11th

A Marsh Harrier flew over the Estate and out to sea at 7am, a female Hen Harrier was floating about over Worth marshes and a Golden Oriole was seen seen not far beyond the limits of our recording area. Otherwise, it was quiet, but another gloriously sunny day.

10th

A Barn Owl was seen near the river mouth on another bright, warm and calm morning, but there were again very few migrants.

9th

There was a cloud in the sky this morning, but just the one! There was little new except for an influx of 8 Cuckoos, though a Marsh Harrier flew in high from off the sea and 2 Firecrests and a Garden Warbler were on the Estate.

8th

A walk along the Ancient Highway in calm and cloudless conditions turned up a Wood Sandpiper and our first Spotted Flycatcher of the spring, while a Common Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier flew N overhead. One Firecrest remained on the Estate and in Pegwell just prior to high tide were 18 Greenshanks, some superb summer-plumaged Grey Plovers and 11 Little Gulls flying N. However, the bird of the day was found at 7pm, when an adult male RED-FOOTED FALCON was discovered sitting in a field on New Downs before flying off towards the north.

7th

Despite identical conditions to the last two days, there was evidence of movement today, including 5 Common Sandpipers on Restharrow Scrape, 3 Firecrests and a Ring Ouzel on the Estate and a Wood Sandpiper on Worth marshes. On New Downs there were 7 Greenshanks and 13 more Common Sandpipers.

6th

So far as fresh migrants were concerned, today was quieter than an extremely quiet thing, under continuing cloudless skies. 2 Cuckoos were just about all, apart from one Wheatear among the cattle near the sailing club.

5th

Another bright, sunny and calm day brought a steady N movement of 130 Swallows, 14 Swifts and a few more House Martins. 2 female Marsh Harriers were scuffling about over Worth marshes, a Garden Warbler found its way into the nets and a Firecrest was busy in sallows on the Estate. Otherwise, it remains a good deal quieter than it ought to be.

4th

Calm and warm, 8 Little Terns passed by over a glass-like sea and on land were 7 Wheatears, several flurries of House Martins, amounting to 30-40 during the course of the morning, and a Common Sandpiper scuttling about on Restharrow Scrape.

2nd

On the Estate were a Garden Warbler, a Firecrest and a small increase in numbers of House Martins. However, the most significant activity took place offshore as a heavy shower moved out to sea, inducing a Bonxie to fly S, followed shortly after by an Arctic Skua and a Black-throated Diver flying N.

1st

Apart from breeding birds it was again very quiet on land, but a few bits and pieces passed by offshore, including 2 first summer Little Gulls and a Little Tern.