Saturday 31st
The final day of the month saw approximately 150 White-fronted Geese, 18 Barnacle Geese, and the 27 Tundra Bean Geese still roaming around on RSPB Worth marshes and an Egyptian Goose dropped into Restharrow Scrape.
Friday 30th
Two Pintails, two Green Sandpipers, 800 Lapwings, 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and one Bearded Tit were the picks of the bunch from New Downs. The flock of 27 Barnacle Geese were at the Drove and, briefly, at least 15 White-fronted Geese. The 27 Tundra Bean Geese were on the other side of RSPB Worth marshes along with six Caspian Gulls. On the Estate the highlights were two Cattle Egrets whilst a Firecrest was at the entrance of Restharrow Scrape.
Thursday 29th
This past week the goose flock have been hard to pin down so finding 151 White-fronted Geese and 29 Barnacle Geese back at the Drove was good to see. Two Razorbills on the sea were our first this year (often Auks are so far out that identification cannot be confirmed) whilst two Firecrests were on the Estate and two Oystercatchers back on Restharrow Scrape. Around midday a Crane went south over RSPB Worth marshes, hopefully it's hanging out somewhere in the area.
Wednesday 28th
A much better day to be out and about. The usual Coal Tit was still around the southern end of the Estate, now on it's six month on site, there was a Firecrest in The Elms, and the Black Redstart around the Yacht Club. Two Mistle Thrushes flew south over Sandilands whilst the arrival of small numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing in the bushes implied there was some thrush movement occurring, or perhaps reorientating after yesterday's storm. There was a good scattering of Auks, Grebes, Divers, and Kittiwakes offshore whilst along the tide line there were Ringed Plovers, Dunlins, and Turnstones. On the Green Wall there were another two Coal Tits and our first Brambling of the year. New Downs provided a drake Pintail and a showy group of Bearded Tits, whilst the RSPB Worth marshes area held thousands of Lapwings, plus 89 White-fronted Geese and the 27 Tundra Bean Geese.
Tuesday 27th
The area received a thorough drenching as Storm Chandra passed through. Two Oystercatchers at Restharrow Scrape were signs of spring, amazingly, whilst in the late afternoon a Firecrest was at Slazengers and 75 Common Scoters flew south offshore.
Monday 26th
A quiet few days but the Black Redstart was still cavorting around the Sandilands area this morning and a Water Rail showed well in front of the first hide at Restharrow Scrape.
A number of new walks have been announced. See HERE for details. Our next walk will be around RSPB Worth marshes on 4th February. The site has been excellent recently so expect good numbers of wildfowl and some nice scarcities.
Friday 23rd
At least nine adult Little Gulls were in Pegwell Bay at high tide, along with four Kittiwakes, one Mediterranean Gull, two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, one second-calendar Caspian Gull, and the usual Black-headed, Common, Lesser Black-backed, Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls. Nine Pintails were also present. On the Estate Firecrest and Black Redstart were seen and the elusive Bittern put in another appearance on RSPB Worth marshes.
Thursday 22nd
A spell seawatching produced one Fulmar, two Guillemots, ten Auk sp, 21 Great Crested Grebes, three Gannets, eight Teals, and 31 Kittiwakes, many of the latter sitting just offshore among the Herring Gulls. The wintering flock of 27 Tundra Bean Geese flew over the Estate and back on to RSPB Worth marshes.
Tuesday 20th
Singles of Woodcock, Dartford Warbler, Black Redstart, and Coal Tit were on the Estate. The goose flock north of the Chequers contained 130 White-fronted, two Tundra Bean, and 27 Barnacle Geese, whilst a/the Bittern was seen again on RSPB Worth marshes.
Monday 19th
Both the Spotted Redshank and Little Stint were seen in Pegwell Bay again this morning. There were also counts of 1,325 Wigeons and 1,450 Lapwings in the Bay. We've seen an influx of both of these species into the Recording Area in this last week, with RSPB Worth marshes holding around 5,000 of each.
Sunday 18th
With low-flying helicopters and planes it was a slightly chaotic day for counting on RSPB Worth marshes. However, 208 White-fronted Geese, 27 Barnacle Geese, nine Pintails, Merlin, Great White Egret, two Ruffs, four Dunlins, and two Jack Snipes were logged, plus Cattle Egret near the Observatory.
Saturday 17th
Singles of Spotted Redshank and Little Stint were good winter finds in Pegwell Bay, with two Caspian Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull also present. A flock of 12 Pink-footed Geese on RSPB Worth marshes were our first this winter whilst there was another high count of 12 Water Pipits plus Blackcap and Firecrest. And speaking of high counts, after dark a trip out with a thermal imager revealed an extraordinary 24 Woodcocks feeding in a field on the Green Wall.
Friday 16th
It was nice to be out after yesterday's washout. It felt almost Spring-like on the Green Wall with Song Thrushes singing, Stock Doves displaying, and the first Oystercatchers beginning to appear inland. A Siskin flew over; the first this year. The two Dartford Warblers played hide-and-seek in Restharrow Dunes and more Woodcocks were seen on the Estate. It's been a good week for them and a few have even been caught by the ringing team. A drake Pintail dropped into Restharrow Scrape and 11 White-fronted Geese flew over the Observatory. A/the flock of 27 Tundra Bean Geese came over RSPB Worth marshes from the KWT Ham Fen direction.
