers, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Ringed Plovers, 6 Reed Warblers  and 4 Lesser Whitethroat. There were also 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Kestrels, 1 Hobby, 5 Skylarks, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Turtle Dove heard, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Shoveler, 1 Gadwall, 1 Wheatear, 1 Common Sandpiper and 83 Gannets E in 3 flocks..

Saturday 28 April 2018

April 28th
On a drizzly morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 1 Blackcap, 10 Linnets, 6 Wheatears, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Egrets, 12 Oystercatchers, 1 Cuckoo, 16 Swallows W, 2 Redshank, 5 Mallard, 6 Ringed Plovers, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Common Terns, 3 Reed Warblers, 35 Turnstone and 4 Sandwich Terns W.

A damp male Wheatear

Marc Heath was also out early and walked to Chamber's Wall where his highlights were 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 3 Cuckoos, 8 Wheatears, 1 female Common Redstart (156th), 1 Fulmar, 2 male Whinchats (157th) and 1 Whimbrel.

Friday 27 April 2018

April 27th
On a showery and cool morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm and Reculver. We counted 10 Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Sedge Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 21 Linnets, 2 Cuckoos, 14 Swallows, 1 male Shoveler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 13 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 7 Mallard, 21 Turnstone, 12 Wheatears, 7 Reed Warblers, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Sandwich Terns, 8 Shelduck, 1 Lapwing, 1 Redshank, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Willow Warbler and 2 Common Buzzards.

Ringed Plover

Derek Smith was also out this morning between 0600 and 1230 and covered virtually all of the eastern half of the Marsh from Shuart and Netherhale to Coldharbour and Chamber's Wall. He recorded 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Sandwich Terns, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Cuckoos, 64 Swallows W, 6 House Martins W, 15 Wheatears, 6 Mistle Thrushes, 14 Blackcaps, 39 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 38 Sedge Warblers, 19 Reed Warblers, 8 Willow Warblers, 10 Chiffchaffs, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 28 Linnets W, 4 Redpolls W and 36 Goldfinches W.

Thursday 26 April 2018

April 26th
Although it was sunny again this morning there was a chilly westerly wind blowing as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back via the railway embankment and Green Wall. We saw a good range of species including 3 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Reed Warblers, 2 Cuckoos, 24 Swallows W, 81 Linnets W, 122 Goldfinches W, 6 Wheatears, 13 House Martins W, 1 Short-eared Owl, 3 Swifts W, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W, 3 Little Egrets, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 5 Redshank, 2 Marsh Harriers W, 6 Shelduck, 12 Mute Swans, 3 Sand Martins W, 4 Ringed Plovers, 7 Yellow Wagtails W, 2 White Wagtails W, 2 Sandwich Terns, 12 Sedge Warblers, 12 Mallard, 1 Peregrine, 12 Whitethroats, 2 Common Terns, 1 Turnstone, 110 Sanderling, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Hobbies, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Gadwall.

Male Wheatear

Wednesday 25 April 2018

April 25th
This morning we walked from Shuart to Chamber's Wall and saw 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 7 Blackcaps, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Whitethroats, 7 Jackdaws, 7 Reed Warblers, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Fulmar W, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 16 Sandwich Terns, 6 Oystercatchers, 45 Sanderling, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Mallard, 8 Common Scoter, 1 Common Sandpiper (155th), 16 Redshank, 1 Shelduck, 18 Swallows W, 2 House Martins W, 2 Sand Martins W, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Common Buzzards and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Male Yellow Wagtail

This afternoon, at Reculver, Matt recorded 13 Swallows W, 1 Willow Warbler, 7 Wheatears, including at least 5 Greenland birds, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Kestrel, 2 Cuckoos and 2 Gadwall .

Tuesday 24 April 2018

April 24th
Between us this morning we walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall and back and saw 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 53 Linnets W, 2 alba Wagtails, 2 Swifts W, 15 Swallows, 11 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Sedge Warblers, 2 Wheatears, 3 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Tufted Ducks, 12 Whitethroats, 5 Shelduck, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cuckoos, 8 Reed Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Peregrine, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Mallard, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Oystercatchers, 4 Sandwich Terns, 1 Fulmar E, 1 Turnstone, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Swallows and 1 Willow Warbler.
At Bishopstone there were 35 Sand Martins at the colony.
A walk at Shuart this afternoon produced 3 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Lapwing, 2 Swallows, 1 Goldcrest and 2 Long-tailed Tits.

