Friday 30th
The Estate held a Pied Flycatcher, a mobile Greenshank, nine Whinchats, six Yellow Wagtails, and 50 Linnets. Over in Pegwell Bay there were good numbers including 110 Ringed Plovers, 60 Dunlins, and a Curlew Sandpiper and inland on RSPB Worth marshes there were three Great White Egrets and 120 Teals.
Thursday 29th
Another hot day out there. There was a scattering of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Reed Warblers, and Whitethroats on the Estate. Two Hobbies, six Yellow Wagtails, and two Grey Wagtails flew over and five Wheatears and two Whinchats were at Sandilands. In the late afternoon singles of Pied and Spotted Flycatcher were flitting around the Ringing Room and Observatory carpark.
Wednesday 28th
The day got off to a crazy start with an adult female Honey-buzzard seen perched on the Heligoland trap in the Haven. It must have roosted there overnight. It flew off soon after but was seen again in the Oasis a little later, before disappearing mid-morning. It was very hot throughout the day so there were little other records of note, however two Snipes and a Tufted Duck were unusual sightings from our newly-created ponds in the Dragonfly Pond Field. Hopefully the first of many.
Tuesday 27th
Two Green Sandpipers flew over the Estate where double-figures of Sand Martin and Swallow hawked. Four Whinchats and three Wheatears were in the Sandilands area and there was an increase in Robins and Reed Buntings.
Monday 26th
Yesterday's WHITE-TAILED EAGLE was seen flying south-west over Stonar just after midday. One Swift and 80 Sand Martins were the best on the Estate.
With the breeding season just coming to an end you will start to see the maintenance and conservation work on our reserves begin to increase. Our amazing team will be brushcutting, raking, chopping, and more to keep our reserves looking good. Work will soon begin on the islands on Restharrow Scrape, for example, and we will let you know when this is planned. With all this work to do there is no better time to join in. The team meet in the Observatory carpark at 9am on Mondays and Thursdays and finish at 12pm. Email info@sbbot.org.uk if you wish to know more.
Sunday 25th
A WHITE-TAILED EAGLE was seen on RSPB Worth marshes. New Downs held good numbers of waders including 77 Ringed Plovers, 29 Dunlins, one Knot, 95 Redshanks, 24 Greenshanks, ten Green Sandpipers, and 17 Common Sandpipers. A couple of Swifts, 18 Willow Warblers, and a Garden Warbler were also recorded on the Estate.
Saturday 24th
Foul conditions all day. Some brave souls ventured out to the Point and at Pegwell Bay in the evening and were rewarded with a movement of Terns. At least 14 Arctic and one Roseate were present among the hundreds of Sandwich and Common. There was also an excellent variety of waders, highlighted by five Little Stints, three Curlew Sandpipers, and one Spotted Redshank.
Friday 23rd
Another day of very strong winds, though a little brighter. Only 50-60 Sandwich Terns were offshore today, plus a few Common Terns and Kittiwakes. Pegwell Bay contained singles of Black, Little, and Arctic Terns. The ten White Storks were seen on RSPB Worth marshes again.
Thursday 22nd
Gales picked up overnight and so the day was mostly spent seawatching. Two Little Gulls and 260 Sandwich Terns went north, plus a Swift south. Meanwhile ten White Storks were in and around RSPB Worth marshes.
Wednesday 21st
Highlights today included three Whinchats and a Wood Warbler on the Estate, a Grasshopper Warbler on New Downs, and a Treecreeper on the Green Wall.
Don't forget this Sunday (25th) we have InFocus visiting us. Drop by to speak to Keith about the latest optics, equipment, and repairs, etc.
Tuesday 20th
The tides this week are very high. Today's was almost 7m at Pegwell and produced a megaflock of 930 Mediterranean Gulls, as well as a 1cy Little Gull, an Arctic Tern, and a Curlew Sandpiper. Three Great White Egrets and three Wood Sandpipers continued their good run on RSPB Worth marshes.
Monday 19th
A Turtle Dove in the Oasis was an increasingly rare record from the Estate. There was a reasonable selection of waders on the remaining pools on RSPB Worth marshes, including still two Wood Sandpipers.
Sunday 18th
A really good diversity on the Estate. The headline bird was a surprise HOOPOE found on the Observatory track early in the morning, then subsequently flying around the back of the ringing room and then off over the neighbouring farm buildings. A very nice supporting cast included four Pied Flycatchers, one Spotted Flycatcher, one Redstart, five Wheatears, a Whinchat, a Red Kite, and a flyover Wood Sandpiper. Analysis of nocmig recording at Stonar then revealed a calling ORTOLAN BUNTING at 4am.
Saturday 17th
There was no sign of yesterday's reported Caspian Tern. A big arrival of acros on the Estate saw over 40 each of Sedge and Reed Warblers, plus one Grasshopper Warbler and smaller numbers of Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, and Blackcap. Pegwell Bay produced 246 Mediterranean Gulls and singles of Great White Egret and Black Tern, whilst two Wood Sandpipers and 15 Greenshanks were on New Downs.
