Wednesday 23rd
A change in the weather brought rain, wind, and cold temperatures to our corner of Kent. Seawatching was the name of the game, at least when it was possible to see the sea. Singles of Pomarine Skua and Little Gull were the highlights along with five Brent Geese, 21 Sandwich Terns, 15 Common Terns, two Kittiwakes, 13 Common Scoters, and 70 Gannets. A Little Ringed Plover flew over the Green Wall, 17 Whimbrels were on New Downs, and another 34 Whimbrels around the Chequers.
Tuesday 22nd
An early start doing a Breeding Bird Survey on RSPB Worth marshes was worthwhile when three CHOUGHS flew north over the reserve. The birds were presumably roaming from the reintroduction project over at Dover. Two Spoonbills, Great White Egret, White Stork, and a male Hen Harrier all also put in appearances.
Monday 21st
A male Ring Ouzel lurked around the Restharrow Dunes/Sandilands/Dickson's Corner area. Elsewhere on the Estate there were two Bar-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, two Wheatears, four Yellow Wagtails, and a Lesser Whitethroat, whilst a Spoonbill flew over the Observatory. Our belated first Hobby of the year was on RSPB Worth marshes and in the evening both the PURPLE HERON and a White Stork appeared.
Saturday 19th
A rather nice mix of birds on RSPB Worth marshes included PURPLE HERON, two summer-plumaged Spotted Redshanks, two Common Sandpipers, ringtail Hen Harrier, plus our first Mallard ducklings of the year. A Common Tern was on Restharrow Scrape and six Whimbrels and three Greenshanks were on New Downs.
Friday 18th
A reeling Grasshopper Warbler was a good find on the Green Wall, with Yellow Wagtail and three Reed Warblers also present. A Cuckoo was vocal and mobile around the Observatory area, later caught by the ringing team. Meanwhile four Red Kites flew north overhead, a Greenshank was on RSPB Worth marshes, and almost 300 Sandwich Terns were in Pegwell Bay.
Thursday 17th
A PURPLE HERON flew south over RSPB Worth marshes but didn't stop (seemingly dropping in near Cottington/Betteshanger).
Lots of new walks have just been announced for the summer. Come join us on a dawn chorus or evening wander, or on guided walks to see dragonflies and damselflies. Click HERE to see details and booking information.
Wednesday 16th
A Nightingale was singing from the Cellars and eight Sandwich Terns were on Restharrow Scrape. Spoonbill, Great White Egret, and a late Jack Snipe were recorded on RSPB Worth marshes and a very impressive 487 Sandwich Terns were in Pegwell Bay at high tide.
Tuesday 15th
The HOOPOE was still present and seen twice at the southern end of the Estate, but remained stubbornly elusive. Elsewhere around the Estate there was a Willow Warbler, a female Redstart, and four Sandwich Terns circled Restharrow Scrape. The escaped Ferruginous Hawk (reported from Deal yesterday) was sat on Royal St George's Golf Course first thing before moving north once the rain finished. It later came back mid-morning was seen at St Margaret's at lunchtime. Meanwhile over on RSPB Worth marshes there were singles of Garganey and Great White Egret and at least 34 Sedge Warblers. A male Whinchat was a good find at the Point.
Monday 14th
A HOOPOE in the grass just south of Sandilands was about time considering the massive influx of this species into the UK over the last few weeks. A Willow Warbler was singing at the Observatory and it was clear there had been an arrival of Whitethroats throughout the area.
Sunday 13th
A White-tailed Eagle flew north through the area causing chaos wherever it went. The bird is thought most likely to be the offspring of the pair that bred in Sussex last year (from the Isle of Wight reintroduction project). Great White Egret, two Whimbrels, a Tree Pipit, and our first Lesser Whitethroat of the year were all on RSPB Worth marshes. Meanwhile a Woodlark, another Whimbrel, and a Cuckoo were on the Estate.
Saturday 12th
A Spoonbill graced Restharrow Scrape early in the morning but didn't stay for long and our first Cuckoos of the year were on RSPB Worth marshes and New Downs.
Friday 11th
There were eyes to the skies after yesterday evening's discovery of a Booted Eagle nearby in Thanet. Unfortunately this first-for-Kent raptor did not grace our airspace but instead we were grateful for a BLACK KITE which drifted through the Recording Area mid-morning. A Little Ringed Plover flew over the Oasis and three Red Kites also came through. A Hen Harrier was seen on RSPB Worth marshes and a Great White Egret came in off the sea, and later seen on Worth.
