13th September 2018

A NW wind and overcast conditions saw a marked improvement in the birding today. Early morning before the could cleared, three Yellow Wagtails, t

hree Tree Pipits five Grey Wagtails and a Reed Bunting went over. Blackcaps ( 57) and Chiffchaffs (33) both had thier best days of the autumn so far. Other warblers included six Whitethroats, 10 Lesser Whitethroats, three Reed Warblers and a single Willow Warbler.

There were three Redstarts around the Paddock/Leas first thing and a fourth bird later at the Gun Emplacement. Spotted Flycatchers were seen at Hope Point and Otty Bottom while a Short-eared Owl was flushed from the clifftop.  Richard found the first Firecrest of the autumn. Brendan & Jack with additional records from Kingsdown/Otty Bottom from Richard

Redstart- Paddock 

Clouded Yellow

12th September 2018

After a delayed start due to rain and drizzle, birding was disappointing with only a handful of warblers in the area including 15 Chiffchaffs, 11 Blackcaps, 6 Lesser Whitethroats and two Common Whitethroats. Just as I was about to call it a day I managed to find two Pied Flycatcher in the Farm Wood.

8th September 2018

A Marsh Harrier flew out to sea shortly after dawn raising false hopes of an eventful morning. Again there was a passage of hirundines in the first couple of hours after dawn but this time heading south with around 650 Swallows and 450 House Martins. Other overhead passage included 4 Grey Wagtails, 40 Meadow Pipits and a single Reed Bunting. Warbler numbers were down with 17 Chiffchaffs, nine Lesser Whitethroats, four Whitethroats and a single Blackcap. There were no chats although just outside the area there were five Whinchats and six Wheatears along Reach Road.

Highlight of the morning was three Short-eared Owls in the air together at Hope Point

Brendan & John Cantelo

7th September 2018

Another good northward passage of hirundines in the first couple of hours after dawn, with House Martins (largely absent from yesterday's movement) dominating. A probably widely accurate count/estimate suggested 2,500 House Martins and 1,700 Swallows but it could easily have been double that total. All were going generally north. Much less Meadow Pipits moving today (35), reflecting the change of wind direction to WNW.  Two Grey and four Yellow Wagtails went over as did the first Reed Bunting of the autumn.

Chiffchaffs were more evident with 21 counted plus a further eight from Richard at Otty Bottom. Other Warblers included 21 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Whitethroats, eight Blackcaps and single Grasshopper, Garden and Reed and Willow Warblers.

On the chat front there were three Redstarts, two Whinchats and a single Wheatear.

Yesterday's Short-eared Owl was relocated at Hope Point.

(Brendan)

6th September 2018

Today felt like autumn with a steady passage of Meadow Pipits,( 115 ) Swallows (900) and Sand Martins (50) all going North along the coast into a Northwesterly wind. Also Four Tree Pipits all heading inland and four Yellow Wagtails. On the ground there were six Whinchats (Freedown & Hope Point) and single Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear and Redstart. A Short-eared Owl was flushed from the clifftop. While the Gun Emplacement came up trumps with two Garden Warblers and a brief Wood Warbler. Other Warblers included 15 Common Whitethroats and 15 Lessers, seven Blackcaps, eight Chiffchaffs and two Willow Warbler.

Brendan ( with additional records from Neil Framton)

Spotted Flycatcher - Freedown

Wheatear- Clifftop

A Short-eared Owl was flushed from the clifftop.

Wood Warbler _ Gun Emplacement

5th September 2018

A damp and miserable morning with birding to match! Four Whinchats on the clifftop and a Redstart at Hope Bay Studios were the highlights. On the warbler front there were six Whitethroats, nine lessers and seven Blackcaps but no Willow Warblers or Chiffchaffs. A single Lapwing  ( scarce Bockhill bird) flew north.

1st September 2018

Bright sunny conditions with light winds were not conducive to the arrival of migrants and it was hard work at times today, however we ended up with reasonable numbers, in part due to Richard's coverage of Otty Bottom. Day totals included; three Wheatears, three Whinchats, three Redstarts, 34 Blackcaps, seven Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Common Whitethroats, three Reed Warblers, one Grasshopper Warbler, four Chiffchaffs, four Willow Warblers, and 38 Yellowhammers. Overhead there were two Tree Pipits and two Yellow Wagtails while Richard had a Dotterel fly over the village. Gerald, Jack, Richard & Brendan

Wheatear

Wheatear

31st August 2018

Some improvement in the number of migrants around this morning although overhead passage remains non existent.

Nine species of warbler were recorded this morning including single Grasshopper and Sedge, two Garden, six Willow and eight Reed Warblers, 33 Whitethroats, 22 Lessers and five Blackcaps. Only one Chiffchaff was seen.

On the chat front there were six Wheatears and single Redstart, Whinchat and Spotted Flycatcher. A Greenshank flew down channel and there was a Yellow Wagtail on the Golf Course.  Brendan

One of eight Reed Warblers this morning

30th August 2018

Highlights of a brief visit early morning included five Whinchats and two Redstarts. Warblers remain thin on the ground with seven Blackcaps, six Lesser Whitethroats, three Common Whitethroats, two Chiffchaffs and a single Willow Warbler. The only other birds of note were a group of six Grey Partridge. Brendan

Common Redstart- Freedown

Whinchat - Bluebird Cafe

Whinchat - Freedown 

29th August 2018

After an aborted visit this morning due to heavy rain, I returned mid afternoon and walked a short circuit taking in the Paddock, the Leas, Clifftop, Farm Wood and Gun Emplacement. It was fairly birdless until I reached the Freedown, where there were two Redstarts and two Spotted Flycatchers. Warbler numbers seemed low but I managed two Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers, five Whitethroats, six Lesser Whitethroats, five Blackcaps and a single Reed Warbler. Brendan

28th August 2018

Grasshopper Warbler, 10 Lesser Whitethroats, one Willow Warbler & six Blackcaps as per Julian Russell via Twitter.

17th August 2018

A quiet day today with very few grounded migrants, we only found three Wheatears, a Whinchat, four Lesser Whitethroats, seven Whitethroats, two Willow Warblers and a Nightingale.
Moving through overhead were five Swifts and a Yellow Wagtail. Phil and Jack

14th August 2018

Highlights today included a Spotted Flycatcher (in the Paddock), a Garden Warbler (Gun Emplacement), 4 Reed Warblers, 2 Whinchats (Clifftop & Gun Emplacement), a Black Redstart (Leas), Hobby, 22 Willow Warblers, 17 Whitethroats, 17 Lesser Whitethroats, & 2 Blackcaps.

There was a small trickle of Swallows moving south  29,  and a couple of Sand Martins with them.  11 species of butterfly were recorded including eight Walls and many Chalkhill Blues at Hope Point.

Spotted Flycatcher -Paddock

Whinchat- Gun Emplacement

Garden Warbler- Gun Emplacement

Wall