A total of 98 species for the month, a little below the ten-year average of 101.1 species. The annual total of 173 species was well above the ten-year average of 165.1 species. Seven species were added to the year list including our first ever Whooper Swans on 4th, our first for the year, and latest ever, Turtle Dove on 8th and the first for three years, Woodcock on 21st. An Arctic Tern on 17th was the latest ever recorded here.

A total of 173 species so far this year

164 species by this time last year

30th

Sunny, cold, light westerly wind. A Goosander and a Shelduck flew west. A pair of Teal and a pair of Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 15 Golden Plovers west over the sea, 21 Sanderlings on the beach and the Purple Sandpiper. Also noted was a Marsh Harrier west, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff.

28th

A Great Northern Diver was offshore. A drake Teal and the three Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included the resident Purple Sandpiper. Two Ravens were seen early morning. Also noted was a Ring-necked Parakeet flying towards the sewage works, a Mistle Thrush, which flew across the area towards Plough lane, was only the second record for the year, and a Song Thrush was also seen.

27th

Cloudy, mild, moderate SW wind. An early morning Raven, first spotted by a dog walker and “crow lady”, lingered long enough to be seen again. Another addition to the year list. One Great Crested Grebe flew west. Waders included 35 Golden Plovers and a flock of 22 Lapwings flying west low over the sea. There were four Teal and three Shovelers on the Marsh Pool. Also noted were six Skylarks west, the full complement of two pairs of Stonechats and a normal count of 64 Carrion Crows on the beach.

26th

Sunny, calm. One Great Crested Grebe and two Shelducks flew west. A Little Egret was on the beach, and two flew west, and a Grey Heron was on the tidal ponds. A duck Teal and three Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 34 Oystercatchers and 28 Sanderlings on the beach. Two Marsh Harriers flew west together low over the sea at 10.45 am. A single burst of Cetti’s Warbler song, from bushes behind the sea wall near the caravan park, was our first record of this species this year. Also, a Chiffchaff was heard calling by the Obs.

24th

Sunny periods, light southerly wind. A Great Northern Diver offshore was drifting east, there were five Great Crested Grebes offshore and a Little Grebe was on the “pool” at the mouth of the brook. There were two Little Egrets, a Grey Heron on the tidal ponds and 150 Brent Geese on the beach. A drake and a duck Shoveler and

22nd

Sunny, milder, light southerly wind. There were four Great Crested Grebes offshore, a Grey Heron on the tidal ponds, c100 Brent Geese on the beach and a drake Red-breasted Merganser with three female/immature Common Scoters offshore. Three Shovelers, two drakes and a duck, and a duck Teal were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 41 Oystercatchers and 50 Ringed Plovers on the beach and a party of 13 Lapwings flew west. Also noted were a Kingfisher along the upper brook and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, low over the promenade, flying towards Hampton.

A lot of colour on site this morning with a beautiful rainbow and a lurid green brook. The suggestion is that the green brook is the result of dye being used to trace leaks in the sewage works pipework? It was originating from a pipe just upstream of the wooden bridge.

21st

Cloudy, heavy rain until 10.15 am, then sunny with moderate northerly wind. One Red-throated Diver and three Common Scoters, female/immatures, flew west. There were two duck Teal and two drake Shovelers on the Marsh Pool. A Woodcock came in off the sea, flying towards the skate park, at 8.20 am. A typical date for the species here, migrating from Scandinavia, but the first for three years. An adult Kittiwake flew east, a Chiffchaff was along the east bank, and a male Snow Bunting was along the coastal path and the beach.

20th

Sunny, very cold, fresh NW wind. A drake Red-breasted Merganser was on the sea off the Obs and a drake Goosander flew west over the sea at 10.30 am. A duck Teal was along the shoreline and three Shovelers, two drakes and a duck, were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 20 Golden Plovers west and seven Sanderlings on the beach. Also noted were a Kingfisher, a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling in the Elm Wood, a Chiffchaff along the east bank and two Goldfinches along the upper brook.

19th

Cloudy, cold, heavy rain, strong northerly wind. Seven Wigeon and a duck Common Scoter flew west and there were three Teal on the Marsh Pool. A Firecrest was with a tit flock along the east bank.

