Thursday 31th
Those who braved the thunderstorm warnings met a good mix of waders over on RSPB Worth Marshes including two Wood Sandpipers, three Green Sandpipers and three Little Ringed Plovers. Another Green Sandpiper was on Restharrow Scrape.
Wednesday 30th
A decent selection around the Estate included 16 Willow Warblers, 12 Reed Warblers, three Garden Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher, two Wheatears, and a Siskin. Singles of Great White Egret and Whinchat were on RSPB Worth marshes.
Tuesday 29th
A PURPLE HERON was a smart find on RSPB Worth marshes early in the day. There have been a few other continental herons appearing in the UK recently, most notably, Night-herons, so perhaps the (mostly) dry conditions have pushed these birds north. The dodgy Barnacle Goose was still present on the pools and 37 Crossbills were seen flying over, and in the evening a Black-necked Grebe was seen.
Monday 28th
Three Wheatears and a Willow Warbler were on the Estate with 34 Crossbills, three Ravens, and Cattle Egret through over head. On Restharrow Scrape there were three Common Sandpipers and a Water Rail whilst three Greenshanks, 11 Common Sandpipers, and 36 Redshanks were on New Downs.
Sunday 27th
On New Downs there was a good selection of waders including a Little Stint at Backsand Point, three Greenshanks, and 13 Common Sandpipers. Singles of Cuckoo, Whinchat, and Wheatear were on the Estate and a total of 58 Crossbills flew north overhead.
Friday 25th
There was the first real arrival of autumn passerines on the Estate with small numbers of Reed, Garden, and Willow Warblers. A Cattle Egret went north over the houses on the Estate and the passage of Crossbills continued with another 20 north. A Wood Sandpiper, three Black-tailed Godwits, and a Barnacle Goose (of dubious origin) were all on RSPB Worth marshes, whilst high tide at Pegwell good diversity including five Little Stints, an adult Curlew Sandpiper, and approximately 1,500 Mediterranean Gulls.
Thursday 24th
Crossbills were the main talking point again. A flock of 17 flew over Restharrow Scrape early on and then later a small flock went over the Whitehouse and a single over the Observatory. A Willow Warbler was also in the Oasis.
Wednesday 23rd
There was an increase in Warblers on the Estate with over 30 Chiffchaffs noted plus a Garden Warbler. Swifts were moving again with almost 300 overhead. Meanwhile 150 Sandwich Terns were offshore.
Tuesday 22nd
It was another day of dodging showers but those who ventured out discovered 11 Grey Partridges, one Wood Sandpiper, 77 Redshanks, seven Greenshanks, seven Whimbrels, two Garden Warblers, two Bearded Tits, and two Crossbills, on New Downs. In the late afternoon 180 Swifts went inland over the Estate.
Monday 21st
A wet day but over 250 Swifts pushed south in front of the squalls first thing in the morning.
Sunday 20th
A brief Cattle Egret was on Restharrow Scrape whilst in Pegwell Bay there was a Little Stint, 306 Sandwich Terns, and a ridiculous 1,150 Mediterranean Gulls.
Friday 18th
A Quail singing by the Observatory at 3am was a good start. This species is prone to mid/late summer arrivals so keep your ears open as more could appear. Our first juvenile Willow Warbler of the year was in the Gullies and singles of Common and Green Sandpiper were on Restharrow Scrape along with four Yellow Wagtails. Inland on RSPB Worth marshes there were three Wood Sandpipers and five Green Sandpipers.
Thursday 17th
Calmer conditions today. Two flocks of Crossbills numbering 37 birds went south over the Estate.
Wednesday 16th
Huge numbers of Mediterranean Gulls were reported in Pegwell in the evening, approaching four-figures, and an adult Little Gull was among them. Six Bearded Tits were also on New Downs.
Tuesday 15th
The Estate was breezy again but a good selection was on offer with singles of Hobby and Red Kite through, 107 Mediterranean Gulls sat on the beach by Sandilands, and three fresh young Yellow Wagtails on Restharrow Scrape.
Monday 14th
Temperatures remain high and look to stay the same for the rest of the week. Today's building breeze should disappear though. There was an influx of Sand Martins into the area with over 200 spread between the Estate and RSPB Worth marshes. Three Green Sandpipers were on Restharrow Scrape and a young Redstart was present at the top of Goretop lane.
Sunday 13th
A Cuckoo continued on the Estate, a Whimbrel was at the Point, and over 220 Mediterranean Gulls were on New Downs. Six Wood Sandpipers were on RSPB Worth marshes in the evening.
Friday 11th
The pair of Common Terns remained at Worth Marshes and two Green Sandpipers were new-in on the Green Wall.
Thursday 10th
At RSPB Worth Marshes there were four Spotted Flycatchers, four Greenshank and a Red Kite passed through. A Wood Sandpiper dropped onto the main flash. A Great White Egret flew onto New Downs.
Wednesday 9th
A pair of Yellow Wagtails went South along the Beach at Sandilands before turning North and heading inland. Two Common Terns dropped into RSPB Worth Marshes.
Tuesday 8th
There was an uptick in Chiffchaff numbers on the Estate, just about getting into double figures with mobile groups being seen in The Gullies. A Grey Partridge family is a good sign of the species retaining a foothold here, a female Marsh Harrier passed through the Scrape and a Curlew was over Restharrow Dunes. On RSPB Worth Marshes there were three Green Sandpipers, two Greenshank, eight Little Ringed Plovers, two Ringed Plovers, a Great Egret, a Spotted Flycatcher and ten Crossbills also flew over.
Monday 7th
A family group of 3 young Stonechats were around Dickson's Corner on the Estate. More Autumn arrivals on RSPB Worth Marshes with both Firecrest and Goldcrest and a good selection of waders with seven Little Ringed Plovers and singles of Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Curlew, Common Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit. A Treecreeper here is perhaps the first on the Recording Area this year.
Sunday 6th
The sporadic rain and thunderstorms kept most people and birds away but a Spotted Flycatcher was notable from RSPB Worth Marshes.
Saturday 5th
A male Black Redstart and a Wheatear were new-in on the Estate.
Friday 4th
A Wheatear was new-in on the Estate and the Black-tailed Godwit remained at Restharrow Scrape. The two Green Sandpipers were still present on RSPB Worth Marshes with a supporting cast of five Little Ringed Plovers, a Great White Egret and a purring Turtle Dove.
Thursday 3rd
A Black-tailed Godwit was on Restharrow Scrape having arrived the evening before and a flock of 24 Sand Martins went north up the beach.
Wednesday 2nd
The first returning Curlew went over the Estate as four birds headed West. The first broods of Tufted Duck have appeared on Restharrow Scrape including one family with 11 ducklings and an unseasonal adult Common Gull is a presumed failed breeder, hiding amongst 111 young Black-headed Gulls.
Tuesday 1st
RSPB Worth Marshes held 69 Reed Warblers and a new-in pair of Greenshank and Ringed Plover are hopefully the beginnings of Autumn movements. Turtle Doves were still purring with three birds present scattered around the site and the two Green Sandpipers remained.