Moths: April
Wednesday 30th Similar conditions again and the catch dropped slightly to 39 moths of 16 species. A male Gem was our earliest record by a week of this migrant species. This added weight to my suspicion that the Turnips we are getting might also be migrants- there were five last night. Also new for the year were Large Yellow Underwing, Dark Spectacle,…
Ringing: April
Tuesday 29th A beautiful, calm, clear day. The clear sky overnight allowed a few sheltered bits to have a brief frost-certainly what was not forecast. We are ever hopeful that a few birds might overshoot from the continent but no sign yet. Five birds were caught- three Dunnocks, a Chiffchaff and a Blackbird. They all showed signs indicating they were…
Butterflies: April
Wednesday 30th The best day of the year so far. Seven Walls, five Orange-tips, three Large Whites, two Red Admirals, two Holly Blues, ten Green-veined Whites, one Small Heath, one Speckled Wood, two Small Coppers, one Common Blue, and six Peacocks on the Estate. Monday 28th Two Peacocks, three Red Admirals, four Speckled Woods, three Orange-tips, and seven Small Coppers…
Birds: April
Wednesday 30th At least five Red Kites flew north over the Estate with a Common Sandpiper on the beach and a Wheatear at Sandilands. Two Bar-tailed Godwits remained on Restharrow Scrape. Three Wood Sandpipers and our first Turtle Doves of the year were on RSPB Worth marshes. Tuesday 29th Another warm day despite the switch to a north-easterly. A Great…
Butterflies: March
Monday 31st Our first Orange-tip of the year fluttered along the Observatory entrance track. Thursday 27th Two male Brimstones, five Peacocks, a Green-veined White, and a Small Tortoiseshell were on the Estate. Tuesday 25th Another impressive butterfly day provided 20 Peacocks, two Small Tortoiseshells, and our first two Green-veined Whites of the year on RSPB Worth marshes. Thursday 20th Two…
Birds: March
Monday 31st There was a procession of Mediterranean Gulls through the area in small parties and later as it got warmer there were at least three Red Kites north, plus a BLACK KITE which went south over RSPB Worth marshes towards Deal. A Cattle Egret was moving between the Estate and Willow Farm, a Sand Martin went north, and a…
Ringing: March
CALLING ALL RINGERS – Sold out and waiting list started. South East Ringers’ Conference at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory: April 5th 2025 09.30 -17.00 Admission is by ticket only please use this link: https://buytickets.at/sandwichbaybirdobservatory/1582702 Talks will include Waders on the Swale, Nightingales, Motus, Trapping methods, Turtle Doves Raffle to win a pair of binoculars kindly donated by In Focus. Sunday…
Moths: March
Monday 31st More of the same but the wind dropped reducing the risk from the flood alert. The temperature was down to 3.3°C and there was an early frost. An increase of Hebrew Characters to 17 helped the total go up to 46 moths of 11 species. The highlight was a pristine female Emperor Moth. As these use pheromones to…
Ringing: February
CALLING ALL RINGERS South East Ringers’ Conference at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory: April 5th 2025 09.30 -17.00 Admission is by ticket only please use this link: https://buytickets.at/sandwichbaybirdobservatory/1582702 Talks will include Waders, Nightingales, Motus, Trapping methods, Turtle Doves Raffle to win a pair of binoculars kindly donated by In Focus. Friday 28th Breezier than forecast but that did keep the frost…
Birds: February
Friday 28th A Mediterranean Gull flew over Restharrow Scrape and two Cattle Egrets were around the Observatory. Thursday 27th Two Great White Egrets were on RSPB Worth marshes and the White Wagtail was still outside the Observatory. Wednesday 26th There were a few signs of spring on the Estate with our first White Wagtail in with Pied Wagtails on the…