Wednesday 31st
Although nice and sunny it was also quite windy out there. This made things particularly difficult for looking for migrant warblers in the bushes etc. Still, at least seven Willow Warblers were dotted around the Estate. Worth marshes was equally windswept but the 'muddy pool' just off the Pinnock Wall held a good variety of waders including Golden Plover, Knot, Dunlin, ten Snipes, Black-tailed Godwit, two Greenshanks, one Green Sandpiper, and a Common Sandpiper, as well the two regular lingering Garganey. A Serin called briefly from the hedgerow nearby but could not be located....perhaps the bird from the Drove two days ago. A Wood Sandpiper was also on the pool on the other side of the Great Wood. In the evening there was a large arrival of Lesser Black-backed Gulls into the area, with at least 450 recorded between Worth and New Downs. This is the highest count for around 12 years.
Tuesday 30th
A very quiet morning was livened up by the ringers catching a ROSEFINCH. Despite being fairly regular migrants in Scotland and north-east England, this is a seriously rare bird in Kent. It becomes only our second record and the first for 54 years! The bird was released in the Observatory garden and, after showing briefly, disappeared into the bushes. It may still be present so keep an eye out in the area.
Monday 29th
We were planning for a quieter day after yesterday's fantastic 60th Anniversary celebrations, but we didn't account for a Red-backed Shrike and Serin to be found at the Drove. The Shrike was an immature bird and missing most of it's tail. It was regularly flycatching around the scrubby reedbed area by the Drove gates, but was later seen to fly out onto Willow Farm. The Serin was heard on a few occasions from the same area. Please stick to the Public Footpath when looking for the birds.
On the other side of Worth a summer-plumaged Cattle Egret was on the pools, and possibly a different bird from the others seen in the last few weeks.
Sunday 28th
A big thank you to all who came and celebrated with us today. Singles of Spotted and Pied Flycatcher performed well by the Obs track for the masses. A Redwing was trapped and ringed, and going through our 'Nocmig' recordings revealed two more Pied Flycatchers calling overnight. A Grey Plover on Worth marshes was unusual.
Saturday 27th
The best birds of the day were not even seen. A Stone-curlew flew over the Observatory calling at 4am and a Bittern did similar at Stonar. Pegwell Bay was excellent with singles of Black Tern and Little Stint, plus two Curlew Sandpipers and a Spotted Flycatcher.
Friday 26th
It was another scorching day. Buzzards, Kestrels, and Marsh Harriers all took advantage and were thermalling throughout the area. There was a smattering of Warblers on the Estate with Willow Warbler most numerous (15). Three Swifts and a Turtle Dove were on Worth marshes and three Common Sandpipers were on Restharrow Scrape.
Thursday 25th
The Estate was a little quieter but there were still two Whinchats, one Wheatear, and 19 Willow Warblers. Around 70 Swallows flew north and 23 Mediterranean Gulls were on the beach. Restharrow Scrape held Little Ringed Plover, Greenshank, two Common Sandpipers, and four Snipes. A Tree Pipit was at the Drove and a handful of Yellow Wagtails flew north. Over on Worth there were at least another 250 Mediterranean Gulls, a Whinchat, and five Yellow Wagtails.
Wednesday 24th
A hot and humid day with at least 45 Willow Warblers across the Estate and a Tree Pipit in the Oasis area. A Black-tailed Godwit and 21 Mediterranean Gulls were on Worth marshes, and six Little Terns and a Curlew Sandpiper in Pegwell Bay.
Tuesday 23rd
There was a good mix of birds from all parts of the Recording Area. On the Estate the highlights were 200 House Martins, a Cetti's Warbler, two Tree Pipits, a flyover Wood Sandpiper, and four Whinchats. A Little Ringed Plover and three Little Egrets were also on Restharrow Scrape. On Worth marshes there was the regular Cattle Egret and a Raven, whilst the Green Wall provided a particularly high count of 20 Little Grebes and a handful of Golden Plovers. In Pegwell there were 225 Dunlins and 70 Ringed Plovers, plus six Little Terns and the first Wigeon of autumn. Waders on New Downs comprised 66 Redshanks, seven Greenshanks, four Green Sandpipers, and 15 Common Sandpipers with singles of Pied Flycatcher and Coal Tit near Prince's Reservoir. There has been a big increase in Starlings with around 2,000 in the area, plus a handful of Yellow and Grey Wagtails, and a good scattering of Willow Warblers.
One last reminder about our 60th Anniversary event this Sunday 28th August. Please do come along on the day and celebrate. Click HERE for information on the day and how to book on the various walks.
