Thursday 30th
A calm and grey day. The two Wood Sandpipers remained on Worth. These next weeks should see them and other waders pick up in number. Common Sandpiper, in particular, will peak along the river at New Downs.
Wednesday 29th
A Greenshank was on Worth marshes first thing and a little later two Wood Sandpipers dropped in. There were lots of young Tufted Ducks around too.
Tuesday 28th
It was pleasing to see a brood of Grey Partridges in the Oasis and a Yellow Wagtail dropped into Restharrow Scrape.
Monday 27th
A nice day but progressively breezier as it went on. A Spotted Redshank was on New Downs, joined by 60 Lapwings and five Teals. Three Mediterranean Gulls and a Sand Martin were on Restharrow Scrape.
Sunday 26th
Nine Mediterranean Gulls and a Sandwich Tern were on Restharrow Scrape and in the evening our first Cattle Egret of the year flew through Worth marshes.
Friday 24th
A decent enough walk on the Estate considering the time of the year. Two Shelducks dropped into Restharrow Scrape, a Grey Partridge was in the Oasis, two Ringed Plovers by Sandilands, Mediterranean and Common Gull offshore, both Sand Martin and Yellow Wagtail flying over, and a juvenile Coal Tit (dispersing from Sandwich Town most likely).
Black-headed Gull with nesting material M Simm
Thursday 23rd
Our first Grey Wagtail of autumn flew north over the Estate. There are lots of young Kestrels flying around too after a productive breeding season.
Wednesday 22nd
Two Sand Martins were flying around Restharrow Scrape and three Shovelers dropped in (our first on there for a while). A Red Kite lingered on Worth marshes and a Kingfisher was on the Green Wall.
Hobby P Blanche
Tuesday 21st
Small numbers of Mediterranean Gulls are drifting through the area. Expect bigger numbers to appear in the next two weeks, particularly in Pegwell Bay. Singles of Sand Martin and Siskin were on the Green Wall.
Monday 20th
Unfortunately a small group of dead birds have been found on New Downs. As this may be Avian Flu these have been reported to DEFRA. If you notice unusual mortality in the area, you should report them by calling the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 (Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm), or by emailing defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk. It was not all doom and gloom though. A Shelduck brood was good to see and there were lots of Avocets. The evening tide at Pegwell Bay held Grey Plover and Knot.
Saturday 18th
Restharrow Scrape continues to be a hive of activity with lots of young birds all over the islands. A Curlew was on Worth and a Yellow Wagtail on the Estate.
Long-tailed Tit S Ray
Friday 17th
Hot out there today. Two Red Kites flew over the Green Wall and our first Snipe of autumn flew over the Estate after dark.
Thursday 16th
An afternoon wander up to the Point was quite quiet, as can be expected, but three Cuckoos were feeding in the Sea Buckthorn.
Wednesday 15th
A Greenshank on Restharrow Scrape was another early returning wader, three Mediterranean Gulls flew over the Estate, and our first brood of Tufted Ducks were on Worth marshes.
Tuesday 14th
After a quiet day with little to report things livened up in the evening with a surprise SERIN singing on the Estate. It dropped in for a few minutes, sang from a tree along the Guilford Rd, before flying off north not to be seen again. And so continues the long line of untwitchable Serins at Sandwich Bay. For a bird with now 30 records here, it is a rather hard bird to catch up with as most records are either flyovers or very brief stays, as this one also proved to be.
Monday 13th
An evening walk around New Downs produced a gathering of 13 Grey Herons on the pools. These are early breeders so juveniles are already fledged and passing through the area. Mid-to-late summer is often the peak time for this species and Little Egret. It was also pleasing top note two Corn Buntings out there too.
Sunday 12th
A summer-plumaged male Brambling in The Elms was very unusual being either very late or very early, perhaps most likely to be a dispersing failed breeder from elsewhere.
Brambling by P.Blanche
Friday 10th
An early start on Worth marshes produced the first returning waders with small post-breeding groups of Lapwings and Curlews. These will likely be failed breeders from nearby (or further north with the Curlews). This is interesting as yesterday I remarked about the waders still moving north. Lapwings and Curlews breed around the UK but not much further north, so with not as far to go they can breed early in the year. Whereas Sanderlings and Dunlins will breed up in the Arctic. There, it can still be under snow and ice until late in spring so they time their arrival for later in the year. So Arctic breeders can still be moving north at the same time other waders are finishing and moving south.
Cormorant by C.Hill
Thursday 9th
Singles of Hobby, Little Egret, and Cuckoo were on the Estate and a very late Great Crested Grebe was sitting just offshore. Five Pochards were new on Worth marshes. Small numbers of waders are still passing through Pegwell with at least 23 Ringed Plovers and 12 Dunlins today.
Tuesday 7th
A singing Willow Warbler on New Downs was a rather late migrant. The lingering Barnacle Goose was still present, as were two Mediterranean Gulls, four Cuckoos, and a Yellowhammer. Two Spoonbills headed north over Restharrow Scrape and two Wheatears were still present south of Sandilands raising hopes of a breeding attempt. A bird to keep your eyes open for these coming weeks are Rosy Starlings. There has been a push of birds west across Europe and they have just started to be seen in the UK this week.
Spoonbills by P.Blanche
Monday 6th
No rare falcons to report today. The temporary carpark off Jubilee Rd is now closed. A Mediterranean Gull was on the Estate and lots of Swifts were hawking above. Singles of Grey Heron and Little Egret on Restharrow Scrape could conceivably be early autumn migrants.
Corn Bunting by N.Smith
Saturday 4th
Both the ELEONORA’S FALCON and Red-footed Falcon were seen early on Worth marshes but disappeared inland mid-morning and have not been seen since.
Thursday 2nd
Bank holiday and the weather was super. This meant an increase in the visitors to see the ELEONORA’S FALCON and Red-footed Falcon on Worth marshes. Both birds performed well, especially the former, and a lovely male Honey-buzzard drifted north too.
Honey-buzzard by P.Coltman
Wednesday 1st
Both the ELEONORA’S FALCON and Red-footed Falcon were showing well to the crowds on Worth. A bonus Great White Egret flew north and two late Sand Martins dropped in. Two Mediterranean Gulls were on Restharrow Scrape and a Yellow Wagtail few over.
Eleonora’s Falcon by S.Ray