Birds: October
Thursday 8th Adult Yellow-legged Gull was in the field between the Observatory/Farm and the Sandwich Toll booth. Waders on the pools on New Downs comprised three Ruffs, four Greenshanks, and three Grey Plovers, a Yellow Wagtail also flew over. Meanwhile, 95 Brent Geese and an Arctic Skua were offshore and a Wood Sandpiper over the Green Wall. Tuesday 6th Two…
Birds: September
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…
Birds: August
Monday 31st A Great White Egret was on Restharrow Scrape early on. A Tree Pipit flew over the Green Wall and a Hobby over Royal St George’s Golf Course. Two Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint were in Pegwell Bay, and on New Downs another Curlew Sandpiper. Sunday 30th Six Whinchats moved around Sandilands, a Spotted Flycatcher was in Big…
Birds: July
Friday 31st Thankfully the temperatures were not as hot today. Another 40 Willow Warbler were on the Estate again and a juvenile Wheatear was at Sandilands. Thursday 30th Just under 40 Willow Warblers were scattered around the Estate whilst singles of Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Wood Sandpiper, and Common Sandpiper, and three Green Sandpipers, were all on Restharrow Scrape. Wednesday 29th…
Birds: May
Wednesday 13th In among the Restharrow Scrape gullfest were 43 Mediterranean Gulls, a Kittiwake, four Little Gulls, and a Sandwich Tern. Despite the bouts of heavy rain and even hail at least 26 Red Kites flew through. Another Kittiwake was briefly on RSPB Worth Marshes and wader picked up in Pegwell Bay with at least 150 Ringed Plovers present. Tuesday…
Birds: April
Thursday 30th Four Greenshanks and a Redshank were on Restharrow Scrape first thing. Later, a few Swifts and a Sand Martin passed through. A Reed Warbler at Sandilands was an odd record, three Whimbrels were in Restharrow Dunes, and a Grey Plover flew inland over the Estate. The (presumed lingering) Nightingale was singing near the white bridge on the Green…
Birds: March
Tuesday 31st Just over 50 Meadow Pipits headed north and two Greylag Geese came in off the sea. Six Swallows and two House Martins were on RSPB Worth Marshes whilst there were still a few Redwings and Fieldfares knocking around the Estate. Nine Avocets and two Sandwich Terns were the best in Pegwell Bay. Monday 30th A Tree Sparrow in…
Birds: February
Saturday 28th RSPB Worth Marshes held 28 Pintail, a Great White Egret, and 130 White-fronted Geese. It was rather quiet on the Estate but small flocks of moving Redwings became apparent after nightfall. Friday 27th Four Woodcocks and two Firecrests were seen on a drizzly wander around the Estate and our first Sand Martin of the year was on RSPB…
Birds: January
Saturday 31st The final day of the month saw approximately 150 White-fronted Geese, 18 Barnacle Geese, and the 27 Tundra Bean Geese still roaming around on RSPB Worth marshes and an Egyptian Goose dropped into Restharrow Scrape. Friday 30th Two Pintails, two Green Sandpipers, 800 Lapwings, 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and one Bearded Tit were the picks of the bunch…
Birds: December
Wednesday 31st Cold conditions on New Downs but still rewards in the form of two Common Sandpipers and both Water and Rock Pipit. The overwintering Black Redstart, Dartford Warbler, and Coal Tit were all still present on the Estate whilst Glossy Ibis, ten Bar-tailed Godwits, and 11 Pintails were the highlights on RSPB Worth marshes. Good luck for everyone starting…