13th September 2025

 Seawatch from 08:00 to 13:00 in a strong South Westerly with rain squalls rushing up the Channel.

With our first scan we had skuas and over the next 5 hours we had a total of 42 Arctic Skuas all moving down Channel. Other than Gannets and 240 Sandwich Terns there were few other birds.

Later in the afternoon Richard had a Sooty Shearwater and 5 Arctic Skuas down Channel. 

After 18:00 Phil did a watch and had another 5 Arctic Skuas,  Making a total of 52 for the day.

Brendan, Jamie, Phil, Richard, Jack.    

7th Sept 2025

 Sunny with light southerly breeze.

Fewer birds today with only singles of Green Sandpiper, Greenshank and Hobby overhead.

In the Freedown there were 4 Whinchats, a Ring Ouzel and a Wheatear. Elsewhere were 3 Reed Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 16 Chiffchaffs, 17 Blackcaps, 8 Lesser Whitethroats and 6 Whitethroats,

Phil, Brendan, Nigel, Simon, Jack.

6th Sept 2025

A pleasant sunny day with a light south westerly unlike recent days of rain and strong winds. This was the first time for over a year that all the Bockhill Birders were out together.

At sea 3 Arctic Skuas, 10 Common Scoters, 2 Greenshank, a Redshank and a Ringed Plover flew SW.

Overhead were 4 Swifts, 5 Grey Herons, 11 Skylarks, 40 Sand Martins, 7 Grey Wagtails, 2 Alba Wagtails and a Tree Pipit. Also a Serin flew south from Kingsdown Lees.

Today we had 166 warblers, our best count this year, which was 3 Reed Warblers, 6 Willow Warblers, 47 Chiffchaffs, 58 Blackcaps, 29 Lesser Whitethroats, 22 Whitethroats and a Grasshopper Warbler. Other grounded migrants were 3 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears, 3 Firecrests, 6 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Ring Ouzel and 2 Common Redstarts, one of which was this magnificent Male.

Phil, Richard, Nigel, Brendan, Gerald, Simon, Jack.

29th August 2025

 A three hour seawatch in a brisk south westerly, with rain squalls rushing upchannel, we had 6 Arctic Skuas, a Balearic Shearwater and a few Sandwich Terns moving West.

Brendan, Jamie, Phil, Jack. 

28th August 2025

 After walking the fields for a week or so Phil was rewarded by finding 3 Dotterel, an adult and 2 Juvs.

Elsewhere we had Hobby, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Sedge Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, 23 Willow Warblers, 14 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 15 Lesser Whitethroats and 17 Whitethroats. 

Phil, Nigel, Jack.

26th August

 Moderate SW becoming S

Dire.

Only 10 Warblers recorded with no phylloscs seen!

"Highlights"- 1 Hobby, 17 Sand Martins and a single Yellow Wagtail

23rd August

 Light NW becoming stronger amd northerly later. Sunny spells

Today's highlights included five Wheatears, 15 Willow Warblers, two Grasshopper Warblers, four Reed Warblers, 18 Lesser Whitethroats, 32 Common Whitethroats one Hobby and 13 Yellow Wagtails including a flock of 10. By Bockhill standards it was a good wader day with three Whimbrel, three Curlews, two Redshank and single Golden Plover, Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper

Phil, Jack and Brendan

Northern Wheatear 

22nd August 2025

 A chilly NW breeze.

Flyovers today included a Golden Plover, 5 Common Buzzards, 3 Meadow Pipits, a Grey Wagtail and one Swift.

Grounded migrants were 3 Wheatears, 3 Whinchats, a Stonechat and, at Westcliff, 2 Golden Plovers. We also had 59 warblers of which there were 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 5 Reed Warblers, 21 Whitethroats, 13 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs and 5 Willow Warblers.

Phil, Brendan, Simon, Jack.  

19th August

 Brisk NE wind.  Overcast 

After over 30 years of watching the site, a day in which a record count was achieved should be notable. However not if that count is of 12 pheasants. Once a scare bird at Bockhill but more regular in recent years.  The 12, in the Freedown were all young bird and presumably are evidence of successful breeding. 

Sadly this was the only excitement of the morning. Two Whinchats and a Wheatear remain but warbler numbers were down with three Willow Warblers and a single Reed Warbler being the best. A single Whimbrel flew down channel. 

Brendan and Phil

Whinchat

Meadow Pipit

Common Whitethroat

16th August 2025

On a very dull chilly day the only bird of any note was the Quail that continued to sing by the pile of manure near the Freedown.

Phil, Simon, Jack

15th August

 Light NNW. Clear-sunny

A singing Quail below the Freedown was this morning's highlight. Sadly we weren't able to see the bird despite it appearing to be in more open habitat than usual. 

Other birds today included five Wheatears, two Whinchats and the first Common Redstart of the autumn. 

The usual selection of warblers included three Reed Warblers and single Garden and Sedge Warblers.

Brendan, Phil, Jack amd Jay

14th August

 Calm conditions with high overhead cloud , clearing mid morning

Today's highlights included five Whinchats, four Wheatears, two Grasshopper Warblers, plus four Reed and two Sedge Warblers.

Phyllosc numbers seem to have dropped right off with only three Willow Warblers and three Chiffchaffs but Sylvia warblers are holding up with at least 25 Whitethroats, 12 Lesser Whitethroats and 11 Blackcaps and a single Garden Warbler 

Jack, Phil and Brendan

Wheatear

Whinchat 

Grasshopper Warbler 

13th August 2025

 The 2 Quail still singing at Westcliff, also a flyover Greenshank.

Elsewhere in the area 10 Willow Warblers, 8 Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Partridge and a Eurasian Treecreeper.

Dashed over to Walmer Beach to see Wryneck found by Rob and Viginia. No success.

Richard, Phil, Jack