THE YEAR LIST FINALLY MOVES ON.

Arriving at Reculver just after 6.00 a.m. this morning, Marc had just beaten me by a few minutes.  We strolled down to Cold Harbour and then inland to Chambers Wall car park and then retracing our steps.  There was a good selection of birds today with small groups of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail noted initially.  We soon added a single Grey Wagtail and unusually a Grey Heron sitting in a bush in the Oyster Farm.  We found a Wheatear on the rocks, one of four today.  As we reached an almost bird less Cold Harbour a juvenile Mediterranean Gull drifted past and as we reached the railway line Marc picked up on a very distant raptor - we dismissed Harrier and both thought Osprey but unfortunately it was too far away to get a positive ID.  Marc took numerous distant spots but this is perhaps one that got away.  Chris phoned to let us know a Spotted Flycatcher was by the sea-wall but we could not refind it.  Meeting Alex and Julian Perry we strolled back to the Towers and we were treated to a RUFF which is a scarce bird in these parts.  I unsuccessfully tried to find a Whinchat  by the Oyster Farm.  Today, is our Black Guillemot day as the Rarities Committee will meet to decide our fate.  As my Reculver year list nudged upwards today, hopefully my Kent list will as well.  To complete today we also added 1 Hobby, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 5 Greenshank, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Curlew and 1 Whimbrel.