Tuesday 31st
Just over 50 Meadow Pipits headed north and two Greylag Geese came in off the sea. Six Swallows and two House Martins were on RSPB Worth Marshes whilst there were still a few Redwings and Fieldfares knocking around the Estate. Nine Avocets and two Sandwich Terns were the best in Pegwell Bay.
Monday 30th
A Tree Sparrow in Big Gully was a rare spring record whilst the two Willow Warblers from yesterday were still singing on the Estate. Another good bird of the day was our first Ring Ouzel on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Sunday 29th
Clear overnight conditions meant nothing much was going to drop in, however two Willow Warblers were in the Jubilee Field and a Blackcap was singing close by in The Elms. RSPB Worth Marshes recorded a good mix of species with two each of Swallow, Water Pipit, and Avocet plus five Little Ringed Plovers.
Saturday 28th
An uptick in Chiffchaff was recorded on the Estate and Green Wall with 11 on each, the first double-figure counts since November. A Willow Warbler was singing in the Jubilee Field and three Crossbills were moving overhead. Two Spoonbills dropped in to RSPB Worth Marshes.
Friday 27th
The weather wasn't as bad as forecast but it will still quite cold out there. There was a few bits and bobs in terms of overhead visible migration. A Spoonbill flew over RSPB Worth Marshes and took top billing.
Thursday 26th
Early excitement came in the form of two Choughs heading north over Royal St George's Golf Course. A little later a Wheatear was also found on the course, only our second of the spring so far. Two Red Kites and a/the Coal Tit finished off the highlights from the Estate. A singing Blackcap was the best from the Green Wall.
Wednesday 25th
Most of the interest came from RSPB Worth Marshes where a Little Stint was the headline bird, but also a Merlin, four Little Ringed Plovers, three Swallows, our first House Martin, an adult Caspian Gull, our first Willow Warbler, and our first Mallard ducklings of the year were all recorded.
Tuesday 24th
The local farmer was tilling the asparagus fields on the Estate so they were quite busy with various birds, including a handful of Mediterranean Gulls and White Wagtails. A group of five Egyptian Geese came in off the sea and a Swallow was on RSPB Worth Marshes.
There's still time to pick up tickets for this Thursday's evening talk (26th), Winter Birding in Japan by Ian Searle and Ken Chapman. This will be a special themed evening with wine and snacks. You can buy tickets HERE.
Monday 23rd
It was going to be hard to match the excitement of yesterday's Marsh Tit curveball. The fog meant the Estate was covered a little later. It was a touch quiet but six Red Kites and 12 Buzzards went north when the mist burnt off.
Sunday 22nd
The day was mostly dominated by the news of a true Sandwich Bay mega, a MARSH TIT, caught by the ringing team. The bird was not seen after release but will hopefully be seen again nearby. It becomes only the seventh SBBOT record and our first for 30 years! The Iceland Gull was seen again on RSPB Worth marshes, a Great White Egret flew over Royal St George's Golf Course, the Black Redstart was at Sandilands, and our first Swallow was at Pegwell Bay.
Saturday 21st
A few finches were on the move again as 139 Chaffinch and 14 Siskin made their way over the Estate. The wader roost at the Point held 45 Sanderling, 10 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin.
Friday 20th
Other than a handful of Siskins there wasn't too much new on the Estate. However, the day was brightened up by another appearance of the Iceland Gull on RSPB Worth marshes. The bird is far from predictable but it seems to be coming into the main flood on the marshes around mid-morning for a wash and a rest and then heads back off again. I imagine it is feeding/roosting somewhere nearby so keep your eyes open.
Thursday 19th
Another lovely Spring day. There were a few bits and bobs around to keep people busy. On RSPB Worth Marshes a flock of 24 Ruff was most noteworthy whilst also present were three Great White Egrets, seven Marsh Harriers, and three Red Kites. A couple of Dunlins and Redshanks dropped into Restharrow Scrape and a singing Corn Bunting had returned to it's breeding area nearby. A Blackcap was singing in the Little Elms, where a Firecrest was present, and in The Elms there were two Coal Tits, with one also singing. Finishing off the Estate was a nice Merlin in the asparagus fields and a flock of eight Golden Plovers which included a partially-leucistic bird with white wingbars. Three Bearded Tits on New Downs rounded off the morning.
Wednesday 18th
The Dartford Warbler, which has spent the whole winter being incredibly elusive, had a change of heart today and performed well in Restharrow Dunes in the morning sun. There was a little bit of overhead finch passage including a Brambling that dropped in at the Drove.
Tuesday 17th
A few signs of movement with two Siskin, 12 Goldfinches, and nine Greenfinches all passing south through the Estate. A female Peregrine sat on the flats at Pegwell Bay made counting the waders difficult though 127 Curlew and 111 Oystercatchers remained. Over on RSPB Worth Marshes were the two Ruffs and five Water Pipits.
Monday 16th
The Little Ringed Plover still showed well on RSPB Worth Marshes this morning. A Red Kite flew over and on the pools were four Black-tailed Godwits, two Ruffs, 12 Dunlins, and a Water Pipit. Over on New Downs there were nine Avocets, two Red Kites, two White Wagtails, and two Bearded Tits.
