31st

On the Estate this morning were 3 Willow Warblers, 11 Chiffchaffs and just one Firecrest in the Elms. There was also a steady passage of 220 Chaffinches, plus 6 Bramblings, including a fabulous-looking summer plumaged male in the Observatory car park for a few minutes, and a Marsh Harrier and at least 3 Sparrowhawks flew over, mostly heading N at some height.

30th

Today's highlights were concentrated mainly in the Elms and adjacent gullies, where 8 Firecrests, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 continental Coal Tits and several of the day's total of 23 Siskins were to be seen. There were also 2 Black Redstarts, a Blackcap and 4 Wheatears on the Estate, 15 Wheatears on Worth marshes and a Swallow over the Observatory.

29th

After the excesses of yesterday's weather it was good to wake to clear skies and a light S breeze. Although both increased as the morning went by, a fair passage of birds included 61 Siskins and 4 Bramblings flying S, 41 Meadow Pipits and 16 Linnets flying N and 447 Chaffinches, either arriving from off the sea or heading S.

27th

Overnight rain ceased around dawn to leave a gloomy morning with a few spots of rain and huge numbers of birds moving overhead. There were at least 11,000 Starlings, including 5,000 or so flying out to sea or NE, 2,300 Chaffinches poured NE, mostly in the first two hours, 287 Redwings, 89 Fieldfares and at least 16 Bramblings also flew N and other birds moving in the same direction included a House Martin, 3 Swallows, a Grey Wagtail, 5 Sparrowhawks, 9 Siskins and 427 Woodpigeons. On the ground, 3 Firecrests included one bird that had freshly arrived with a flock of Chiffchaffs near the sailing club, while 2 Wheatears, 23 Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler were scattered about the Estate and a Woodcock flew past the ringing area. An excellent day.

26th

Calm and thankfully warmer, but cloudy, today featured an arrival of 17 Chiffchaffs, along with 3 Firecrests, a Swallow and a Sand Martin. 5 Bramblings flew N and 850 Woodpigeons were scattered about the area. 7 of the Chiffchaffs were on New Downs, where there also 6 white wagtails, a Barn Owl, a female Merlin and the welcome sight of a flock of 220 Linnets.

25th

297 Chaffinches and a Grey Wagtail flew N into an icy wind this morning, but otherwise there was little change from yesterday until mid afternoon, when 4 white wagtails appeared with 2 pied wagtails among the sheep opposite the Observatory. There was also one on Worth marshes earlier.

24th

It was not quite a carbon copy of yesterday, but close, with 2 Firecrests, 2 Chiffchaffs and 4 Sparrowhawks in the area and 2 Marsh Harriers over Worth marshes.

23rd

In a brief window of calm between yesterday's northerly gales and heavy snow that set in around mid day, 2 Firecrests and 2 Chiffchaffs were on the Estate along with at least 4 Sparrowhawks, while a Peregrine was circling out at sea again.

21st

Although a strong and blustery NW wind quelled migrant activity almost entirely, 4 Firecrests were still in the shelter of the Elms and a male Marsh Harrier was seen along the Ancient Highway.

20th

Dull with a light westerly, this morning featured 800 Starlings, 672 Chaffinches, 43 Siskins, 4 Bramblings, 23 Pied Wagtails and 2 Grey Wagtails flying N, with a Swallow and a Sand Martin just after mid day. A Peregrine was circling out at sea and the Whooper Swan appeared again on Restharrow Scrape, where a Knot was feeding for a while and 2 Scandinavian Rock Pipits turned up in the afternoon.

19th

It was brighter today, but still with a cold N breeze, and finch movement continued with 1,412 Chaffinches, 37 Bramblings and 12 Siskins, many of which were specks in the sky, visible only against the background of scattered clouds. Starling numbers were also impressive, with over 7,000 during the day, including at least 5,000 on the fields and a flock of a thousand that climbed high into the sky and headed NE out to sea in late afternoon. Down to earth, 2 Wheatears, 4 Firecrests and a Black Redstart provided the main interest.

