April 19th

In blustery and showery conditions we walked at Shuart and Reculver this morning. At Shuart we counted 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 25 Tufted Duck and 3 Sedge Warblers and at Reculver there were 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 28 Tufted Duck, 1 Gadwall, 3 Shelduck, 4 Coot, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Mallard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Common Whitethroat.

April 18th

It was sunny and breezy this morning as we walked at Chamber's Wall. We counted 5 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Mallard, 1 Coot, 8 Skylarks, 12 Linnets, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 8 Goldfinches, 9 Sedge Warblers, 9 Whitethroats, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Lapwings, 4 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Shelduck. We then spent 40 minutes at Reculver and saw 7 Gannets flying E, 16 Mediterranean Gulls flying W and 2 Shelducks.

Matt was out this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back via the railway embankment. He saw 14 adult Mediterranean Gulls flying W, 9 Common Gulls, 5 Shelduck, 6 Wheatears, 2 Marsh Harriers, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Stonechat, 1 Common Sandpiper, 240 Sanderling, 10 Redshank, 16 Oystercatchers, 4 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Lapwings, 2 Swallows, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Tufted Ducks, 9 Corn Buntings and 2 Gannets flying E. In West Brook Valley he recorded 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 male Common Redstart (149th).

April 17th

On another cold and windy but sunny morning we birded at Reculver and also walked inland. At Reculver we saw 1 Little Egret, 1 Rock Pipit W, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls W, 4 Swallows W, 1 alba Wagtail W, 2 Yellow Wagtails W and 3 Gannets E. 

On our walk inland we recorded 6 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Reed Warblers, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 16 Tufted Duck, 8 Mallard, 6 Greylag Geese, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Coot, 3 Willow Warblers, 8 Linnets, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Female Shelduck

View towards Brook and Hillborough

April 16th

The chilly gale force wind had changed to the NW this morning as we had a look at the sea at Reculver and then walked inland. At Reculver we saw 5 Mediterranean Gulls flying E, 2 Shelduck, 1 Great Northern Diver flying high W and 7 Common Gulls and on our walk we counted 2 Blackcaps, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 28 Tufted Duck, 7 Cormorants, 4 Greylag Geese, 19 Mallard, 4 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Reed Warblers singing, 2 Gadwall, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Whitethroat.

April 15th

The weather had changed overnight and there was a chilly and strong SW wind blowing as we walked around the Reculver area this morning. We saw 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Skylarks, 3 Red Kites moving W, 4 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Kestrel, 25 Tufted Duck, 22 Mallard, 6 Coot, 4 Greylag Geese, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Reed Warblers, 10 Goldfinches, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Swallows and 1 Green Woodpecker.

April 14th

On a cooler morning we again walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 3 Blackcaps, 2 Little Egrets, 28 Linnets, 1 Pied Wagtail, 13 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Redshank, 14 Sedge Warblers, 7 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Willow Warbler singing by the seawall, 6 Oystercatchers, 28 Turnstone, 3 Shelduck, 2 Lapwings, 1 Swallow W, 68 Goldfinches W, 4 Skylarks, 1 male White Wagtail, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Short-eared Owl and 2 Tufted Ducks. We also saw four mixed flocks of mainly Black-headed Gulls flying E but with a few very noisy Mediterranean Gulls in amongst them and totalling 170 birds.

Matt was also out  this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. He saw 1 Grey Heron, 13 Tufted Ducks, 2 Grey Partridges, 35 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Common Sandpipers, 7 Chiffchaffs, 15 Blackcaps, 8 Reed Warblers, 22 Whitethroats, 2 Mallard with 9 ducklings, 5 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 2 Kestrels, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Wheatears, 5 Little Egrets, 34 Sedge Warblers, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Short-eared Owl, 4 White Wagtails, 4 Stonechats, 7 Shelduck, 43 Turnstone, 3 Redshank, 2 Grey Plovers, 15 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Bearded Tit, 1 Firecrest, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 female Hen Harrier flying W, 2 Snipe, 5 Greylag Geese, 6 Lapwings, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Avocets on the flooded fields at Chamber's Wall and 1 Common Buzzard.

April 13th

On another sunny and warm morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 2 Blackcaps, 11 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Skylarks, 32 Linnets, 7 Wheatears, 6 males and 1 female, 14 Sedge Warblers, 13 Mallard, 10 Mediterranean Gulls flying E and calling, 4 Redshank, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Shelduck, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Stonechats, 2 Short-eared Owls and 1 Whimbrel flying E.

Singing Sedge Warbler

Dave Smith was also out this morning at 0550 and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour, Plumpudding and Minnis Bay. Birds he saw incuded 5 Greylag Geese, 3 Mute Swans, 3 Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Avocets in the flooded fields, 7 Lapwings, 2 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpipers, 9 Redshank, 9 Turnstones, 49 Mediterranean Gulls flying S, 5 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Raven, 1+ Bearded Tits, 37 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Swallows, 5 Willow Warblers, 8 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 11 Whitethroats, 1 female Ring Ouzel, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 1 White Wagtail, 11 Meadow Pipits, 1 Lesser Redpoll and 5 Reed Buntings.