18th

There were three Red-throated Divers offshore, a Grey Heron, four Mute Swans, three Shelducks and 25 Lapwings flew west and three Common Scoters and two Red-breasted Mergansers flew east. A Short-eared Owl, the third this month and year, was reported high over the area then headed NW. A Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest were at The Obs and there was “some movement” of Chaffinches and Goldfinches.

17th

Sunny, cold, strong northerly wind. The kind of weather we would have wanted last month! Highlight of the sea watch was a drake Velvet Scoter east. There was also one Red-throated Diver west, a Great Crested Grebe east, a Shelduck west, a flock of eight Common Scoters, female or immatures, west, and one east, 27 Lapwings NW, two juvenile Little Gulls west, 97 Common Gulls west, predominantly adults, one adult Lesser Black-backed Gull west, 40 Kittiwakes west, only three juveniles, a juvenile Arctic Tern west and two Razorbills west. Also noted was a Little Grebe along the middle brook, a Kingfisher, four Skylarks NW, a Fieldfare and a Redwing along the east bank, and three adult Rooks west.

15th

Mist rolled in from the sea restricting visibility. Six Gannets flew west, 130 Brent Geese flew east, four Teal and four Common Scoters flew west. The drake Shoveler was again on the Marsh Pool where there were also 29 Mallard and a Teal. Waders included 57 Sanderlings, the highest count so far this autumn, the Purple Sandpiper, and a single Grey Plover and Knot both of which flew off east. One Sandwich Tern was fishing close inshore.

13th

Cloudy becoming sunny, light southerly wind. Two immature Gannets flew east and a duck Teal and a drake Shoveler were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 38 Sanderlings and the Purple Sandpiper on the beach and 15 Snipe visible on the Marsh Pool. A second-winter Mediterranean Gull flew east, two Sandwich Terns were offshore and 151 Herring Gulls were gathered on the beach. An Arctic Skua flew east. Also noted were six Pied Wagtails, a Song Thrush and a Chiffchaff.

12th

Sunny periods, fresh SW wind. A juvenile Gannet flew west, there were c320 Brent Geese, stretching west from the skate park to the street, and the duck Wigeon was on the Marsh Pool. Waders included the Purple Sandpiper, and ten Sanderlings and five Dunlin on the mudflats towards Hampton. A juvenile Pomarine Skua flew west close inshore, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the beach and three Sandwich Terns were resting along the shoreline off the Obs. Also noted were a pair of Stonechats by the Obs, a Chiffchaff along the east bank, c50 Chaffinches west and two Goldfinches along the upper brook.

A Red Admiral was in the Elm Wood.

10th

Cloudy, rain from 10 am, light southerly wind. One Red-throated Diver flew west, three Gannets were offshore, one fishing, the duck Wigeon was on the Marsh Pool and there were 11 Lapwings resting along the shoreline by the Obs. 11 Snipe were visible on the Marsh Pool. Three Sandwich Terns were resting along the shoreline. Also noted were a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling in the churchyard and a Goldcrest along the upper brook.

8th

Sunny, mild with a light southerly wind. Although there was no significant change in the weather, compared with the last two days the birding was much quieter. However, on entering the churchyard, two doves were noted in one of the more mature trees, a Collared Dove and a Turtle Dove. At this time of the year, the latter was either a very late native Turtle Dove or a very rare Oriental Turtle Dove (only one Kent record). Clearly, the first task was to get some photographs. Unfortunately, a clear view was inhibited by the branches and, also unfortunately, both doves flew off within a minute or two. Nevertheless, four shots were managed. These suggest it was in fact a late native Turtle Dove, although many of the defining features separating the two species could not be seen. The latest Turtle Dove to be recorded on the site was of a juvenile on 11th October 2001! The only other November record in Kent Bird Reports over the last ten years was one at Brook Farm, Reculver on 11th November 2018.

There were four Red-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver offshore, one Shelduck flew east and a duck Wigeon was seen in flight over the area. Waders included 40 Lapwings west and 11 Snipe and 18 Redshanks on the Marsh Pool. Four Little Gulls flew west and four Sandwich Terns were offshore. Also noted were a Kingfisher, a male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Elm Wood, one Redwing in the scrub, a Chiffchaff, 12 Long-tailed Tits moving through the Elm Wood and a Redpoll west.

