Thursday 31st
The last day of the month saw another good variety of birds on offer. Two Hawfinches flew north over the Haven, two Coal Tits were mobile around the Estate, 250 Brent Geese went south offshore, and a Jack Snipe was on Restharrow Scrape. Just inland from the Observatory there was a small group of Yellowhammers around the hay bales and further inland on RSPB Worth marshes our second Black-necked Grebe of the year was found.
Wednesday 30th
Light northerlies and low cloud were perfect conditions for visible migration. There were a few new flocks of Thrushes moving around but the main activity was the northbound passage of finches through the area, with at least 2,900 Chaffinches, 590 Goldfinches, 16 Bramblings, 60 Redpolls, seven Linnets, three Greenfinches, and two Siskins. There were no Hawfinches in today's movement but considering the number moving around the South East at the moment it is well worth keeping your eyes and ears open for them. In addition 30 Swallows, 15 Pied Wagtails, three Grey Wagtails, 220 Starlings, and a Great White Egret also moved through, whilst two Black Redstarts and two Dartford Warblers were on the Estate, and a Merlin and a Firecrest at the Drove.
Tuesday 29th
Highlights on the Estate were Water Rail, 17 Swallows, House Martin, two Black Redstarts, Rock Pipit, Dartford Warbler, 19 Redpolls, and Bullfinch plus a Great Northern Diver close along the shore. A Fieldfare was on the Green Wall, they're only just starting to trickle through here.
Monday 28th
The Smew re-appeared on RSPB Worth marshes, favouring Roaring Gutter, whilst on the Estate there was a Great White Egret and a Dartford Warbler.
We are on the lookout for Residential Volunteer Wardens to join our team from next year. Please see HERE for details of the post and how to apply. Please pass this on to anyone you know who is interested in wildlife and a career in this sector.
Sunday 27th
A slight switch to northerlies overnight and it felt a lot cooler today. The Dartford Warbler was showing well in Restharrow Dunes again with another at Dickson's Corner, whilst a handful of Redpolls were on the Estate and our first few Fieldfares on RSPB Worth marshes.
Saturday 26th
Most of the day was spent taking part in the Great Kentish Bird Off at Pegwell Bay. As well as lots of stalls and activities to peruse there were also a fair amount of birds around including a Pale-bellied Brent Goose on the mudflats, a hunting male Hen Harrier, and a Hawfinch in Stonelees.
Friday 25th
Somewhat similar to yesterday on the Estate with added interest in the form of Coal Tit, Firecrest, and two Lesser Redpolls. A Ring Ouzel was in Pegwell Bay Country Park.
Thursday 24th
It was a lovely (if quiet) walk around the Estate in the autumn sunshine. There was a fair bit of Grey Partridge activity, as noted in other subsites in the area in the last week or so, and still around 35 Swallows flitting around on Royal St George's Golf Course. Two Bearded Tits were still on RSPB Worth marshes and the swirling mass of Gulls out there had at least 100 Mediterranean amongst the 3,000+ Black-headed.
Wednesday 23rd
Another Dartford Warbler was on the Estate with at least one other bird along the Point. A late Whinchat was still lingering at Mary Bax, whilst frustratingly brief views of an unidentified ringtail Harrier were had as it headed north over the Estate. The male Hen Harrier was again present on the Point, as was a male Ring Ouzel, the latter our first of autumn.
Tuesday 22nd
A Dartford Warbler and two Bearded Tits on RSPB Worth Marshes were good sightings in the pleasant conditions. Five Tree Sparrows were reported down the Worth Track from the Observatory.
Monday 21st
Despite appalling conditions, a determined observer was out on RSPB Worth marshes and they discovered a 'redhead' Smew on the large pool between the Pinnock Wall and the Great Wood (TR344562). This is rapidly becoming a rare species not just in Kent but across the UK. On the Estate, a Yellow-browed Warbler was still in the Haven and another was on New Downs around Prince's Reservoir.
Sunday 20th
A wet and windy day again. A Dartford Warbler was on the Estate near St George's Bushes, at least 700 hirundines (mostly Swallows) were hawking over and moving through, and 45 Mediterranean Gulls were on RSPB Worth marshes.
