30th

Yesterday evening began the downward spiral into the meteorological mess that we reverentially refer to as The Easter Weather. Heavy rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning continued into this morning, eventually giving up around 10.15. Before the wind began to increase a scoot around the Estate revealed a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff in the Whitehouse and, on the turf field by Dickson's Corner, a party of 11-12 white wagtails and at least 2 Scandinavian Rock Pipits, while 3 Sand Martins and 2 Swallows flew N over the scrape.

29th

A calm but overcast and misty morning with a few spots of rain drew in 6 Chiffchaffs. There were also 2 Water Pipits on Worth, but little else.

27th

16 Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest were the most notable migrants on the ground and Red Kite, Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier were seen overhead.

26th

In complete contrast to yesterday, the morning was bright with an increasing SW breeze. It was a struggle to find any summer migrants, which amounted to 6 Chiffchaffs, a Wheatear and a Swallow. One Firecrest remained in the Elms and a Green Sandpiper was in one of the ditches on Worth and overhead 170 Chaffinches, a Brambling and a Yellowhammer flew SW and raptors included 4 Sparrowhawks, 2 of which flew N, 5 Common Buzzards, including 2 that flew in off the sea, and a Peregrine.

25th

The early morning had an almost ethereal feel, with barely any distinction between sea and sky and Great Crested Grebes drifting past distractedly on the mirror-still water. Rain that set in around 9.30 cleared for an hour or so in late morning, during which 1,140 Chaffinches flew S, and there were at least 4 Firecrests in the Elms and totals of 8 Sand Martins and 4 Swallows, mostly over Restharrow Scrape. 2 Merlins were also seen, one of which flew out to sea, more or less following some of the Chaffinch flocks.

24th

Calm and mostly overcast with some watery sun, it was again fairly quiet, with 2 Wheatears near Prince's old clubhouse, a Black Redstart near the gullies, 5 Chiffchaffs and 2 Sand Martins that stopped off briefly over Restharrow Scrape. An interesting facet of the winter and early spring has been the number of Reed Buntings that have been trapped since the onset of cold weather just prior to Christmas. In no previous year since 1980 have more than ten been caught and ringed in the first three months of the year, but since December 19th we have trapped no fewer than 74 individuals, indicating an unusually large winter influx and subsequent spring passage.

23rd

Early mist began to lift around 6.30 but then sank back down again, clearing reluctantly as the morning progressed. Another Swallow flew through and 11 Wheatears remained, mostly around the sailing club, but apart from a Mandarin on Restharrow Scrape at first light, a female Marsh Harrier and a drake Eider offshore it was pretty quiet.

22nd

With the breeze in the SW there was not a great deal of overhead movement, though 2 Marsh Harriers, a Common Buzzard and 55 Meadow Pipits flew N, as did our first 10 Swallows of the spring - a remarkable influx for so early. Nevertheless, there were good numbers of grounded migrants, including 22 Wheatears, 4 Black Redstarts, 5 white wagtails, 7 Chiffchaffs, 5 Crossbills in pines near New Downs and 2 Firecrests in the Elms. Out on the marshes a Merlin was successfully hunting Starlings and a count of singing Wrens around the Estate suggested a 30% reduction on last year's territory-holding birds following the cold winter.

21st

Despite a grey sky, occasional light rain and a chilly NW breeze the morning turned out to be quite productive. Northward movement consisted of 303 Chaffinches, 21 Meadow Pipits, 2 alba wagtails, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 10 Crossbills, while a Merlin flew strongly NE out to sea. 2 Black Redstarts and 2 Wheatears were seen along the shore, 4 Firecrests included 2 that gave fantastic views in the gorse at Mary Bax and the Great White Egret and a Marsh Harrier were seen over Worth.

19th

Rather against the run of play as a decent start with some watery sunshine gave way to increasingly sombre conditions with a chilly SW breeze and some late morning drizzle, the day brought a decent flush of migrants, beginning with 2 Sand Martins over Restharrow Scrape and 2 Wheatears along the beach near the Point. 2 Black Redstarts and another Wheatear appeared among the sheep opposite the Observatory around mid day, 4 Firecrests and a Chiffchaff were fiddling about in the bushes and 2 Woodcocks were flushed from the gullies. The influx continued into the afternoon, with 5 Wheatears on the molehill field near the Chequers and the Great White Egret was seen again near Roaring Gutter.

