Friday 19th
More "autumn" waders were passing through Worth with a new-in Green Sandpiper. Walking along the Asparagus Fields had two Corn Bunting, the Pintail flying into RHS and an unseasonally large flock of 71 Lapwing.
Thursday 18th
Weather-wise it was distinctly summer however two Spotted Redshank on RSPB Worth Marshes were clear signs of autumn on the way. News was quiet elsewhere with both birds and birders avoiding the heat, a few Mediterranean Gulls were moving over the Estate.
Wednesday 17th
A male Pintail on Restharrow Scrape is our third peculiar wildfowl sighting of the summer following on from White-fronted Goose and Whooper Swan last month. Six Curlew, five Little Egret and two Redshank were around the Point.
Tuesday 16th
Another Kittiwake and seven Sandwich Tern dropped into Restharrow Scrape.
Monday 15th
Coal Tit, Goldcrest and Yellowhammer are scarce breeders on the Recording Area so three of each on the Green Wall this morning were promising signs. Five Cuckoos rounded out the sightings for here. Three Cattle Egret were on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Saturday 13th
New Downs provided a good mix of species as always with two Bearded Tit, three Little Gull and a Great Crested Grebe. A singing Garden Warbler on the Estate was another record in what has been a good year for the species.
Thursday 11th
Singles of Eider and Manx Shearwater went south offshore. The cloud also brought around 40 Sand Martins and 65 Swifts onto the New Downs/Prince's Golf Course area.
Wednesday 10th
Three mobile Cattle Egrets and a flock of 29 Lapwings were on RSPB Worth Marshes. The latter were, dare I say it, a sign of approaching autumn.
Tuesday 9th
A Grey Heron, a handful of Mediterranean Gulls, and a few Swifts flew over the Estate. But we seem to be scratching at the end of spring migration for now. There's still time for late migrants like Quail and Marsh Warbler to appear but most concentration will now be on breeding birds. Families of Whitethroats are currently around every corner and the brood of Gadwalls seem to be doing ok on Restharrow Scrape.
Another reminder for the AGM this Sunday 14th June at 2pm. Documents have been emailed round to all members and there are physical copies at the Observatory to read through as well. As you will be aware we are providing a FREE BBQ after the meeting. Please let us know by Thursday 11th June if you will be attending in person or by Zoom, if you are unable to attend but wish to confirm your agreement for Trustees to be re-elected/elected, or if you have any special dietary requirements for the BBQ. Any communications about the AGM need to be sent to the Vice-Chair/Acting Secretary, Mike Witty, at mike.witty@sbbot.org.uk.
Monday 8th
There was a passage of 144 Swifts overhead in the low cloud and an unusually high count (for this time of year) of 41 Gadwalls on Restharrow Scrape.
Sunday 7th
Four Cattle Egrets flew through RSPB Worth Marshes.
Friday 5th
A Black-tailed Godwit and a/the Little Gull were on Restharrow Scrape and a Spoonbill flew over RSPB Worth Marshes.
Thursday 4th
Another day of hard work in the blustery and often wet conditions. There were a few Manx Shearwaters reported elsewhere along the coast but we had to make do with a handful of Common Scoters and the odd Fulmar and Sandwich Tern. A Little Gull was back on Restharrow Scrape, another two on New Downs, and at least 160 Swifts were overhead.
Wednesday 3rd
Very soggy but the RED-FOOTED FALCON was on RSPB Worth Marshes and a family group of Ravens flew over the Estate.
Tuesday 2nd
A Spoonbill, a Little Gull, 23 Mediterranean Gulls, two Grey Plovers, 11 Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper, and a Turnstone were the highlights at the rising tide in Pegwell Bay. The RED-FOOTED FALCON was seen again on RSPB Worth Marshes as well as two Greenshanks.
Monday 1st
A female RED-FOOTED FALCON drifted over RSPB Worth Marshes. Four Tufted Ducks were unusual sat on the sea whilst it was pleasing to note a brood of eight Gadwall ducklings on Restharrow Scrape.
A couple of dates for your diary. First up this week is a special talk at the Observatory by Dr Alison Morgan. This Thursday 4th at 7:30pm Alison will be speaking to us on the Great White Egrets of the Avalon Marshes (Somerset), and what they have learnt from ten years of monitoring.
Another important date is that the AGM is coming up on Sunday 14th June at 2pm. Documents have been emailed round to all members and there are physical copies at the Observatory to read through as well. As you will be aware we are providing a FREE BBQ after the meeting. Please let us know by Thursday 11th June if you will be attending in person or by Zoom, if you are unable to attend but wish to confirm your agreement for Trustees to be re-elected/elected, or if you have any special dietary requirements for the BBQ. Any communications about the AGM need to be sent to the Vice-Chair/Acting Secretary, Mike Witty, at mike.witty@sbbot.org.uk.