Saturday 19th
Despite the morning's rain there were 11 Egyptian Geese, 14 Grey Partridges, 130 Lapwings, three Green Sandpipers, two Bearded Tits, and a Raven on RSPB Worth marshes. At least 210 Swallows and 12 House Martins flew north overhead whilst four Siskins and a Firecrest were on the Estate and a Dartford Warbler at the Point. There was no sign of yesterday's Shrike but a fine male Hen Harrier touring the area was some consolation.
Friday 18th
Dense fog for the first few hours but by mid-morning the sun had burned through. There seemed to be a fair few birds moving around, perhaps disorientated by the fog. Three Tree Sparrows and four Bearded Tits were clocked flying over Estate. A Little Stint was found in Pegwell Bay and a Dartford Warbler in the scrub by the hide. Not long after other Dartford Warblers were found along the Estate beach and Prince's beach. The latter site also held a Whinchat and our first Snow Bunting of autumn. Over on New Downs seven Bearded Tits were on the pools but on the way back the bird-of-the-day was discovered, an impressive ISABELLINE SHRIKE on Hundred Acre Field.
The Isabelline Shrike complex is currently split into two, Daurian and Turkestan Shrike, with the former usually warmer and sandier in colouration, and slightly more common in the UK. It seems likely our bird is a Daurian Shrike based on the warmness of the plumage but currently the identification of immature birds in the field is not thought to be possible with 100% certainty. This is the fourth Sandwich Bay record of 'Isabelline Shrike' with none of the previous three currently assignable to either Daurian or Turkestan. If visiting tomorrow, the bird was showing at approximately TR346610, viewable best from W3W ///looms.uppermost.tripled. Please note there is no public access into the field so view only from the Kent Coastal Footpath, and the nearest parking is on the Estate beach.
Thursday 17th
It was very humid in the low cloud and gentle southerly. This cloud cover brought some light 'vismig' in the form of 112 Goldfinches, small numbers of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, two Rock Pipits, one late Tree Pipit, and our first two Redpolls of autumn. There were at least eight Firecrests scattered across the Estate, two Yellow-browed Warblers, our second Eastern Lesser Whitethroat of autumn, and another increase to 79 Robins. An additional three Firecrests were around New Downs New Pool.
Wednesday 16th
Completely different conditions from yesterday and with it a different range of species. Counts of 62 Robins, 21 Song Thrushes, 16 Goldcrests, and four Firecrests were on the Estate in a warm southerly breeze. The Yellow-browed Warbler was briefly shouting it's head off in The Elms before heading back to the Gullies, a Jack Snipe was flushed from long grass, whilst singles of Dartford Warbler and Brent Goose were on/around Restharrow Scrape.
Tuesday 15th
We woke with flocks of 30-40 Redwing 'seeping' through above the Observatory and the Oasis. News then came through from elsewhere of similar and it was clear there was a considerable arrival of Redwings all along the East Coast of the UK. We ended up with just under 500 birds passing through, all going south. With them there were small numbers of Song Thrushes, Starlings, Skylarks, and finches, including two Bramblings. A small movement offshore included 230 Brent Geese, 13 Shelducks, eight Pintails, and 11 Sandwich Terns. The Yellow-browed Warbler continued in Waldershare Gully and our first Black Redstart of the year was at Mary Bax.
Monday 14th
After the morning's deluge there were two Firecrests, a Bullfinch, a Coal Tit, a Yellow-browed Warbler, and our first Jack Snipe of autumn on the Estate.
Our amazing Conservation Team have already been busy brushcutting, raking, chopping to keep our reserves looking good. There's plenty more to do over the next few months and no better time to join in. If you're interested, the team meet in the Observatory carpark at 9am on Mondays and Thursdays and finish at 12pm. Email info@sbbot.org.uk if you wish to know more.
Sunday 13th
A real good mix around the area with a ringtail Hen Harrier, two Dartford Warblers, a Tree Sparrow, and a Yellow-browed Warbler on the Estate. In the afternoon 12 Pink-footed Geese and five Bearded Tits were on New Downs.
