|
31st Apart from at least 5 Pied Flycatchers that were noisily evident in the Elms, a Common Redstart in the Oasis, 20 or so Blackcaps, a Sparrowhawk that flew N and slowly increasing numbers of Chiffchaffs the Estate was rather quiet. Apparently a Spotted Redshank was on Restharrow Scrape, but was spooked by some inquisitive cattle. 30th A lengthy seawatch from first light in bright conditions with a stiff NE wind was notable almost entirely for a juvenile Long-tailed Skua that flew N towards Pegwell, provoking speculation that it may have been the same bird from four days ago. Otherwise, the wind made observation very difficult but 3 Pied Flycatchers and a Wood Warbler were found in sheltered bits of the Elms and a Spotted Redshank was seen on Backsand Scrape. News came though yesterday of the origin of two colour-ringed Mediterranean Gulls that visited Restharrow Scrape earlier in the month. Both were ringed as chicks in June this year; one in Pas de Calais, France and the other in somewhere unpronouncable in Zuid-Holland, the Netherlands. 29th Overcast, breezy and rather cool conditions were predictable enough for a Bank Holiday weekend, though the rain had the decency to hold off until mid afternoon. Good numbers of migrants on the Estate included 2 Pied Flycatchers, a Spotted Flycatcher, 45 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 20 Willow Warblers. Elsewhere, an Arctic Skua and a Little Stint were seen at the Point, a Cuckoo was on New Downs and Restharrow Scrape held a Garganey and a first winter Mediterranean Gull. 28th The weather relented at last, although it remained quite breezy, presenting a productive morning that featured 6 Pied Flycatchers, 15 Whinchats, a Wood Sandpiper on the scrape, an Osprey that flew S over the Estate and, in the Elms, 2 Wood Warblers and a MELODIOUS WARBLER that showed itself briefly before becoming elusive. There were also 2 Turtle Doves - sadly our only ones of the autumn so far - and a notable 11 Garden Warblers were trapped. 27th A morning of light rain, driven on by a fresh NE wind, produced another half-decent seawatch that included 109 Teal, 4 Arctic Skuas, a Bonxie, 5 Fulmars and a scattering of waders and ducks, while a few Common Terns lingered offshore. 26th The residue of the heavy rain that lasted from yesterday afternoon into the night lasted until mid morning and although the wind was unhelpfully in the SW there were 2-300 Common Terns offshore, mostly moving N towards Pegwell, then feeding offshore in the early afternoon. 2 Black Terns also flew N and 3-4 Arctic Skuas were harrying the terns from time to time, but the highlight was a juvenile Long-tailed Skua that flew in from out at sea and headed N along the shore fairly close in, probably having been present without giving good enough views for much of the morning. Other birds on a rather wind-blown Estate included 8 Wheatears, 4 Whinchats and at least one Hobby, a Spotted Redshank was on Restharrow Scrape and a Curlew Sandpiper and a Black Tern were in Pegwell. 25th A ringing session in the maize was notable for the capture of a Grasshopper Warbler and a Whinchat, of which 7 were scattered about the Estate, while 2 Spotted Flycatchers were still present in the Oasis and Haven and 2 Hobbies and 2 Sparrowhawks flew N. However, the place to be was Restharrow Scrape, where there were 2 Spotted Redshanks, a Ruff, 5 Green Sandpipers, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and 3 Garganey. 24th A clear start with a feisty W breeze promised little, but it turned out to be quite productive. 3 Pied Flycatchers were in the Oasis and Haven, along with our first 3 Spotted Flycatchers of the autumn, a female Marsh Harrier flew in from the NE, 3 Whinchats appeared on the fence bordering the golf course, with another 8 at Dickson's Corner, and 3 Garganey were on Restharrow Scrape. There was also a small arrival of Blackcaps among about 14 Willow Warblers and similar numbers of Common Whitethroats. Elsewhere, the Spotted Redshank and 23 Greenshanks were on Backsand Scrape. 23rd An overnight strong to gale force S wind with squally rain continued into the morning, provoking a record gathering for the Bay of 104 Mediterranean Gulls on Restharrow Scrape in the gloom that passed for first light. Offshore, a stream of terns poured into Pegwell, accompanied by several skuas, before moving out again as the weather withdrew to the east. Totals for the morning amounted to at least 400 Common Terns, 60 Sandwich Terns, 2 Arctic Terns, 2 Bonxies and 3 Arctic Skuas, while 140 House Martins moved N in tight flurries and several Swallows flew in off the sea. 20th The bushes were very quiet, although the first few Chiffchaffs have started to appear among diminishing numbers of Willow Warblers. However, 3 Green Sandpipers dropped on to Restharrow Scrape from high overhead and a Common Buzzard was seen around the Observatory on a couple of occasions. 