18th

2 Crossbills flew S early on, but a long walk along the shore turned up very little else and it was not until returning to the bushy bits that the first of 3 Firecrests became evident - there were 2 in the Elms and one by the Chequers. Otherwise, a white wagtail flew N and a trickle of Chaffinches and Siskins moved in the opposite direction.

17th

Migration was represented by our first Chiffchaff for nearly two months and a Brambling and a Great Spotted Woodpecker that flew NE. Otherwise, a flock of 6 Long-tailed Tits suggested that not all have paired up yet and the hunt for the first Wheatear continues ......

16th

Bright and sunny with a barely perceptible breeze, this morning was a good deal quieter, although a Garganey and the Great White Egret were seen on Worth. 326 Woodpigeons and a Little Egret flew N, at least 4,000 Starlings were still swirling about the fields and 33 Great Tits included one restless party of ten that disappeared into the sky, heading NE. 5 Lesser Redpolls dropped briefly into Litttle Gully and raptors included a Red Kite (photo below by Ian Hodgson), a Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk that drifted NE at considerable height.

15th

After a few days away that produced not much more than Red Kites on the 12th and 13th and the Great White Egret on the 13th it was a pleasure to return to a sunny morning with a light NW/W wind that brought the first decent day of spring migration. Northward movement featured 361 Woodpigeons, 276 Chaffinches, 8 alba wagtails (at least 2 of which were white wagtails), 40 Siskins, a Woodlark and 19 Great Tits, while 2,000 Starlings flew in off the sea or moved north off the marshes, with over 4,000 more on New Downs. 2 Common Buzzards that appeared to fly in off the sea at 09.20 began a good raptor morning that eventually brought 9 Common Buzzards, mostly moving S, a Red Kite that drifted N from Fowlmead over the Observatory, 3 Sparrowhawks, at least one of which flew N, a Merlin and a Kestrel in off the sea and singles of Peregrine and Marsh Harrier.

9th

Cold again, with a cantankerous NE breeze, the only real change involved the presence of 60 or so Fieldfares and Redwings in the field opposite the Observatory and 50-60 Chaffinches in the hedgerows. Otherwise, it was pretty grim.

8th

In line with the pessimistic weather forecast, today had little to recommend it, with a dour easterly breeze and little sunshine after a sunny start. However, a Woodcock was the first for two weeks and a drake Pintail was on Restharrow Scrape.

5th

In wall-to-wall sunshine 3 Marsh Harriers were soaring together over Worth and the redhead Smew was seen again. 4 Sparrowhawks were also seen, drifting about in various directions, suggesting that they might be on the move.

4th

Although it was brighter, the boisterous and chilly easterly wind persisted and there were even fewer birds of note than yesterday.

3rd

A grey and charmless morning with a chill east wind brought little of note, although a Black-throated Diver and 9 Pintail were seen offshore. Still, it provided an ideal opportunity to proceed with the essential task of reducing the water level in the Observatory pond and, consequently, the car park. While not quite in the same league as Mao's plan to divert the course of the Yangtse it did ensure that the car park is now accessible by car, bicycle and foot, not just the HQ coracle.

2nd

Despite almost identical conditions, today was very different. The only raptors were a female Hen Harrier, a Merlin and 2 distantly soaring Sparrowhawks and 2,800 Starlings was well down on yesterday. However, there was a Siskin in the Haven and a trickle of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Pied Wagtails along the coast suggested that the onset of visible migration might not be far away.

1st

A Redwing in song in the Oasis set the scene for what proved to be a very enjoyable day, particularly after yesterday's deluge. Starlings featured strongly, with at least 8,000 swirling about the area, while 240 Fieldfares included over a hundred climbing high before setting out towards the sea. The erlangeri-type Lanner was still about, though a female Peregrine eventually chased it away and the Great White Egret put in a couple of appearances on the inland side of the railway. On such a bright March morning it was no real surprise when birds of prey started to appear, beginning with a Red Kite, circling about near Mary Bax. It was joined by a Marsh Harrier, then a Common Buzzard and two more Common Buzzards moved N in the next hour or so. The high spring tide, swelled by yesterday's strong onshore wind, created a huge influx of waders in Pegwell, presumably amounting to a significant proportion of the Thanet population of Turnstones and Sanderling, with at least 927 Turnstones and 386 Sanderling roosting below the cliff.