23rd November 2019

Phil walked around the area this morning and had a Stonechat, three Chiffchaffs and three Firecrests. There was also a Lapland Bunting  in the field by Hope Point. Offshore at Kingsdown Leas were at least 2800 Kittiwakes, 521 Mediterranean Gulls, 300 Common Gulls and two Little Gulls.
On his way back via the Farm Wood were five Bramblings.

10th November 2019

The Great Grey Shrike still remains in the Freedown and we were entertained by the two Peregrines chasing the Ravens across the fields, apart from that there was very little else.
Earlier in the today we had a brief seawatch which produced a few Gannets, Wigeon and Scoters. Other than that the highlight was an enormous oilrig  moving down channel towed by two tugs.
John C, Nigel, Jack    

Oil Rig - Nigel Jarman

9th November 2019

With five of us out today and the whole of the area being done we expected more but unfortunately it didn't happen. Overhead we only had 382 Woodpigeons, six Stock Doves, 32 Skylarks, three Swallows,  four Alba Wagtails, two Fieldfares, two Tree Sparrows, seven Bramblings, six Redpolls, six Siskins and four Reed Buntings.
In the area were singles of Stonechat, Black Redstart, Cetti's Warbler and six Blackcaps, four Chiffchaffs, nine Firecrests, 10 Goldcrests, a Coal tit and 56 Long-tailed Tits.
Also the Great Grey Shrike was still in the Freedown.
John C, Nigel, Phil, Richard, Jack.  

Great Grey Shrike - Nigel Jarman

7th November 2019

Apart from the Great Grey Shrike that was still present in the Freedown there were no other notable birds in the area. However a look on the sea for half an hour produced 30 Gannets feeding offshore, a couple of adult winter plumaged Razorbills and the first returning Fulmar prospecting around the cliffs.  

6th November 2019

On a crisp cold and sunny day the Great Grey Shrike performed well and was seen catching bees for most of the morning. Elsewhere around the area there were very few birds of note apart from singles of Swallow, Fieldfare and Chiffchaff plus 11 Goldcrests and 28 Mediterranean Gulls.

4th November 2019

After yesterday things were very quiet and, apart from the Great Grey Shrike that was still in The Freedown, there were only two Bramblings, a few Goldcrests and the Ravens of any note.

Great Grey Shrike (Paul Holt)

3rd November 2019

Probably our best day this autumn with many birds overhead and around the area in a light SW with a little early morning rain.
Phil and Richard started from the undercliff where they had a Rock Pipit of ssp littoralis. From there to the Golf Course we had three Snow Buntings and a Hawfinch flying W and also many Thrushes and Finches.
At the same time Simon had a seawatch and in one hour, moving down channel, had 300 Gannets, five Red-throated Divers, five Scoters, five Mediterranean Gulls and a Black-throated Diver sitting on the sea.
At the Gun Emplacement we saw a Great Grey Shrike and a Woodcock, after a couple of minutes the shrike disappeared and whilst we were trying to relocate it, Paul Holt on the clifftop had a Richard's Pipit, Serin and then a Waxwing in the Paddock.
We refound the Shrike in the Freedown where it entertained everyone as it caught Bumble Bees from the tops of the bushes.
Totals of birds flying overhead were 11 Swallows, 45 Meadow Pipits, nine Alba Wagtails, seven Bramblings, 50 Chaffinches, 10 Linnets, 120 Goldfinches, 23 Redpolls and six Reed Buntings.
Grounded birds included a Ring Ouzel, three Fieldfares, 30 Redwings, 26 Song Thrushes, 83 Blackbirds, 10 Chiffchaffs, 10 Firecrests and 15 Goldcrests.  

Great Grey Shrike (Simon Warry)