7th September 2024

 Today we had migrants that included 8 Redstarts, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 9 Whinchats, 6 Wheatears, 3 Firecrests, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 19 Blackcaps, 4 Whitethroats, 9 Lesser Whitethroats, 15 Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler. Flyovers, mainly going west, were 2 Golden Plovers, a Grey Heron, a Rock Pipit, 15 Tree Pipits, 17 Yellow Wagtails and 11 Grey Wagtails. Also in the area were 45 Corn Buntings and a Little Owl.

Insects were still in large numbers with many Red Admiral and Large White Butterflies, 2 Long-tailed Blue Butterflies and 2 Red-veined Darter Dragonflies,

Phil, Nigel, Richard, Rob M, Jack.  

6th September 2024

A walk to Hope Point in the morning by Richard produced flyovers of a Golden Plover, Redshank, Grey Wagtail and 1020 Swallows. Grounded migrants included 1 Redstart, 2 Whinchats, 5 Wheatears, 7 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Whitethroats, and 12 Chiffchaffs. In the evening Phil and Rob M did separate parts of the area and found an extra 3 Tree Pipits, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 19 Wheatears, 18 Whinchats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 12 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Willow Warblers and 3 Ringed Plovers.

Many 100's of Red Admiral Butterflies everywhere.   

3rd September 2024

In the evening Rob Morris saw a Black Kite flying north over Kingsdown Road. Also in the Gun Emplacement was a Redstart and 3 Whinchats. 

                                                                                    

1st September 2024

A slow start to the month with 2 Golden Plovers, 6 Sand Martins and 2 Grey Herons moving overhead.       Grounded migrants amounted to 2 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 5 Lesser Whitethroats and singles of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

Nigel, Jack. 

August 2024

Reports throughout August were from the usual contributors of Brendan, Gerald, Jack, Jamie, Julian, Nigel, Phil and Richard plus newcomers Rob and Simon Morris. These were the main records.

29th August, 2 Pied Flycatchers at Macswiggan's garden.

28th August. 3 Whinchats, 1 Redstart, many Sylvia warblers and a Red-backed Shrike in the Freedown.

26th August, A small number of Reed Warblers, Blackcaps, Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and                       Chiffchaffs.

25th August, Around the area, although most were in the farm, there were 5 Whinchats, 9 Wheatears, 3                       Redstarts, 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 11 Lesser Whitethroats, 12                       Chiffchaffs and 7 Willow Warblers.

22nd August, An early morning seawatch produced 2 Balearic Shearwaters SW.

18th August, Pied Flycatcher at Macswiggans and a Bee-eater over the Golf course.

17th August, 2 Pied Flycatchers (1 at Macswiggans and 1 at Hope Point)

14th August, Cuckoo at Hope Point.

13th August, White Stork flew over the Monument towards Dover.

11th August, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers.    

10th August, A Cuckoo flew north towards Gun Emplacement and a Honey Buzzard flew W.   

                     On the Elms in the Farm there were at least 3 White-letter Hairstreak.

8th August,   Around the area were singles of Wheatear, Whinchat, Yellow Wagtail and Raven. Other                           migrants were 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 11 Lesser Whitethroats, 9 Whitethroats and                       3 Willow Warblers.

6th August,   140 Swifts, a Hobby and the first Tree Pipit of the autumn moved SW. Also a flock of 15                         Little Egrets flew over the cliff-top.

                     In the evening 2500 Mediterranean Gulls, 300 Sandwich Terns and 30 Common Terns                             moved down Channel.

2nd August,  Osprey SW over the Monument,

1st August 2024

In the morning a walk from the Monument to Kingsdown Golf Club and back produced 4 Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Willow Warblers, 6 Yellow Wagtails and 31 Sand Martins.

Many butterflies including the first double figure count of Chalkhill Blues and Wall Butterflies. 

At about 6 in the evening we heard that a Brown Booby was seen at North Forland flying South. Four of us gathered on the Cliff top at Kingsdown and by 7 o'clock we were fortunate to see the bird. It flew slowly from the north and wheeled around and then landed on the sea in front of us. It became difficult to see the bird and we lost sight of it.

Jay, Phil, Richard, Jack.       

    

28th July 2024

 We were out for a couple of hours and only did half the area but we had over fifty warblers which were  2 Reed Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 10 Lesser Whitethroats, 11 Whitethroats, 8 Chiffchaffs and 19 Willow Warblers. Other birds included a family party of 4 Coal Tits and flyovers of Grey and Yellow Wagtails.

Phil, Jack.    

27th July 2024

Fewer birds today with 2  Reed Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Whitethroats, 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Bullfinches and a flyover Grey Heron.

Butterflies included 75 Peacocks, 12 Red Admirals and a Painted Lady.

Brendan, Phil, Simon, Jack.  

26th July 2024

 Migrants today included 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Whitethroats, 8 Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff. Other birds in the area were 657 Carrion Crows, a Raven, 3 Green and 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and feeding over the fields 2 Sand Martins and 60 Swifts.

Butterflies included hundreds of Gatekeepers and 10 Painted Ladies.

Phil, Jack.

  

25th July 2024

An hour sea watching in the Bay, with birds moving SW, produced 37 Gannets, 38 Common Scoter, 3 Teal, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Dunlin,9 Sand Martins and 158 Swifts. As we left a Red kite flew along the cliff top.

We went for a coffee in Kingsdown Golf Club and there had another 250 Swifts and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull.

Phil, Jack.    

24th July 2024

The first Autumn migrants have started moving through and today we had 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler and a flyover Yellow Wagtail.

Phil, Jack. 

2nd June 2024

 We tried watching the sea from the clifftop near the Golf Clubhouse without a deal of success, however we were fortunate to see the Bee-eater that was seen some few minutes before at Langdon. This was the 81st species of bird we had seen in the last 9 days.

Pnil, Jack.

1st June 2024

A poor day with only a Tawny Owl of note and some 250 Gannets moving down Channel.

Phil, Jack.