Saturday 12th
Singles of Water Rail, Common Sandpiper, and Green Sandpiper were on New Downs and over in Pegwell Bay there were two adult Yellow-legged Gulls and 155 Mediterranean Gulls. At least 90 Swallows were flying over the Estate.
Friday 11th
There were Yellow-browed Warblers in Waldershare Gully and Jubilee Field and elsewhere around the Estate there were three Rock Pipits, 44 Chiffchaffs, three Firecrests, 62 Siskins, and two Bramblings. Two Tree Sparrows were in the Haven in the evening. Meanwhile two Coal Tits, a Treecreeper, and another Brambling were on the Green Wall and a Bearded Tit on RSPB Worth marshes.
Thursday 10th
A switch in the wind to a north-westerly. A few groups of Meadow Pipits and Goldfinches flew north and singles of Firecrest and Yellow-browed Warbler were on the Estate.
Wednesday 9th
The Yellow-browed Warbler was still in the Haven. Other highlights on the Estate included Mistle Thrush, Bullfinch, two Greenfinches (rare here these days), Firecrest, and a handful of Siskins and Sand Martins. Five Egyptian Geese flew over to RSPB Worth marshes and there were lots of Great Spotted Woodpeckers to-ing and fro-ing. The Black-necked Grebe remained at Pegwell Bay.
Please note, due to illness there has been a last minute change to tomorrow's talk and Brian Short will now be doing Part 2 of "Eagles Nest in India revisited".
Tuesday 8th
It was as you were from yesterday with the Yellow-browed Warbler still in the Haven and the Black-necked Grebe also still at Pegwell Bay. A Great White Egret was on Restharrow Scrape and over on New Downs there were three Pintails and singles of Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff. There are lots of Stonechats in the area at the moment with double-figures recently on the Estate, along the Ancient Highway to the Chequers, and on RSPB Worth marshes.
Thank you to everyone who has booked onto our mini-break to Portland in late April. There are now only two spaces available so act quick if you wish to join us! Click HERE to read more.
Monday 7th
A Yellow-browed Warbler was calling the Haven, possibly yesterday's bird relocating, and a Whinchat was in the Dragonfly Pond Fields. The Black-necked Grebe was also still on the Garage Pool at Pegwell Bay (TR344636).
Sunday 6th
A Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped and ringed on the Estate and in the evening around 150 Swallows were seen. Two Bearded Tits were on RSPB Worth marshes.
Saturday 5th
Seven each of Canada and Egyptian Geese were on Restharrow Scrape. In the evening a co-ordinated Gull count of Pegwell Bay revealed 4,000 Black-headed Gulls, 5,200 Herring Gulls, and smaller numbers of everything else including 75 Mediterranean Gulls. Two Spoonbills, 21 Little Egrets, 35 Stock Doves, and 130 Crows were also noted.
Friday 4th
The Black-necked Grebe was still present on the Garage Pool at Pegwell Bay. A Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped and ringed on the Estate as well as an Eastern Lesser Whitethroat showing characteristics of one of the rarer far-eastern races, possibly ssp halimondendri. Two Spoonbills, a Spotted Redshank, and five Bramblings flew north.
Thursday 3rd
A Black-necked Grebe on the Garage Pool in Pegwell Bay was a rare record for the area, our first since 13th December 2020. Almost equally-rare was a Red-necked Grebe offshore, plus a Great Skua and 300 Brent Geese.
Wednesday 2nd
A mixture of summer and winter on RSPB Worth marshes with late records of Garganey and Little Ringed Plover mixing with Brambling and our first Water Pipit of the autumn. There was a concerted passage of Brent Geese offshore throughout the day and our final tally was 1,700, plus five Little Gulls, 117 Wigeons, 24 Teals, 25 Common Scoters, one male Red-breasted Merganser, two Red-throated Divers, 28 Ringed Plovers, eight Dunlins, 19 Sandwich Terns, and two Common Terns. Two Firecrests were on the Estate and five Rock Pipits flew north along the shore.
Tuesday 1st
A flock of 11 Egyptian Geese on RSPB Worth marshes was unexpected and our third-highest count ever (beaten by 13 in Pegwell Bay in 2020 and 15 on the Green Wall in 2001). Two Spoonbill were in Pegwell Bay and an Arctic Skua offshore.
