Wednesday 30th
Wet (mostly). Our first Redwing of autumn went over the Green Wall, a Tree Pipit flew over Prince's Golf Course, and small pulses of hirundines came through. The recent rain pulled in two Ruff on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Tuesday 29th
A walk along the path behind the asparagus fields produced three Tree Sparrows and 38 Reed Buntings. The regular Whooper Swan re-appeared on Willow Farm. A Siskin went north over the Estate and in the evening a Yellow-browed Warbler called around the Observatory.
Our new Annual Report has also just made landfall. Members who opted into receiving physical copies should have it either delivered to their door or available to pick up at the Observatory (if you live locally). I hope you enjoy reading all about the work of SBBOT and wildlife of Sandwich Bay in 2025.
Monday 28th
Five Pochards were new on RSPB Worth Marshes. Migration was a little slower today but five Mistle Thrushes flew over Stonar and 250 House Martins over the Green Wall. Over on New Downs there were three Greenshanks, a Ruff, and 12 Bearded Tits.
Sunday 27th
Thank you to everyone who came along to today's event. It was a great success with hundreds of happy faces. Bird-wise, highlights were provided by Long-eared Owl, Redstart, Treecreeper, Spotted Flycatcher, four Firecrests, 130 Blackcaps, 120 Chiffchaffs, a Whinchat, and 50 Stonechats.
Saturday 26th
The Kingfisher made a brief appearance at Restharrow Scrape again and our first Siskin of autumn flew over Prince's Golf Course.
Friday 25th
Stonechats have been noticeable for the last few days but today saw higher numbers, with totals of 23 on RSPB Worth Marshes and 13 on the Estate. Two Firecrests and a Grasshopper Warbler were also on the latter.
Don't forget this Sunday (27th) is our annual Big Bird Migration Day. There will be lots happening throughout the day and we'd love to see you all there.
Thursday 24th
At least 11 Cattle Egrets and 105 Meadow Pipits were on Willow Farm, with another Cattle Egret over the Estate. Two Black-tailed Godwits were on Restharrow Scrape and the wader roost on the Estate beach contained 120 Ringed Plovers, 135 Sanderlings, five Dunlins, one Curlew Sandpiper, and one Turnstone.
Wednesday 23rd
A fall of Blackcap and Chiffchaff on the Estate included at least 120 of the former and 80 of the latter. A Tawny Owl called first thing in the morning, 220 Linnets were at Dickson's Corner, and a few hundred Swallows went through. There was a small but noticeable increase in Stonechats and more Blue Tits and Long-tailed Tits were observed moving through. Corvids also seemed to be moving with at least 40 Magpies and a few Jays logged going north through New Downs, where two Whinchats, 160 Linnets, a Turnstone, and three Greenshanks were seen. RSPB Worth Marshes produced 22 Cattle Egrets and a Red Kite.
Tuesday 22nd
Despite the low cloud there was only light 'vismig' overhead. The brief switch to north-easterly on Thursday may encourage more movement. What was noticeable though was the increase in Blue Tits and Great Tits in the bushes, and at least 22 were seen actively moving along the shore. A Mistle Thrush was new on the Estate, two Whinchats and ten Stonechats were around the Dickson's Corner area, and over 450 Linnets recorded.
The big day approaches. We would love to see you all this Sunday (27th) the annual Big Bird Migration Day. There will be walks and talks to attend, crafts and optics to peruse, food and drink to consume, and lots of great wildlife to see. Last year saw White-tailed Eagle, Red-rumped Swallow, and Red-necked Phalarope recorded, amongst many other great sightings.
Monday 21st
There was an arrival of 155 Blackcaps and 87 Chiffchaffs on the Estate overnight. A Treecreeper was seen briefly in the The Elms in the company of two Firecrests, a Grasshopper Warbler was at Dickson's Corner, a Short-eared Owl on Royal St George's Golf Course, and two Tawny Owls on the Estate early in the morning. In the evening a record count of 44 Cattle Egrets flew north over RSPB Worth Marshes, presumably roosting nearby.
Sunday 20th
Three Cattle Egrets on the Estate and 13 on RSPB Worth Marshes. Five Curlew Sandpipers and an Arctic Skua offshore.
Friday 18th
A Greenshank was on Restharrow Scrape early on and a Garganey on Prince's Reservoir. A mobile Spotted Redshank flew south from Prince's Golf Course and seen briefly again on RSPB Worth Marshes. A Tree Pipit also flew over the Estate.
Thursday 17th
Eight Cattle Egrets and the Mandarin were on RSPB Worth Marshes first thing. Three Firecrests were on the Green Wall, a Black Tern offshore, and just over 2,500 House Martins flew north.
Don't forget tonight is our first Thursday Talk of the season. Drop by the Observatory at 7:30pm as Conor Jameson will treat us to his talk 'Looking for Goshawks'. Full a full list of upcoming talks see HERE.
Wednesday 16th
Today's clear highlight was the Dotterel found on the Estate beach which showed well most of the morning. The four Egyptian Geese and the Kingfisher were on Restharrow Scrape again, plus two Green Sandpipers and three Black-tailed Godwits. A Grasshopper Warbler was seen briefly on the Estate. Overhead passage was restricted to just 80 Meadow Pipits and 120 Swallows.
