A total of 169 species so far this year

176 species by this time last year

31st

Cloudy, exceptionally mild, fresh SW wind. A Great Northern Diver, a Shag, three Eiders and eight Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore, seven White-fronted Geese flew west over the sea in a repeat of yesterday’s movement and a female Common Scoter also flew west. Waders included a flock of 120 Lapwings flying high west over the sea, 20 Golden Plovers flying west just above the waves, 51 Ringed Plovers, 65 Sanderlings and 74 Dunlin roosting between the groynes and 30 Redshanks on the Marsh Pool. A second-winter Mediterranean Gull was also on the Marsh Pool.

30th

Cloudy, fresh SW wind. Seven White-fronted Geese flew west low over the sea, a drake Shelduck flew west, the three “resident” duck Eiders were offshore with seven Red-breasted Mergansers. Waders included 60 Ringed Plovers and 100 Sanderlings roosting between the groynes, 15 Golden Plovers and a flock of seven Curlews west, and a high count of 38 Redshanks roosting on the Marsh Pool. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were with Black-headed Gulls close inshore and 280 of the latter were counted there and on the Marsh Pool. There were also 30 Common Gulls in the flock, all adults. Away from the sea, it has been very quiet with a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Long-tailed Tit heard at the Obs, nine Goldfinches along the east bank and four Linnets.

29th

Cloudy, showers and a light SW wind. A Slavonian Grebe was close inshore west of the skate park, five Great Crested Grebes, the three Eiders and six Red-breasted Mergansers were also offshore and a single adult Gannet flew east. The wader roost between the groynes at the eastern end of the site consisted of 62 Ringed Plovers and 108 Dunlin whilst, as the tide receded, 55 Sanderlings fed along the shoreline. 22 Snipe were visible along the edge of the Marsh Pool. A count of gulls included 175 Herring Gulls, 21 Common Gulls, all adults, but only one adult Great Black-backed Gull. Numbers of Great Black-backed Gulls have been very low this winter so far; the highest count for this species was 132 on 7th December 2015. Other birds noted included the pair of Stonechats in the grassland, nine Goldfinches along the east bank and four Linnets.

28th

The three Eiders and three Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore, 80 Golden Plovers flew west and 38 Snipe were flushed, by an unseen hand, from the Marsh Pool.

27th

A Black-throated Diver and three Eider were offshore, there were 40 Teal, including a flock of 24 that landed on the sea and, by 10 am, numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers had built up to 13. A flock of 72 Lapwings circled over the area with a Golden Plover in tow.

24th-26th

There were no reports for these three days. The weather was unseasonably, mild, murky and sometimes wet. Nevertheless, Andy was able note a few birds from his westerly balcony. Similar fayre: Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe and Velvet Scoter, three Eiders and up to Seven Red-breasted Mergansers and, on Boxing Day, possibly due to shooting activities, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal and Pintail!

23rd

Cloudy, milder with a light SW wind. Two Mute Swans flew west close inshore, a Shelduck flew west, three Teal landed on the beach and there were six Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. Waders included 23 Lapwings resting on the tidal ponds, 11 Sanderlings on the beach and 12 Snipe on the Marsh Pool. Other birds included a female Kingfisher along Coot Strait, the pair of Stonechats opposite the Obs, a Song Thrush in the bushes opposite the Obs and two female Reed Buntings in a bush in the grassland.

22nd

Sunny, calm with a hard frost. Three duck Eider were resting offshore, there were five Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and a immature Common Scoter flew west close inshore. Whilst watching the Eider, we found a Puffin close inshore and clearly visible on the flat calm sea directly off the Obs. This was at about 9 am and the bird drifted slowly west and further out until lost to sight. It was reported twice in the afternoon off the Tankerton slopes. Although this was the second of the month (after one west on 1st), it was only the 10th record for the site (all on dates between 30th October and this the latest to be recorded). Nevertheless, ten records at this site, and others along the Swale as far as Oare Marshes, suggest this stretch of coast gives one of the best chances of seeing this bird in Kent. Waders included nine Lapwings on the beach and 30 Oystercatchers on the shingle ridge on the incoming tide. Other birds included a Skylark west, a Stonechat and 14 Linnets.

