Monday 30th
The early onslaught of wind and rain gave way somewhat around midday. Three Balearic Shearwaters were seen flying south with three Arctic Skuas, one Great Skua, one Little Gull, and one Arctic Tern also of note. There was an increase in winter wildfowl in Pegwell Bay.
Sunday 29th
Thank you to all who attended the Big Kent Bird Migration Watch. Today was a lot cloudier and not as nice, but with it came a lot more birds. There was a fall of Chiffchaff and Blackcap again, with at least 120 of the former and 90 of the latter. Eighty Brent Geese were also offshore.
Saturday 28th
A busy day. Four Dotterels were seen briefly near Worth village before flying over RSPB Worth marshes and towards the Observatory. Unfortunately they could not be relocated. Two Great White Egrets were on the marshes plus at least 50 Chiffchaffs. There was a light movement of Buzzards with double-figures over the Estate, along at least 70 Mediterranean Gulls and singles of Tree Pipit and Rock Pipit. A Little Stint was in Pegwell Bay.
Friday 27th
Three Balearic Shearwaters and six Arctic Skuas were the highlights offshore in strong winds and intermittent downpours. Four Little Stints were also in Pegwell Bay. Thankfully the weather is much better tomorrow for the Big Kent Bird Migration Watch. There will be walks, talks, and refreshments available at the Observatory all day. We look forward to seeing you there.
Wednesday 25th
The bushes were bustling as the low cloud and intermittent showers brought with them a massive fall of birds. The final counts are still being checked but approximately 540 Blackcaps and 390 Chiffchaffs were logged on the Estate. At least 200 each of Blackcap and Chiffchaff were elsewhere in the Recording Area giving a final total of around 1,500 Warblers. The Yellow-browed Warbler was still in the Haven, two Tree Pipits flew north, and over 1,000 Swallows and House Martins also went through. Two Balearic Shearwaters and a Little Gull were offshore and a Spotted Flycatcher at New Downs.
Tuesday 24th
Yesterday's Yellow-browed Warbler was still in the Haven, joined this time by a Coal Tit, whilst a Kingfisher also flashed through too. Overhead passage had finished by mid-morning but before then over 500 Meadow Pipits, 30 Pied Wagtails, five Yellow Wagtails, three Grey Wagtails, two Bramblings, and 16 Reed Buntings flew north.
Monday 23rd
An early flurry of activity produced a Yellow-browed Warbler in the Haven among lots of Chiffchaffs. Later a Grasshopper Warbler was flushed from the path on Royal St George's Golf Course and a Firecrest was trapped and ringed. A late Cuckoo was on the Green Wall and a Little Stint was feeding along the tide line on Prince's Beach.
We are delighted that John Buckingham will be continuing his fascinating and very popular programme of Wednesday evening Zoom Courses. His subject this autumn/winter will be ‘THE LIFE OF BIRDS and HOW THEY WORK’. This is a great opportunity to learn more about birds, including not just how to identify them, but understand something of their behaviour, anatomy, feeding, annual cycle, migration, populations, names and status. All will be illustrated with John’s top quality images and course material. The first session begins this week though don't fret if you cannot watch it live as recordings will be sent to all participants a few days after. To book please click HERE and follow the instructions.
Sunday 22nd
The first real push of Meadow Pipits with just over 200 flying north. Our first Brambling of the autumn also dropped in at Mary Bax. In the afternoon three Little Stints were in Pegwell Bay and a Dotterel flew west over Royal Cinque Ports Golf Course.
Saturday 21st
Three Firecrests, nine Whinchats, and a Spotted Flycatcher were the highlights on the Estate whilst eight Tree Pipits, seven Whinchats, 11 Yellow Wagtails, and singles of Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were on RSPB Worth marshes. Seven more Whinchats, two Bearded Tits, and another Spotted Flycatcher were also logged on New Downs. Also of interest, there seemed to be a lot of Jay activity in the area with many birds seen at different sites perhaps moving through.
Friday 20th
There were hundreds of Swallows heading north early on in the low cloud. The sun broke through mid-morning though and by then the passage had finished. Three Ravens were cavorting about everywhere and there were three Firecrests at the southern end of the Estate.
Thursday 19th
There was somewhat of a clear-out on the Estate with only a handful of Sand Martins, Chiffchaffs, and Blackcaps, plus a Grey Wagtail and an odd sight of two Kestrels on the shingle. Later, a brief Wryneck was spied along the road. Two Little Stint were in Pegwell Bay early on but had (presumably) moved to New Downs in the afternoon.
Wednesday 18th
The wind was still very strong but despite this there was a lot less moving offshore than yesterday, with an Arctic Tern north the lone highlight. A Spotted Flycatcher hid out of the wind in the Jubilee Field. Over in Pegwell Bay there was a reasonable variety on offer. The exceedingly high tide held a Little Stint whilst the Wigeon flock was now into triple-figures.
Tuesday 17th
Many of us were rudely/thankfully woken by news of a RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER trapped and ringed on the Estate. The bird was a first-calendar individual (born this year) and the first record in the area since October 2012. As the morning went on two Redstarts were found and then the wind picked up and encouraged some sea passage. Wildfowl were moving through in small flocks, namely Brent Geese, Wigeon, Teal, and Pintail. News of a Brown Booby off Foreness kept us searching and we eventually picked up a Petrel sp, most likely Leach's. Unfortunately, it zoomed past us so quickly that we couldn't get the finer details. With another week of easterlies ahead of us who knows what else it may bring.
Monday 16th
Three Pochards were on Restharrow Scrape early on and there were over 50 Chiffchaffs on the Estate and 25 on New Downs. A Redstart was seen at the Drove and a few Pintails in Pegwell Bay.
