The total of 77 species was below the ten-year average of 83 species. Not since July 2024 has the monthly average exceeded the ten-year average! The three Snow Buntings were last seen on 16th, and may have relocated to Reculver, the Dartford Warbler was last seen on 3rd but the Purple Sandpiper remained throughout the month. Other birds of note included two Black-necked Grebes on 12th, and again on 21st, and two Firecrests on 8th and 14th. Despite a number of short cold spells during the month, 15 Fieldfares on 11th was the only small thrush movement noted.

A total of 77 species recorded so far this year

82 species by the same time last year

29th

Sunny and calm. A flock of 40+ Red-throated Divers flew west early morning and a Great Northern Diver showed well off the Obs. There were 100 Brent Geese on the beach, three Shelducks flew east and the two immature drake Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 52 Ringed Plovers and 81 Dunlin roosting between the groynes and the Grey Plover. Also noted were 5 Meadow Pipits in the grassland and seven Linnets on the coastal path.

28th

An adult Kittiwake on the sea off the caravan park flew off west. Another addition to the year list.

27th

There were about 100 Brent Geese on the beach, a welcome increase in numbers. Also noted were the pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and the Purple Sandpiper.

26th

A Jack Snipe, flushed from the path between the brook and the scrub, was new for the year.

25th

Sunny, cold, light NW wind. Nine Red-throated Divers, one Great Crested Grebe and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore. A flock of 40 Brent Geese flew east and another four were on the beach, the duck Teal and four Shovelers, including the adult drake, were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included the resident, lame Grey Plover and 63 Sanderlings along the eastern bay shoreline. Also noted were the male Blackcap, in the ivy at the entrance to the car park, and two Goldfinches in the churchyard.

23rd

Cloudy, cold with a light SW wind. One Great Crested Grebe offshore, two adult Gannets flew east and there were 12 Brent Geese on the beach. One immature drake Shoveler was showing on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 50 Sanderlings along the eastern bay shoreline.

22nd

Cloudy, cold with a NW wind. A Red-throated Diver, three Great Crested Grebes, four Wigeon and four Teal, and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore. Four Shovelers, including an adult drake, were on the Marsh Pool. There were 20 Mallard on the pool and another four flew west over the sea. There was a flock of eight Linnets on the beach.

21st

Two Black-necked Grebes, presumably the ones seen here nine days previously, were offshore where eight Red-throated Divers and three Red-breasted Mergansers were also seen.

20th

Cloudy, cold, calm. Two Red-throated Divers, three Great Crested Grebes and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore. An immature Mute Swan was on the sea, six Brent Geese were on the beach, and the duck Teal and the three Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool.

19th

17 White-fronted Geese flew SE, the three Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool where there were also c20 Snipe. A Redwing and a Redpoll, near the sewage works entrance, were both additions to the year list.

18th

Cloudy, misty, cold, light easterly wind. There were five Red-throated Divers, four Great Crested Grebes and five Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. 30 Brent Geese flew west close inshore and the three Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. 14 Snipe were visible on the Marsh Pool and 12 Linnets were on the beach.

16th

Sunny, calm. There were four Red-throated Divers, two Great Crested Grebes and four Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. There were 15 Brent Geese along the shoreline. There were 13 Mallard, a duck Teal and the two immature drakes and a duck Shoveler on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 47 Oystewrcatchers on the beach on the incoming tide, the Grey Plover, and the Purple Sandpiper along the shoreline in the east bay. A Corn Bunting, present briefly in the early morning, was an addition to the year list. There were two Kestrels, male and female, and a male Sparrowhawk which came out of the Obs trees across to the shingle ridge where it pounced on a small passerine and returned to the Obs. Hopefully, it wasn’t one of the three Snow Buntings, which had been seen that morning. Is it a coincidence that the Snow Buntings haven’t been seen since? Perhaps they are the three that have recently been seen at Reculver.