Tuesday 15th
At least 700 House Martins and 550 Swallows were logged moving through the area. At least 15 Cattle Egrets and the Mandarin were on RSPB Worth Marshes. A Firecrest was on the path behind the asparagus fields and three Wheatears at Sandilands.
Monday 14th
Hirundine passage picked up substantially as 2,100 House Martins, 500 Swallows, and a single Sand Martin moved through the Recording Area. Another 70 Meadow Pipits were logged heading south and eight Grey Herons came in off the sea. On the Estate were 30 Chiffchaffs, seven Wheatears, six Goldcrests, and a Hobby. In the evening the Curlew Sandpiper was on Restharrow Scrape and a Tawny Owl was calling in the Haven. The Mandarin was on RSPB Worth Marshes again.
Sunday 13th
Three Bar-tailed Godwits and two Egyptian Geese dropped into Restharrow Scrape. A good selection of waders was in Pegwell Bay plus 46 Little Egrets. Three Whinchats, one Pied Flycatcher, 25 Chiffchaffs, and a Kingfisher were on New Downs.
Saturday 12th
Seven Cattle Egrets, nine Kestrels, five Yellow Wagtails, and three Whinchats were the best on RSPB Worth Marshes. The Kingfisher put in another appearance on the Estate, this time around the Dragonfly Ponds, whilst singles of Firecrest and a Spotted Flycatcher were in The Elms. A Yellow-legged Gull went south along the beach.
Friday 11th
Approximately 500 each of Swallow and House Martin flew north with smaller numbers of Meadow Pipits. There were 77 Sandwich Terns in Pegwell Bay, the Curlew Sandpiper on Restharrow Scrape, and an increase in Chiffchaffs on the Estate.
Thursday 10th
The Kingfisher and the Curlew Sandpiper were on Restharrow Scrape again first thing. Overhead there was our first movement of Meadow Pipits with at least 50 going north, whilst in the bushes an arrival of Blackcaps dominated with 95 recorded.
Wednesday 9th
A White Stork seem to have roosted along the Ancient Highway overnight and roamed around the the Estate early in the morning before heading off south. Three Black Terns and an Arctic Skua were offshore and the Curlew Sandpiper still on Restharrow Scrape. RSPB Worth Marshes held good diversity but with no real headline bird. Two Egyptian Geese, a Cattle Egret, and a Wheatear were the best on offer. There also seemed to be an increase in Linnets across the area with at least 135 on Worth and 240 on the Estate.
Tuesday 8th
A wet day throughout but still with a few points of interest. Most of which came from the sea where a number of mixed 'bait balls' of Terns and Gulls fed close to the shore. Among the throng were at least six Black Terns showing well and a Razorbill. A Kingfisher and a Curlew Sandpiper were on Restharrow Scrape and at least 21 Cattle Egrets in the field south of the Drove.
Monday 7th
The (presumed same) Red-backed Shrike from the end of August made a reappearance around Roaring Gutter on RSPB Worth Marshes. It disappeared off south but has been presumably been lingering in the area for some time. Two Egyptian Geese, a Ruff, and two Black-tailed Godwits were on Restharrow Scrape and three Cattle Egrets between the Observatory and the Sandwich Toll booth. A Black Tern was offshore.
Sunday 6th
Two Black Terns, a Little Tern, and two Arctic Skuas offshore today. Three Whimbrels were at the Point in the evening.
Saturday 5th
Not much to report today but the recent Whooper Swan was seen again on the Green Wall and a flock of four Great White Egrets flew north over the Estate.
Friday 4th
The clear highlight of the day was a WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN which lingered briefly offshore before being lost going north. An Arctic Skua and one/two Black Terns were seen as well. Three additional Black Terns were in Pegwell Bay. Yesterday's Mandarin was still on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Thursday 3rd
A melee of terns and gulls were feeding offshore in the morning. At least three Black Terns were among the maelstrom. Four Arctic Skuas also showed interest in the flock. The Mandarin from a few days ago was also relocated on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Wednesday 2nd
There was a bit of overhead passage in the form of two Tree Pipits north, small numbers of Swallows and House Martins, a Swift, and a Grey Wagtail. Another fall of Blackcaps on the Estate comprised around 120 birds. There were also 28 Willow Warblers, four Whinchats, four Wheatears, and a couple of Goldcrests. The Whooper Swan was seen on the Green Wall and 50 Golden Plovers on RSPB Worth Marshes.
Tuesday 1st
Today saw our first major fall of Blackcaps of the autumn with a minimum of 110 on the Estate. There were also a handful of Lesser Whitethroats and two Spotted Flycatchers. Two Water Rails and a Mandarin were on Restharrow Scrape and five Cattle Egrets at the Drove.
This is just another reminder that our Conservation Team are working hard on Restharrow Scrape every Monday and Thursday morning for the next few weeks. Expect some disturbance at those times. And if you fancy giving them a hand drop an email to info@sbbot.org.uk.