14th October 2024

 On 14th October 1994 Richard Heading went to Bockhill with a birding pal to look for a reported Siberian Stonechat. Whilst walking back from Hope Point a Radde's Warbler flew out of a cliff top bush in front of them. This event sparked a change for three of us and we switched our patch birding to Bockhill rather than the South Foreland Valley. Within a week a Rough-legged Buzzard, Dartford Warbler and a Shore Lark cemented our decision. Thirty years on Bockhill is watched on most days, some of us even live around the edge of the site and with birders who have come and gone we have recorded 282 different species. There have been many highlights including two County firsts but also numerous days when we lament the lack of birds and decent habitats for attracting them. However we still come back and keep looking for that 'Rare' after all 'tomorrow looks good'. Thankyou to all who have provided records and happy memories at this site over the past years and hopefully for years to come.     

13th October

 For the first time this year there was a full turn out from the Bockhill regulars. In a brisk WNW wind there was a good overhead movement of Stock Doves (141 NE) and White/Pied Wagtails (110 also going NE). Other birds of note overhead included a Redpoll (very scarce this autumn), a steady trickle of Siskins and four Tree Sparrows. Around the area there were at least 12 Stonechats, 12 Reed Buntings, 43 Chiffchaffs and three Blackcaps.

The Red-backed Shrike was still at Hope Point, giving better views this morning but it remained flighty and never came too close.

 Late morning Phil found a Yellow-Browed Warbler at Loxley Wood, which all on site managed to see reasonably well. A Ring Ouzel was seen on Kingsdown Leas. 

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

12th October

Highlight today was a Red-backed Shrike found at Hope Point by Richard. It was elusive, always distant and the weather at times was poor. None of this helped in confirming its identity. While at Hope Point we had three Hawfinches fly over, one of which pitched down into the bushes , where it remained unseen for 20 minutes before flying south.

Richard, Jack, Phil, Nigel and Brendan

11th Oct

 A Yellow-browed Warbler is still present in the Farm Wood. 

The only other bird of note today were a nice male Ring Ouzel at Hope Point, where a Woodlark flew over heading north, 42 Chiffchaffs and two Blackcaps 

Brendan

Yellow-browed Warbler

Ring Ouzel 

5th October

Our first two Yellow-browed Warblers of the year showed reasonably well in the Farm Wood this morning. The other highlight include a Dartford Warbler, briefly along Kingsdown Leas.

Other than these notable birds there wasn't a lot to get excited about. There were around 70 Chiffchaffs, 12 Blackcaps, 90 Barn Swallows, 11 House Martins, 15 Stonechats. 

Brendan, Phil, Richard and Nigel

Yellow-browed Warblers in Farm Wood

4th October

 A light SE wind resulted in a promising start with Chiffchaffs seemingly everywhere amd a final count of around 142. 14 Blackcaps were also recorded. There had been a small arrival of Song Thrushes (8) and Dunnocks (21) were more obviously than usual. A single Whinchat was associating with 12 Stonechats on the clifftop, while overhead there were three Grey Wagtails, 16 Pied/White Wagtails, four Bramblings. Small numbers of Skylarks were trickling through all morning. 

 More detail on eBird  https://ebird.org/checklist/S197428397 

Brendan

Whinchat 

3rd October

 A blustery NE wind made viewing quite difficult at time and apart from the first Ring Ouzel of the autumn there was little of note. Only 12 Chiffchaffs were recorded along with one Blackcap, four Goldcrests and a Firecrests.

Jack and Simon spent the morning sea watching in the bay

Brendan

2nd October

A light northerly wind offered a little hope of some improvement in migrants but it was not to be! Best of the day was an increase in Stonechats, with 18 together along the clifftop. The only warblers recorded were 42 Chiffchaffs and five Blackcaps. Other birds of not included five Goldcrests, two Firecrests, 16 Siskins ( probably more -most were heard only), three Bramblings and a single Golden Plover. At sea 220 Brents flew south in a single flock

Tomorrow may be better

Brendan

Stonechat 

30th September

 A strong south or SW wind induced us to spent some time looking at the sea today. Phil tried in the morning but the visibility was poor so we reconvened after the rain in the early afternoon. In two hours from the blockhouse in the bay we recorded seven Arctic Skuas, 120 Sandwich Terns, two Arctic Terns, two Common Terns, nine Dunlin and a Red-throated Diver

Phil and Brendan

28th September - Kent Bird Migration Day

Bockhill was able to contribute a few interesting records to KOS's Bird Migration day. There was a small steady passage of Meadow Pipits (110) and Chaffinches (45) during the first couple of hours plus the odd Skylark (11) moving south. More unusual were at least nine Great Spotted Woodpeckers moving north during the morning. Also moving overhead were at least 10 Grey Wagtail, 9 Pied Wagtails, four Siskins, three Reed Buntings. 18 Barn Swallows went through and a group of around 30 House Martins fed in the lee of the Empty Wood before moving off. Around mid morning there was a little pulse of Common Buzzards with around 15 seen coming in and heading inland. 

There were few grounded migrants and a reduction in warblers from earlier in the week. In all 108 Chiffchaffs were recorded along with 23 Blackcaps and a single Whitethroat. There were at least eight Stonechats along the Clifftop and another three in the Freedown. A Whinchat appeared briefly near the Freedown mid morning before heading inland. The only other migrants recorded were three Firecrests and three Goldcrests. 

Jack, Simon, Brendan, Richard and Nigel

27th September 2024

 Overhead this morning were good numbers of hirundines feeding across the fields again whilst over 500 Meadow Pipits flew W. 

Around the area were 12 Stonechats, a Wheatear, 2 Spotted flycatchers, 55 Blackcaps, a Whitethroat and 145 Chiffchaffs.

At 11:00 we were soaked in a heavy shower and decided to go to the shelter in the Bay. After coffee we started a seawatch at 11:30 lasting until 16:30. In this time, with birds all moving S, we had up to 2500 Gannets, 2 Great Skuas, a Pomarine Skua, 26 Arctic Skuas and a Manx Shearwater. Apart from these there were 100 Kittiwakes, 150 Mediterranean Gulls and, incoming, 2 Kestrels and 3[possibly 6] Hobbys.

Up to 5 Harbour Porpoises feeding just offshore. 

Jamie, Phil, Richard, Simon, Jack.           

26th September

Large falls of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps had been reported from other Kent sites yesterday and it was clear that Bockhill had shared in this influx with 165 Chiffchaffs and 64 Blackcaps recorded this morning. However conditions were not good, windy and heavy rains so the true numbers were probably double these counts.

Other highlights included single Hobby, Grasshopper Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher and Tree Pipit. Other warblers included 3 Whitethroats and Two Lessers. 

There was a reasonable movement of Meadow Pipits (460) and Swallows (350) in the first hour. 

Brendan

22nd September 2024

 Today again there were hirundines feeding over the entire area but not in quite the same numbers, perhaps 50,000. Other birds included a Black Redstart, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 11 Reed Buntings and 23 Chiffchaffs.

On the sea were 89 Mediterranean Gulls, 14 Sandwich Terns and 2 Brent Geese moving South.

Phil, Simon, Jack.