2 Red Kites flew W at Bishopstone at 1305.

April 12th

It was sunny and warm as we walked at Chamber's Wall this morning and saw 5 Mallard, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 23 Linnets, 9 Skylarks, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (148th), 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Goldfinches, 5 Sedge Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Reed Buntings and 4 Common Whitethroats.

Derek Smith was out between 0730 and 1000 and walked from Shuart and along the embankment and on to Coldhabour and Chamber's Wall. He counted 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Shoveler, 5 pairs of Lapwings, 4 Avocets on the flooded fields, 3 Curlew, 14 adult Mediterranean Gulls SW, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 House Martin W, 1 Sand Martin W, 3 Swallows W, 24 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Blackcaps, 6 Common Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 36 Sedge Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler, 18 Chiffchaffs and 2 Willow Warblers.

April 11th

On an overcast morning we walked at various sites at Reculver and counted 12 Goldfinches, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 18 Mallard, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Tufted Duck, 3 Shelduck, 6 Greylag Geese, 4 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 4 Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers and 4 Skylarks.

Later at Shuart we saw 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Blackcap, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 18 Tufted Duck, 1 Mallard, 1 Greylag Goose and 1 Canada Goose.

Tufted Duck

Canada Goose

April 10th

The weather had changed again and this morning dawned sunny and calm as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. With the tide out birds we saw included 2 Grey Herons, 2 Goldfinches, 14 Cetti's Warblers, 38 Linnets, 3 Short-eared Owls, 3 Wheatears, 10 Sedge Warblers, 2 Swallows W, 7 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 4 Redshank, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 male Stonechat, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Shelduck, 5 Skylarks, 1 Whimbrel calling, 1 Sand Martin W, 1 male White Wagtail, 1 Lapwing, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 8 Turnstone and 3 Blackcaps.

Male White Wagtail

Male Wheatear

April 9th

The gale force wind had returned overnight with a significant drop in temperature as we walked at Shuart and Reculver this morning. At Shuart we saw 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Canada Goose and 1 Greylag Goose. At Reculver we recorded 1 Jay, 4 Blackcaps, 10 Tufted Ducks, 2 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 2 Coot, 3 Cormorants, 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Mallard, 2 singing Reed Warblers (147th), 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Green Woodpecker.

April 8th

On the first calm day for  while we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw some good birds. We counted 2 Blackcaps, 14 Cetti's Warblers, 22 Linnets, 4 Redshank, 7 Skylarks, 6 Mallard, 12 singing Sedge Warblers, 1 male Yellow Wagtail, 2 Little Egrets, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 White Wagtail flying W, 8 Oystercatchers, 44 Turnstones, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Shelduck, 1 Common Sandpiper in Coldharbour (145th), 2 Lapwings, 1 Greenshank flying around calling at Coldharbour (146th), 1 Swallow flying W, 1 male Stonechat, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 3 Short-eared Owls at the Oyster Farm.

Common Sandpiper with Redshank

In our garden at Bishopstone during the last couple of days we have seen a Brimstone butterfly, a male Orange Tip, a Holly Blue and a few Peacocks.

April 7th

On another sunny but very windy morning we walked out onto the Marsh and counted 8 Skylarks, 17 Goldfinches W, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 18 Linnets W, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Wheatear, 4 Chaffinches, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 19 Tufted Duck, 2 Coot, 3 Greylag Geese, 12 Mallard, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Willow Warblers, 5 Cormorants, 1 Shelduck, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 3 Chiffchaffs. We then spent half an hour at Reculver where we saw 2 Swallows flying W over the sea, 1 Gannet E, 7 Sandwich Terns W, 1 immature male Marsh Harrier flying in off the sea, 2 Whimbrel close in flying W low over the sea (143rd), 11 Goldfinches W and 10 Linnets W.

Wheatear standing on the railway lines

Derek Smith was out at 1130 and walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment. He saw 2 Shelduck, 2 pairs of Lapwings on the flooded fields, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Ring Ouzel on the embankment, 2 Siskins W, 11 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat (144th), 1 Sedge Warbler, 16 Chiffchaffs and 9 Willow Warblers.

April 6th

With the temperature at 19℃ at 0900 but with a gale force southerly wind blowing this morning we walked at Minnis Bay where there was some shelter. Birds we saw included 13 Sandwich Terns, 10 Curlew, 27 Oystercatchers, 11 Turnstone, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Linnets W, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Red Kite E, 13 Goldfinches W, 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Yellow Wagtail (141st) and 1 Tree Pipit (142nd).

Tree Pipit

April 5th

On a showery, wet morning with a fresh southerly wind blowing we spent an hour at Reculver where a few birds moved through between the showers. We counted 6 Swallows flying W over the sea, 11 Gannets flying E, 2 Meadow Pipits flying W, 2 alba Wagtails flying W, 5 Linnets flying W and 1 Fulmar flying E.

After lunch the sun was shining and it was warm but a southerly gale was blowing as we walked inland from Reculver. Birds we saw included 3 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Tufted Ducks, 8 Coot, 12 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 9 Cormorants, 5 Greylag Geese, 2 Shelduck, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Gadwall, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap and 9 Goldfinches flying W.

Coot