Wednesday 31 July 2019

30th June - 31st July

On June 30th Phil and Richard saw a first summer female Red-footed Falcon fly north over Hope Point. From then on very little was noted apart from waders (Whimbrel, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Greenshank) that were recorded overnight by Gerald from July 15th at Walmer. On the 20th a seawatch produced more waders including Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits and also a rarity for us, a Garganey. On the 24th Nigel had 16 Common Sandpipers on the undercliff and the next day Phil flushed an adult female Honey Buzzard from the Monument bushes. There was also another wader, a Ringed Plover,  on the rocks. On the 26th there was another Honey Buzzard W as well as 2 Marsh Harriers and a Red Kite. Also another Whimbrel and Green Sandpiper. On the 27th, after overnight storms, enormous numbers of Swifts were feeding, mainly on the clifftop, between Kingsdown and the South Forland Valley. These were very difficult to count but we thought there were at least 15000. More waders were moving and we had 2's-3's of Whimbrel, Curlew, Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Knot, Grey Plover and Lapwing. Also a butterfly transect, that Jay and I walked, produced 19 species which included a Dark Green Frittillary. Another species, a White-letter Hairstreak was also seen by the wood. The next day there were fewer Swifts but still between 4000-6000 fed over the cliffs. Also 19 Whimbrel and a Redshank moved W and our first Reed Warbler and 2 Grasshopper Warblers were at Hope Point. In the area on the 29th we had  3 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 26 Whitethroats, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 26 Willow Warblers, 3 Yellow Wagtails and a Hobby. On the 31st Brendan had 977 Swifts move SW and in the area was a Hobby, Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler and 2 Willow Warblers.