Sightings April 2001
1st A Redstart, four Ring Ouzel and two Bullfinch were noteworthy. 2nd A Serin flew over the Observatory at 0640hrs whilst at sea, three Slavonian Grebes, four Garganey, ten Little Gulls and 297 Sandwich Terns flew east. 4th Over 800 Gannets flew east along with single Garganey and Arctic Skua. 7th A party of five Pale-bellied Brent Geese was of note today. 8th A Hooded Crow arrived. 9th The Hooded Crow was still present and a Serin flew over. 10th A Dartford Warbler was found. 12th A good movement of birds at sea included a Red-necked Grebe, four Arctic Skuas, 13 Great Skuas, 19 Little Gulls, 244 Sandwich Terns and a Little Tern (first of the year). 13th A Purple Heron arrived from the south. 14th A chiffchaff singing briefly in the bushes was later proved to be an Iberian Chiffchaff. 15th The Iberian Chiffchaff gave good views during the day at the Long Pits and remained to the 17th. This was the first Kent record. New species for the year were Whimbrel, Arctic Tern and Whitethroat. 17th Ten Mediterranean Gulls flew east. 19th A Little Egret came in off the sea. 20th One Pied Flycatcher. 22nd A movement of birds at sea included 21 Black-throated Divers, three Manx Shearwaters, 340 Fulmar, ten Arctic Skuas, 16 Great Skuas and 139 Little Gulls. A Lesser Whitethroat was new for the year. 25th Another movement of birds at sea included two Garganey, 28 Arctic Skuas, 26 Great Skuas, 63 Little Gulls, and over 1000 Common Tern. A Roseate Tern and 14 Black Tern were also of note. The first Swift of the year were also seen. 26th Arctic Skuas continue to pass through with 36 seen. 28th Common Sandpiper, Turtle Dove and Cuckoo were all new for the year. Five Pomarine Skuas passed through. 29th Another five Pomarine Skuas passed through. 30th Most interest was again at sea with three Avocets, 17 Arctic Skuas, a Pomarine Skua and the highlight of the day, a Long-tailed Skua.