Wednesday 31st
Seven Willow Warblers and a Green Sandpiper were on the Estate and a handful of Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls feeding together offshore. Our first Spotted Flycatcher and a few more Willow Warblers and Green Sandpipers were on New Downs.
Tuesday 30th
A Grasshopper Warbler was seen briefly at the Point. There were now three Great White Egrets on RSPB Worth marshes and the GLOSSY IBIS still present. In the evening there were eight Little Terns, one Black Tern, and one Wood Sandpiper in Pegwell Bay.
Monday 29th
Two Garganey were new in on RSPB Worth marshes and there was a high count of 17 Kestrels from the site. A count of 480 Sandwich Terns in Pegwell Bay in the evening was the highest count so far this autumn. There was also a good mix of waders and large numbers of Little Egret present. Around 80-100 of the latter are currently spread through the Recording Area with Worth, New Downs, and Pegwell the hotspots.
Sunday 28th
A real good mix around the Recording Area today. A Wood Warbler was caught by the ringing team early on. Three Cattle Egrets added to the plethora of various herons, egrets, and allies seen on RSPB marshes recently. The GLOSSY IBIS and two Great White Egrets, and two Wood Sandpipers were all still present. At least 35 Common Sandpipers were sitting on the sluices along the river on New Downs and 30+ Mediterranean Gulls were flying around Prince's Golf Course. Finally, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Little Stint, and two Little Terns were in Pegwell Bay.
Saturday 27th
Two Wood Sandpipers were on RSPB Worth marshes and a big flock of hirundines on the Green Wall included around 100 Sand Martins.
Friday 26th
A Grasshopper Warbler was caught by the ringing team at dawn and at least 15 Willow Warblers were scattered around the Estate. A Wheatear on RSPB Worth marshes was another first for the autumn whilst the GLOSSY IBIS was still around. An afternoon trip along the Stour at high tide recorded a very impressive 116 Common Sandpipers.
Thursday 25th
A mixed bag weather-wise but the Spoonbill and GLOSSY IBIS remained on RSPB Worth marshes. In the evening, three Curlew Sandpipers and a Black Tern were in Pegwell Bay.
Wednesday 24th
The Estate saw some light autumn passage with one Redstart, seven Willow Warblers, and small numbers of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, and Lesser Whitethroats, plus juvenile Cuckoo and Marsh Harrier. A Spoonbill was new on RSPB Worth marshes with the two Great White Egrets and the GLOSSY IBIS still.
We've just announced a new trip for next year, a mini-break to Portland in late April to coincide with the spring migration. Expect Pied Flycatchers, Ring Ouzels, and hundreds of Wheatears and Warblers. Click HERE to read more.
Tuesday 23rd
The mobile and often elusive GLOSSY IBIS was back on RSPB Worth marshes today. A Turnstone on the pools was an odd record for inland whilst it was pleasing to see another brood of fledged Turtle Doves on the wing. A handful of Willow Warblers were on the Estate, plus another Garden Warbler, and there were a few hundred Sandwich Terns in Pegwell Bay again at high tide.
Monday 22nd
The GLOSSY IBIS relocated north to New Downs, with a Wood Sandpiper and 21 Little Egrets also present. Another 38 Little Egrets were in Pegwell Bay and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. Two Great White Egrets, a Garganey, and another Wood Sandpiper were on RSPB Worth marshes. There was also noticeable influx of Swifts with at least 150 in the area.
Sunday 21st
A slightly cooler day thankfully. The change in weather brought with it some new autumn migrants, namely a Whinchat and a Willow Warbler on RSPB Worth marshes, with another Willow Warbler and a Garden Warbler on the Estate. Two Great White Egrets and the GLOSSY IBIS were also present inland on the marshes.
Saturday 20th
Our first Willow Warbler of autumn was caught by the ringing team on the Estate. A good mix of waders on New Downs included a Wood Sandpiper, 41 Common Sandpipers, and 113 Redshanks, whilst 240 Sandwich Terns were in Pegwell Bay.
Meanwhile a Nuthatch nearby at Gazen Salts Nature Reserve in Sandwich Town was of local interest. It is a rare bird in this area with just ten SBBOT records. Many of the Sandwich Bay stalwarts would love it to come a little closer this way onto the Green Wall.
Friday 19th
Pleasant but hot out there. The GLOSSY IBIS and a group of Pintails were on RSPB Worth Marshes and a Greenshank was in Pegwell Bay. It seems the local Blackcaps have fared pretty well on the Estate this year with young fledglings continuing to appear.
Thursday 18th
The GLOSSY IBIS remained on RSPB Worth Marshes along with two Turtle Doves, a Cattle Egret, and a Great White Egret. Two Common Terns flying over the floods were uncommon birds for the site.
Wednesday 17th
The GLOSSY IBIS was again frolicking amongst the rushes on RSPB Worth Marshes. Three Black-tailed Godwits, a Green Sandpiper, a Great White Egret, six Hobbies, two Yellow Wagtails, a Snipe, and six Egyptian Geese were also utilising the space. On New Downs, there were three more Egyptian Geese, 94 Redshanks, four Greenshanks, six Common Sandpipers, 14 Black-tailed Godwits, 32 Lapwings, 11 Little Egrets, and two Ringed Plovers plus singles of Dunlin and Bearded Tit.