Friday 16th
Hundreds of Terns were moving around offshore and in Pegwell Bay so it wasn't too much of a surprise when a CASPIAN TERN was reported from Pegwell at midday. In the evening singles of Black Tern and Little Stint were also present. Elsewhere there was a good mix on New Downs including Osprey, Spotted Redshank, two Bearded Tits, and a Treecreeper. A Pied Flycatcher was at the Observatory.
Thursday 15th
There seemed to be more hirundine activity today with a triple-figure flock over Royal St George's Golf Course. Seven Yellow Wagtails flew over the Estate whilst the impressive run of Wood Sandpipers on RSPB Worth marshes continued with nine today.
Did you know you can raise FREE money for SBBOT every time you purchase something online? If you sign up to EasyFundraising then a small donation is sent to us after each purchase, which is easily done during a weekly food shop or looking for birthday presents for the family. Click HERE to get involved.
Wednesday 14th
Two Wood Sandpipers and a lone White Stork were the highlights on New Downs. A further 11 Wood Sandpipers were on RSPB Worth marshes. In the evening a smart adult Roseate Tern was in Pegwell Bay.
Tuesday 13th
Another day to be out early before the scorching temperatures made things too difficult. There were two Pied Flycatchers, one at Mary Bax and another further along at the Chequers, where at least 22 Yellow Wagtails were seen. A Grasshopper Warbler was in the Whitehouse. Eight Wood Sandpipers remained on RSPB Worth marshes and a mega flock of 70+ White Storks thermalled over heading north late morning. All presumably recently released or bred at the Knepp scheme.
Monday 12th
Our first two Pied Flycatchers of autumn were in the Haven and later others were found in Waldershare Gully, at Mary Bax, and two on New Downs. Another Wood Warbler was seen at Dickson's Corner. An impressive medley of Sandpipers on RSPB Worth marshes included a minimum of 16 Wood, 21 Green, and two Common.
Sunday 11th
The Wood Warblers kept on coming. Our fifth of autumn was on the Estate with four Sedge, 14 Reed, and 22 Willow Warblers were also recorded.
Saturday 10th
After a one-day break there was another Wood Warbler on the Estate. A flock of eight Little Egrets flew over and there was an impressive movement of Mediterranean Gulls in the evening with at least 785 going north. Our first Goldcrest of autumn was on New Downs.
Friday 9th
There was a noticeable increase in numbers on RSPB Worth marshes. The Lapwing flock now numbered 51 and the Teal flock 106, with a Garganey in tow. The Starling, Linnet, and Goldfinch flocks all also grew.
Thursday 8th
Another day, another Wood Warbler, as a new bird was ringed on the Estate. There were another 50 Willow Warblers and the lingering moulting male Redstart put on a good display in the Oasis area. Two Wood Sandpipers and seven Willow Warblers were on RSPB Worth marshes.
Wednesday 7th
The Estate produced our second Wood Warbler of autumn, seen originally in the Haven before later caught by the ringing team. It also scored two Garden Warblers, two Redstarts, three Yellow Wagtails, two Wheatears, and four Sand Martins. A Wood Sandpiper and another two Garden Warblers were on New Downs. The main talking point though was another arrival of Willow Warblers with 56 on the Estate, 13 on New Downs, 19 on the Green Wall, and four on Worth.
Tuesday 6th
An arrival of 24 Willow Warblers on the Estate was the biggest so far this autumn. Also present were one Redstart, two Yellow Wagtails, and a good covey of 20 Grey Partridge in the Oasis. Two Great White Egrets and a Wood Sandpiper were on RSPB Worth marshes.
Monday 5th
Two Great White Egrets, two Little Ringed Plovers, four Green Sandpipers, one Whimbrel, four Snipes, two Hobbies, one Garden Warbler, and two Willow Warblers were on RSPB Worth marshes in the morning. A Little Tern was offshore in the evening.
Sunday 4th
A Nightingale was caught by the ringing team on the Estate. Three Great White Egrets and a mix of two Wood, ten Green, and two Common Sandpipers were on RSPB Worth marshes.
Saturday 3rd
There was a big increase in Mediterranean Gulls recorded with at least 70 offshore and c.300 moving over Worth. Late summer/early autumn is often the peak time for this species at Sandwich Bay. A Garganey was on the pools on RSPB Worth marshes and an unidentified grey Harrier flew through. There was a good mix of waders on New Downs, plus two Bearded Tits, over 200 Sandwich Terns offshore, and an Osprey in Pegwell Bay.
Friday 2nd
A good mixture on the Estate included singles of Kingfisher, Redstart, Wheatear, and Yellow Wagtail. Migrant Warblers comprised 12 Sedge, 19 Reed, one Garden, and ten Willow, whilst 40 Sandwich Terns, a Fulmar, and a Common Sandpiper were offshore.
An Egyptian Goose was on Restharrow Scrape and the two Great White Egrets and a Wood Sandpiper on RSPB Worth marshes.
Thursday 1st
A flock of 26 Curlew Sandpipers in Pegwell Bay early on was an impressive sight. One Black Tern was also present in the Bay. A trip along the river Stour produced another excellent count of 103 Common Sandpipers, meanwhile two Great White Egrets were on RSPB Worth marshes.
