Tuesday 25th
The Shore Lark was still down the Point along with at least one Snow Bunting in and around the boundary fence. Please note that there is no access beyond the boundary fence. Lingering birds include the redhead Goosander early morning on Restharrow Scrape and the HUME'S WARBLER was still around the Haven, associating with a Chiffchaff. Over on RSPB Worth Marshes, two Glossy Ibis flew off towards Fowlmead.
Monday 24th
A redhead Goosander was present on RSPB Worth Marshes in the morning. The HUME'S WARBLER was again around the Haven and four Yellowhammers were back on their usual wintering grounds by the Haybales. A Shore Lark was found late afternoon at the Point with an entourage of four Snow Buntings.
Sunday 23rd
A Lapland Bunting was a smart find, seen flying north along the beach at the end of King's Avenue. The HUME'S WARBLER continued around the Haven and Whitehouse.
Saturday 22nd
The HUME'S WARBLER was still present around the Haven and a Black Redstart was at Sandilands.
Friday 21st
After the morning's storm had dissipated it was actually quite pleasant. A HUME'S WARBLER was then found along Guilford Rd. It was calling frequently which helped separate it from the similar looking Yellow-browed Warbler (as well as the colder, greyer, and softer plumage tones). This represents a long-anticipated new species for the Sandwich Bay area and becomes approximately the 20th-21st for Kent. Two Cattle Egrets and singles of Woodcock, Great White Egret, Coal Tit, and Siskin were also present on the Estate. At least 28 Barnacle Geese and a White-fronted Goose were new on RSPB Worth marshes.
Thursday 20th
Sea passage was very piecemeal and required persistence in the cold conditions but produced rewards in the form of a female Goldeneye north (our first record of the year), 70 Teals, two Pintails, an Avocet, and a first-calendar Caspian Gull. The male Hen Harrier was seen again on RSPB Worth marshes and a Red Kite flew over.
Wednesday 19th
The weather was truly awful at times today, however, two Hen Harriers were seen on RSPB Worth marshes including a smart male. There was also a small but diverse mixture of wildfowl and waders moving through the storm offshore.
If you haven't got a calendar for yourself or your family for next year please note that ours is now available online, at the shop, at events, and at the Christmas Fair. This is another way to support the valuable work of the Observatory. They will cost £10 if bought in person but £12.50 online (to cover the cost of postage and packing). Thank you to all the photographers who submitted their pictures. We whittled 55 photos taken by 24 photographers down to one for each month of the year. The twelve selected photos, which will feature in the calendar, celebrate the breadth of wildlife that we monitor across our Recording Area and support on our reserves. The calendar features some photos by the late Steve Reynaert (provided by his family). You can purchase one HERE.
Tuesday 18th
Two Red-breasted Mergansers, a Velvet Scoter, and a Sandwich Tern flew north offshore. A Dartford Warbler was at Dickson's Corner and there were still seven Firecrests on the Estate. Two Water Pipits, seven Pintails, and four Ravens were the highlights on RSPB Worth marshes whilst a Spotted Redshank was at the Point.
Monday 17th
North-easterly winds early on produced a small movement of wildfowl offshore. Six Eiders, a Red-breasted Merganser, 51 Shelducks, and Avocet were the highlights. A drake Pintail was on Restharrow Scrape, a Black-tailed Godwit on RSPB Worth marshes, and a Tawny Owl called from the direction of the Green Wall after dark.
Tomorrow night (Tuesday 18th November), in addition to the usual Thursday night talk schedule, we have put together an evening that may interest people. It is a free talk all about Biodiversity Net Gain, particularly focussing on what it means for people and organisations like us, local projects, and how we can work within the system. With all the recent developments in Kent it is very topical and hopefully people will find it useful. You can book your free tickets HERE.
Sunday 16th
Only the one bird of note today, though a good one, with the strange sight of a CHOUGH heading north with Gulls on a seawatch.
Saturday 15th
A probable RADDE'S WARBLER was heard calling in Big Gully mid-morning but proved to be typically elusive and was not seen or heard again. There was a small influx of thrushes into the area, singles of Yellowhammer and Brambling at Dickson's Corner, and a Cattle Egret at the Drove.
Friday 14th
The Velvet Scoter was offshore again but a bit more distant today. The Black Redstart put in another appearance at Sandilands/Sailing Club and 21 Fieldfares dropped into the Observatory.
Thursday 13th
The Estate was relatively calm. Singles of Yellow-browed Warbler, Woodcock, Coal Tit, Rock Pipit, and Yellowhammer were recorded, plus 27 Goldcrests and five Firecrests. The usual female Velvet Scoter was sat offshore in the company of two Common Scoters and 20 Crossbills flew over the Gullies. Another 16 Crossbills flew over RSPB Worth marshes with Red Kite, Ruff, and Pintail also noted.
