30th July 2023

The day started with an overhead movement of 61 Swifts, 115 Sand Martins and 227 House Martins. Apart from that around the area there were only a single Redstart, two Blackcaps, four Lesser Whitethroats, at least 10 Whitethroats, three Willow Warblers and three Ravens. Phil, Richard, Nigel, Jack.

28th July 2023

A fine drizzle made viewing difficult early in the morning and apart from a trickle of Sand Martins moving SW there was only a Turnstone, Reed Warbler and three Willow Warblers in the Hope Point area. Later in the Paddock and the Freedown six Lesser Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler and a Redstart were found.

Phil, Richard, Brendan, Jack. 

Redstart - Freedown 

25th July 2023

On our first autumn day with good numbers of warblers we recorded 181 which were two Reed Warblers, six Blackcaps, 147 Whitethroats (mostly family parties), 11 Lesser Whitethroats, 13 Chiffchaffs and two Willow Warblers. Other birds of note for us were singles of  Curlew, Ringed Plover and Turtle Dove.

Other than birds, today was very good for insects, in the Gun Emplacement on two Buddleia bushes there were 25 Peacock Butterflies, 34 Red Admirals, two Painted Ladies and a Comma. Also by the farm were four White-letter Hairstreak Butterflies in the elms and at least 30 Migrant Hawker Dragonflies on the corner by the wood. 

Phil, Richard, Jack.    

23rd July 2023

The movement of Swifts continued with 650 flying SW in approximately an hour this morning and our first Grasshopper Warbler of the autumn was flushed from long grass just N of Hope Point.

Phil. Richard.  

22nd July 2023

Little overhead movement today apart from 141 Swifts, 73 Sand Martins and a Yellow Wagtail moving SW.  A Short-eared Owl also came in off the sea and flew inland.

Elsewhere in the area there were two Reed Warblers, the first of the autumn.

Phil, Richard, Jack.  

16th July 2023

On a very blustery day there were few birds of note apart from a trickle of Sand Martins moving SW.

On the rocks in the Bay there were 250 Black-headed Gulls, a Little Egret and a Curlew whilst out to sea up to 100 Mediterranean Gulls flew downchannel.

Phil. Richard, Jack.   

 

12th July 2023

A walk around the Paddock with the dog produced a Turtle Dove in Amy's Field and two Red Kites flying SW across the fields. Apart from that there was little of note except the usual good numbers of butterflies and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

Lyn, Ted, Jack.

 

9th July 2023

In 29 years of birding at Bockhill, Phil and Richard had the first record of a Nuthatch just before 06:00 this morning. The bird was heard and then seen flying between Ship House and Moonrakers on Kingsdown Lees. Unfortunately it was not relocated.   

Other notable birds were two White Wagtails feeding in Amy's Field and 50-60 Swifts flying around and landing briefly on the Monument.

Phil, Richard, Jack.  

8th July 2023

The possible start of autumn migration with a Golden Plover, Curlew, two Whimbrel, five Yellow Wagtails and 10 Alba Wagtails moving SW.

For half an hour a group of 25 Swifts were wheeling around and briefly landing on the Monument. 

Phil, Richard, Jack.

4th-5th July 2023

Swifts still moving SW with 1108 between 05:00-06:00 on the 4th and 627 between 05:20-06:20 on the 5th.

Richard 

2nd July 2023

 Another light SW breeze and very few birds apart from the usual movement of Swifts, only 167 today. Notable singles were Grey Partridge, Hobby, Golden Plover and, very rare for us, a Cuckoo flying around the big field and through the Freedown, Also out to sea there was a show that put the "Red Arrows" to shame when the local pair of Peregrines attacked and chased off a single female Peregrine that had obviously wandered into their area.

Today was probably the best day we have had this year for butterflies with many Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers,Large and Small Skippers and literally hundreds of Marbled Whites.

Phil. Richard, Nigel, Jack. 

1st July

 Spurn had reported a good swift passage the day before, so this was todays focus with a moderate westerly breeze and passing weather fronts. After a slow start with only a trickle of swifts coming in -off, things picked up mid morning when there was a sudden rush of activity with over 500 passing SW in 15 minutes. The final total from 6.30-11.45am was 1,375. The only other birds of note were two Sand Martins going south

Brendan, Jack, Phil and Richard