Monday 22nd
A Grasshopper Warbler was an unexpected find along the Guilford Rd. Lots of Willow Warblers remained on the Estate, a Little Owl scowled in Waldershare Gully, and six Whinchats were in the usual spot south of Sandilands (TR365569). The Cattle Egret and two Garganey continue to show well on Worth marshes, and at least 160 Mediterranean Gulls were still present.
Sunday 21st
The Cattle Egret and two Garganey were still around on Worth marshes, plus 241 Mediterranean Gulls going back and forth from the pools to the nearby salad fields. There were Little Ringed Plover and both Green and Common Sandpipers on Restharrow Scrape and the Estate was alive with 111 Willow Warblers, a handful of Swifts, Redstart, seven Whinchats, six Wheatears, a Pied Flycatcher, and, late in the evening, a Long-eared Owl.
Saturday 20th
A smart Wood Warbler fed along the edge of the Great Wood on Worth marshes and the two Garganey remained. A total of 172 Lapwings were on New Downs in dry conditions and in the evening a Pied Flycatcher showed well by the Observatory track.
Friday 19th
The two Garganeys were still on Worth marshes and 36 Mediterranean Gulls dropped into the pools, though at least 250 others were sat just outside our Recording Area on the neighbouring salad fields. A total of 37 Willow Warblers were recorded on the Estate and there was a noticeable increase in Robins. We usually note the start of autumn Robin migration at the end of August or early September, but a trickle may have already begun. An immature Marsh Harrier continues to hunt the asparagus fields between the Estate and Worth regularly at the moment.
Not long to go now for our 60th Anniversary event on Sunday 28th August. Please do come along on the day and celebrate. Click HERE for information on the day and how to book various walks.
Thursday 18th
Six Whinchats and nine Wheatears were in the Dickson's Corner area. Three Garganey were seen on the Green Wall and the usual two on Worth marshes, where the two Egyptian Geese still resided. A Wood Sandpiper was on Restharrow Scrape briefly in the morning.
Wednesday 17th
A heavy downpour overnight was most welcome. The rains dropped in a few migrants on the Estate, namely three Pied and two Spotted Flycatchers, plus a Nightingale. Two Egyptian Geese on Worth marshes were only the second sighting this year. The Cattle Egret remained. Two Little Terns were in Pegwell Bay in the afternoon.
Tuesday 16th
A Bittern was sound-recorded calling over Stonar at 03:10 in the morning. Eight each of Green Sandpiper and Whinchat were on Worth marshes, and there were at least 45 Willow Warblers on the Estate. In the evening a juvenile Honey-buzzard went north over the Green Wall.
Monday 15th
A refreshing breeze after the weekends sweltering conditions. Worth marshes provided the Cattle Egret and two Garganeys. A Pochard and 60 Teal were new arrivals and Lapwings increased to 91. An afternoons WeBS count produced two Curlew Sandpipers and a Spotted Redshank in Pegwell Bay, a Whinchat at the Point, and four Wood Sandpipers and 19 White Storks on New Downs. A Wood Sandpiper also on Restharrow Scrape, two Tree Pipits and a Crossbill flew over the Estate, and another 48 Willow Warblers were in the bushes.
Sunday 14th
The 14 White Storks were still in Pegwell Bay early on but soon drifted off inland. On the Estate there was an impressive fall of Warblers with at least 15 Sedge, 49 Reed, three Garden, 11 Willow, 22 Lesser Whitethroat, and 23 Whitethroat, along with four Pied Flycatchers. A Whinchat was among five Wheatears at Dickson's Corner. The Cattle Egret and two Garganeys were still on Worth marshes, along with 12 Buzzards, 18 Whimbrels, and 16 Green Sandpipers. A Turnstone flying over Willow Farm was unusual and there 36 Reed Warblers and 31 Whitethroats recorded.
Saturday 13th
A Wood Warbler was in the Gullies and a Turtle Dove was mobile around the Estate. The Cattle Egret was still on Worth and in the late afternoon 14 White Storks came to roost Pegwell Bay (presumably from the Knepp release scheme).
Friday 12th
Our first 'fall' of autumn produced 27 Sedge Warblers, 37 Reed Warblers, two Garden Warblers, three Lesser Whitethroats, 31 Willow Warblers, one Pied Flycatcher, one Redstart, one Wheatear, and two Whinchats on the Estate. Three Yellow Wagtails were also seen and it was good to note at least 80 Linnets. Over on Worth marshes six Ringed Plovers and one Little Ringed Plover allowed good comparison, the Cattle Egret was around, and four Wood Sandpipers seen. After dark a NIGHT-HERON was heard calling over the Observatory.
