26/02/2026

The last few days has seen a small increase in the passage of wildfowl past the sea watch hide, nothing spectacular but it is a start of the spring migration. The first Sandwich Terns of the year, also flocks of Pintail and Brent Geese, hopefully things will pickup in the next few days.

Elsewhere on the peninsular the 2 Whooper Swans can still be seen around Cockles Bridge along with 15 Cattle and 7 Little Egrets. At Boulderwall 2 White-fronted Geese and 2 Great White Egrets of note. The family of 3 Whooper Swans were still in situ at the back of the sand pit, Jurys Gap, East Sussex today.

Some of yesterdays Pintails passing the sea watch hide

Some of the Brent Geese that have been passing the last few days

A single Velvet Scoter in a small flock of Common Scoter yesterday

Whooper Swans at Cockles Bridge today

Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge today

Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge today

A Kestrel with prey photobombing the Little Egrets at Cockles Bridge today

The Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri)still present today

24/02/2026

A small flock of Brent Geese passing today

The warmer weather today sprked a little off shore movement but nothing to get to excited about. Highlights were 110 White-fronted Geese, a party of 6 Tufted Duck, a single Spoonbill and 470 Brent Geese.

The 2 Whooper Swans were still in the fields opposite Cockles Bridge along with 15 Cattle Egrets, The reserve, ARC and Dengemarsh were all covered but little of note was seen, likewise Scotney and Walland Marsh.

There were several singing Corn Buntings around Scotney

I found 5 pairs of Stonechats around Scotney today

Adult and Juvenile Whooper Swan at the back of the Jurys Gap sand pit, the other adult was keeping its distance from them

The local Little Owls were enjoying the mild temperatures today

The Cormorants were catching many fish that look like Whiting this afternoon

The Range Safety Boat steaming through the slick of Cormorants of the fishing boats this afternoon

The Lesser Whitethroat(halimodendri) still in the garden today

23/02/2026

I had hopes of a bit movement over the sea this morning, however it didn't take long to realise it was not to be. 230 Brent Geese passed in 3 flocks was it, after I left a Slavonian Grebe drifted East per Jacob.

It seems that all the Bewick Swans have left Walland Marsh on their way back towards Russia, Nadine the satellite tagged bird is already in North West Germany.

At Cockles Bridge the 2 adult Whooper Swans are still frequenting the fields opposite, 16+ Cattle Egrets are spending much time in the triangle with the sheep.

The family of 3 Whooper Swans are still feeding in the fields behind the old sandpit at Jurys Gap East Sussex. The 1w drake Scaup is still to be found on Scotney main pit where a Black-necked grebe was found this afternoon by Ray Allen.

Most of my time today was spent videoing the Lesser Whitethroat which I will upload when edited.

The Lesser Whitethroat finally leaving a deposit of 💩 for me

19/02/2026

With a cool northerly blowing this morning I gave the sea watch a miss. A wander around Scotney saw 1,000+ Golden Plover, 500+ Lapwing, 3 Green Sandpipers, Curlews, Redshanks, Ringed Plovers but I couldn't find the American Wigeon or any wild Geese.

Walland Marsh was much the same but again all the Grey Geese seem to have moved on.

At Cockles Bridge the 2 adult Whooper Swans were still with the Mute Swans and at least 14 Cattle EWgrets were in the triangle.

