Thursday 21st
Two Avocets flew over the Observatory first thing and a Spotted Flycatcher was at the Drove. Three Little Gulls on RSPB Worth Marshes were presumably the birds from Restharrow Scrape going on a foray.
Wednesday 20th
A Spotted Flycatcher was on the Estate early on and two Little Gulls were on Restharrow Scrape again. Later a CRANE flew over the Estate and towards Worth, our fourth sighting of the spring.
Tuesday 19th
Not fun weather at all. And nothing really to report in it. So a head's up instead, there is no Conservation Team on Thursday 21st or Monday 25th May. If you feel like attending the next session it will be Thursday 28th May at 9am. There is also a FREE Guided Nature Walk from Sandwich Quay to the Bird Observatory the same day. We’re especially keen to welcome young people aged 12+ who are interested in nature, wildlife, and the outdoors, but the event is open to all experience levels. If you're interested please click HERE for details.
Monday 18th
A late Willow Warbler was singing at St George's Bushes, a Hobby flew over the Oasis, and the Turtle Dove was still around the Observatory, though elusive.
Sunday 17th
The Turtle Dove was still lingering around the Observatory, nine Whimbrels were on Prince's Golf Course, 127 Sanderlings were at the Point, and two Little Gulls flew over Restharrow Scrape.
Saturday 16th
A Turtle Dove in the trees behind the Ringing Room was a now very scarce record away from their stronghold on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Friday 15th
Once again Restharrow Scrape was the epicentre of activity. Two Kittiwakes and four Little Gulls were the highlights. Five Cuckoos and a Turtle Dove were the best on RSPB Worth Marshes. The weather switches around to the south tomorrow so we could see a change in birds (or at least in temperature).
Thursday 14th
The high tide at Pegwell Bay produced 231 Ringed Plovers, 96 Dunlins, 66 Sanderlings, 11 Grey Plovers, five Knots, and a Brent Goose on the flats. Hundreds of hirundines were over RSPB Worth Marshes with a PURPLE HERON and 11 Black-tailed Godwits on the pools. On Restharrow Scrape there were four 2cy Little Gulls, 90 Mediterranean Gulls, a 2cy Caspian Gull, a 2cy Yellow-legged Gull, and a Kittiwake (making it at least ten species of Gull present today), plus a Common Tern and a Sandwich Tern.
Wednesday 13th
In among the Restharrow Scrape gullfest were 43 Mediterranean Gulls, a Kittiwake, four Little Gulls, and a Sandwich Tern. Despite the bouts of heavy rain and even hail at least 26 Red Kites flew through. Another Kittiwake was briefly on RSPB Worth Marshes and waders picked up in Pegwell Bay with at least 150 Ringed Plovers present.
Tuesday 12th
The main activity occurred on Restharrow Scrape with a few recently-hatched Lapwing chicks proving popular with visitors, a summer-plumaged Turnstone, and an influx of Gulls. Of the latter there were another three Kittiwakes, 21 Mediterranean Gulls, and unseasonably high numbers of Common Gull. Nine Buzzards flew north over the Estate, as did another Kittiwake, and singles of Wheatear and Whimbrel were in Restharrow Dunes. Yet another Kittiwake was on RSPB Worth Marshes. Quite why we're getting these Kittiwakes is hard to fathom. Is anyone else seeing unusual displacement?
Monday 11th
RSPB Worth Marshes provided Whooper Swan, Wood Sandpiper, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, and two Common Sandpipers. There was another Kittiwake on Restharrow Scrape, this time a second-calendar bird, and a Black Swan was an odd but colourful surprise. The rarest sighting of them all came in the afternoon in the form of rain. Even better the forecast suggests we may see more of it this week.
Sunday 10th
A Kittiwake was an excellent find on Restharrow Scrape, with a breeding-plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit also present. In Pegwell Bay there were totals of 106 Ringed Plovers, 32 Bar-tailed Godwits, 62 Sanderlings, and 23 Grey Plovers.
Saturday 9th
A Cuckoo was singing away around the Obs at first light. An early check of the high tide roost at Pegwell Bay revealed a swathe of breeding plumage waders on their last stops before heading north including 27 Ringed Plovers, 13 Dunlins, ten Grey Plovers, eight Whimbrels, five Turnstones, and two (Red) Knots living up to their name. In the afternoon a late White-fronted Goose was on New Downs and a drake Garganey was on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Friday 8th
Three Turnstones flew over Restharrow Scrape early on but chose not to drop in. Later a Red Kite flew over the Observatory. Meanwhile 11 Ringed Plovers, a Wood Sandpiper, and the lingering female RED-FOOTED FALCON were on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Thursday 7th
There were 17 Whimbrels and a good showing of Cuckoos on New Downs, singles of Whimbrel and Wheatear on the Estate, and the RED-FOOTED FALCON, up to ten Hobby's, five Red Kites, Wood Sandpiper, and six Mediterranean Gulls on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Wednesday 6th
A sharp wind meant it was really quite cold at times. Early risers had a few Whimbrels over the Estate. Later on a bunch of hirundines dropped in on RSPB Worth Marshes with approximately 200 Swifts, 40 Sand Martins, 250 Swallows, and 150 House Martins. Singles of Whooper Swan, Red Kite, Wood Sandpiper, and Turtle Dove were also present.
Tuesday 5th
Most of the activity was on RSPB Worth Marshes again. The Whooper Swan put in another appearance, as did the RED-FOOTED FALCON, with Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbill, and Greenshank adding to the interest.
Monday 4th
The RED-FOOTED FALCON was still viewable from the Drove, albeit distantly over Willow Farm. Over the railway line, a minimum of five Cuckoos were singing around RSPB Worth Marshes along with singles of Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Wood Sandpiper, and Yellow Wagtail. A lingering male Pintail was on New Downs.
Sunday 3rd
A female RED-FOOTED FALCON was an excellent find hunting with four Hobby around the Drove / Shooting School area following a small arrival of the species around the county. The Whooper Swan relocated to RSPB Worth Marshes where our first Osprey of the season passed through south in the afternoon.
Saturday 2nd
A Whooper Swan briefly in Pegwell Bay was the highlight for the day. A mixed selection on the Estate included two Garden Warblers, a Hobby, and a Cuckoo. There was a variety of waders on RSPB Worth Marshes with one Temminck's Stint, three Wood Sandpipers, four Common Sandpipers, a Snipe, and an Avocet. Two each of Avocet and Common Sandpiper were also on Restharrow Scrape.
Friday 1st
The breeze died down quickly in the morning leaving a fine sunny day. It was hot out on New Downs but 74 species still recorded. Highlights were two Pintails, 16 Common Sandpipers, six Greenshanks, 18 Whimbrels, one Bar-tailed Godwit, one Sandwich Tern, 34 Reed Warblers, 28 Whitethroats, one Garden Warbler, and four Bearded Tits.
