16/10/2025

Myself and Richard abandoned this mornings sea watch after only half an hour, it was obvious that there absolutely no seabird or wildfowl migration, however there was many gulls feeding the huge quantities of Whitebait close inshore.

Female Blackcap feeding on Apples

Chiffchaff feeding on the fruit flies around the Apples

I came across at least 2 Dartford Warblers, a single Ring Ousel, a few Redwing and Song Thrushes, Siskins and Redpolls over, with a few Chaffinches Swallows, Starlings, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits overhead, but managed to miss 2 Short-eared Owls.

One of todays Green Sandpipers at the back of Scotney

A late morning cycle ride around Scotney  saw a huge increase in Golden Plover with at least 1,000 in the fields at the back, along with 20+ Curlew, 100s of Lapwings, but I couldn't find the Buff-breasted Sandpiper or the American Golden Plover, there was also a large increase in the numbers of Wigeon present. A minimum of 9 Common Buzzards, a Merlin and 3 Sparrowhawks all no doubt preying on the large number of Linnets, Goldfinches, Skylarks and Starlings present. One field held 114 Egyptian Geese, coupled with the large numbers of Greylags and Canada Geese its not surprising the local farmers aren't to happy to see them. I did find find several small flocks of Tree Sparrows and got a soaking for my efforts cycling back against a NE wind.

Some of the 100s and probably 1,000s of Linnets at the back of Scotney

On 15/10/2014 the first Merveille du jour visited my trap, 11 years to the day the second was on the wall by the trap and the third inside the trap.

A Barred Sallow

15/10/2025

North Thames ringed Herring Gull (Red 2DAT) with several 100s of other Gulls gorging themselves on White Bait driven ashore by marauding Mackerel, at times the sea was boiling with the Mackerel.

As a stiff NNE wind was blowing this morning I wasn't expecting a busy sea watch, so 298 Mediterranean Gulls moving west was a bit of a surprise, a Red-breasted Merganser moving west was my first of the Autumn, a full list can be seen HERE on the excellent Trektellen Web Site.

The TS Royalist is the Sea Cadets training vessel and was anchored off the power station this morning

A pair of Migrant Hawkers 

 Away from the sea many Chaffinches were moving NW along with smaller numbers of Swallows, Siskin, Redpolls, Redwings and the odd Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush. A Yellow-browed Warbler was calling unseen in the Willow trail, another was in the trapping area and another made a brief appearance in a Greatstone Garden. A Little Stint was on the ARC and a Curlew Sandpiper was in front of Firth, a couple of Glossy Ibis and the Pink-footed Goose was at Dengemarsh, little else was reported today.

13/10/2025

A drizzly morning with a lightish NE breeze dropped a few Thrushes onto The Point, at least 7 Ring Ouzel among the continental Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Redwings with a Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush, also a few more Crossbills, Brambling, Siskins etc. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in the trapping area all day.

Golden Plover on the reserve

On the reserve more Thrushes, Little Stint and Greenshank were still present but little else of note.

Juvenile Brent Goose

An hours sea watching from the fishing boats this afternoon was underwhelming, with most birds going East rather than the expected West this time of year.

Small flock of Teal

Red-throated Diver

RSS David Attenborough, AKA Boaty McBoatface passing The Point this afternoon

Pink Footed Goose Cockles Bridge

11/10/2025

A fairly slow but enjoyable sea watch this morning from the fishing boats, with 240 Brent Geese moving west 40+ Mediterranean Gulls going East into Lade Bay and few other bits, along with several Harbour Porpoises and Seals. Per Jacob, Little Gulls were moving West late afternoon from the fishing boats.

When I arrived home for breakfast there were 200+ Greylag Geese in the field opposite my house, a quick scan through them soon revealed a Pink Footed Goose among them, a from the garden year tick.

Pink Footed Goose among the Greylags in the field opposite my house

 After some domestic stuff I went to the reserve where there were 3 Caspian Gulls viewed from Dennis's, also c50 Golden Plover & 150 Lapwing. A wander up to Firth with Sean O found the Curlew Sandpiper, while we there all the gulls and waders on Burrowes were spooked by a Marsh Harrier, enabling us to spot a Little Stint flying around with the Golden Plover and Lapwing.

2 Near adult Caspian Gulls on Burrowes 

Curlew Sandpiper in front of Firth

09/10/2025

 Another morning with no sea watching, I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms, hopefully things will pick up in a few days time.

A wander around The Desert instead and TA was also quiet, 2 very distant Glossy Ibis flying around the reserve, Skylarks, Siskins, Reed Buntings and Chaffinches overhead in small numbers, a big decrease in the number of Hirundines and also much fewer Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps around and just a single Wheatear, pick of the bunch were 3 Dartford Warblers flitting around the Gorse.                                                           Wheatear in The Desert

At the back of Scotney the usual Lapwing, Golden Plovers, Linnets, Goldfinches, Pied Wagtails, Skylarks,Reed Buntings, Common Buzzards, Marsh Harriers, Sparrowhawks and Kestrels, but I was unable to find the Buff-breasted Sandpiper or American Golden Plover, there was still at lest 2 Yellow Wagtails present.