Thursday 11th
Hot out there. There was a small push of hirundines north and a scattering of migrant warblers, plus a Whinchat at Dickson's Corner. Singles of Common Scoter and Common Tern were offshore. Worth marshes was quite busy and included a Cattle Egret, two Garganey, seven Green Sandpipers, and two Greenshanks.
Wednesday 10th
One Cattle Egret was on Worth marshes. It seems a small number are commuting in and out of the marshes to Ham Fen. At least three birds are thought to be involved. Two Ruffs were new in, plus four Greenshanks and five Green Sandpipers. Three Whinchats near Roaring Gutter were our first arrival of autumn. Only a handful of Willow Warblers were around today but four Yellow Wagtails were seen, including two on Restharrow Scrape, where a Common Sandpiper also resided. Water levels are looking very good there for waders so watch this space.
Please be aware that there will be no access into Gullies on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings this week.
Tuesday 9th
Three Pied Flycatchers on the Estate were our first of autumn. Singles of Cattle Egret, Wood Sandpiper, and Greenshank were on Worth marshes.
Monday 8th
A surprise Long-eared Owl flew past Restharrow Scrape onto the Estate early in the morning. August can be a good month for this species as the young disperse from their natal areas. Worth marshes also provided the Cattle Egret and two Garganey still, plus a Greenshank, and a Wood Sandpiper was in Pegwell Bay at high tide.
On Mondays and Thursday for the next two weeks our Conservation Team will be doing routine maintenance on Restharrow Scrape. There may be some disturbance on these days in order to have the site looking good for autumn and winter. Thank you for understanding.
Sunday 7th
Two Spoonbills dropped onto Worth marshes in the morning but were quickly off. A Spotted Redshank also paid a brief visit and a flock of 74 Mediterranean Gulls came through. Thankfully the two Garganey remained on show for everyone to see. In Pegwell a Little Tern was the highlight.
Saturday 6th
The two Garganey were still on Worth and 337 Greylag Geese was a particularly high count on the pools. An Avocet and three smart Grey Plovers were nice to see in Pegwell Bay.
Friday 5th
It was expected that the overnight rains would drop in migrants but there was actually less on the Estate than yesterday. There were 20 Willow Warblers in the bushes, 45 Swallows flew north, a trickle of Lesser Black-backed Gulls also went north, three Wheatears were at Sandilands, a Common Tern on the beach, and a Dunlin on Restharrow Scrape. The Cattle Egret and at least one Garganey were still present on Worth. Two Little Terns were in Pegwell Bay in the afternoon and an evening boat trip along the river produced an amazing 86 Common Sandpipers.
Thursday 4th
Around 45 Willow Warblers made landfall on the Estate today with three Wheatears and a few Reed Warblers also present. A new Cattle Egret appeared on Worth marshes and the two Garganeys were still present on the muddy pool near the wooden bridge (TR348557). The evening tide in Pegwell Bay produced 386 Oystercatchers, one Ringed Plover, 71 Dunlins, one Bar-tailed Godwit, two Whimbrels, 213 Curlews, one Spotted Redshank, 91 Redshanks, and two Greenshanks, plus 210 Sandwich, ten Common, and three Arctic Terns.
Wednesday 3rd
The two Garganey remained on Worth marshes and were joined by a Cattle Egret. There were large numbers of Gulls 'anting' over the Estate including a good percentage of Mediterranean Gulls. At least 26 Willow Warblers were in the bushes on the Estate plus another six on Worth.
Tuesday 2nd
There were double-figures of Willow Warbler around the Whitehouse, Haven, and Oasis area in the morning, plus a Garden Warbler. Two Garganey were on Worth and over in Pegwell there was a good group of Terns comprising 425 Sandwich, 51 Common, and six Arctic. Plus singles of Little Stint and Spotted Redshank.
Due to unforeseen circumstance tomorrow's trip to Oare Marshes is postponed. It will be re-arranged for a suitable high tide time in mid-September, date and time to be announced. If this is not suitable for those currently booked do get in touch at admin@sbbot.org.uk and a refund will be arranged. Apologies for the last minute change of plan.
Monday 1st
The Garganey remained on Worth marshes and a Willow Warbler was on the Estate. In the evening three Mediterranean Gulls, one Common Sandpiper, and four Whimbrels were on the beach between Dickson's Corner and the Chequers.