Sunday 15th
Another day with the bushes teeming with just over 200 Chiffchaffs and just under 100 Blackcaps, plus another two Firecrests. Eight Whinchats were also recorded.
Saturday 14th
The Estate provided two Tree Pipits, a Grasshopper Warbler (Gullies), and two Firecrest, but the main talking point of the morning was the warblers with 124 Blackcaps and 125 Chiffchaffs logged. A big movement of Swallows in the evening saw approximately 5,000 birds in the area.
Friday 13th
Unlucky for some but a decent enough mix for us around the Recording Area today. A Firecrest was along the Worth track and two Great White Egrets on RSPB Worth marshes. A Raven flew over the Observatory and a family of Grey Partridges was in the asparagus fields, whilst singles of Black Tern, Little Tern, and Spotted Redshank were in Pegwell Bay.
Thursday 12th
A Firecrest on the Estate was our first of autumn. There were another 40 Chiffchaffs and 50 Blackcaps plus a/the Tree Pipit in the Oasis again. A Pied Flycatcher on New Downs was the best of the rest.
Wednesday 11th
There was another arrival of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs with at least 80 of the former and 50 of the latter. A Tree Pipit was in the Oasis and a Merlin hunted the asparagus fields. A Tawny Owl was on the Green Wall in the evening.
Tomorrow evening our Thursday Night Lecture Programme kicks off with Vicki Peaple giving us an update on the brilliant wetland restoration work on RSPB Worth marshes. We're all looking forward to hearing how the site has been developing, how wildlife has been responding, and what the plans are for the ongoing development of the site. We hope to see you all there!
Tuesday 10th
Our first big 'vismig' day of autumn. Hirundines dominated proceedings with at least 8,200 House Martins and 980 Swallows recorded flying north and smaller numbers of Sand Martins and Swifts. Two Tree Pipits were recorded among 287 Meadow Pipits, plus an impressive 31 Grey Wagtails, four Yellow Wagtails, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, and a Mistle Thrush. The bushes on the Estate held 96 Blackcaps, 21 Chiffchaffs, and five Willow Warblers. Singles of Spotted and Pied Flycatcher were at the Chequers.
Monday 9th
Three Little Gulls and a Marsh Harrier were offshore and a Pied Flycatcher was at the Chequers. The Estate held two Tree Pipits, a Redstart, eight Wheatears, and a Whinchat whilst singles of Little Tern and Curlew Sandpiper were in Pegwell Bay.
Thank you to everyone who has booked onto our mini-break to Portland in late April. There are very few spaces available so act quick if you wish to join us! Click HERE to read more.
Sunday 8th
The dearth of birds in the bushes was surprising considering the numbers making landfall further north in the UK. There were good numbers of Tree Pipit again though with at least 15 seen today. Most birds are picked up flying overhead. You can brush up on their flight calls HERE. Just when we thought that was going to be the highlight of the day a brilliant BROWN BOOBY flew north offshore. It was seen entering the Bay just before midday before lost. This is potentially the same bird seen off the Kent coast two-three times in the last three weeks and, if accepted, would be a new species for Sandwich Bay.
Saturday 7th
The morning continued how the evening left off with Tree Pipits still moving through. At least ten birds were seen. A Spotted Redshank was also on RSPB Worth marshes.
Friday 6th
A much calmer day but still grey and muggy. Bird of the day was undoubtedly the Bittern found on Restharrow Scrape mid-morning. After stalking the bank in the front of the Graham Crick hide it then flew across to the north-east corner. A Little Ringed Plover was also present and later in the day a Spoonbill dropped in too. There were small numbers of hirundines moving north over the Estate again, including four Swifts. The afternoon saw a big arrival of at least 35 Tree Pipits to area, plus a few Redstarts. On New Downs there was a Wood Sandpiper and two Curlew Sandpipers. A further Curlew Sandpiper was also seen in Pegwell Bay.
Thursday 5th
Fierce north-easterlies battered the Bay, even knocking out the power to the area for a while, and so sea-watching was the aim of the day. It was a touch disappointing considering the conditions but a few groups of wildfowl and waders went north with singles of Black Tern and Arctic Skua the highlights.
Wednesday 4th
A really nice variety of birds on the Estate today. Overhead 'vismig' comprised two Ospreys, 160 Sand Martins, 210 Swallows, four Yellow Wagtails, eight Grey Wagtails, four Pied Wagtails, and singles of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swift, and Little Egret north. There was a big increase in Robins to 58 and Blackcaps to 95, plus one Sedge Warbler, four Reed Warblers, five Whitethroats, one Lesser Whitethroat, one Garden Warbler, nine Willow Warblers, 30 Chiffchaffs, three Whinchats, and three Wheatears.
Tuesday 3rd
Two Little Terns were offshore and hundreds of Sand Martins around the Oasis area.
Please note, our annual vegetation clearance work on Restharrow Scrape will begin this Thursday (5th) and continue on both Mondays and Thursdays for at least a few weeks. Expect disturbance to area, particularly in the mornings. Thank you for your understanding.
Monday 2nd
A grey day with a hint of drizzle in the air. There was no sign of either of yesterday's highlights but there was a notable influx of hirundines, with 600 Swallows and 300 Sand Martins. Two Wigeons were on Restharrow Scrape and a Great White Egret flew over. Small numbers of Gulls and Terns were moving offshore, plus a male Common Scoter sat on the sea.
Sunday 1st
An ORTOLAN BUNTING was an excellent find on the Estate but all too brief. It flew in calling just south of Sandilands, alighted for a minute or so, and then flew back onto the Estate where, unfortunately, it could not be refound. However, eager eyes scouring the area picked up a Wryneck instead which spent time sitting deep in cover at Dickson's Corner. Two Curlew Sandpipers were in the wader roost on the Estate beach and another three were in Pegwell Bay.