A new month and hopefully one that will see the return of the migrants to the area. Saturday morning from 05:34 produced of note: 100 Mute Swan,  2 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 2 Coot, 1 Lapwing, 169 Herring Gull, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Common Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Little Owl, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 3 Green Woodpecker, 5 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 2 Ring necked Parakeet, 1 Raven, 8 Skylark, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Mistle Thrush, 11 Meadow Pipit, 16 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch, 2 Linnet and 8 Reed Bunting. Sunday morning from 05:44 walking the circuit produced 2 White fronted Geese towards Grove Ferry calling, then back towards Reculver, 2 Teal, 2 Water Rail, 1 Coot, 1 Golden Plover, 40 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 3 Green Woodpecker, 3 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Jay, 4 Skylark, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Stonechat, 24 Meadow Pipit, 1 Hawfinch still residing in the churchyard, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Linnet, 2 Yellowhammer (87) and 11 Reed Bunting. 'Nocmig' recording later in the week produced Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Coot, Golden Plover and Grey Partridge. 

Yellowhammer

Treecreeper 

A successful week so far on the 'Nocmig' front with Pintail (85) recorded flying over on the night of the 24th, a new species for the recording area. Last night (25th) a flock of White fronted Geese (86) flew over calling along with 2 Little Grebe. 1 Little Owl was also heard.

White fronted Geese

Little Grebe

Pintail

A busy few days with 3 visits made between Friday and the weekend before I return back to work on Monday and the return of weekend visits. Birds of note early Friday morning included 3 Greylag Geese, 1 Water Rail, 2 Coot, 1 Lapwing, c845 Cormorant, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestel, 2 Jay, 3 Skylark, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Stonechat, 1 Hawfinch briefly in trees at the church at 08:05, 7 Linnet and 2 Reed Bunting. With the sun finally out Saturday afternoon and the rain having stopped, I decided to see whether I could find the Hawfinch again and get some better views. I spent about an hour in the area checking all the tree tops until after I almost gave up, I scanned a tree and there was the Hawfinch. I took some initial distant shots and slowly moved forward. It seemed quite settled and stayed in the tree for c25 minutes preening and looking around. I was able to obtain some lovely views and take a few pleasing photos of this rare patch bird. 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest and 3 Greenfinch were also of note in the churchyard. I then moved on to Chislet Marshes where I scoped the area for a couple of hours hoping to get some raptors hunting towards dusk. Birds noted were 84 Lapwing, 509 Cormorant, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 male Hen Harrier hunting the area and sat in a field for a while, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 2 Raven, 70 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat and 2 Reed Bunting. 'Nocmig' recording Saturday night produced a flock of Brent Geese over at 19:57, 1 Oystercatcher (84) over at 21:27 plus Barn Owl, Little Owl and Grey Partridge.  

Hawfinch

Oystercatcher