The Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory celebrates its diamond jubilee this weekend as part of the Sandwich Festival. Chris Price reports.

Even after 60 years, Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory can still throw up a surprise among the dozens upon dozens of bird species that land in its nature reserve.

Sandwich native Patrick Gold was seven when he first visited the site. Now aged 48, he has been chairman of the trust which runs the 20-acre recording area for seven years.

Patrick has seen the opening of the new field centre in 2000 and just about everything that has been caught by the volunteers who monitor and ring the birds – all with the same excitement he had when he visited as a boy.

“One of my highlights earlier this year was catching a little bunting,” said Patrick. “I have been waiting more than 40 years to see one. It is only the second one ever seen in Sandwich in 60 years. They are very scarce in this area.

“It is a migratory bird, it was off course but was happy. That is why we are useful. You get odd birds which turn up and we try to work out why, using factors like where the wind is blowing. We are still not sure why that one went off course. Hopefully by the end of the year, we will know.”

The observatory celebrates its diamond jubilee at its Wildlife and Conservation Fair this weekend. Part of the Sandwich Festival, the anniversary actually marks the site’s first operation as a ringing station, as it became an observatory open to the public 50 years ago.

The site is on a migration route for many birds and attracts so many species because of the many different habitats found in such a small space. In recent years it has also become a centre for monitoring moths, butterflies and plants.

“People think Sandwich Bay is just beach but we have woodland, grasslands, reed beds and farmland,” said Patrick. “That is why we get such a variety. We catch and ring the birds to work out where they travel, how long they live and how many return.”

There are 17 bird observatories across the UK, who all meet each January to swap data and talk about their findings. Everyone who helps out and rings the birds are volunteers, with the warden the observatory’s only paid member of staff. “We are all like-minded people who have all got the same ideas on conservation,” said Patrick. “We have seen many trends over the years. New birds come in and some disappear.

“I like the yellowhammer. I was born in Worth, next door to the observatory, and as a child I used to see them every day. They disappeared completely for a while but in the last four years we have seen them coming back. They take me back to my childhood.”

It is thought the yellowhammer disappeared because of farming techniques and hedgerows being cut, which are their natural habitat. Now more people are aware of conservation efforts, hedgerows have returned and so have the yellowhammer.

At this weekend’s fair, visitors can find out about the history of the observatory and there will be displays showing the work the observatory does. People can see bird ringing demonstrations and ringers will be on hand to chat.

“I would like to see the observatory still going in 50 years,” said Patrick.

“ There is no reason why it shouldn’t be. We have had some interesting data from Sandwich in the past and long may it continue. It can be exciting. We had a goldcrest arrive which had been rung in Kiev only nine days earlier. It’s the UK’s smallest bird and weighs about four smarties, so that journey was good going. It is that sort of thing that keeps everyone coming.”

The Bun Run kicks-off the Sandwich Festival proper once again, with historic walks, motorcycles and the Italian market.

Running each day until Bank Holiday Monday, children will race around the streets to collect their bun from the mayor from noon on Friday, August 24

In the evening a concert by Bienvenido will be the highlight of a Spanish night that will also include a small wine festival. See the White Mill on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, a smock windmill with many other exhibits, including a furnished miller’s cottage, cobbler’s workshop and blacksmith’s forge. The mill is at The Causeway in Ash Road. Admission £3, children £1, concessions £2, families £8.

The annual motorcycle meet will fill the Guildhall Forecourt on Sunday, while a free bat and trap tournament will raise a few cheers on the Quay Green. On Monday it hosts the classic car collection.

The weekend is rounded off on Bank Holiday Monday with a street concert on the Guildhall Forecourt, the plastic duck race on the Quay Green and a Greek barbecue. Full details at www.sandwichevents.org.uk

The Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory’s field centre is open to visitors daily from 10am to 4pm. The Wildlife and Conservation Fair takes place on Sunday, August 26 and Bank Holiday Monday. Admission free but there is a £1 charge at the tollgate and £2.50 per adult for a guided walk, children free. There will be a free vintage bus running from Sandwich on both days. Call 01304 617341 or visitwww.sbbot.co.uk