Monday 23 April 2018

April 23rd
With a change in the wind direction and a drop in temperature this morning there was a good range of species to be seen in the area with even a trickle of hirundines moving through. Matt began at Reculver and then we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and along the seawall. Between us we saw 21 Yellow Wagtail W, 30 Swallows W, 111 Linnets W, 43 Goldfinches W, 20 Sandwich Terns, 14 Whitethroats, 2 Swifts W (153rd), 1 Fulmar, 11 Sand Martins W, 14 Turnstone, 14 Sedge Warblers, 3 Common Gulls, 6 Reed Warblers, 3 Whimbrel, 3 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 reeling behind the Oyster Farm and 2 at Coldharbour, 4 Lapwings, 4 Common Terns (154th), 2 Little Egrets, 4 Chiffchaffs, 5 House Martins W, 8 Shelduck, 2 Mediterranean Gulls W, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Rook, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Blackcaps, 13 Mallard, 2 Wheatears, 1 Shoveler, 12 Skylarks, 12 Oystercatchers, 99 Sanderling and 1 Cuckoo.

Adult Turnstone moulting into summer plumage

This afternoon Matt had a long walk from Shuart along the railway embankment and on to Plumpudding and back to Shuart. Birds he recorded included 4 Blackcaps, 22 Whitethroats, 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Common Buzzards, 27 Swallows, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Kestrel, 10 Sedge Warblers, 2 Cettis Warblers, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Cuckoo, 33 Turnstone, 45 Common Scoter, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Ring Ouzels, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Green Woodpecker. He also saw 2 Painted Ladies and 1 Hairy Dragonfly.

Sunday 22 April 2018

April 22nd
Where are all the hirundines? I have never known a spring with so few Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins. It's getting towards the end of April and with me out every day I've probably seen a dozen Swallows, ten Sand Martins and five House Martins in all and this morning I saw none although Marc had the amazing total of 1 Swallow and 2 Sand Martins. Have they been held up by inclement weather or has there been a disaster further south in Africa? Hopefully in the next few days they will start pouring through.
This morning with the sun still shining we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm and recorded 10 Whitethroats, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Reed Warblers, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 Cuckoo (152nd), 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls W, 18 Oystercatchers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Ringed Plovers, 11 Sedge Warblers, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Wheatear, 19 Linnets, 2 Turnstone, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Blackcaps and 1 Turtle Dove.
At home a Red Kite flew W over the garden. It's bizarre that this week I've seen more Red Kites than hirundines!

Turtle Dove

Marc Heath was also out this morning in the Coldharbour area and saw 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Merlin on the rocks before flying out to sea, 2 Grey Partridges, 15 Corn Buntings, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 5 Sedge Warblers, 1 Swallow, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Fulmar W, 3 Common Scoter, 3 Wheatears, 4 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Marsh Harrier.
Derek Smith was out early and between 0600 and 0930 walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment to Chamber's Wall and back via the seawall. He counted 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Whimbrel E, 2 Yellow Wagtails W, 4 Swallows, 3 Wheatears, 6 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 28 Whitethroats, 5 Reed Warblers, 36 Sedge Warblers, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaffs and 5 Cetti's Warblers.

Saturday 21 April 2018

April 21st
It was another sunny but slightly cooler morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and along to the Oyster Farm before looking in at Reculver on the way home. We recorded 6 Common Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 8 Sedge Warblers, 3 Goldfinches, 4 Linnet, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Jay, 2 Shelduck, 4 Mallard, 5 Swallows, 8 Oystercatchers, 24 Turnstone, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Red Kites W, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Brambling, 17 Mute Swans, 1 Kestrel, 1 Tufted Duck and 2 Sand Martins.

Common Whitethroat

Friday 20 April 2018

April 20th
The fabulous weather continued this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Oyster Farm and we counted 9 Whitethroats, 11 Sedge Warblers, 9 Goldfinches, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 9 Mallard, 1 Greenshank, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Turnstone, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank, 3 Shelduck, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Wheatears, 1 Red Kite W, 2 Ringed Plovers, 8 Skylarks, 2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling at Coldharbour, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Buzzard, 16 Mute Swans and 1 Swallow.
We also met Bob Hinge who had just seen a Hobby (151st).


Wheatear

Thursday 19 April 2018

April 19th
On another glorious spring morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then along the seawall to the Oyster Farm before visiting Reculver. Birds we saw included 2 Song Thrushes, 8 Sedge Warblers, 1 Redpoll, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Goldfinches, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 17 Linnets, 3 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 9 Shelduck, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling, 8 Mallard, 9 Oystercatchers, 2 Greenshank (150th), 2 Redshank, 1 Mediterranaean Gull, 8 Skylarks, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Shoveler, 1 Turnstone, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 14 Mute Swans, 4 Tufted Duck and 1 Common Buzzard.

