Thursday 23rd
Some truly shocking weather today but we scraped together a handful of sightings. A few Swallows went through and a few Sandwich Terns were offshore, a Brambling was in the Obs carpark, a Peregrine flew over, and a Ruff was on Restharrow Scrape.
Wednesday 22nd
The Dartford Warbler was again by the Drove and five Firecrests were around the Estate. A further two Firecrests and six Greenshanks were on New Downs.
Tuesday 21st
The good autumn passage of crests continued with 30 Goldcrests and four Firecrests on the Estate. Five Crossbills flew north and a Dartford Warbler was in the small gorse patch on Royal Cinque Ports Golf Course between the Drove and the Chequers.
Monday 20th
There were still plenty of Goldcrests around, at least 43 of which were on the Green Wall, and a flock of 600 Lapwings flew over (our highest this winter). Only a small number of finches went through and they were all going south, which is unsurprising considering the switch in wind direction.
Sunday 19th
Our (belated) first Yellow-browed Warbler was in the Gullies.
Saturday 18th
At least 13 Firecrests were spread through the area, the majority on the Estate. A Tree Sparrow flew over New Downs and 72 Crossbills flew north.
Friday 17th
Finch passage was good again with 760 Goldfinches, 630 Siskins, 126 Redpolls, 51 Crossbills, and 57 Chaffinches recorded going north. A flock of 16 Pintail went south offshore, a Jack Snipe was at the Point, and the GREAT GREY SHRIKE was still showing at Roaring Gutter on RSPB Worth marshes.
Thursday 16th
The Estate held three Dartford Warblers and a Wheatear, whilst two Great White Egrets, a Short-eared Owl, two CHOUGHS, 25 Crossbills, 466 Siskins, 449 Goldfinches, and 136 Redpolls flew over. Singles of Merlin, Jack Snipe, Shag, and Spoonbill were on New Downs. What was presumably the same Spoonbill relocated to RSPB Worth marshes in the afternoon where the GREAT GREY SHRIKE showed well at Roaring Gutter.
Wednesday 15th
It was another day of intermittent drizzle. The passage of birds overhead slowed a little compared to yesterday but there were still good totals of 132 Starlings, 287 Goldfinches, and 187 Siskins logged. Thrushes increased on the Estate with 121 Redwings, 17 Song Thrushes, 20 Fieldfares, and 51 Blackbirds, whilst other notable records included 32 Goldcrests, five Firecrests, and a late Reed Warbler. Our first Black Redstart of autumn was perched on one of the hides at Restharrow Scrape, with a Jack Snipe on the scrape in the afternoon. Two Great White Egrets flew over the Green Wall and the GREAT GREY SHRIKE was still on RSPB Worth marshes.
Tuesday 14th
The conditions were similar to yesterday in that the light north-easterly and low cloud was interspersed with frequent squalls. Visible migration was better though with 622 Goldfinches, 404 Siskins, 395 Chaffinches, 286 Swallows, and 285 Starlings the main movers going north. There were smaller numbers of other species, such as five Grey Wagtails and 32 Crossbills, whilst the bushes on the Estate contained 27 Song Thrushes, 25 Redwings, 18 Goldcrests, five Firecrests, a Coal Tit, and a Woodcock. The numbers of Firecrest have been quite good recently with a steady but consistent run of birds through the Estate. The ringing team have caught 35 new birds in the last few weeks showing the high turnover of birds through the area. Over on RSPB Worth marshes a GREAT GREY SHRIKE near Roaring Gutter was a great find and the first for a few years, and the first Jack Snipe of autumn was seen.
Monday 13th
Passing squalls throughout the morning. Brent Geese and Wigeon were moving offshore, with smaller numbers of Teal and Shelduck. Two Arctic Terns flew along the shore and a Short-eared Owl came in off the sea. Visible migration overhead was a little disappointing, there were a few Crossbill flocks and three Grey Wagtails. There were decent numbers of Thrushes in the bushes at first light, a few Firecrests, and our first Woodcock of autumn. A Dartford Warbler was at the Drove.
Sunday 12th
There was a decent movement of Brent Geese offshore with at least 1,500 recorded. A Pomarine Skua was a strange sight tagging along with one of the Goose flocks. In Pegwell, there were a further 65 Brent Geese, 234 Wigeons, a Pintail, 598 Oystercatchers, 113 Redshanks, 229 Curlews, 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, 18 Dunlins, 16 Grey Plovers, a Whimbrel, ten Sandwich Terns, and weirdly, an immature Gannet swimming upriver. Meanwhile on New Downs there was a Spotted Redshank (perhaps yesterday's bird relocating), three Greenshanks, three Green Sandpipers, 248 Lapwing, 68 Redshanks, and two Black-tailed Godwits. Finch passage was also decent with over 1,000 Goldfinches logged, plus 155 Siskins, 94 Chaffinches, 19 Crossbills, and one Brambling. Finishing up a good mix of birds was a Curlew Sandpiper in the wader roost at the Point.
