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  

12th August 2025

 At Westcliff there were 2 Quail singing, one giving a variant call (after listening to many calls on the internet it appears to sound like a Japanese Quail which is kept commonly in the UK).

Also at Bockhill by the Monument an adult Hen Harrier flew south out to sea. 

Phil, Jack. 

10th August 2025

On Kingsdown Leas there was a Pied Flycatcher, Grasshopper Warbler, 14 Crossbills flying north and 2 Long tailed Blue Butterflies. Elsewhere were 3 Whinchats, a Reed Warbler and a Cuckoo.

Richard, Phil, Nigel, Jack  

9th August

 Light westerly becoming southerly later. Mostly sunny

A surprisingly good day with Kingfisher being the highlight in terms of Bockhill scarcity.

Other highlights included the first Pied Flycatcher and Whinchat of the autumn. 13 Reed Warblers (possibly a Bockhill record), two Sedge Warblers, one Grasshopper Warbler a Tree Pipit, 17 Crossbills and five Wheatears

Nigel, Phil, Jack, Simon, Richard and Brendan

Pied Flycatcher (BR)

Whinchat (BR)

Pied Flycatcher (BR)

8th August

 Today's highlights included the first Spotted Flycatcher of the autumn plus 21 Willow Warblers, and six Reed Warblers. Yesterday's Wheatear was still present.

Jack, Phil and Brendan

Spotted Flycatcher -Farm Wood

Spotted Flycatcher -Farm Wood

Reed Warbler- Hope Point

6th August

 Light westerly wind Sunny spells

Fairly typical early autumn day at Bockhill with 13 Willow Warblers, 25 Whitethroats, 12 Lesser Whitethroats, seven Reed Warblers, one Grasshopper Warbler and single Wheatears and Redstart. 

Highlights included an immature Cuckoo in the Freedown and a Marsh Harrier 

A lack on northerlies in the wind probably accounted for a slow down in the passage of Crossbills which have dominated the autumn so far 

https://ebird.org/checklist/S265361796  

https://ebird.org/checklist/S265371099 

Brendan, Jack and Phil 

Cuckoo- Freedown (Brendan Ryan)

Willow Warbler -Hope Point 

Reed Warbler - Hope Point 

Northern Wheatear (Brendan Ryan)