HOODIE SIGHTED AT RECULVER

Another enjoyable morning spent at Reculver with 60 species noted between 7.00 am and 11.00 am.  Marc was owl hunting at silly o'clock and was quite rightly persued around the lanes by a stalker.  After a cup of coffee and a humorous retelling of his early morning experiences we went in search of the Hooded Crow which had been seen during the previous two days.  About a mile along the sea wall the Hooded Crow was sighted on the beach feeding with about 20 Carrion Crows.  Two visiting birders alerted us to what they believed  was a Tawny Owl but on close inspection it was a Short-eared Owl.  Marc alerted Chris Hindle to the bird and whilst he and Anne were there a Lapland Bunting flew over calling.  Other highlights today included 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Siskin, 8 Redshank, 1 Kingfisher, a Common Gull, 24 Linnet, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Plover, Goldcrest, Rock Pipit and 1 Grey Wagtail. 

waxwings here waxwings there waxwings every......

Hope was high for some excellent vis mig at Reculver this morning and those present were not disappointed.Arriving at Chambers Wall just before 7.00,Marc was already there and was soon joined by Derek Smith and Andrew Lapworth.A Barn Owl glided across the adjacent field at 7.20 as we made our way to the railway embankment. It was clear that many Finches and Larks were on the move and over the next three hours numbers recorded included,458 Chaffinch,57 Siskin,162 Skylark,56 Redpoll,18 Brambling and the highlight at 10.30 a flock of 31 WAXWINGS flying west.Other birds which made the notebook were,3 Kestrel,1 MERLIN,5 Goldcrest,8 Fieldfare,c10 Redwing,4 BEARDED TIT,1 Swallow,1 House Martin and 1 Peregrine.An excellent 4 hours birding in top company.

Snow Buntings 3 Waxwings 2





 With the weather forecast indicating a blustery day Matt and Chris Hindle, Marc Heath and myself arrived at Reculver Towers just before day break with high anticipation.  One hour later, fifteen hundred Herring Gulls and two Curlews later we gave up and went our separate ways.  Marc and myself joined by Barry Wright and John Tilbrook decided to search for yesterdays Snow Buntings found by Steve Ashton.  After nearly dying from exposure we found them and enjoyed good views with Marc and Barry obtaining excellent photographs.  On returning to the car a visit to the caravan bushes was delayed when Chris phoned alerting us to two Waxwings at his ringing site at Shuart.  After an hour of searching Marc finally spotted them and we had excellent views of these birds.  Other birds seen during the session from 7.00 until 11.30 included - 23 Brent Geese, 7 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 6 Siskin, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Curlew, 2 Goldfinch, 4 Goldcrest, 4 Redpoll, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Kestrel and 1 Marsh Harrier.

A Quiet Reculver Afternoon

I arrived at with Marc Heath at Chambers Wall just after 1:15pm and over the next two and a half hours we enjoyed a varied selection of birds. These included; 17 Long-tailed Tits, 16 Meadow Pipits, 15 Skylarks, 164 Golden Plovers in two large flocks and 4 Swallows. On the beach over 100 Sanderling roosting with 55 Grey Plover. There were also 2 Wheatears, 7 Little Egret, 4 Grey Partridge, 3 Stonechats, 2 Goldcrest, 45 Chaffinch, a female Blackcap and 1 Rock Pipit.



Grey Plover - Marc Heath





Sanderling - Marc Heath