A better month with the total of 77 species almost up to the ten-year average of 77.9 species. There was a creditable 13 new species for the year including two Slavonian Grebes on 3rd and ending with a flourish with an early Sandwich Tern and a Yellow-legged Gull on 26th and an Iceland Gull on 28th.

A total of 89 species so far this year

A total of 89 species by this time last year

28th

Sunny periods, cold, light northerly wind. There were four Red-throated Divers and six Great Crested Grebes offshore, three Common Scoters flew east, and later west, and there were 47Brent Geese on the beach. One drake Teal was on the Marsh Pool. The Purple Sandpiper was still present and five Goldfinches and 15 Linnets also seen.

A first-winter gull, which flew over the area and dropped onto the Marsh Pool, proved to be an Iceland Gull; our first here since 2019 and only the sixth record in 35 years of observations. It remained on the Marsh Pool for only a few minutes.

27th

Cloudy, cold, moderate to fresh NW wind. A string of 55 Red-throated Divers, with one Great Northern Diver, flew west disturbed by a speeding lifeboat. There were also five Great Crested Grebes offshore, two Shelducks flew west, there were 38 Brent Geese on the beach and as pair of Pintail along the shoreline. After yesterday’s Yellow-legged Gull, a first-winter bird appeared on the Marsh Pool. Also noted was a Firecrest in the Elm Wood. It’s good to have these wintering but where are the Goldcrests?

26th

Sunny at first, light southerly wind. A Sandwich Tern on the yellow buoy off the skate park was our earliest record, other than a rare winter record. Rarer still was a second-winter Yellow-legged Gull amongst the Herring Gulls along the shoreline. Yellow-legged Gulls are seen regularly at sites such as Dungeness, Pegwell Bay and in the upper Thames, but it is many years since one was noted here. To complete the Laridae (gulls and terns) of interest, there were two adult Mediterranean Gulls close inshore and two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the beach. A drake Teal and three drake Shovelers were also on the Marsh Pool. Also noted were two Stock Doves, new for the year, one Skylark west and the pair of Stonechats.

25th

A pair of Tufted Ducks on the sea were an addition to the year list as was a Mediterranean Gull that flew west. Two Gannets flew east and there were nine Great Crested Grebes and two Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. Four Shovelers and a Teal were on the Marsh Pool and 28 Snipe were visible there. Also noted was the male Blackcap near the car park.

21st

Cloudy, mild, fresh southerly wind. One Red-throated Diver offshore, two Gannets flew east, one Shelduck west and four Common Scoters and two Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. There were three Teal and a drake Shoveler on the Marsh Pool. Waders included the Grey Plover and Purple Sandpiper and at least 24 Snipe were visible. A Marsh Harrier flew west low over the sea at 11.50 am. Also noted were two Firecrests in brambles opposite the sewage works entrance and at least ten Linnets with one singing in the scrub.

A white gull dropped onto the beach. It appeared too small for a Glaucous and not delicate enough for an Iceland Gull.

20th

Misty at first then breezy. There were two Red-throated Divers and six Red-breasted Mergansers offshore, two Teal and five Shovelers on the Marsh Pool, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the beach. A Skylark and six Linnets were also noted.

19th

A Little Grebe was in the brook close to the wooden bridge. There were five Teal, five Mallard and three Shovelers on the Marsh Pool.

18th

There were several Red-throated Divers and a Great Crested Grebe offshore and a Grey Heron on the tidal ponds. The Grey Plover and Purple Sandpiper were also noted.

15th

Cloudy, cold, light SE wind. There were three Red-throated Divers offshore. Six Shelducks flew east, a duck Teal and seven Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool and an immature Mute Swan came in from the NW to land on the Marsh Pool and later settle on the sea. A third-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the beach. Also noted was a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the pines at Lang Court.

14th

A Little Egret, scarce in this recent cold weather, and a Grey Heron were noted. There were five Shovelers on the Marsh Pool, a Red-breasted Merganser flew east and the pair of Stonechats were still present.

13th

Cloudy, cold, moderate NE wind. There were ten Red-throated Divers offshore and a Great Northern Diver flew east. There were 63 Brent Geese on the beach, three Shelducks flew west, six Wigeon with two Teal flew west, and there were three Teal and three Shovelers on the Marsh Pool. The pair of Stonechats were still present.

12th

Cloudy, cold, light NE wind. A Fulmar, which flew west at 11.26 am, though not unexpected, was new for the year. There were two Red-throated Divers and a Great Crested Grebe offshore, 25 Brent Geese on the beach and a pair of Teal on the Marsh Pool. Also noted were the male Sparrowhawk along the east bank, a male Stonechat and a singing Song Thrush at Lang Court.

10th

Cloudy, murky, cold, fresh NE wind. There were three Red-throated Divers and a drake Red-breasted Merganser offshore, 40 Brent Geese (all adults) on the beach and a pair of Teal along the shoreline off the Obs. One pair of Shovelers was on the Marsh Pool. Waders included the Purple Sandpiper and the Grey Plover between the groynes, both flushed by a combination of dogs and a passing Peregrine! Also noted were the pair of Stonechats on the coastal path, a Fieldfare in the trees by the sewage works entrance and a flock of 15 Linnets.

9th

Cloudy with light rain. A day for ducks with a Shelduck, three Teal and nine Shovelers on the Marsh Pool. The highest count of Shovelers on the Marsh Pool. There have been varying numbers of on the Marsh Pool since late November when, usually, there are none! Also noted was a Great Spotted Woodpecker over the trees by the changing rooms.

8th

Cloudy, light easterly wind. There were three Red-throated Divers and seven Red-breasted Mergansers offshore, two Common Scoters flew west, 20 Brent Geese on the beach and a pair of Teal and five Shovelers on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 42 Sanderlings in the eastern bay. A different adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the beach.

6th

Sunny, cold, lmaleight NE wind. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore and 40 Brent Geese on the beach. Waders included 49 Ringed Plovers on the beach off the Obs. A Water Rail on the Marsh Pool may have been the bird seen twice in December but it would have to be a very elusive one! An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the beach. Other birds noted were a male Stonechat, a Jay heard calling by the Obs and two Goldfinches.

5th

Sunny, light southerly wind. There were 15 Red-throated Divers and a Great Crested Grebe offshore, 33 Brent Geese on the beach, eight Egyptian Geese flew west at 7 and there were two Shovelers on the Marsh Pool. Waders included the winter resident Grey Plover and Purple Sandpiper. Also noted were single Ring-necked Parakeets west over the sewage works at 8.35 am and in the churchyard at 9.35 am.

3rd

Sunny and calm with a hard frost. Two Slavonian Grebes, that landed on the sea off the Obs and drifted west, were new for the year. Six Red-breasted Mergansers were also offshore, a Shelduck flew west and three Shovelers, two adult drakes and a duck, were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 28 Oystercatchers on the beach, a Lapwing on the tidal ponds, the Purple Sandpiper, and 30 Snipe visible on the Marsh Pool. A Grey Wagtail, near the wooden bridge by the beach, was also an addition to the year list, and a Skylark flew west. .

1st

Cloudy, then sunny, with a light southerly wind. There were ten Red-throated Divers, five Great Crested Grebes and six Red-breasted Mergansers offshore, a duck Teal close inshore and three Common Scoters flew west. An adult Gannet flew east and there were two Little Egrets and a Grey Heron on Hampton flats. Other birds of note included a Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling along the east bank and a Reed Bunting.