A total of 89 species for the month was another below the ten-year average of 94.9 species. However, the total of 131 species so far this year is above the ten-year average of 126.9 species. The highlight of the year was our second only Caspian Tern on 21st, a Woodlark on 2nd was our first for 13 years, and other notables included a Hen Harrier on 4th, Eider on 21st, Osprey on 27th and Whinchat on 30th. Three sightings of Little Ringed Plover compared with none at all last year.

A total of 131 species so far this year

121 species by this time last year

30th

Sunny, with mist over the sea, warm and calm. Highlight of the day was a male Whinchat, often elusive, but present all morning at least. Our first spring record since 2022. There were five Great Crested Grebes offshore, a pair of Shelducks on the Marsh Pool and four Red Kites flew west from 10.35 am. Waders included three Oystercatchers east, two Whimbrel west, a Grey Plover in breeding plumage and a lingering Snipe on the Marsh Pool. Also noted were six Yellow Wagtails on and around the Marsh Pool, a Willow Warbler singing near the Obs and a Greenfinch singing along the upper brook.

Green-veined White, Orange-tip and Speckled Wood butterflies were also noted.

29th

A good morning for waders with two Avocets, a Little Ringed Plover and a Grey Plover, and four Greenshanks.

28th

Sunny, warm, light SE wind. There were eight Great Crested Grebes offshore, a lone Brent Goose on the beach and a Shelduck flew east and two flew west. Waders noted were two Oystercatchers and a Bar-tailed Godwit west, a Whimbrel east, and two flew west, a Snipe was on the Marsh Pool and there were eight Turnstones on the beach. Also noted were two Common Terns offshore, two Ring-necked Parakeets, our first two Swifts, and two Yellow Wagtails, west.

Butterflies noted were Green-veined White and Small White, Speckled Wood and Orange-tip.

27th

An Osprey, seen earlier off Herne Bay Downs, appeared out of the mist at 7.25 am and, after an abortive attempt to catch a fish, carried on west.

26th

Sunny, light easterly wind. There were four Great Crested Grebes offshore, a Fulmar flew west, eight Gannets flew west, three flew east, and four Common Scoters flew east. Waders included a Bar-tailed Godwit, new for the year, on the shoreline off the Obs for about two hours, nine Whimbrel, including five resting briefly on the beach, two Curlews, and a Snipe on the Marsh Pool. There were 11 Great Black-backed Gulls, in various stages of immaturity, on the beach and two Sandwich Terns flew east. Also noted were two Swallows, a Yellow Wagtail west, and three Lesser Whitethroats and five Common Whitethroats in song.

A Small White butterfly and the first appearance of St Mark’s Flies was also noted.

25th

There were six Great Crested Grebes offshore and a Sandwich Tern flew east.

24th

Cloudy, cool, moderate NE wind. Two Great Crested Grebes were offshore, three Gannets were seen plunge-diving offshore and two Shelducks flew west and east. Waders noted were five Oystercatchers, four flying east, a Whimbrel west and two Turnstones. Four adult Mediterranean Gulls flew east along the beach, a second calendar year Common Gull was offshore and seven immature Great Black-backed Gulls were on the beach. Also noted were a Little Egret on the Marsh Pool, five Swallows and a Lesser Whitethroat in song along the upper brook.

23rd

Four Whimbrel flew east, a Stock Dove came in off the sea and a Lesser Whitethroat was noted again.

22nd

A Great Crested Grebe was offshore, three Gannets flew east and four Shelducks and a Kittiwake flew west. Waders included a Whimbrel west and a Redshank on the Marsh Pool. Six Mediterranean Gulls flew east and two Sand Martins, 20+ Swallows and three House Martins flew west. A Lesser Whitethroat was also noted.

21st

Cloudy, misty offshore then sunny, calm. A relief to leave the penetrating NE winds behind, and as so often, a change in the weather brings a few surprises. The main surprise was a Caspian Tern close inshore at 11.20 am. It circled around briefly, drifted out and was lost in the misty bank offshore. This is only the second record of this species here, after one on two dates in May 2022. Other birds of note included an immature drake Eider which lingered off the Obs from 8.45 am before drifting east towards the tidal ponds, a pair of Tufted Ducks west at 9.10 am and our first Sedge Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat singing near the Obs and along the east bank. Other birds noted included one Great Crested Grebe offshore, a Little Egret on the Marsh Pool, two Shelducks on the Marsh Pool and another three west, and a Grey Heron west. Add to that a total of 41 Mediterranean Gulls east, three Sandwich Terns, a Stock Dove, and three Sand Martins and 40 Swallows feeding over the area and heading west.

Small White, Orange-tip and Red Admiral butterflies were also noted.

19th

Cloudy, cool, fresh NE wind. There were four Great Crested Grebes offshore, three Gannets flew east and two Canada Geese and a Brent Goose flew west. The pair of Shelducks and the duck Teal were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included ten Oystercatchers on the beach, eight Whimbrel, including a flock of seven flying east inland, and a Snipe On the Marsh Pool. Also noted were a single Swallow and four singing Whitethroats.

In spite of the cool weather, a Red Admiral found a sheltered spot to rest.