Thursday 10th
RSPB Worth marshes provided two Whitethroats, 16 Sedge Warblers, a flock of mixed hirundines, Blue-headed Wagtail, and Water Pipit. Two more Whitethroats were on the Estate and six Sandwich Terns were offshore.
Wednesday 9th
It was still very cold out there, especially in the north-easterly breeze. A male Ring Ouzel was the star of the show on New Downs performing well in the grassy field opposite Looker's Cottage (approx. TR347591, W3W //sonic.cage.cattle). Three Fieldfares, two Redwings, a Green Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail, and seven Corn Buntings were also seen plus our first Reed Warbler of the year. Offshore 74 Brent Geese were logged moving north along with four Whimbrels, five Little Gulls, and a Sandwich Tern. Meanwhile RSPB Worth marshes provided a drake Garganey, Blue-headed Wagtail, six Yellow Wagtails, 12 House Martins, eight Sand Martins, 45 Swallows, and another Reed Warbler.
Tuesday 8th
A Wheatear and 180 Sanderlings were at the Point and our first Greenshank of the year was on RSPB Worth marshes. Six Red Kites, House Martin, and two Sand Martins flew north over the Estate with our first Whitethroat was singing in the Whitehouse. A Nightingale was in Stonelees.
We are also very sad to have to pass on the news of the untimely passing of Steve Reynaert. Many of you will have enjoyed his company or his lovely photos featured on this page over the years he was associated with the Bay. There will be a longer appreciation of the part he has played in Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory in the forthcoming Bay News which will be out in the middle of April. However, in the meantime, Julie wanted people to know about the arrangements for his funeral and to invite any of his Bay friends to meet for 11am at Barham Crematorium on Monday 14th April and afterwards at Walmer and Kingsdown Golf Club. Rest in Peace Steve.
Monday 7th
The Estate saw singles of Firecrest and Yellow Wagtail whilst six Jays was unusual. Some House Martins were already back prospecting breeding sites along Sandown Rd on the Green Wall whilst over on RSPB Worth marshes there were a pair of Garganey, two Great White Egrets, two Sedge Warblers, and a Yellow Wagtail.
The main highlight was an Avocet was on Restharrow Scrape, along with Egyptian Goose and Pochard. There was no sign of yesterday's Green-winged Teal on Worth but it could still be hiding out there.
Saturday 5th
Four Green Sandpipers flew over the Observatory first thing in the morning and a very early Curlew Sandpiper briefly graced RSPB Worth marshes. The White Stork was equally brief and flew off in the morning, as did three Whimbrels. Later in the evening a drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL was discovered on the big flood between the Great Wood and Cornfield Wood, the fifth record for the SBBOT Recording Area following birds at Pegwell Bay in April 2005, Restharrow Scrape in January 2012, RSPB Worth marshes in October 2015, and Restharrow Scrape in December 2022. A Ring Ouzel was also reported from Pegwell Bay.
Friday 4th
Two Sand Martins, a Swallow, a White Wagtail, a Siskin, and six Sedge Warblers were all on RSPB Worth marshes, the latter a belated first of the year for us. In the afternoon a White Stork also graced the marsh whilst a Water Rail, 21 Chiffchaffs, and six Blackcaps were recorded on the Green Wall and our first Whimbrel was in Pegwell Bay.
Thursday 3rd
Two Swallows and a Red Kite were over the Estate with the Cattle Egret still present in the fields around the Observatory. One Blue-headed Wagtail remained on RSPB Worth marshes and three Blackcaps were singing on the Green Wall.
Wednesday 2nd
Sunshine and a chilly breeze today. A pair of Garganey were new on RSPB Worth marshes whilst on New Downs there were 47 Corn Buntings and singles of Grey Plover and Common Sandpiper.
Late news also came in of a probable Ashy-headed Wagtail M.f.cinereocapilla on RSPB Worth marshes over the weekend. This is a subspecies of Yellow Wagtail found in the north-west Balkans, Italy, and southern France and characterised by a having navy-grey head, darker lores and ear coverts, a clean white throat, and an absence of supercilium. It is a very rare visitor to the UK with no confirmed Kent records.
Tuesday 1st
There were no surprises for April Fool's Day. Two Pintails, six Little Ringed Plovers, a Green Sandpiper, two Dunlins, two Mediterranean Gulls, and seven Swallows were all on RSPB Worth marshes.