18th

A cold N breeze precipitated a notable movement of over 1,800 Chaffinches, with another 150 on the Estate, 26 Bramblings, 23 Siskins, 80 Woodpigeons and 1,800 Starlings, with another thousand or so of the latter swirling around the sheep during the afternoon. A Marsh Harrier flew N, as did one of 3 Sparrowhawks and a female Merlin, a male Peregrine flew along the shore and at least 4 Firecrests and 4 Chiffchaffs remained on the Estate, where there were also 2 Black Redstarts.

17th

At least 3 Firecrests, 5 Goldcrests, a Black Redstart and 3 Chiffchaffs remained on the Estate and a steady procession of Chaffinches throughout the day amounted to over 250 birds, most of which were adult males.

16th

Before drizzly rain set in, migrants included 6 Firecrests and 5 Chiffchaffs, mainly in the Elms, and 2 Black Redstarts and a Wheatear by the sailing club. A Black-tailed Godwit was on Restharrow Scrape before being disturbed by a female Peregrine, 84 Chaffinches flew S, nearly 1,700 Starlings flew in the opposite direction, a female Merlin flew along the beach and a Pomarine Skua flew by offshore.

15th

At last, a real spring day with 13 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, the first 2 Wheatears, 110 Chaffinches, 4 Bramblings and a Water Rail representing the migrants. The star bird however, found by the ringers first thing this morning, was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker which flew from the Haven Stream to the Observatory car park then on to Worth Marshes. It was warm and sunny, not as predicted, and there were many bees about to keep the Red Admiral butterfly company.

14th

A Marsh Harrier and a Kestrel flew in off the sea, 4 Chiffchaffs were on the Estate and 2 Siskins flew over.

13th

Calmer today, but overcast, overhead movement included 73 Chaffinches, 2 Bramblings, 3 Siskins and 9 Meadow Pipits, while a female Marsh Harrier drifted SW from the direction of Pegwell. Down at eye level, 3 Chiffchaffs had arrived on the Estate, a Firecrest was skulking in low vegetation in the Elms and a Short-eared Owl was seen along the Ancient Highway.

12th

Despite a strong SW wind, at least 51 Chaffinches trickled S this morning, while a flock of 11 Pied Wagtails was sheltering in the beach vegetation.

11th

A bright and blustery day was enlivened by 120-odd Chaffinches and 3 Siskins flying S, a Firecrest and a Chiffchaff in the Elms and the first record for Restharrow Scrape of an adult Kittiwake, evidently unimpressed by the weather out at sea.

10th

Wet and windy. Not many birds visible through the rain though a few interesting flight techniques by stockier birds ie Wood Pigeon! Chaffinches are still in good number some seen feeding in the slightly sheltered observatory gardens.

9th

The monthly boat trip took place today with 40 species recorded. Birds of prey included 3 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine and 2 Short-eared Owl, wader numbers were 200 Oystercatcher, 400 Dunlin, 250 Curlew, 3 Common Sandpiper and 60 Redshank. On the Estate 4 Redwing, 12 Skylark, 7 Corn Bunting and 4 Ring-necked Parakeet.

8th

A female Hen Harrier was again seen on the Estate today and 75 Linnet were recorded on the reserves. Offshore a flock of 40 Ringed Plover flew S, 51 Great Crested Grebe on the water and a Red-throated Diver and 2 Fulmar flying N.

7th

Due to NW'ly force 5 wind with intermitant rain it's rather a quite day bird wise. Highlight of the day was a female Hen Harrier seen at 9.30 this morning close to the tollgate and going towards Worth. On Restharrow Scrape one Bar-tailed Godwit was present also 18 Curlew moving around.

6th

Good numbers of Shoveler (33) can be found on Restharrow Scrape.

5th

There was little activity again on a bright and still morning, although a Sparrowhawk flying purposefully N along the shore was clearly a migrant.

4th

A bright and breezy morning with a boisterous N wind featured at least 125 Chaffinches on the Estate.

3rd

Although 3 Snow Buntings were on the beach opposite Prince's and 2 Lapland Buntings were present, flying in a very broad circuit around their usual area, it was again very quiet.

2nd

There were continuing signs of Chaffinch activity this morning, with 40 on the Estate and 10 flying S along the shore. Otherwise, it was pretty quiet, although one Lapland Bunting and the Whooper Swan were still in residence.