Please note that maintenance work will occur on Restharrow Scrape on every Monday and Thursday morning for a few weeks. Expect disturbance to the site.
Wednesday 10th
The wind picked up throughout the morning and the rain came in soon after. Before then we managed 900 Swallows, a Firecrest, and a Spotted Flycatcher on the Estate. A Kingfisher north along the beach was a strange sight. The 11 Glossy Ibises were still on Willow Farm though quite elusive. Three Curlew Sandpipers, 21 Ruffs, two Little Stints, a Spotted Redshank, four Great White Egrets, ten Cattle Egrets, and a Spoonbill were also on RSPB Worth marshes.
Tuesday 9th
Today's GLOSSY IBIS action concerned a flock of 12 which dropped into Willow Farm on RSPB Worth marshes in the morning. Also present were two Great White Egrets, nine Cattle Egrets, and a Spoonbill, all viewable from the gate at the Drove (TR36575602 or W3W ///bangle.masterful.seemingly). In the immediately vicinity of the Drove were at least six Grasshopper Warblers, with another at Dickson's Corner. The seven birds recorded is our highest day count since 25th August 2009 (all ringed in the Maize crop across from the Observatory, where the asparagus currently grows). Also of note today were falls of Chiffchaff and Blackcap, with 90 and 260, respectively. Two Spotted Flycatchers, a Pied Flycatcher, a Tree Pipit, a Redstart, and a Firecrest were on the Estate, our first Siskins and Redpolls of the autumn flew over, and a notable flock of 17 Curlew Sandpipers flew north along the shore.
There's still time to book onto the Poetry of Birds workshop this Sunday 14th September, and later on 18th and 19th October an immersive weekend writing workshop, both led by writer Sonia Overall. Tickets for these events (and others) can be found HERE.
Monday 8th
A GLOSSY IBIS was on New Downs. This could possibly be the same bird that was on Restharrow Scrape on Friday/Sunday but, considering the huge numbers that arrived in the UK this week, it could just as easily be new in. At around 1pm there was another report of a flock of seven GLOSSY IBIS over Restharrow Scrape heading towards RSPB Worth marshes. Then, in the evening light, a further flock of 14 GLOSSY IBIS went north over the Estate. There are multiple flocks of 30-40 birds moving around England at present and I imagine more will pass through here at some point. With large numbers of Herons and Egrets on RSPB Worth marshes at present that seems a good place to start looking. Also on New Downs today were three Ruffs, three Greenshanks, four Bearded Tits, a Curlew Sandpiper, and nine Whinchats. Elsewhere there were five Curlew Sandpipers, a Wood Sandpiper, a White Stork, and a Spoonbill on RSPB Worth marshes, and a Redstart on the Estate.
Sunday 7th
Hot out there! A Little Stint was nice on Restharrow Scrape whilst around the Sandilands area there were 52 Ringed Plovers, six Dunlins, and six Sanderlings on the beach, and two Wheatears and a Whinchat on the fences. A Spotted Flycatcher and a Redstart were around the Drove/Mary Bax. In the evening a GLOSSY IBIS circled Restharrow Scrape briefly.
Saturday 6th
RSPB Worth marshes produced ten Grey Herons, two Great White Egrets, 24 Cattle Egrets, a White Stork, two Water Rails, 260 Greylag Geese, 263 Mallards, 103 Teals, 166 Lapwings, five Ruffs, four Black-tailed Godwits, three Whimbrels, two Wood Sandpipers. three Green Sandpipers, a Little Stint. There were some excellent count of 21 Lesser Whitethroats, 31 Chiffchaffs, 25 Whinchats, seven Spotted Flycatchers, two Pied Flycatchers, and 37 Yellow Wagtails between the Drove and the asparagus fields. An Osprey flew over the Estate and a Coal Tit was in the Little Elms. Late news also concerned a GLOSSY IBIS photographed on Restharrow Scrape yesterday.
Friday 5th
There was the first autumn fall of Blackcaps onto the Estate. At least 160 were present. Scattered Robins and Chiffchaffs suggested they were moving too, but at a lower level. Two Spotted Flycatchers were in the Whitehouse, a Redstart at St George's Bushes, and two Tree Pipits in the Oasis. The SPOTTED CRAKE continued to show on New Downs. A reminder for those visiting, the Spotted Crake feeds on the mud on the South Pool (approx. TR339553) in the company of Water Rails. There is room for a few member's cars at the Polytunnels (TR342587, W3W ///interests.ulterior.snappy). Please display your SBBOT membership card in the dashboard and then walk along the raised bund to the first pool on the right. Please note that the gates at the entrance road to New Downs often shut in the evening, so don't stay too late. There is more parking for everyone at Sandwich Quay and you can walk along the river to the Polytunnels.
Thursday 4th
Not quite as productive offshore today but 44 Gannets, two Arctic Skuas, 270 Sandwich Terns, 30 Common Terns, two Whimbrels, and a Common Scoter were seen in the morning. In the evening 380 Mediterranean Gulls and 201 Common Terns came in to roost at the Point. The SPOTTED CRAKE was still on New Downs.
Wednesday 3rd
A strong south-westerly wind and intermittent squalls meant most of the morning was spent seawatching. Nine Arctic Skuas, three Black Terns, one Arctic Tern, three Little Terns, 120 Common Terns, 150 Sandwich Terns, one Auk sp, ten Fulmars, 30 Gannets, four Common Scoters, seven Teals, one Shoveler, and a few Mediterranean Gulls were logged. The SPOTTED CRAKE was still on New Downs.
A date for your diary. On Sunday 28th September SBBOT will be taking part in the second annual Big Kent Migration Watch. This is a joint project with KOS and other conservation organisations in Kent. At SBBOT there will be a variety of walks and talks on offer. Please come along and hear all about the migration of birds through the area.
Tuesday 2nd
The PURPLE HERON from a few days ago re-appeared on RSPB Worth marshes. It was a bit of a heronfest with three Great White Egrets, 18 Cattle Egrets, a White Stork, and a Spoonbill also present. A Little Tern flew south offshore in the morning and in the evening a second watch produced four Arctic Skuas and a Manx Shearwater. There were 30 Blackcaps and two Swifts on the Estate and the SPOTTED CRAKE was still present on New Downs.
Monday 1st
The SPOTTED CRAKE continued to draw admirers on New Downs. Fifty Sandwich Terns were feeding offshore, two Swifts flew over RSPB Worth marshes, and four Whinchats were south of Sandilands.
