Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory

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Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory

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SBBOT is an independent charity that monitors & protects the wildlife at Sandwich Bay. Event details available on our website.

The Field Centre is open from 10am-4pm (depending on availability of volunteers) with a shop and comfortable accommodation. We have a programme of weekly events for members and non-members. Please see our website http://www.sbbot.org.uk for details. Please note that there is a charge of £1 at the tollgate for non-members.

16/10/2026

🐦 Have you been seeing more Jays than usual in recent weeks?

There appears to be a movement of exploratory birds, potentially searching for acorns following this summer’s significant acorn crop failure. On clear days, we've being recorded more than usual.

🌳 These colourful corvids are shy birds that prefer to stay under cover in the woodland canopy. You’re often more likely to hear their screeching call than see one!

🍂 Autumn is the best time to spot Jays as they search for and cache acorns to retrieve later in the winter. A single Jay may bury several thousand acorns each autumn! 🤯

🌱 While Jays may be disappointed when they forget where they’ve hidden their acorns, these forgotten snacks play a vital role in woodland regeneration. By burying acorns far from the parent tree, Jays help shape where new oak trees grow. In fact, they’re even credited with helping the rapid spread of oak trees after the last Ice Age!

🌰 And with food supplies under pressure, could we see more Nutcrackers moving through too? Keep your eyes peeled!

📷 Jonny Bull

15/10/2026

🐦 Five Meadow Pipits on the move! 🍂

Among the many migratory species passing through Sandwich Bay today, we ringed five Meadow Pipits! 🪶

The Meadow Pipit is our most common pipit, and a familiar sight in the UK’s upland areas, where its streaky plumage helps it blend into its surroundings. If you’ve ever been hiking in the hills, you may have seen one suddenly take flight from the grass. During the breeding season, its acrobatic, fluttering parachute display is a wonderful sight to behold! 🌿

These five birds have most likely spent the spring and summer breeding in upland areas further north in the UK and are now moving south to lower ground for the colder months. While some Meadow Pipits gather in lowland flocks for winter, others travel much further, migrating to southern Europe and northern Africa. 🌍

🔍 Did you know? Meadow Pipits have an amazingly long hind claw on their back toe — a distinctive feature that helps with identification!

Despite being a common species, Meadow Pipits have experienced long-term population declines and are currently on the UK’s Amber List of Birds of Conservation Concern.

Bird ringing helps us understand these seasonal movements and track changes in bird populations, providing valuable information to support their conservation 💚

13/10/2026

🌿THIS THURSDAYS TALK - Wild Estonia by Wilf Powell 🗣️

Wilf's talk describes a range of wildlife seen in Estonia based on seven trips to the country, including visits during the autumn bird migration when tens of thousands of Arctic and Scandinavian birds using the East Atlantic flyway pass along the coast. Wilf has also led butterfly and dragonfly tours in Estonia. The talk will describe important wildlife sites around the country and highlight the exceptional diversity of its fauna and flora.

📅 Thursday 15th October, starting at 7.30pm
💷 £6 on the door
☕ Hot drink & biscuit include

07/10/2026

🌿Discover the wild side of Minster Marshes with this weeks Thursday talk 🦅🦭

Join Connor Carruthers and George Cooper for an evening exploring the wildlife, conservation and making of the Minster Marshes documentary.

🎥 At just 16, Connor produced, filmed, composed and presented this remarkable 40-minute film, showcasing the marshes’ incredible wildlife — from marsh harriers and great crested grebes to beavers and Kent’s largest seal colony.

George Cooper will then share 25 years of experience managing and recording wildlife at Abbey Farm, including his work with wildlife ringing projects.

Come and discover one of East Kent’s most precious wildlife habitats — and hear from the people who know it best.

🌱 An evening for anyone who loves wildlife, wild places and conservation.

📅 Thursday 8 October 2026 Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory
🕢 7.30–9.00pm
💷 £6 on the door
☕ Hot drink & biscuit included
🎥 With Connor Carruthers and George Cooper

30/09/2026

🌿THIS THURSDAYS TALK - Travels with a camera by John Draper 🗣️J

John is fascinated by all aspects of nature from the landscape through to the smallest invertebrates and has a passion for photographing them. The talk features Sri Lankan temples, moving onto Hummingbirds in the West Indies to Sunbirds in Sri Lanka, then onto Fruit Bats, Birds and Elephants in Sri Lanka followed by brief visits to Fair Isle and the St Kilda Archipelago then onto Ireland for Black Guillemots and Grey Seals finishing with some beach combing in Wales.

📅 Thursday 1st October, starting at 7.30pm
💷 £6 on the door
☕ Hot drink & biscuit included

29/09/2026

🦉 Now THIS is a Parliament we can get behind! 🦉
Of course, we’re talking about the collective noun for owls! And we’re delighted to finally share some very exciting news from our recording area…

💚 A pair of Long-eared Owls successfully raised TWO chicks! And honestly… aren’t they just adorable? 🥹🦉🦉

💭 Did you know the Bay is home to all five species of British owl?
During winter, we welcome an influx of Short-eared Owls, who arrive on our shores to escape the harsh winters of their summer breeding grounds.

But the other four species can be spotted here too — and just this past week, Barn, Little, Tawny AND Long-eared Owls have all been recorded! 👀🦉
That means the Bay really is a fantastic place for owl lovers!

