Saturday 28th
RSPB Worth Marshes held 28 Pintail, a Great White Egret, and 130 White-fronted Geese. It was rather quiet on the Estate but small flocks of moving Redwings became apparent after nightfall.
Friday 27th
Four Woodcocks and two Firecrests were seen on a drizzly wander around the Estate and our first Sand Martin of the year was on RSPB Worth marshes. But the 'best' was left to New Downs when around midday a Red-legged Partridge was discovered. Great Spotted Cuckoo it ain't but it's still our first record since May 2021 so we'll take it.
Thursday 26th
Singles of Merlin, Firecrest, and Siskin were on New Downs, three Mediterranean Gulls dropped in on Restharrow Scrape, and RSPB Worth marshes provided three Ruffs and five Tundra Bean Geese.
Thank you to everyone who has already bought tickets for our upcoming day trip to Marquenterre Nature Reserve in France. Bookings are coming in very fast and it won't be long before all places are filled. If you would like to go act quickly. You can see information on the trip HERE.
Wednesday 25th
It was feeling very much like Spring still in the sunshine and warmth. A White Stork drifted north through RSPB Worth Marshes along with 14 Buzzards riding the thermals. On the Estate was a Firecrest and Merlin, plus another Siskin flying through.
Tuesday 24th
The weather was the best of the year so far and it felt Spring-like with lots of Wrens, Dunnocks, Cetti's Warblers, and Chiffchaffs singing away. There were our first inklings of migration too with small numbers of Chaffinches, a flock of 45 Fieldfares, and a Siskin noted moving overhead on the Estate. The Black Redstart was still present at Sandilands. Four Great White Egrets were new on RSPB Worth marshes with 20 Pintails and 40 White-fronted Geese still across the site.
Monday 23rd
Coverage of the northern sectors produced 80 Shovelers, two Pintails, 13 Turnstones, four Knots, nine Sanderlings, and 110 Dunlins in Pegwell, 220 Cormorants, 750 Dunlins, and 16 Turnstones at the Point, and two Egyptian Geese, two Green Sandpipers, four Avocets, and a Bearded Tit on New Downs.
Sunday 22nd
A new Hen Harrier, a female/immature type, flew across the entrance road to Royal St George's Golf Course. Over on RSPB Worth marshes there were 128 White-fronted Geese and 32 Barnacle Geese still. The Lapwing numbers are falling, as to be expected, but 850 were still present.
Saturday 21st
A male Hen Harrier was on RSPB Worth marshes.
Friday 20th
The day started well with four Cranes over Restharrow Scrape early in the morning. The birds headed south but it was not seen whether the birds continued on or dropped in somewhere. It could be well worth keeping an eye out on the marshes and along the Ancient Highway. The Estate also saw singles of Cattle Egret and Firecrest whilst five White-fronted Geese were at the Drove.
Thursday 19th
A flock of 134 White-fronted Geese flew over RSPB Worth marshes with 32 Barnacle Geese on the deck just north of Greenacres. Two Cattle Egrets were at the Observatory and elsewhere around the Estate there were seven Grey Partridges, 77 Skylarks, Black Redstart, Firecrest, and Coal Tit, and a Caspian Gull offshore.
Wednesday 18th
Despite the stormy conditions there was little happening offshore or in Pegwell. It did push around the various Goose flocks though with 80 White-fronted Geese seen flying over RSPB Worth marshes, with another 25 at the Drove, 30 Barnacle Geese flying over the Estate and dropping in near the railway, and 32 Tundra Bean Geese also over RSPB Worth marshes.
Tuesday 17th
A male Hen Harrier flew across the asparagus fields towards Willow Farm early in the morning. Elsewhere on the Estate there were a few Redwings, a Cattle Egret, and the regular Black Redstart around Sandilands/Yacht Club. At least 120 White-fronted Geese remained on RSPB Worth marshes.
Monday 16th
It was cold early on New Downs but felt a lot easier once the sun came up. Singles of Green Sandpiper and Firecrest were the highlights. A Greenfinch singing at the Observatory was unusual, five Woodcocks were on the Estate, whilst the flock of 32 Pintails was still on RSPB Worth marshes.