Juvenile Whooper Swan and parents at the back of the sand pit Jurys gap this morning

1w drake Scaup on Scotney from the double bends

35 Bewick swans on Walland Marsh today

Little Owl, Lydd

Female Sparrowhawk, Walland Marsh

Tree Sparrows on Walland Marsh today

Tree Sparrows on Walland Marsh today

The Lesser Whitethroat still present today

18/02/2026

A Mediterranean Gull battling against the strong SE wind today

07.15-09.30 & 12.00-14.00 from the hide with JS, SF, RW, OL, JY, SB.  Wind a biting ESE 6  Temp 6º,

Brent Goose: 2E   

Shelduck: 4E

Teal: 6E

Velvet Scoter: 6W
Common Scoter: 5E   2W

Red-necked Grebe: 1 landed on sea and drifted West. (Jacob and Charlotte only)
Great-crested Grebe: 16E      60 Present

Oystercatcher: 22E

Curlew: 1W

Dunlin: 20E
Kittiwake: 39E  
Black-headed Gull: 63E
Common Gull: 78E
Herring Gull: present
Great Black-backed Gull: present  

Razorbill: 91E       17W
Guillemots: 1812E    2W
Auk sp: 91E      17W

Red-throated Diver: 295E     2W
Fulmar: 3E 
Gannet: 49E       2W
Cormorant: present no count

Peregrine: 1 present

Harbour Porpoise: 3 present

Grey Seal: 1 present

On the way back from the early morning sea watch I stopped at Cockles Bridge where there was 2 Whooper Swans with some Mute Swans in the fields opposite the bridge. In the triangle 14 Cattle Egrets and 3 Little Egrets were feeding.

After breakfast a short excursion to Scotney where 1,000+ Golden Plover were on the sward, along with 17 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew, 18 Redshank and 500+ Lapwing. c250 Wigeon were in the pool but I couldn't find the American Wigeon.

While having a quick coffee before going back to the sea watch hide the Lesser Whitethroat was feeding under the Camelias in my garden.

17/02/2026

 Sea watching the last few days has been rather Ground Hog Day like, so today with a cold NW wind blowing this morning I gave the sea watch a miss to spend more time with Lesser Whitethroat.

From reports I heard it was a good decision, a couple of Dartford Warblers were seen around The Point along with the odd Firecrest and Chiffchaff. There were no reports of Geese, Swans and the American Wigeon.

A plywood tray placed under the feeder to catch a poo sample

Today was the Lesser Whitethroats(halimodendri) 50th day in the garden, so I spent the whole day staring at the feeders watching it, hoping it would provide me with a poo sample. I placed pieces of ply under the feeders to catch any poo sample, unfortunately the bird had other ideas and used it as a handy table to feast on the the spilt Sunflower chipsHERE

The Lesser Whiethroat

The first Great Spotted Woodpecker of the year in the garden

Lesser Whitethroat and Goldfinch

Jackdaws are frequent at the feeders

Plenty of Goldfinches were visiting the feeders

13/02/2-26

The highlight of another very slow sea watch was watching a Herring Gull swallow a Dogfish whole after a bit of struggle.

Herring Gull about to swallow a Dogfish

08.00-09.00 from the hide with RW,  Wind SW 2, Temp 10º, Misty
Brent Goose: 4E   
Common Scoter: 1E   
Great-crested Grebe: 2E      1 Present
Kittiwake: 4E  
Black-headed Gull: Present
Common Gull: present
Herring Gull: present
Great Black-backed Gull: present  
Guillemots: 2E    
Auk sp: 61W    6E
Red-throated Diver: 26E     48W
Fulmar: 1E   1W
Gannet: 4E       14W
Cormorant: present no count

There were no reports of the Tundra Bean Geese or Pink-footed Geese but they could well be out on Walland somewhere. 

A fairly thorough search of Scotney by various locals couldn't find the American Wigeon, but it would not surprise me if it turns there again or on the reserve.

There was no sign of yesterdays flock of Cattle Egrets in the Horse Paddock this morning

Tree Sparrow on Walland Marsh

The family of 3 Whooper Swans still residing in the field behind the Jurys Gap sand pit, East Sussex today

My daily Lesser Whitethroat image

Good to be getting several Green finches on the feeders

Nadine, the neck collared satellite track Bewick Swan is still residing on Walland, just lately SW of Hawthorn Corner, the rest of the herd seems to still be at Ashentree Lane/Hook Wall.