The total of 76 species for the month was a little below the ten-year average of 78 species. However, the total so far this year of 95 species was a little above the ten-year average of 93.2 species. 12 species were added to the year total during the month, most not unexpected but a Woodcock in off the sea on 2nd and four Scaup briefly offshore on 3rd were most welcome whilst a Bar-tailed Godwit on the beach on 4th has been surprisingly scarce as a winter bird in recent years.

95 species seen so far this year

89 species seen by this time last year

28th

Cloudy, fresh westerly wind. There was one Red-throated Diver, eight Great Crested Grebes and six Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. Two Shelducks flew west and a Canada Goose was on the Marsh Pool (our first of the year and unusual on the pool as most are just flyovers). There were also six Teal, four Mallards and four Shovelers on the Marsh Pool. Waders included ten Ringed Plovers and four Dunlin. Also noted were a Goldcrest along the sewage works fence west of the skate park, a Chiffchaff and two Long-tailed Tits at the Obs and a Chaffinch singing along the upper brook.

26th

Cloudy, moderate SW wind. Two Shelducks flew west and there were seven Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. Six Teal and four Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. There were 74 Sanderlings roosting between the groynes, 21 Redshanks roosting on the Marsh Pool but no Ringed Plover or Dunlin were seen. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard again, a Chiffchaff was singing along the sewage works fence, west of the skate park, and two were at the Obs.

25th

Sunny, warm, light southerly wind. There was one Red-throated Diver, seven Great Crested Grebes and 11 Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. A flock of 170 Brent Geese was the highest count for some time and there were also two Little Egrets on the beach. Waders included 41 Sanderlings and the Purple Sandpiper in the East Bay. Six Teal and six Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. There were four Mediterranean Gulls, two flew west and two were on the beach, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and Guillemot was sitting on the sea. Also noted were our first two Buzzards circling south of the church, a Skylark flew west, the Cetti’s Warbler was in the brambles nearest the “mini-forest” and a Chiffchaff was singing at Lang Court.

The warm Spring-like weather brought out our first butterflies, Brimstone and Peacock, as well as a Seven-spot Ladybird and a bumble-bee.

23rd

Sunny, mild, light SW wind. There were three Great Crested Grebes offshore (all in breeding plumage now). 105 Brent Geese on the beach included only four juveniles. There were four Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and two Shelducks flew west. Five Teal and four Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. A sign of birds on the move with two high-flying Jackdaws west over the sewage works and three Rooks west over the sea.

21st

A Common Scoter and six Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore and six Teal and three Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. A Mediterranean Gull was on the beach amongst the Black-headed Gulls.

20th

There were two Red-throated Divers and 15 Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and six Teal and four Shovelers on the Marsh Pool. Also noted were Sparrowhawk, Song Thrush and the Cetti’s Warbler was heard again.

17th

A Rock Pipit flying west was our first of the year.

16th

Sunny, milder, moderate westerly wind. There were nine Great Crested Grebes and seven Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. A Little Egret and ten Brent Geese were on the beach; one Brent Goose was later on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 42 Ringed Plovers on the beach in front of the Obs and the Purple Sandpiper roosting between the groynes. Five Teal and three Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool where, at high tide.a gathering of gulls included c150 Black-headed Gulls, 20 Common Gulls, two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Also noted were a singing Chiffchaff in the Scout Wood and the pair of Stonechats.

14th

Cloudy, cold, fresh northerly wind. One Red-throated Diver offshore, five Teal and seven Shovelers on the Marsh Pool (counted when flushed by the park run). The Purple Sandpiper was still present. An adult Kittiwake flew east. Good conditions for sea watching in the autumn but not at this time of the year!

13th

Cloudy, light rain showers, calm then a cooling NE wind. A Great Northern Diver, a Fulmar and a Guillemot flew east, and four Shelducks flew west and three flew east and a flock of 18 Common Scoters flew west. There were 15 Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and five Teal and five Shovelers on the Marsh Pool. The Purple Sandpiper was again roosting between the groynes. Five Great Black-backed Gulls were on the beach.

10th

A Great Northern Diver and 20 Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore, two Egyptian Geese flew east and six Wigeon flew west. Six Teal and two Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. Also noted were a Skylark flying west and a Reed Bunting.

9th

Cloudy, mild, light southerly wind. A Great Northern Diver, three Great Crested Grebes and 14 Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore. Two Shelducks flew west and a Little Egret and 44 Brent Geese were on the beach. Four Teal and three Shovelers were on the Marsh Pool. Also noted were three Meadow Pipits, the female Stonechat, a female Blackcap and five Long-tailed Tits.

8th

All three diver species were noted including a Black-throated Diver and two Great Northern Divers. The Slavonian Grebe was offshore again and there were 18 Red-breasted Mergansers. A Skylark and a Reed Bunting were additions to the year list.

7th

Cloudy with steady rain. A Slavonian Grebe was on the sea off the Obs and 13 Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore. There were 33 Brent Geese on the beach and five Teal, four Shovelers and the drake Pintail on the Marsh Pool.

4th

Sunny, light SE wind. One Great Northern Diver flew west and c25 Red-throated Divers flew east. Three Great Crested Grebes and eight Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore. There were 24 Brent Geese on the beach, three Shelducks flew west and two Teal, three Shovelers and the drake Pintail were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 44 Oystercatchers on the beach, the Purple Sandpiper roosting between the groynes, 24 Redshanks roosting on the Marsh Pool whilst a Bar-tailed Godwit dropped onto the beach late morning and settle to roost with the Oystercatchers. In recent years, Bar-tailed Godwits have been uncommon in winter despite the good numbers in the Swale. Also noted were nine Little Gulls feeding beyond the tidal ponds and eight Linnets in the bushes opposite the Obs.

A Water Vole in the brook was the first recorded this year and gives some hope that this species is lingering on.

3rd

Four Scaup, two drakes and two ducks, were on the sea drifting east (later seen to fly east at Reculver). Also seven Little Gulls flew east.

2nd

Cloudy, light SE wind. There were two Great Northern Divers and six Red-breasted Mergansers offshore. Four Mute Swans, two adults and two juveniles, flew east, four Shelducks flew west and a party of six flew east. Three Teal, two Shovelers and the drake Pintail were on the Marsh Pool. Waders included 40 Oystercatchers on the shingle ridge at high tide, 50 Ringed Plovers on the beach off the Obs, where a Woodcock came in off the sea and appeared to drop into gardens along the Tankerton slopes. An adult Little Gull flew east, dropping onto the sea as it went, and an adult Kittiwake was on the asea off the Obs. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard again in bushes near the caravan park.

1st

There were six Red-breasted Mergansers offshore, the Purple Sandpiper was on the beach and three Little Gulls flew east.