17th

Sunny, warm, calm. There were four Great Crested Grebes offshore , five Gannets flew east, a Kittiwake flew west and there were two Sandwich Terns were offshore. A duck Teal and a pair of Shelducks were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included three Sanderlings, a Curlew and a Redshank, and three Snipe on the Marsh Pool. 29 Mediterranean Gulls flew east late morning. Also noted were four Swallows.

Butterflies noted were Green-veined White, Speckled Wood and Speckled Wood.

16th

Cloudy, light SW wind. Waders noted were two Oystercatchers, a Sanderling, three Snipe on the Marsh Pool, five Whimbrel flying high east, a Redshank and 30 Turnstones. The pair of Shelducks were again on the Marsh Pool. Also noted were a Stock Dove, two Swallows and a House Martin, a Wheatear on the shingle ridge, a Willow Warbler in the scrub and 21 Goldfinches west.

14th

Sunny, warm, light SE wind. There was one Great Crested Grebe offshore, two Mute Swans on the sea paddled west, a Greylag Goose flew west and there were two Brent Geese on the beach. The pair of Shelducks and three Snipe were on the Marsh Pool. There were two Sanderlings on the beach, two Sandwich Terns occupied the red buoy and two Common Terns were new for the year. Also noted were three Swallows west, a Wheatear on the beach between the groynes, and a Jay along the east bank.

Butterflies included out first Holly Blue; the ninth species for the year.

13th

Two Common Sandpipers, seen briefly on the Marsh Pool, were new for the year, and seven Yellow Wagtails included three on the shingle.

12th

Sunny, warm, light SE wind. There were two Great Crested Grebes offshore, eight Gannets flew east and a duck Teal was on the Marsh Pool. Waders included a Little Ringed Plover that circled high over the Obs before drifting of south, seven Snipe on the Marsh Pool and single Curlew and Redshank. There were two Sandwich Terns on the red buoy. Also noted were two Ring-necked Parakeets over the sewage works that flew on west, seven Meadow Pipits, including one in display flight, one Swallow and two Whitethroats.

The warm weather brought out the butterflies with Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Speckled Wood and Comma and a Black-bordered Bee-fly was also seen at the Obs.

11th

A single Yellow Wagtail, that flew west at 6.45 am, was our first of the year.

10th

A Gannet flew east, three Little Egrets, four Common Scoters and three Curlews flew west. Other waders included four Grey Plovers on the shingle that flew off east, a single Dunlin, a Sandwich Tern and, most notably, 146 Mediterranean Gulls that had flown east by 9 am. Also noted were a duck Mallard with ten ducklings on the Marsh Pool, two Stock Doves on the margins of the Marsh Pool and the Whitethroat which sang and showed well.

9th

Cloudy, cold with a moderate NE wind. One Great Crested Grebe was offshore, a Shelduck flew west, six Common Scoters flew east and a duck Teal was on the Marsh Pool. 17 Mediterranean Gulls flew east whilst a Whitethroat allowed brief snatches of song to escape from its scrubby hideaway. Our first, but there will be many more!

7th

Sunny with a moderate NE wind. Two Shelducks flew east. Waders included four Oystercatchers, two Sanderlings on the beach and three Snipe visible on the Marsh Pool. 25 Mediterranean Gulls flew east including a flock of 23 Over the Obs. Also noted were a Sand Martin and a Swallow and, at last, our first Wheatear, on the beach below the caravan park.

Two Green-veined Whites were an addition to the year list and a Peacock was also seen.

6th

Two Swallows were noted over the Marsh Pool in the afternoon.

5th

Light cloud then sunny, moderate NE wind. A Fulmar flew west and six Gannets flew east. Waders included four Oystercatchers, three flew east, a Sanderling, and a Lapwing over the Marsh Pool. 20 Mediterranean Gulls flew east in parties of six, ten and four, eight second calendar year Common Gulls and two Sandwich Terns flew east. Also noted was a single Sandwich Tern west.

4th

A Green Sandpiper, that was seen briefly on the Marsh Pool, and a male Hen Harrier, that flew east at 8.28 am, were both additions to the year list.

3rd

Sunny with a moderate easterly wind. Three Great Crested Grebes flew west, there were two Brent Geese on the beach and a pair of Shelducks on the Marsh Pool. A Little Ringed Plover, new for the year, was heard calling several times as it circled the area but could not be seen in the clear blue sky. Other waders included six Oystercatchers, three Sanderlings and a Dunlin, and a Jack Snipe on the Marsh Pool. Also noted were two Rooks circling high over the sewage works.

Butterflies noted were our first Small White and Brimstone and Peacock.

2nd

A Woodlark ,that flew west over the Obs, was our first at the site since October 2013. Other birds noted included two Gannets east, three Sanderlings and a Dunlin and two Mediterranean Gulls west.

1st

Sunny, cool, moderate NW wind. One Red-throated Diver was offshore, there were four Brent Geese on the beach and two Canada Geese flew west. Waders included seven Snipe visible on the Marsh Pool. Other birds noted included a Grey Heron being harried by gulls as it flew low over the estate and three Pied Wagtails.