Wednesday 12th
A very showy Merlin was on the fence posts in the Dragonfly Pond Field and later in the Whitehouse. Presumably this is the same lingering bird seen on the Estate yesterday and on Restharrow Scrape a week ago. Field views show the bird is ringed so if any lucky photographer manages to read the code we'll be very grateful! A ringtail Hen Harrier came in off the sea at Sandilands and headed off towards Worth, singles of Dartford Warbler and Black Redstart were nearby, and the Jack Snipe continued to play hide-and-seek on Restharrow Scrape. Frustrating news also came in as two separate observers had a Swift species fly over Restharrow Scrape and Royal Cinque Ports Golf Course late morning. The last week or so has seen a small influx of Pallid Swifts into the country in these southerly winds, and records at this time of year are usually more likely to be Pallid rather than Common. However, no Pallid Swift has ever been proven at Sandwich Bay and instead SBBOT has a long history of unconfirmed birds. In the last Pallid Swift influx of October 2022 we actually had the only confirmed Common Swift in the whole of the UK. The identification of the two species is not easy and this is another one we hope the local photographers can help with. If you see a swift, take photos, and let us know please.
Tuesday 11th
The regular female Velvet Scoter was sitting offshore in it's usual spot off of Prince's Beach, whilst there was a mixed flock of 120 Great Black-backed Gulls and 95 Gannets milling and feeding in the Bay. Over on Restharrow Scrape there were two Pochards, a Jack Snipe, and a first-calendar Caspian Gull. The Green Wall was also interesting with a Yellow-browed Warbler the highlight.
Monday 10th
Singles of Black-throated Diver and Velvet Scoter were sat on sea again and another two of the latter flew past south. And then the heavens opened...
Sunday 9th
An excellent mix throughout the Recording Area. Yellow-browed Warblers were in Little Gully and the Little Elms, a Black Redstart at Sandilands, and a Jack Snipe on Restharrow Scrape. Over on New Downs there were nine Bearded Tits, a Common Sandpiper, and a Merlin, with an immature dark-phase Arctic Skua and an adult Yellow-legged Gull in Pegwell Bay. Another Merlin was on RSPB Worth marshes whilst two Dartford Warblers were in the Gorse at Mary Bax and a Coal Tit at the Chequers.
Saturday 8th
Coverage of RSPB Worth marshes revealed Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret, five Pintails, three Green Sandpipers, and three Water Pipits. Five Tree Sparrows were on the path behind the asparagus fields and two Firecrests were on the Estate.
Friday 7th
Two Glossy Ibises flew over the Observatory first thing, with a Yellow-browed Warbler also at Dickson's Corner. It, or more likely another, Yellow-browed Warbler was in The Elms mid-morning and then late morning a PALLAS'S WARBLER was trapped and ringed. In addition a Coal Tit was on King's Avenue whilst six Firecrests and a reasonable number of thrushes were scattered across the rest of the Estate. There were a few birds moving offshore including two Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great Northern Diver, whist a Black Redstart was at Prince's Lodge.
Thursday 6th
A Woodcock was in the Haven and a Dartford Warbler in Restharrow Dunes. Offshore was productive again with the lingering Black-throated Diver and female Velvet Scoter sitting offshore, two Little Gulls flew south, and a Short-eared Owl came in off the sea. At least 460 Starlings also came in and continued north. The Green Wall recorded 29 Crossbills, 22 Siskins, two Coal Tits, and 18 Goldcrests, and a Yellow-browed Warbler was on RSPB Worth marshes.
Wednesday 5th
The female Velvet Scoter was still sat on the sea off of Prince's Beach and the two Snow Buntings put in another brief appearance.
A reminder that at this time of year that there is a really easy way to add SBBOT as the recipient of funds when you buy online:
EasyFundraising is partnered with many well-known stores and outlets. Ordering online through EasyFundraising enables you to give a proportion of your purchase price to SBBOT.
Simply go to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/sandwichbaybot/, sign up, and then when you do your Christmas shopping (or any other purchases online) a proportion will be donated to SBBOT! We have already raised over £1,000 with this scheme.
Tuesday 4th
A different selection of highlights than yesterday. A Yellow-browed Warbler in Big Gully was only our second of the autumn whilst a Merlin having a bath on Restharrow Scrape was quite the sight for a lucky observer. A female-type Velvet Scoter was sat offshore and two Snow Buntings moving around on Prince's Beach. There were still a handful of Swallows seen through the Recording Area.
Monday 3rd
Singles of Great Northern Diver and Black-throated Diver were sat on the sea drifting north (as well as the more usual Red-throated Divers), and completing a good variety offshore were a drake Scaup and two Velvet Scoters north. There was no sign of yesterday's Red-crested Pochard on RSPB Worth marshes but Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret, Yellow-legged Gull, and Water Pipit were adequate compensation.
In addition to the usual Thursday night talk schedule we have put together an evening on Tuesday 18th November that may interest people. It is a free talk all about Biodiversity Net Gain, particularly focussing on what it means for people and organisations like us, local projects, and how we can work within the system. With all the recent developments in Kent it is very topical and hopefully people will find it useful. You can book your free tickets HERE.
Sunday 2nd
A Red-crested Pochard on RSPB Worth marshes was a bit of a local mega and seems to be our first record for 13 years. Two Spoonbills flew south over the Chequers, a/the Black-throated Diver was offshore again, and a Black Redstart was still at Sandilands.
Saturday 1st
The lingering Black-throated Diver was seen again offshore and there was a great count of at least 1,750 Gannets fishing in the Bay.