A late, probably our only November record, Holly Blue butterfly paused momentarily at the Obs.

7th

Cloudy, mild, light southerly wind. There were two Red-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver, 14 Great Crested Grebes and our first Slavonian Grebe of the season, offshore. Ducks included our first Goldeneye of the year, on the sea, the redhead Goosander, and seven Common Scoters with a single Teal, west. Waders included five Lapwings on the tidal ponds, the Purple Sandpiper, five Sanderlings and two Dunlin, and 18 Snipe and 18 Redshanks on the Marsh Pool. 11 Little Gulls flew west and there were three Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Tern offshore. A ringtail Hen Harrier, only our second this year, flew west over the sea at 7.28. Also noted were another Short-eared Owl, flying inland over the caravan park, seven Skylarks west, a Grey Wagtail, a Fieldfare and a Song Thrush, one Chiffchaff, three Goldfinches, and a Snow Bunting on the beach.

6th

Cloudy, mild, light southerly wind. There were two Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver, and 11 Great Crested Grebes offshore and three Grey Herons on the tidal ponds. Wildfowl included 78 Brent Geese, three Shelducks and five Teal on the sea, nine Common Scoters east and a redhead Goosander, initially in the brook above the sluice and then on the sea. Waders included four Lapwings along the shoreline by the skate park, three Dunlin, and four Snipe and 22 Redshanks on the Marsh Pool, the latter roosting there at high tide. An adult and a first-winter Mediterranean Gull were on the beach, two Little Gulls flew east, and three flew west, there were five Sandwich Terns offshore and a Razorbill was resting on the sea. A Short-eared Owl that flew west over the sea was our first of the year but not unexpected. Also noted were a Little Grebe in the brook by the coast path bridge, a Grey Wagtail in the upper brook, a Redwing flying south over the scout hut, and c100 Chaffinches, a Brambling and a Redpoll heading west.

5th

A Red-throated Diver and the summer plumage Great Northern Diver were offshore. Waders include seven Sanderlings and two Dunlin. Also noted were Little Grebe, Teal and the redhead Goosander. There were two Stonechats in the scrub, along the brook, Kingfisher and Chiffchaff, with Goldcrest and Firecrest by the sewage works entrance, and Redpoll and Reed Bunting.

4th

Two immature Whooper Swans on the sea at dawn soon flew off west. A new addition to the site list was perhaps one of the more expected but still it was the first since Pallid Swift in November 2022! There was one Red-throated Diver offshore, three Common Scoters flew east, the Purple Sandpiper was still present as was the juvenile Arctic Tern and a few Sandwich Terns. Also noted were a Goldcrest and a Brambling.

3rd

Cloudy, mild, some light rain, light SW wind. A Great Northern Diver and five Great Crested Grebes offshore, two Gannets offshore and an immature Mute Swan, flying west inland. Waders included four Sanderlings on the beach, 23 Curlews heading for the Studd Hill roost, and five Snipe and 15 Redshanks on the Marsh Pool. A single Teal was also on the Marsh Pool. There were four Sandwich Terns offshore and two juvenile Arctic Terns were patrolling the shoreline. Also noted were a male Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Elm Wood, six Skylarks west, c100 Chaffinches west with one Brambling, three Goldfinches and a Redpoll also west.

1st

Sunny with a light SW wind. A Red-throated Diver and two Great Crested Grebes were offshore, a Gannet was fishing offshore, there were 130 Brent Geese on the beach and tidal ponds and 42 Mallard were counted on the Marsh Pool and nearby brook. Waders included the Purple Sandpiper and four Snipe on the Marsh Pool. A Marsh Harrier came in-off the sea and was then seen circling over Hampton. A first-winter Mediterranean Gull was on the beach, two Sandwich Terns and the lingering Arctic Tern were close inshore and a Razorbill was also on the sea. Also noted were three Skylarks west and three Goldfinches, fairly scarce here at the moment, were along the upper brook.