Sedge Warbler

Wednesday 18 April 2018

April 18th
Before he met us at Reculver Matt dropped into Shuart where he found 2 Ring Ouzels and 1 Lesser Whitethroat. At Reculver we walked to Coldharbour and then back along the railway embankment and Oyster Farm. We counted 3 Pied Wagtails, 24 Linnets, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 very pale and white looking Common Redpoll (147th) flying E along the seawall, 12 Redshank, 2 Little Egrets, 11 Oystercatchers, 4 Whitethroats, 12 Sedge Warblers, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Tufted Duck, 8 Mallard, 1 Swallow, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Reed Warbler (148th), 1 Grasshopper Warbler (149th), 5 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck, 4 Whimbrel E, 1 Goldcrest, 12 Mute Swans and 2 Coot.

Tuesday 17 April 2018

April 17th
Matt had a brief walk at Shuart before he met us at Chamber's Wall and saw 1 Yellowhammer, 2 Hawfinches W (146th), 2 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Common Buzzard.
From Chamber's Wall we then walked along the railway embankment to Plumpudding before returning along the seawall and then visiting Reculver on the way home. We saw 7 Goldfinches, 4 Blackcaps, 51 Linnets, 14 Chiffchaffs, 9 Sedge Warblers, 7 Whitethroats, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 alba Wagtails W, 2 Marsh Harriers, 7 Mallard, 16 Mute Swans, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Grey Herons, 5 Swallows, 4 Red Kites W, 32 Oystercatchers, 2 Sandwich Terns, 6 Ringed Plovers, 12 Meadow Pipits W, 3 Sand Martins, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 13 Skylarks, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Corn Buntings, 2 Coot, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Kestrel.
During the morning other Red Kites flew W at Hillborough and Bishopstone.

Monday 16 April 2018

April 16th
Matt was out early at Shuart where he saw 8 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 2 Common Buzzards.
We then met him at Reculver and we walked up to Coldharbour and back around the railway embankment and Green Wall before walking inland. Birds we saw included 4 Pied Wagtails, 7 Shelduck, 25 Linnets, 3 Little Egrets, 20 Goldfinches W, 4 Mediterranean Gulls E, 2 Redshank, 5 Whitethroats, 4 Mallards, 4 Oystercatchers, 5 Sedge Warblers, 11 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel (144th), 1 Curlew, 2 Ringed Plovers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 23 Mute Swans, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Redpoll W and 1 Coot.
We also found at least 20 Black Oil Beetles along the embankment behind the Oyster Farm.

Black Oil Beetle

This afternoon we spent an hour at the Towers and counted 120 Sanderling roosting on one of the groynes, 9 Sandwich Terns, 20 Swallows W, 6 Meadow Pipits W, 12 Common Scoter, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Red-throated Divers, 4 Mediterranean Gulls W, 1 Rook and 3 Carrion Crows in off and 6 House Martins W (145th).
Marc Heath had a Red Kite flying W over Reculver School at 1325.

Sunday 15 April 2018

April 15th
Matt was out this morning and walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall and saw 7 Sedge Warblers, 2 Cettis Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Firecrest, 1 Willow Warbler, 45 Common Scoter, 1 Curlew, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Gannet, 6 Turnstone, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Sandwich Tern, 3 White Wagtails, 4 Shelduck, 1 Shoveler, 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Chiffchaff and 6 Corn Buntings.
We completed a similar walk this afternoon and recorded 6 Mallard, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Linnets, 1 male Yellow Wagtail, 1 Little Egret, 13 Turnstone, 1 Redshank, 2 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Sedge Warblers and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Turnstone
April 7th-14th   Poland and Slovakia
Matt and Marion and Anne and I have just spent a week birding and sightseeing in Poland and Slovakia. The weather was excellent with sunshine and warm temperatures and migration had just begun. We saw a good range of species including Black Storks, Lesser Spotted Eagles, Eastern Imperial Eagle, lots of Caspian Gulls along the rivers, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Grey-headed, Black and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Collared Flycatchers and Penduline Tits.