21st

There were 40+ Red-throated Divers offshore, a Shag was off the tidal ponds, 23 Shelduck flew west and there were seven Red-breasted Mergansers on the sea.

20th

Cloudy, light easterly wind. A Shag was close inshore off the Obs with a Red-necked Grebe further out. Two Shelduck flew west, two Velvet Scoters flew west at 9.10 am with another three west at 1.45 pm. There were four drake Red-breasted Mergansers on the sea and a redhead Goosander flew west over the beach. Waders included 17 Oystercatchers and 48 Sanderlings roosting on the beach and a controlled flush of the Marsh Pool revealed c40 Snipe. Two Guillemots were offshore. Other birds noted included a female Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail, female Stonechat, Chiffchaff and a female Reed Bunting.

18th

Cloudy, murky with a light easterly wind. Two Mute Swans flew west but the highlight of the morning was when two Black Swans dropped onto the Marsh Pool at 10.45 am where they remained for an hour and 20 minutes before heading off west. Never recorded at the site before, there are fairly regular sightings in the county whilst one suggestion was that they may have come from the Netherlands where there is, apparently quite a “healthy” population. The winds were from the east and there had been an influx of Russian White-fronted Geese! A Great Northern Diver and the Shag were offshore, five Teal included three which joined up with a group of seven Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and one Common Scoter flew east. There were 27 Sanderlings on the beach, and 13 Snipe on the Marsh Pool. A Great Skua and two Kittiwakes flew east. Other birds noted included Kingfisher, the pair of Stonechats, a Chiffchaff at the Obs, 15 Linnets on the shingle ridge and the female Reed Bunting.

17th

A Great Northern Diver flew east, the Shag was offshore and a female Marsh Harrier flew NW.

16th

Cloudy, mild and flat calm. There were lots of Red-throated Divers and 10+ Great Crested Grebes offshore, the Shag was close inshore by the Obs, there were 58 Brent Geese resting on the sea, 15 Teal flew west and a redhead Red-breasted Merganser circled around by the Obs and flew off west. The drake Mandarin Duck was again on the Marsh Pool early morning when 27 Mallard flew off from there and 14 Snipe were visible. An adult Mediterranean Gull, feeding with Black-headed Gulls offshore and later on the beach, was the first seen here this month. 17 Common Gulls, present on the Marsh Pool and the adjacent beach, were all adults. Other birds noted included the female Stonechat, a Chiffchaff along the east bank, 20 Linnets and the female Reed Bunting.

A Water Vole was seen along the middle brook.

15th

Cloudy, poor visibility, mild, light SW wind. The drake Mandarin Duck was present again on the Marsh Pool early morning. There were also 38 Mallard on the pool. A Shag was present close inshore and three adult Gannets and two Common Scoters flew east. Waders included 64 Ringed Plovers, 81 Sanderlings and 71 Dunlin roosting between groynes, a lone Lapwing on the shingle spit and 16 Redshanks on the Marsh Pool. A Guillemot was offshore. Other birds included a Chiffchaff at the Obs, 14 Linnets on the shingle ridge and the female Reed Bunting along the coastal path.

14th

The three drake Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore and a Marsh Harrier flew west.

13th

Cloudy, calm, mild. There were two Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver and three Great Crested Grebes offshore. A Shag was close inshore, a Greylag Goose flew west, two immature drake Eiders flew east, three drake Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore and three Common Scoters were also seen. Waders included a roosting flock of 149 Sanderlings between the groynes and seven Snipe and 12 Redshanks were on the Marsh Pool. Other birds included a Water Rail along the middle brook, two Grey Wagtails at Lang Court, the pair of Stonechats, two Chiffchaffs, including one calling from the bluethroat bush, 73 Carrion Crows on the beach and a male Brambling and a Corn Bunting together in the bushes opposite the Obs.