On the way home I dropped in on the local Little Owl that was keeping an eye on a Common Buzzard.

A visit to the reserve this afternoon saw the long staying Curlew Sandpiper, a few Golden Plover and Lapwing but there was disturbance from the work parties. 

A Nathusius Pipistrelle which was found in the visitor centre is now in care.

A Bloxworth Snout a very rare visitor to my trap

Palpita vitrealis a beautiful but relatively common micro

07/10/2025

A late start this morning owing to a dentists appointment, not sure what hurt the most, a tooth extraction or the bill for it.😅

I stopped off at the local Little Owl that was as usual glaring at me, then on to Scotney.

Local Little Owl

As I cycled around Scotney several parties of Tree Sparrows were seen and heard, among the 100s of Linnets and Meadow Pipits, 6 Yellow Wagtails dozens of Pied Wagtails and Skylarks with fewer Reed Buntings and just the 2 Corn Bunting, several 100 Golden Plovers, 6 Ruff but no sign of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, but it would not surprise me if it is still around.

The Curlew Sandpiper was still on the reserve this afternoon, I think this is the first one I can recall swimming.

Curlew Sandpiper in normal pose

The Garganey was still at Firth

I saw at least 4 1w Caspian Gulls from Dennis's and Dengemarsh, Chiffchaffs were again abundant around the reserve, also at least 6 Great White Egrets, 2 Common Snipe, 100s of Lapwing and 100s of Feral Geese, as I left the reserve 2 Glossy Ibis dropped into Cooks Pool. Soon after I left John Young found a Pink Footed Goose at Makepiece, I guess I must have overlooked it.

06/10/2025

Early morning on The Point lots of Meadow Pipits moving overhead with fewer Swallows, A few Siskins, Chaffinches, Reed Buntings, Skylarks and Tree Sparrows over, in the bushes plenty of Chiffchaffs and small numbers of Blackcaps, 4 Glossy Ibis flew over and out to sea and a Merlin was hunting over the beach.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still present, but more distant maybe because the farmer was working in the field, plenty of Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails, Reed Buntings and a couple of Yellow Wagtails also there.

At Jurys Gap the American Golden Plover was roosting on the shingle between the village and the Coastguard houses in the company of c300 Golden Plover, it was again distant, the view made worse by the heat haze coming of the shingle. A Glossy Ibis flew west over the Scotney GP.

Curlew Sandpiper on Burrowes from Dennis's Hide

 I only did Burrowes today, apart from the Curlew Sandpiper there was an adult and 1w Yellow Gull there along with a French and a Norwegian ringed Great Black-backed Gull.

They walked straight past the sign that says assistance dogs only, then up the bank past the sign board that requests visitors to keep off the bank. I guess some people believe they are entitled to do as they please, especially with a mutt in tow.

04-05/10/2025

A 1w Caspian Gull with a Norwegian ringed Great Black-backed Gull by the entrance track to the visitir centre yesterday. This was about the extent of my birding in the appalling weather yesterday.

2 of 16 Ruff on the Scotney Sward today. I spent far to much time trying to read the metal ring and failed miserably. 

The local Little Owl was enjoying the more clement weather today

This Shag was the star bird at the fishing boats this afternoon

This Heligoland ringed Gull was among the Gulls coming to my stale bread offerings, but nothing else of note.

A Garganey from Firth this afternoon

Also seen on the reserve this afternoon were a Little Stint, 2 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper and a Hobby.

Glossy Ibis at Christmas Dell this afternoon

A Lesser Whitethroat at Chistmas Dell this afternoon

02/10/2025

In an early morning walk around The Desert. c50 Siskin, 10 (6+4) Crossbill, 2 Brambling, 4 Redpoll, c20 Reed Buntings, c350 House Martins, c50 Swallows and a single Great Spotted Woodpecker all flew over, on the deck still some Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests, Meadow Pipits, Stonechats and Skylarks, with Kestrel and Sparrowhawk  hunting.

I visited South View to see the Red-breasted Flycatcher which had moved next door by the time I arrived, though a little while later it came back to South View, where it remained for the rest of the day but was considerably more elusive than it was yesterday.

Another visit this afternoon found it still elusive, so with my knees playing up I joined Dave for a cup of tea and a chat in his front garden, while we were chatting the Flycatcher flew in for a drink by a small pond giving superb views, a Stonechat also came in. Again many thanks to Dave and Sheila for their hospitality. 

Red-breasted Flycatcher inspecting the small pool

Red-breasted Flycatcher taking a closer look

Red-breasted Flycatcher about to take a drink

Stonechat