The High Tatras
Spis Castle



Auschwitz


Lesser Spotted Eagle

Penduline Tit

Willow Tit

Black Stork

Hoopoe
 
April 10th
Derek Smith spent all day birding the eastern half of the Marsh and recorded 1 Great Skua W, 4 Sandwich Terns, 4 Common Buzzards, 4 Marsh Harriers, 1 Little Ringed Plover (142nd), 24 Redwings N, 16 Fieldfares N, 3 Shoveler, 23 Swallows W, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (143rd), 6 Sedge Warblers, 16 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler and 2 Firecrests at Plumpudding Stables.
Marc Heath arrived at a misty Reculver this morning at 0630 and he then wandered down to Coldharbour and inland to Chambers Wall car park before checking the bushes along the embankment and then returning the way he had come. Birds he noted until 1000 included 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Shelduck, 4 Pied Wagtails, 16 Meadow Pipits, 4 Oystercatchers, 8 Mute Swans, 3 Pheasants, 2 Gadwall, 2 Turnstone, 6 Redshank, 12 Reed Buntings, 26 Linnets, 5 Sedge Warblers, 6 Common Scoter E, 1 Red breasted Merganser E, 6 Skylarks and 2 Ringed Plovesr. There were also 3 Shoveler, 1 Little Egret, 1 Yellow Wagtail flew W calling, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Blackcap, 10 Goldfinches, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Long tailed Tits nest building, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Whitethroat singing at Chambers Wall car park area, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Fieldfares, 6 Swallows, 10 Sandwich Terns E, 1 Fulmar W, 2 Red-throated Divers E, 2 Black Redstarts in the Oyster Farm chasing each other, 3 Gannet E and 1 Shag offshore from the Towers.
April 8th
This morning between 0630 and 1030 Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and along the railway embankment in pouring rain. He found 19 Chiffchaffs, 16 Blackcaps, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Sedge Warblers (138th), 7 Sandwich Terns W, 16 Swallows W, 2 Yellow Wagtails (139th), 1 Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warblers (140th), 3 Grey Partridges, 1 Ring Ouzel (141st), 3 Shoveler, 7 Golden Plover W and 11 Goldcrests.

Friday 6 April 2018

April 6th
On a sunny morning with a surprisingly chilly SE wind we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall before visiting Reculver. We saw 8 Mallard, 2 Corn Buntings, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Lapwings, 7 Jackdaws E, 5 Magpies E, 3 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Linnets, 1 Red-throated Diver, 4 Shelduck, 1 Grey Plover, 28 Carrion Crows, 3 Song Thrushes, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Swallow, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Green Woodpecker.
Also this morning at Chamber's Wall and Coldharbour, Anthea Skiffington and Bob Dewire saw 84 Common Scoter, 1 Corn Bunting and 1 Common Whitethroat (137th).

Thursday 5 April 2018

April 5th
It was quite chilly this morning with an eye watering NW wind blowing. We walked from Reculver to the Wantsum outflow before returning to Reculver and birding inland. We counted 23 Mute Swans, 3 Oystercatchers, 4 Redshank, 1 adult male Peregrine, 2 Gadwall, 7 Shelduck, 11 Linnets W, 1 Fulmar E, 1 Red-necked Grebe sitting on the sea off the Oyster Farm, 1 Little Owl, 1 Sparrowhawks, 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls calling high above Reculver, 7 Goldfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Tufted Ducks, 2 Coots, 5 Mallard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff and 300 Woodpigeons.
Derek Smith was out for four hours and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding, the Embankment, Chamber's Wall and Netherhale. He counted 4 singing Blackcaps, 6 singing Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 pairs of Shoveler, 2 pairs of Lapwings, 18 Sanderling at Plumpudding, 4 Siskins E, at least 8 Common Buzzards and 1 Red Kite W.
This afternoon a Brimstone butterfly flew through our garden at Bishopstone.

Peacock - Derek Smith

Dark-edged Bee-fly - Derek Smith

Wednesday 4 April 2018

April 4th
Although it was milder and the sun was shining this morning there was a very blustery southerly wind as we walked from Chamber's Wall and along the seawall before visiting Reculver. We counted 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Mallard, 11 Chaffinches, 1 Little Grebe, 10 Redshank, 40 Carrion Crows, 6 Shelduck, 6 Oystercatchers, 14 Linnets W, 1 White Wagtail, 2 Gadwall, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Copmmon Buzzard, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Coot, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Siskin.

Little Egret - Terry Wilson

Tuesday 3 April 2018

April 3rd
It was milder this morning but still relatively quiet as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then inland at Reculver. We saw 2 singing Chiffchaffs, 8 Linnets W, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Marsh Harriers, 6 singing Skylarks, 10 Mallard, 6 White Wagtails W, 1 Redshank, 20 Shelduck, 10 Oystercatchers, 2 Coot, 24 Mute Swans, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kestrel and 1 Swallow W (136th).

Monday 2 April 2018

April 2nd
The heavy rain forecast for this morning did not materialise as we only had to put up with a few drops although a chilly SE breeze was blowing. Our walk from Reculver to Coldharbour produced 6 Goldfinches, 21 Mute Swans, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Canada Geese W, 1 Common Redpoll W, 2 Red-throated Divers, 8 alba Wagtails W, 16 Meadow Pipits W, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 16 Redshank, 11 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 7 Mallard, 2 Curlew, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 31 Linnets W, 1 male Wheatear, 4 Turnstone and 8 Chaffinches W.

Redshank

Sunday 1 April 2018

April 1st
On an overcast and cool morning we parked one car at Shuart and then drove to Reculver before walking back to Shuart. Birds we saw included 1 Little Owl, 3 Sparrowhawks, 1 Kestrel, 1 Canada Goose E, 51 Mute Swans, 11 Shelduck, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Mallard, 1 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 6 Dunlin, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 12 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Jay and 1 Common Buzzard.