19th A Quail was heard early on and a Pied Flycatcher was found in the Oasis as pulses of hirundines moved ahead of approaching rain, attracting more than passing attention from at least 2 Hobbies.. 18th A mostly bright and lightly breezy morning produced a few bits and pieces, including 20-odd Willow Warblers, a Spotted Redshank that flew inland from Restharrow Scrape and our second Wood Warbler of the autumn, flitting about on the sunlit edge of the Little Elms. 16th Following the appearance of a Temminck's Stint on Restharrow Scrape on the 14th the ongoing N wind and gloomy, overcast conditions ensured that wader passage continued today, along with a few parties of ducks. 2 Garganey, 6 Ringed Plovers, 3 Dunlin, 5 Turnstones, 3 Green Sandpipers and a Greenshank visited the scrape on and off throughout the day and a similar variety was evident offshore. 13th About 30 Willow Warblers, 8 Lesser Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher were welcome distractions on a calm morning with occasional patches of light rain. On Backsand Scrape were 5 Avocets, 22 Greenshanks and 48 Redshanks. 12th A light NW wind with broken cloud rather unpectedly induced the arrival this morning of 2 Pied Flycatchers and an ICTERINE WARBLER, trapped in t 11th 80 Willow Warblers were scattered about the Estate, with 7 Lesser Whitethroats and a Garden Warbler, the first Whinchat of autumn was on the golf course and 2 Wheatears were hopping about near Dickson's Corner, with 8 more on Prince's practice ground. At Backsand, the Wood Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank were still present with 14 Greenshanks and 13 Whimbrel flew N. 10th A dull, drizzly day produced a bit of wader movement, including a flock of 37 Knot flying S offshore and a party of 5 Black-tailed Godwits that flew in off the sea early in the afternoon. 9th With little to recommend the Estate, a trek to Backsand Scrape was very worthwhile, providing excellent views of a Wood Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank and a slumbering White-cheeked Pintail. There were also 17-18 each of Greensha 7th The morning started off with 73 Mediterranean Gulls, mostly adults, flying SW from the direction of Pegwell. The Estate held 40 Willow Warblers, for which this is turning out to be a very good autumn by recent standards, 12 Wheatears and a Common Redstart, 7 Black Terns and 200 Gannets moved by offshore and later on a Wood Sandpiper and a Garganey were found in Pegwell. 6th 50 Willow Warblers and 3 Garden Warblers were on the Estate and although a trek across Worth marshes did not produce anything unexpected, the bushes and ditches held 26 Common Whitethroats, 14 Willow Warblers, 14 Sedge and about 30 Reed Warblers. However, there was interesting news regarding a Green Sandpiper on Backsand Scrape yesterday. It was possible to read the ring number from Steve Ray's photographs and it transpires that this individual was ringed on Backsand Scrape in late July 2006, quite probably having returned to the scrape on its return migration in each autumn since. 4th Apart from 3 Wheatears, a Marsh Harrier and 21 Willow Warblers it was quiet again on the Estate, but there were 26 Green Sandpipers and a Wood Sandpiper on the afternoon tide at Backsand Scrape. 3rd A bit of marking time today, with fewer than 20 Willow Warblers in the area, although the ringers trapped 4 Garden Warblers and a Coal Tit. Otherwise, a juvenile Shag was seen offshore and 16 Med. Gulls and a few Sand Martins flew S in the afternoon. 2nd 70 or so Willow Warblers remained, concentrated mainly in the north end of the Estate, an unringed Common Treecreeper was squeaking away in the Elms and the autumn's first Wheatear was seen on New Downs. 1st Another arrival of 100 Willow Warblers greeted the new month, accompanied by a Common Treecreeper, trapped in the Whitehouse. |
he Whitehouse (photo below, by Ian Hodgson). 
nk and Common Redshank, with eight Little Egrets providing a flavour of the Medterranean (I don't care - they still do). There was also an entertaining and prolonged altercation between a Green Sandpiper and the Wood Sandpiper, but instead of the Green Sand being the aggressor it was goody twoshoes, butter-wouldn't melt in my mouth Wood Sand that caused all the trouble. Here's a photo of the Wood Sandpiper in a better mood, feeding in front of a Green Sandpiper that it seemed quite happy with. It just goes to show.