Tuesday 16th
With spells of rain throughout the day, it was quiet out there. Two Great White Egrets, a Whimbrel, and three Common Sandpipers were on RSPB Worth Marshes. In the evening, 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 122 Sandwich Terns, and a Spoonbill were in Pegwell Bay.
Monday 15th
A pleasant morning before clouding up later on. The juvenile Bullfinch and lingering male Marsh Harrier were present on the Estate along with a flyover Yellow Wagtail and two each of Whimbrel and Sand Martin. On Restharrow Scrape, a Common Sandpiper was joined by the first returning Snipe of the autumn and six Canada Geese. On RSPB Worth Marshes, after a period of absence, the GLOSSY IBIS made a return though it hid itself in deep cover for much of the day. A juvenile Coal Tit was perhaps even rarer for the sub-site than the Ibis! This is the time of year where wandering juveniles can occur away from their stronghold on the Green Wall. In the evening, a Garganey was on the floods.
Sunday 14th
After frequent sightings of an adult on the Estate throughout Spring, a juvenile Bullfinch was a nice confirmation of local breeding. Over on RSPB Worth Marshes, five Spoonbills, four Cattle Egrets, and two Great White Egrets were present throughout the day. An Osprey flew over Pegwell Bay in the evening before flying up the river toward New Downs.
Saturday 13th
There were 100+ Sand Martins over the Estate and surrounding fields in small flocks throughout the day with another 60+ at Pegwell Bay. A male Hen Harrier was reported on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Friday 12th
Unsettled conditions set the tempo for most of the day with rain spells early on. On RSPB Worth Marshes, seven Cattle Egrets, and two Great White Egrets were joined by an increase to 31 Teals and a drake Pochard. Two Turtle Doves were also present.
Thursday 11th
A pair of Common Terns dropped on to Restharrow Scrape in the morning along with a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, and 16 Lapwings. On New Downs, a big surprise was the discovery of a Great Crested Grebe pair with young, having noted regular sightings of at least one individual throughout the spring on one of the Reservoirs. This is thought to be a new breeding species for the Recording Area. Other sightings included 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Redshanks, and three Greenshanks. Four Turtle Doves on RSPB Worth Marshes included two juveniles, which was pleasing to record in the evening.
Wednesday 10th
Yesterday's wader numbers had dropped off and it was a considerably quieter day. Two each of Cattle and Great White Egret were on RSPB Worth Marshes. Overhead 35 Sand Martins and 55 Swifts headed south.
Tuesday 9th
The rain and overcast conditions had dropped a variety of waders into the Recording Area. A flock of 13 Wood Sandpipers were on RSPB Worth Marshes along with two each of Whimbrel and Green Sandpiper; four Cattle Egrets and two Yellowhammers also remained on site. At Pegwell Bay, three Bar-tailed Godwits, two Greenshanks and singles of Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, and Grey Plover were present. On New Downs the wader counts consisted of 124 Redshanks, 48 Lapwings, nine Common Sandpipers, three Green Sandpipers, two Whimbrels, a Greenshank, and a Ringed Plover. During the morning, several small flocks of Sand Martins dropped in with the rain before heading south over the Estate.
Monday 8th
Two juvenile Marsh Harriers on RSPB Worth Marshes were indicative of breeding in the area, also present were seven Cattle Egrets, seven Little Ringed Plovers, two Great White Egrets, and a Green Sandpiper. In Pegwell Bay, there were 150 Sandwich Terns, 21 Little Egrets, four Sand Martins, three Black-tailed Godwits, and a Whimbrel.
Sunday 7th
A local mega in the form of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen along the Pinnock Wall on RSPB Worth marshes. A Roseate Tern was also present in Pegwell Bay.
The next week or so should start to see autumn migration increase a little. Swifts and Sand Martins will be a key movers so keep eyes to the skies, but this is also peak passage for Curlew in the area, so Pegwell Bay is well worth visiting.
Friday 5th
Conditions were mostly wet and windy today but the GLOSSY IBIS, two Great White Egrets, and at least nine Cattle Egrets all remained on RSPB Worth marshes.
Thursday 4th
In a repeat of yesterday the star bird was the GLOSSY IBIS on RSPB Worth marshes with at least 13 Cattle Egrets and two Great White Egrets present.
Wednesday 3rd
A GLOSSY IBIS joined the throng of heron species on RSPB Worth marshes. The Cattle Egret flock increased to 11 and a Great White Egret was seen.
Tuesday 2nd
The RSPB Worth marshes Cattle Egret flock now numbered nine birds with Spoonbill, Great White Egret, and Greenshank all new in.
Monday 1st
The male Marsh Harrier put in another appearance on the Estate, with singles of Little Owl and Bullfinch, plus a small movement of Swifts north overhead. Good numbers of Little Ringed Plovers were inland on RSPB Worth marshes as well as yesterdays Cattle Egret flock.