15th

Cloudy, misty over the sea, calm. There was a single Brent Goose was on the beach. A duck Shoveler was in the Marsh Pool and waders included 38 Oystercatchers on the beach at high tide and the Grey Plover. There were seven adult Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach. Also noted was our first Great Spotted Woodpecker of the year and the three Snow Buntings.

14th

There were two Firecrests by the Scout Hut and the three Snow Buntings reported again.

13th

One Snow Bunting was reported on Birdguides.

12th

Two Black-necked Grebes on the sea off the skate park were a surprise. The rarest of the five grebes at this site, with a total of only nine records, this is the first time two have been recorded together, and it is unusual to get a winter record. Most are recorded in the autumn. The Purple Sandpiper and the three Snow Buntings were also seen.

11th

Sunny periods, hard frost (-1.5 C), light NW wind. There were three Red-throated Divers and four Great Crested Grebes offshore, 30 Brent Geese flew east along the shoreline and, at 11.30 am, a flock of 15 White-fronted Geese, including one obvious juvenile, flew west close inshore. Two Common Scoters landed on the sea whilst, with the Marsh Pool now completely frozen, two immature drake Shovelers and a duck Teal were in the lower brook. A Lapwing and a Grey Plover were on the beach opposite the Obs and the Purple Sandpiper was also seen. A flock of 14 Fieldfares flew west behind the sewage works, with a single west by the Obs. Also noted were three Skylarks, seven Linnets and the three Snow Buntings.

10th

The three Snow Buntings and the Purple Sandpiper were reported.

9th

Sunny, cold, light northerly wind. Three Red-throated Divers flew west, there were two Great Crested Grebes and a drake Red-breasted Merganser offshore and two Shelducks flew west. A duck Teal and three drake Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 60 Sanderlings roosting between the groynes and the Grey Plover and Purple Sandpiper. A Blackcap in the Scout Wood was new for the year and there were also six Goldfinches in the Scout Wood and 15 Linnets along the coastal path.

8th

Two Firecrests were seen at the Obs, and possibly a third was in the Scout Wood. The Purple Sandpiper and the three Snow Buntings were also seen. A Moorhen along the middle brook was our first of the year. Normally, regular but not this winter. Probably, relocated further upstream because of the condition of the brook.

7th

Sunny, cold with a light westerly wind. A Great Northern Diver flew west, a Red-throated Diver, three Great Crested Grebes and two drake Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore. Three drake Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included the Grey Plover and the Purple Sandpiper. The three Snow Buntings were on the shingle ridge and also noted were a single Skylark, two Meadow Pipits, a pair of Stonechats, five Chaffinches and four Linnets.

6th

The three Snow Buntings, the Grey Plover and the Purple Sandpiper and the four Shovelers were all present.

5th

The three Snow Buntings and the Purple Sandpiper were present.

4th

Cloudy and flat calm. There were seven Great Crested Grebes offshore, a Little Egret was on the beach and a Grey Heron on the tidal ponds. There were 16 Brent Geese on the beach and the four Shovelers and a drake Teal were on the Marsh Pool. The three Snow Buntings were on the beach and also noted were five Meadow Pipits and c10 Long-tailed Tits.

3rd

It was good to see the Dartford Warbler had made it into the new year. It had been present on the site since October but, at the time of writing on 21st of the month it has not been seen again. Moved on or perished in the cold spell? The long-staying Grey Plover and Purple Sandpiper were also present and a drake Teal was on the Marsh Pool.

2nd

Sunny periods, cold, with a moderate northerly wind. Two White-fronted Geese, two Wigeon, six Pintail and two Red-breasted Mergansers flew west, two Brent Geese flew east and the four Shovelers were still on the Marsh Pool. The Purple Sandpiper was roosting between the groynes and a Little Grebe was along the middle brook. Also noted were a male Pied Wagtail and a pair of Stonechats on the eastern promendade and four Linnets between the groynes. A total of 42 species was a modest and belated start to the year.

1st

The traditional New Years Day attempt by regulars to see as many species as possible was cancelled by the weather, strong winds and rain. There wereports from the site.