2nd March

An excellent morning seawatch with most of the passage coming between 0900-1100hrs. The highlights being 169 Brent Geese, 158 Shoveler, two Gadwalls, a superb 403 Pintails, 10 Teals, a Eider, two Red-breasted Mergansers, two Sandwich Terns, 10 Mediterranean Gulls and six Fulmars all heading east. It was quiet on the land with the only notables being a Song Thrush, a Redwing, the first Black Redstart since the 5th January and 15 Stonechats. 

A few mammals were recorded including nine Porpoises, a Grey Seals and two Hares. On the lepidoptera front, the first Hummingbird Hawkmoth of the year as well as a Peacock. 

Elsewhere, the RSPB reserve had two Eurasian White-fronted Geese, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and two Firecrests. The regular two Whooper Swans and 17 Cattle Egrets were at Cockles Bridge. 

A flock of Pintails (Anas acuta) taken by Martin Casemore

A view of the Barry Banson hide this morning taken by Owen Leyshon

1st March

A few birds passing on the sea being the only birds of note with 28 Brent Geese (west), five Mediterranean Gulls and three Fulmars. 

28th Feb

 A quieter day with little to be seen. The best being 11 Chaffinches over the Trapping Area. 

27th Feb

A blustery, murky and horrible day with winds originating mostly from SSW resulting in seawatching giving any worthwhile action. Notable birds included 198 Brent Geese, seven Tufted Ducks, two Velvet Scoters, four Mediterranean Gulls, 209 Red-throated Divers and 18 Fulmars. The only noted passerine movement was an increase in Linnets with 13 around the Power Station. 

Elsewhere, the flock of 17 Cattle Egrets were still at Cockles Bridge. 

26th Feb

A quieter day than of late but still spring passage was plodding on. A day of strengthening winds from the south-west meant the sea was slower but the best being 472 Brent Geese, three Sandwich Terns, six Mediterranean Gulls and two Fulmars - all of which eastbound. A small bit of movement on the land included the first Merlin since the start of the year, four Snipes, three Redwings, 29 Chaffinches, a Siskin and eight Linnets. 

Mammals included two Porpoise and a Grey Seal, while the moth traps held six Hebrew Characters. 

Elsewhere, a Spoonbill flew over the RSPB Reserve where there was also two Eurasian White-fronted Geese. The pair of Whooper Swans were still present at Cockles Bridge, as were 15 Cattle Egrets. 

Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus at Cockles Bridge (taken by Martin Casemore)

25th Feb

A lovely, spring like day with cloudless skies and light winds originating from the south. The sea was the main focus of the day producing plenty of eastbound passage, focused mostly on the morning watch. The highlights from eight and a half hours of watching include 261 Brent Geese, three Greylag Geese, 86 Shoveler, three Gadwall, another excellent total of 142 Pintail, a drake Eider, four Velvet Scoters, 131 Common Scoters, five Curlews, 10 Little Gulls, 403 Black-headed Gulls, 16 Mediterranean Gulls, 345 Common Gulls, 19 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 131 Red-throated Divers and five Fulmars. There was a definite decrease in grounded migrants with just a Redwing, nine Blackbirds, four Goldcrests, a Firecrest and a Dartford Warbler of note. 

There was a couple of Peacock Butterflies on the wing in the Trapping Area and the Observatory moth trap caught four species of moth of the standard fare for the time of year. At least four Porpoise fed offshore.

Elsewhere, the two Whooper Swans still entertained at Cockles Bridge as did seven Cattle Egrets. 

Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Mixed flock of Pintail Anas acuta and Shoveler Spatula clypeata

    

Common Buzzard    Buteo buteo

24th Feb

A very spring like day with winds originating from the south bringing warm air and clear skies from mid-day. There was a marked increase in thrushes with four Song Thrushes, seven Blackbirds and nine Redwings, there was an obvious arrival of Stonechats too with at least 16 recorded. Otherwise on the land a Snipe, a Chiffchaff, eight Goldcrests, a Firecrest, eight Chaffinches and four Linnets were recorded while the years first Rook and Greenfinch flew over. 

Most of the days interest however was on the sea, with the two stand-out avian discoveries being a flock of 110 Eurasian White-fronted Geese at 11:18hrs and a Spoonbill at 12:00hrs, both flying east. Other birds passing offshore included 470 Brent Geese, two Shelducks, seven Shovelers, 24 Wigeons, an excellent 108 Pintails, six Tufted Ducks, 72 Dunlins and 4 Little Gulls being the best of the rest. 

The years first butterfly has taken flight in the warm weather with a Small Tortoiseshell in the Trapping Area. Mammals recorded were four Porpoise and a Grey Seal. 

Elsewhere, the regular two Whooper Swans were at Cockles Bridge.

Most of the flock of Eurasian White-fronted Geese flying east past the seawatching hide

23rd Feb

A somewhat nicer day with the rain restricted to patchy showers of mist in the afternoon. The sea was fairly quiet, with 244 Brent Geese heading east being the highlight of the early morning watch. A check from the seawatching hide a little later in the morning however proved fruitful with a winter-plumaged Slavonian Grebe just offshore. The bird spent half an hour drifting slowly east with Great Crested Grebes. There was a hint of movement on the land with the year's first Mistle Thrush, a flock of 42 Starlings departing east out to sea as well as a slight increase in Chaffinches and Reed Buntings. The first Goldfinch in over a month appeared too. A roost of waders by the lifeboat station contained 160 Dunlin and 6 Ringed Plover. 

A couple of Harbour Porpoise fed offshore. 

Elsewhere, the flock of Cattle Egrets still at Cockles Bridge with 16 today plus the two adult Whooper Swans were there also. The first-winter drake Scaup still at Scotney, where a Black-necked Grebe also appeared. The two White-fronted Geese were also on the outskirts of Lydd on Dennes Lane. 

22nd Feb

A quiet day with constant fog and drizzle with moderate winds from the south-west. Sea passage was fairly quiet with 252 Brent Geese, two Wigeon, a Lapwing and seven Fulmars being the highlights. On the land there was only two Song Thrushes, a Chiffchaff, six Goldcrests and a Firecrest of any notes. 

Elsewhere, the 17 Cattle Egrets and two Whooper Swans still frequented Cockles Bridge, while the family of Whooper Swans were still near the sand-pit at Scotney but the Bewick's Swan flock on Walland Marsh is still reduced to just 11 birds. 

21st Feb

A day of increasing south-westerly winds bringing mist and rain by the early afternoon. The morning observations didn't reveal much other than 135 Brent Geese passing east offshore and a single Firecrest in the Trapping Area. The first notable nocturnal passage of Redwings occurred this evening. 

Elsewhere, 15 Cattle Egrets and two Whooper Swans were at Cockles Bridge, Scotney still held the family of three Whooper Swans as well as three Barnacle Geese and a Dartford Warbler. Over on outskirts of Lydd at Dennes Lane there was two Eurasian White-fronted Geese amongst the large flock of Greylags and on Walland Marsh at least 13 Bewick's Swans were still present.