📅 Want the best chance of spotting all five? Why not plan a stay and make the most of everything the Bay has to offer?

Our accommodation has recently had a revamp, so whatever brings you to Kent, you’ll find comfortable and affordable self-catering accommodation at our Field Centre. 🛏️🌿

📍 Book your stay: sbbot.org.uk/accommodation/

📷 Jonny Bull

25/09/2026

🪽 JUST 2 DAYS TO GO! 🪽

The Big Kent Bird Migration Day is THIS SUNDAY, 27th September! 🐦

Join us at Sandwich Bay for a brilliant day celebrating the incredible journeys of migratory birds. Whether you’re a keen birder, bringing the family, or simply curious to discover more about the birds passing through our skies, come and join us!

Here’s what’s happening:

📌 Family-friendly Beginners Birdwatching Walk – 10.30am
New to birdwatching? This shorter guided walk is perfect for families and beginners. Join us in partnership with Bird Wise East Kent and discover the birds around us. 🐦

📌 Bird Ringing Demonstrations (weather permitting)
See some of our migratory birds up close and discover how bird ringing helps us understand their incredible journeys.

📌 Guided birdwatching walks
Explore our reserve and recording areas with our brilliant guides and look out for migrating birds. All abilities welcome!

📌 Special talks from the RSPB
Hear about the transformation of Worth Marshes and the conservation work taking place there.

📌 Migration from Sandwich Bay beach
Experience the excitement of migration from the coast with our expert guides.

📌 Craft, optics, food & refreshments
Explore a fantastic selection of craft and optics stands, meet the team, discover something new, and enjoy food and refreshments at the field centre.

🌿 Make a day of it and come and celebrate migration with us!

📅 THIS SUNDAY – 27th September
📍 Sandwich Bay

We’ll see you there! 🪽

For more information, visit sbbot.org.uk

24/09/2026

🌍 Every year, millions of birds undertake extraordinary journeys between their breeding and non-breeding grounds, travelling along vast routes known as Global Flyways. 🌐🕊️

At Sandwich Bay, autumn migration is a remarkable spectacle, beginning as early as July and continuing through to November. Unlike the frantic rush of spring, autumn migration is often a slower, more leisurely movement. As days shorten and food becomes scarcer, birds begin their journey south. 🍂

But these journeys are not without risk. Migratory birds face multiple threats across the countries, habitats and ecosystems they depend on along the way.

Birds are powerful indicators of environmental health, and monitoring their movements and populations gives us valuable insight into the condition of our natural world. Yet the findings are alarming:

🚨 One in nine migratory bird species is threatened with extinction.

Protecting migratory birds means protecting the places they rely on throughout their entire journey — from breeding grounds to wintering areas and the vital stopover sites in between, special places like those found at Sandwich Bay and its recording area.

This autumn, take a moment to look to the skies, land and trees and remember: every bird has a journey, and every journey needs a safe place to stop, as these wonderful photos, captured at the Bay demonstrate 🐦🌿

23/09/2026

🌿THIS THURSDAYS TALK - My Big Year: The BBOWT Nature Reserve Challenge – an evening with Jon Mason 🗣️

Join Jon Mason, aka , for a fascinating evening of wildlife, photography and conservation.

In 2023, Jon set himself the challenge of visiting all 83 BBOWT nature reserves across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire — discovering the incredible wildlife on his doorstep and exploring the challenges facing our precious nature reserves.

📸 This talk is the photographic story of his year, packed with amazing wildlife and fascinating insights.

Jon is an experienced speaker, natural history writer and regular contributor to the Global Bird Fair.

📅 Thursday 24th September
💷 £6 on the door
☕ Hot drink & biscuit included

Come along and discover the remarkable wildlife and wild places that are closer than you might think! 🐦🌳

16/09/2026

Among the shingle, almost perfectly camouflaged, a tiny mountain bird pauses on its journey south and presents a surprise for bird watchers at Sandwich Bay.

The Dotterel is a beautiful migratory species, breeding on mountain tops and across the Arctic tundra before travelling thousands of miles to spend the winter in Africa.

And despite its remote, wild breeding grounds, it can be one of the most approachable of birds — seemingly showing little fear of humans.

There’s something particularly fascinating about this species, too. In a remarkable reversal of the usual roles in the bird world, females are more brightly coloured and often mate with multiple males, while the males typically take on the job of incubating the eggs.

But behind this extraordinary life story is a worrying reality.

A national survey estimates that the UK’s breeding Dotterel population has declined by 89% since 1987, leaving just an estimated 112 breeding males.

The species has now disappeared as a breeding bird from England, Wales and southern Scotland, with most of the remaining population confined to the Scottish Highlands.

Climate change is thought to be one of the main drivers. As temperatures rise, the mountain habitats and food sources these birds depend upon are changing.

The RSPB warns that, unless the remaining habitat is protected, the Dotterel could become the first bird species to disappear from the UK because of climate change.

So, as this tiny traveller passes through on its journey south, it’s worth remembering just how special it is — and how little room there is for this remarkable bird to lose.

📹 Tony Flashman

Address

Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust, Guilford Road, Sandwich Bay
Sandwich
CT139PF

Website

https://linktr.ee/sandwichbirdobs

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