Saturday 11th
A Spotted Redshank flew north over RSPB Worth marshes, a/the Dartford Warbler was at Dickson's Corner, and ten Crossbills flew north.
Friday 10th
Our first Dartford Warbler of autumn was at Dickson's Corner and two Firecrests were ringed, whilst overhead finch passage continued with 360 Goldfinches, 536 Siskins, 37 Redpolls, one Brambling, and 30 Crossbills as highlights.
Thursday 9th
There was hope that Kent's wandering Pallid Harrier would stop by but it wasn't to be (yet). There was some movement overhead again, a surprising amount actually as the day was very sunny and clear which can normally hamper 'vismig' observations. A total of 95 Skylarks, 14 Pied Wagtails, five Grey Wagtails, 30 Meadow Pipits, two Rock Pipits, 12 Long-tailed Tits, two Tree Sparrows, five Bramblings, 164 Goldfinches, 105 Siskins, and 11 Reed Buntings were recorded. Two Wheatears and a Merlin were also recorded.
Wednesday 8th
It was another day with a fall of Chiffchaffs on the Estate. At least 230 were logged and another 110 spread elsewhere through the Recording Area. There was some light finch passage overhead too with 35 Crossbills, 56 Chaffinches, 151 Goldfinches, and 51 Siskins noted going north. A RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER stole the attention at Pegwell Bay Country Park though, our second of the autumn after one on RSPB Worth marshes a week or so ago, whilst the male Scaup was still in the Bay.
Tuesday 7th
There was low cloud and a hint of drizzle in the air all morning. A handful of finches were on the move with 170 Siskins, 48 Goldfinches, eight Redpolls, one Brambling, and 14 Crossbills recorded. Chiffchaffs were plenty with 145 on the Estate and another 20 in the Mary Bax/Chequers area. It's about that time of the year when it is worth checking out the local Greylag mob to see if any 'wild' geese have dropped in. There was no such luck today but two Egyptian, one Canada, and seven Canada x Greylag hybrids were in the 290 strong Greylag Goose flock feeding in the fields between the Estate and the railway. It's certainly worth keeping an eye on the flock in the next few months.
Monday 6th
A/the ringtail Hen Harrier put in another brief appearance, this time on RSPB Worth marshes, a Tree Sparrow flew over the Drove. A Great Skua was causing fuss in the Gull roost at the Point, 36 Crossbills flew over, and across the river the male Scaup was still present as well as a Pink-footed Goose.
Sunday 5th
Four GLOSSY IBISES and a Red Kite were on RSPB Worth marshes. Records of the latter are scarce at this time of the year, being overwhelmingly a spring bird in the area. The SPOTTED CRAKE put in another appearance on the Estate whilst just under 100 Goldfinches moved north overhead, a Hen Harrier flew over the Estate, and a Pomarine Skua was offshore.
Saturday 4th
Hard conditions. Three Ruffs were still on RSPB Worth marshes and the SPOTTED CRAKE still on the Estate.
Friday 3rd
There was a significant change in the weather which gradually got worse throughout the day. Between the showers three GLOSSY IBISES and three Ruffs were seen on RSPB Worth marshes, whilst Merlin and Coal Tit were on the Estate, 450 House Martins moved through, and a Little Gull was offshore. The rain did allow us time for a bit of delving through our records and, unless a late bird suddenly appears, it seems this the first autumn since 2006 without a Wood Warbler.
Thursday 2nd
It was as-you-were with the SPOTTED CRAKE and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Both drew a steady procession of admirers to the Dragonfly Pond and RSPB Worth marshes, respectively, with the former bird showing especially well. The Little Stint on Restharrow Scrape was also popular where it was joined by a young Black-tailed Godwit. A Shag flew north offshore whilst just shy of 6,000 House Martins flew north overhead. New Downs provided Cattle Egret, Greenshank, two Firecrests, Rock Pipit, and 11 Bearded Tits.
Wednesday 1st
It was another good day to be out birding. Yesterday's SPOTTED CRAKE showed well again on the Dragonfly Pond whilst in Jubilee Field next door a brief WRYNECK was seen, before flying into the Little Elms. The Little Stint was still on Restharrow Scrape and two Firecrests on the Estate. Over on RSPB Worth marshes the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and three GLOSSY IBISES were still around. Also present were two Ruffs, two Whinchats, a Rock Pipit, and 24 Crossbills. Two Hawfinches were on the Green Wall and another in Pegwell Bay Country Park. In total, across the area, there were 320 Chiffchaffs, 180 Blackcaps, and 75 Goldcrests, whilst totals of Swallow and House Martin were well into four-figures too.