Wednesday 14th
The first half of the day was a lovely gap between two weather systems and provided a good selection in the Recording Area. There was a mightily impressive 17 Water Pipits just off the Pinnock Wall on RSPB Worth marshes, possibly a new record for SBBOT (hold the line for confirmation in due course), and the Goosander re-appeared in the same area. Three Dunlins joined the Lapwing and Golden Plovers with singles of Blackcap and Firecrest along the Worth track and an Egyptian Goose nearby. At the Drove the 30 Barnacle Geese were in the usual spot whilst the White-fronted Geese were briefly present when a low-flying paraglider spooked everything and they were glimpsed over Willow Farm. Two Firecrests and two Dartford Warblers were on the Estate, the latter in the Gorse in Restharrow Dunes.
Tuesday 13th
Three Mediterranean Gulls and a Kingfisher were on the Green Wall, both species that have been scarce at the start of the year. The flock of Barnacle Geese were still present by Greenacres/Drove and numbering at least 27 birds, with five Brent Geese also with them. Three Woodcocks and a Dartford Warbler were the best on the Estate.
Monday 12th
A lot warmer today in the southerly winds. Singles of Merlin, Woodcock, Water Pipit and Coal Tit were recorded on the Estate, with Great Egret, Rock Pipit, and two Redpolls on RSPB Worth marshes.
This week our Thursday Talks return with Wilf Powell speaking about Hummingbirds. As well as great photos expect Wilf to describe aspects of their behaviour and natural history. We hope to see you here on Thursday for a 7:30pm start. You can check out all the speakers we have lined up on our website HERE.
Sunday 11th
The sea passage stopped somewhat but six Eider were seen flying south. The Snow Buntings on Prince's Beach now numbered five, two Woodcocks were on the Estate, and singles of Spotted Redshank and Ruff were on RSPB Worth marshes, as well as 29 Barnacle Geese, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, and 162 Snipes.
Saturday 10th
There was some impressive activity offshore with a movement of 750 Brent Geese, 1,050 Wigeons, 80 Teals, 15 Shovelers, 14 Pintails, two Pochards, three Gadwalls, one Goldeneye, 340 Lapwings, 530 Dunlins, 63 Sanderlings, 11 Knots, two Bar-tailed Godwits, and eight Kittiwakes. A Merlin was at the Point and two Woodcocks on New Downs.
Thursday 8th
Two Firecrests and a Black Redstart were on the Estate, four Snow Buntings and a Dartford Warbler on Prince's Beach, and 27 Barnacle Geese at the Drove.
Wednesday 7th
The goose flock still drew admirers with 173 White-fronted, 36 Barnacle, eight Canada, 99 Greylag, two Brent, and four Greylag x Canada hybrids present just north of Greenacres Park. Four Snow Buntings were at the Point.
Tuesday 6th
A Bittern was an unusual sight walking along the path on RSPB Worth marshes today. Presumably one of many birds forced out by the freezing temperatures. From the Drove there were 85 White-fronted Geese, three Tundra Bean Geese, and 30 Barnacle Geese, whilst the whole area saw lots of Snipe flying around and thrushes in the bushes. A Snow Bunting was also seen at the Point.
Monday 5th
Today's totals from the RSPB Worth marshes area included 26 Tundra Bean, 33 Barnacle, and 230 White-fronted Geese, Great White Egret, Hen Harrier, Green Sandpiper, and Black-tailed Godwit. There were also 36 Pochards, Grey Wagtail, 46 Redwings, and four Chiffchaffs on the Green Wall, and three Avocets were the highlight in Pegwell Bay.
Sunday 4th
Both the Long-tailed Duck was on New Downs and eight Tundra Bean Geese on RSPB Worth marshes were present. Two Cattle Egrets, Woodcock, and Jack Snipe were recorded on the Estate with three Yellowhammers around the hay bales behind the Observatory and farm buildings.
Saturday 3rd
With more than a heavy frost overnight most of the action seemed to be on RSPB Worth marshes. Thousands of wildfowl had moved in on the unfrozen flood. Highlights in the melee were Goosander, Hen Harrier, three Black-tailed Godwits, Caspian Gull, and six Water Pipits. The Beans, Brents, Greylags, Canadas, Barnacles, and White-fronted Geese were all present and correct too. Surprisingly, there's been no sign of the Glossy Ibis yet this year which had been present for months right up to New Year's Eve. It could still be lurking out there somewhere though. Yesterday's Long-tailed Duck also was still on New Downs.
Friday 2nd
Eight Tundra Bean Geese were viewable on Willow Farm from the Drove, with 35 Barnacle Geese and 120 White-fronted Geese in the same field next door as yesterday. The Cattle Egret was at the Observatory and singles of Woodcock, Black Redstart, Coal Tit, and Raven all added good variety to the Estate. Over 900 Cormorants went by offshore whilst closer in along the surf were three Caspian Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull. Over on New Downs there was an immature Long-tailed Duck (Prince's Reservoir TR349594 or W3W powering.confining.moving), three Barnacle Geese, Green and Common Sandpiper, seven Bearded Tits, and a Water Pipit.
Thursday 1st
A very happy New Year to all visitors and members of SBBOT. The year began with an excellent flock of 181 White-fronted Geese and 36 Barnacle Geese in the field immediately north of Greenacres/Chequers (TR365557 or W3W firepower.ringers.these). Singles of Black Redstart and Cattle Egret were on the Estate.