Sunday 15th
Two Red Kites flew over the Estate, six Siskins were in The Elms, and a Little Ringed Plover performed well on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Saturday 14th
A White Wagtail and our first Wheatear of the year were along Prince's Beach. A few Siskins flew through and a Merlin and two Green Sandpipers were on New Downs. The highlight of the day were at least eight Great White Egrets on RSPB Worth Marshes, which comprised a flock of six which arrived high from the East. A new record count for the area.
Friday 13th
Unlucky for some, but not us apparently as it was a good day. Five Ravens flew over the Estate and at least nine White Wagtails were on the various fields. The Iceland Gull from the 7th dropped back into RSPB Worth Marshes mid-morning before heading off towards Ham Fen. Of interest, this bird shows some features of the rarer Kumleini race of Iceland Gull. Some recent analysis of this bird from Dover can be read HERE.
Thursday 12th
A strengthening gale meant there was little chance of birding the bushes. So, a Firecrest on the Green Wall was decent going. Sea passage was limited to 60 Sanderlings, a Fulmar, and a Mediterranean Gull north, leaving the best find of the day to our first Little Ringed Plover of the year on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Wednesday 11th
A touch of sea passage produced our first ten Sandwich Terns of the year going south offshore and five Red Kites and two Marsh Harriers came in off the sea from a distance and headed inland. A White Wagtail was on the beach and the Great Crested Grebe was seen again on RSPB Worth Marshes. The latter is not a common bird for the site but there have a few recent records, possibly the same bird(s) returning each spring looking for breeding sites.
Please note there will be some planned maintenance to the Vida Madell hide at Restharrow Scrape tomorrow morning (Thursday 12th). Expect a little disturbance at the time.
Tuesday 10th
Four Great Egrets were on RSPB Worth marshes and a touch of vismig comprised a Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtail, few Skylarks, and a Brambling flying over. A few new Chiffchaffs with pollen horns were around the Estate and three Redshanks on Restharrow Scrape.
Monday 9th
Wall-to-wall fog for the second day but two nice highlights. The first was a Chough which flew south over Stonar and New Downs and the second a Bittern flushed from besides the path at RSPB Worth Marshes.
Sunday 8th
Almost completely fogged out but two Pintails, two Green Sandpipers, Mediterranean Gull, and Firecrest could just be made out on New Downs.
Saturday 7th
It was looking to be a repeat of yesterday until an Iceland Gull dropped onto the main flood on RSPB Worth Marshes. The bird was present loafing around the gull flock until flying off north mid-afternoon, perhaps heading to roost at Pegwell Bay?
Bird news was slow elsewhere, the Estate recording a Woodcock and six Greenfinches.
Friday 6th
There wasn't much in the way of overhead movements this morning. The Black Redstart was still hopping around Sandilands and 11 Siskins were in The Elms, whilst four Greenfinches was unfortunately a notable count for the Estate these days. In the afternoon two pairs of Ringed Plovers were displaying on Prince's Beach and possibly grounded by the drizzle were 40 Meadow Pipits and 155 Wigeons sat on the sea.
Thursday 5th
Two Firecrests, a Blackcap, a Rock Pipit, and our first White Wagtail were on the Estate whilst two Red Kites over RSPB Worth marshes were also our first of the year. Firecrest, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Mediterranean Gull, Water Rail, Coal Tit, Yellowhammer, and seven Siskins were seen on a sunny walk along the Green Wall.
Wednesday 4th
With dense fog all day it was amazing we got any records. Three Avocets were in Pegwell Bay and Great Crested Grebe, Sand Martin, and two Siskins were on RSPB Worth marshes.
This is also a plea to anyone who could help out. We're on the lookout for people who can volunteer on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays to meet and greet visitors and be on the shop. Please get in touch at info@sbbot.org.uk if you think you can help out.
Tuesday 3rd
Though they haven't been seen much recently the 130 White-fronted Geese were still present on Willow Farm. Five Siskins and three Yellowhammers were on the Green Wall. There was some light visible migration on the Estate with a few flocks of Starlings and Chaffinch south, a couple more Siskins over, and a Barnacle Goose south. Singles of Water Rail, Woodcock, and Coal Tit were also recorded and two Egyptian Geese were on Restharrow Scrape.
Monday 2nd
Although it was windy it was a really nice and sunny day. The winds brought in another Sand Martin on RSPB Worth marshes whilst on New Downs there was nothing new but a nice selection including two Pintails, Mediterranean Gull, Firecrest, and three Bearded Tits.
There are a number of upcoming events to take note of. This week our Thursday evening talk will be 'A Journey to the Hebrides' by Paul Hale. Paul will be looking at the Inner and Outer Hebrides, including St Kilda, and show us a range of species from Golden Eagle to Corncrake, and from Otter to St Kilda Wren. We have a walk to Denge Wood on Wednesday 4th and an International Women's Day Walk on Tuesday 10th. You can view and book on these, and other events, by clicking HERE.
Sunday 1st
The month opened with two Woodcock, Firecrest and the Coal Tit pair on the Estate, plus four Siskin "vismig'd" south over the Obs.