As you know SBBOT runs programmes of talks, walks and other activities. When we give them publicity they are often enhanced with illustrations on the website or on posters. While a great many of you take wonderful bird pictures, we rarely get sent photos of the places mentioned. What we need are high resolution landscape shots with neither people nor unrelated buildings, where possible. Pics of any Kent birding destination would be welcomed, or any taken on SBBOT outings or trips. Please send as jpgs to Bo Beolens at webmaster@sbbot.org.uk. Please let us if you would like them acknowledged but please do not put any text on the photos themselves.
Sunday 15th
Two Red-breasted Mergansers offshore were our first of the year.
Friday 13th
Three Woodcocks were on the Estate and the Black-headed Gulls have now started returning to Restharrow Scrape (as well as the Oystercatchers). Offshore there was a Fulmar, 52 Great Crested Grebes, and 19 Red-throated Divers. The north-easterly over the next few days might stir things up, perhaps the start of return Brent movement. The Barnacle Goose flock was on view from the Drove, as well as a Great White Egret,
Thursday 12th
Singles of Woodcock, Firecrest, and Coal Tit were on the Estate and there was a fair bit of Buzzard activity overhead in the sunny weather. An adult Little Gull was the highlight was on New Downs and the lone Tundra Bean Goose from yesterday had moved across to RSPB Worth marshes, where Great White Egret, Jack Snipe, and four Water Pipits were present.
Wednesday 11th
A Tundra Bean Goose was in the asparagus fields on the Estate. Possibly the bird seen over Pegwell yesterday? At least 80 White-fronted and 15 Barnacle Geese were not far away towards the railway line. The regular flock of 27 Tundra Bean Geese also made an appearance. They came in over RSPB Worth marshes from the Ham Fen direction and dropped out of sight. Meanwhile three Cattle Egrets and five Stonechats were on the Estate but there was again no sign of the Dartford Warbler. I'm not aware of it being seen in the area for a few weeks. Over on the Green Wall a Pintail, a Woodcock, and two Firecrests were the best.
Tuesday 10th
A Merlin and a Firecrest were on the Estate. The flock of White-fronted Geese were quite mobile, moving around from the Drove and between the asparagus fields and the railway line, and numbered at least 172 birds. Six Tundra Bean Geese and 31 Barnacle Geese were also seen. The flocks of Pintail and Pochard continue to increase on RSPB Worth marshes with 23 and 37, respectively, whilst there were also good counts of seven Ruffs and 12 Dunlins on the site. In the late afternoon/evening a lone Tundra Bean Goose flew south over Pegwell Bay and a Little Gull was along the shore on Prince's Beach.
Monday 9th
Four Avocets and six Pochards were on Restharrow Scrape, a Brambling in Jubilee Field, and three Cattle Egrets around the Observatory building.
This Thursday (12th) evening we have Ian and Sally Hunter presenting a talk on their Voyage around the Lesser Sunda Islands from Flores to Bali. Then on Sunday (15th) we have InFocus with us to showcase their range of optical equipment. Please note that this will be their only visit until the autumn so this is a good chance to bring your optics along or to test new equipment.
Saturday 7th
The wintering flock of Tundra Bean Geese and White-fronted Geese flew over the Estate.
Friday 6th
A quieter day but the semi-regular Goosander decided to drop into Pegwell Bay.
Thursday 5th
With the return of the wind and the rain only a few hardy souls braved the weather. A flock of Little Gulls went along the beach and off inland. In Pegwell Bay four Caspian Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull were the highlights. An Iceland Gull was at Minnis Bay yesterday, it would be nice if it were to pop into Pegwell.
Wednesday 4th
A lovely morning on New Downs brought Pintail, Great Crested Grebe, Peregrine, two Water Rails, two Avocets, three Dunlins, three Green Sandpipers, Rock Pipit, two Grey Wagtails, Firecrest, three Bearded Tits, and a Greenfinch. The Cattle Egrets around the Observatory increased to three whilst on RSPB Worth marshes there were 17 Pintails, Great White Egret, five Water Pipits, five Bullfinches. Four Jack Snipes flushed by a marauding Marsh Harrier was noteworthy.
Tuesday 3rd
Adult Yellow-legged Gull and 32 Pintails were in Pegwell Bay.
Monday 2nd
A trip to the Point to count the wader flock at high tide revealed 91 Grey Plovers, 250 Dunlins, 30 Sanderlings, and ten Turnstones. A Woodcock was also seen flying over the shingle. Over in Pegwell there were ten Pintails with a separate flock of 23 on RSPB Worth marshes.