20th November 2022

Although the weather constantly changed with rain squalls dashing up channel, making viewing difficult at times, for four and a half hours we did a sea watch in the Bay. Birds were moving mostly in a SW direction with 59 Brent Geese, 26 Teal, 32 Common Scoter, 78 Shelduck, 17 Wigeon, a Gadwall and seven Red-breasted Merganser. Other than wildfowl we had 22 Red-throated Divers, one Black-throated Diver, 56 Kittiwakes, 28 Little Gulls, 142 Auks[mainly Guillemots], a Little Auk and over 2000 Gannets.  

Simon, Jack. 

19th November 2022

On a seawatch at St Margaret's Bay from 07:15-14:50 we had, mostly moving down Channel, 149 Brent Geese, 71 Common Scoters, a Velvet Scoter, 29 Teal, two Mallards, 18 Wigeons, four Shelducks, an Eider and three Goldeneyes. As well as the wildfowl there were 123 Cormorants, a Shag, 27 Red-throated Divers, two Black-throated Divers, eight Great Crested Grebes, 443 Auks and an Arctic Skua.

The only waders were 49 Lapwings that flew in off the sea and four Curlews and a Whimbrel that flew on to the rocks under the cliff.

A total of 11 Falmars have returned to the Cliffs.

Feeding just off the beach were two Harbour Porpoises and a Common Seal.

Simon, Jack.       

     

4th November

 With a slight improvement in the weather, e.g. lighter NW winds I was tempted out, in the hope of a repetition of 4th Nov 1995 when we recorded four Pallas's Warblers! I recall seeing only one chiffchaff on that day so in that respect alone today was better with five Chiffchaffs. Two Blackcaps added to the warbler count and the crests contributed eight Gold and two Fire. 

There was some decent overhead movement after the early morning rain cleared with at least 190 Siskins going north in the first hour. A Snow Bunting also flew North.  The first Woodcock of the autumn was recorded, flushed from the cliff top near Hope Point. It flew into the Empty Wood. 

A Woodlark was flushed from the "rare bunting" field ( a field that has failed to produced a single rare bunting but has hosted up to five wintering Woodlarks in the past) and may well have settle back down. 

Still not too late for a Pallas's but some improvement in the winds needs to happen first

Brendan

https://ebird.org/checklist/S121824378 

Firecrest- Gun Emplacement

31st October

 A delayed start due to heavy rain. very quiet with an end of season feel to it. A Woodlark over the monument as we had coffee was the highlight but there was very little else of note. Two Chiffchaffs, five Goldcrests and four Stonechats. 

https://ebird.org/checklist/S121619399 

Nigel and Brendan