Monday 30th
A Goldcrest and 2 Yellow Wagtails were standouts on the Green Wall this morning. While the breeding season is winding down there was still a real smorgasbord of warblers with double figures of Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and Chiffchaff noted. Family groups of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch were seen as were juvenile Green and Great-spotted Woodpeckers.
Sunday 29th
A female Honey Buzzard drifted over New Downs in the morning and the Wood Sandpiper was still present on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Friday 27th
Nine Mediterranean Gulls were among the Black-headed Gull throng on Restharrow Scrape, which included at least 75 young. Over on RSPB Worth marshes there were singles of Red Kite, Ruff and Great White Egret, whilst six Egyptian Geese were on New Downs.
Wednesday 25th
Singles of Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, and Black-tailed Godwit were on RSPB Worth marshes.
Tuesday 24th
The large flock of Cattle Egrets was still on New Downs with at least 17 seen. A Green Sandpiper was also present.
Monday 23rd
Two Crossbills flew over the Estate calling and a Marsh Harrier sat in Restharrow Dunes was unusual. Over on RSPB Worth marshes two Wood Sandpipers were on the pools, seven Red Kites flew over, the first Tufted Duck brood appeared, and an unseasonal Spotted Flycatcher was in the paddocks at Blue Pigeons.
Sunday 22nd
A flock of six White Storks, two Green Sandpipers, and a Ruff were on RSPB Worth marshes.
Friday 20th
Two Bee-eaters flew north over Sandown road in the evening.
Thursday 19th
A Red Kite went north. It's getting a bit late for these to be moving now so I expect there won't be many more this spring. We only ever get one-two an autumn too so enjoy them while you can before next spring. Meanwhile on RSPB Worth marshes Turtle Doves were busy purring and displaying again.
Wednesday 18th
Two fledged Coal Tits were the highlight on the Green Wall as proven breeding is quite scarce here. Singles of Goldcrest and Kingfisher also implied local breeding. A Redshank was on Restharrow Scrape and two Green Sandpipers on RSPB Worth marshes.
Tuesday 17th
A little thin on the ground today with just singles of Red Kite and Curlew north overhead. A few Golden Orioles made landfall around Kent though so there's still time to find a late spring migrant at Sandwich Bay. Trumpeter Finch anyone?
Monday 16th
The signs of autumn have been upon us for the last week or so but today's Wood Sandpiper on RSPB Worth marshes kicked it off properly. Over the next two weeks we should see more returning adult waders (usually birds that have failed breeding and started their return journey early), particularly Curlew, Green Sandpiper, and Common Sandpiper.
Sunday 15th
There were now five Black-tailed Godwits on RSPB Worth marshes but the biggest news of the day was an unexpected influx of Cattle Egrets with at least 20, perhaps as high as 24, spread through the Recording Area.
Saturday 14th
Two Red Kites headed north over the Estate and a few more Mediterranean Gulls went over calling. Reports from various places along the East Coast suggest a failure of many of the Mediterranean Gull breeding colonies unfortunately, which presumably explains the unusually large numbers moving through our area at this time of year. A Black-tailed Godwit was on RSPB Worth marshes.
Friday 13th
A Honey-buzzard went over RSPB Worth marshes and Turtle Doves were reasonably active on the site. There was another sighting of the unseasonal Grey Wagtail in the Prince's Golf Course area.
Thursday 12th
A party of 13 Mediterranean Gulls dropped into Restharrow Scrape in the morning. By midday the temperature had risen significantly and most activity in the area was reduced, or at least people hid indoors. In late afternoon a Great White Egret flew across RSPB Worth marshes.
Wednesday 11th
At least three family groups of Wrens were across the Estate and Lapwing numbers were building on Restharrow Scrape as 13 were present. Two Avocets flew south, a pair of Sandwich Terns oddly headed inland, another 13 were offshore, and an unseasonal Grey Wagtail flew over Prince's Golf Course.
Tuesday 10th
There was a good showing of warblers on the Green Wall with family parties and lots of singing still, and an early autumn movement of 16 Lapwings overhead.
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Monday 9th
There were singles of Teal and Sandwich Tern on Restharrow Scrape and a Turtle Dove was displaying along the Worth track.
Sunday 8th
A flock of 12 Greenfinches over the Whitehouse was by far the most notable record of the day. A big thank you to everyone who came to our AGM and stayed for the BBQ. It was great to see so many people.
Friday 6th
It was another day of hard work in the strengthening winds and periodic squalls. Mediterranean Gulls seemed to be on the move again though with at least 40 spread around the Estate, Restharrow Scrape, and offshore. Four Sandwich Terns also popped into Restharrow Scrape, it's been a good spring for this.
Thursday 5th
A day of increasingly strong winds. There were a handful of Sandwich Terns Mediterranean Gulls, and Swifts moving offshore or overhead.
Wednesday 4th
An early walk along Prince's Beach produced a singing Grasshopper Warbler, a newly-hatched Ringed Plover, two fledged Stonechats, 18 Sanderlings, and nine Canada Geese south. A Kingfisher was on New Downs and four Crossbills flew south over the Chequers.
Tuesday 3rd
Waders over the early high tide in Pegwell included 176 Oystercatchers, 17 Ringed Plovers, three Curlews, two Dunlins, and one late Whimbrel.
Monday 2nd
A bit of raptor action with Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, seven Buzzards, and a Peregrine over the Estate and seven Hobbies over RSPB Worth marshes.