11th

Cloudy with a light SW wind. There were three Great Crested Grebes and four Red-breasted Mergansers (three drakes) offshore, eight Shelduck and a flock of 40 Lapwings flew west. A squawk of a Ring-necked Parakeet was heard from the upper brook and then the bird was located in the trees by Lang Court. It flew off west. A new bird for the year list. Other birds noted included a Water Rail along the middle brook, found by visiting Rob Stokes and Andrew Edwards, and last seen (if it was the same bird) on 17th November. Another returnee was the Siberian Chiffchaff in the lone hawthorn bush by the sluice which also had not been seen since 17th November. Also noted were a Fieldfare, the two Stonechats, Little Grebe, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail along the middle brook, 14 Linnets and a female Reed Bunting.

10th

Sunny, strong NW wind. Classic conditions for sea watching but not in December. Most of the birds we would hope for earlier, in the Autumn, are now off the west coast of Africa. One Red-throated Diver, one Great Crested Grebe, , three Gadwall and three Golden Plovers flew west. The female Stonechat and two Chiffchaffs were at the Obs.

9th

Cloudy, moderate SW wind. A Slavonian Grebe, four Great Crested Grebes and a drake Red-breasted Merganser were offshore, a duck Teal was on the sea and another four flew west. Two female Marsh Harriers appeared offshore and joined together to fly west. Waders included 43 Ringed Plovers and a Grey Plover on the Hampton flats and 40 Sanderlings on the beach. A Razorbill was on the sea. Other birds included a Chiffchaff at the Obs and a Reed Bunting.

8th

Sunny, moderate SW wind. A Black-throated Diver and a Great Crested Grebe were offshore. A Little Egret was on the Marsh Pool and a Grey Heron on the tidal ponds. Waders included 27 Oystercatchers on the beach, 50 Golden Plovers flying west in a number of groups and eight Snipe and eight Redshanks on the Marsh Pool. One Razorbill flew east. Other birds included a Little Grebe, a Kingfisher and two Grey Wagtails in the brook, a Chiffchaff at the Obs and a Redpoll west.

7th

There were eight Red-throated Divers and two drake Red-breasted Mergansers on the sea. A Buzzard flew over the caravan park and two Grey Wagtails were seen again.

6th

Cloudy, light SW wind. A Great Northern Diver on the sea flew off west. There were three Little Egrets on the Marsh Pool and the beach and a Grey Heron on the tidal ponds. Waders included 22 Oystercatchers on the beach, 49 Ringed Plovers roosting between the groynes, 13 Curlews on the Hampton flats and eight Snipe on the Marsh Pool. A Marsh Harrier flew west over the sea and a Buzzard drifted south over the estate. A Razorbill flew east. Other birds included a Kingfisher, two Grey Wagtails, a Skylark and a Chiffchaff.

4th

Cloudy then sunny, moderate westerly wind. A Great Northern Diver and four Great Crested Grebes flew west and a drake Red-breasted Merganser and a redhead Goosander were offshore. There were 20 Oystercatchers on the shingle ridge at high tide and a Grey Plover on the beach. A Merlin flew low west behind the caravan park and through the estate. Other birds included a Chiffchaff at the Obs and five Long-tailed Tits in the Elm Wood.

2nd

Sunny periods, cold with a fresh westerly wind. There were three Red-throated Divers offshore and a Great Northern Diver and a Great Crested Grebe flew west. A drake Wigeon, with two Teal, and five Common Scoters flew west. A drake Red-breasted Merganser was on the sea and two single drake Goosanders flew west. One Great Skua flew west, a Kittiwake flew east and a Razorbill flew west. Other birds included two Stock Doves west and a Kingfisher along the upper brook.

1st

Cloudy with a fresh westerly wind. A very poor start to the month was enlivened by a Puffin which flew west at 10.38 am. New for the year and only our ninth record for the site. One Red-throated Diver and two Common Scoters flew west, there were three Little Grebes, including two together resting in the middle brook by rail corner. Roosting waders included 50 Ringed Plovers, 63 Sanderlings and 81 Dunlin, with five Snipe and ten Redshanks on the Marsh Pool. Other birds included a female Great Spotted Woodpecker in the churchyard, the female Stonechat, a Chiffchaff at the Obs and 14 Linnets along the shingle ridge.