August

                             Total number of species for the year 142

31st

Expecting a change in the wind direction we gathered at 06:00hrs in the Bay for a seawatch..........what a waste of time that was. Up the top on the cliffs was not a lot better  although we did have a Marsh Harrier at 07:15hrs and a steady movement SW of 150+Sand Martins. In the area were 7 Wheatears, 1 Whinchat,12 Lesser Whitethroats, 25 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff and 3 Willow Warblers.

30th

Quite a good day with a movement SW of waders and hirundines, 2 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plovers, 48 Sand Martins and 59 Swallows. In the area were 6 Wheatears, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Blackcaps,13 Whitethroats,10 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs and 8 Willow Warblers. At 10:35 a Dotterel flew around the big field but unfortunately did not land and at 11:20 a Marsh Harrier circled over the Farm wood and then drifted off north.

Out at sea were 3 Harbour Porpoises and in the Paddock were several Adonis Blue butterflies.

29th

In a quite strong NWest wind, arguably our best, only Richard, Phil and Jack

[aka the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.....not necessarily in that order] gathered this morning and had a reasonable number of migrants. Moving SW were singles of Tree Pipit, Yellow and Grey Wagtails, a small number of Sand Martins and Swallows,

3 Sparrowhawks, a Hobby and a Reed Bunting.

Around the area were 5 Whinchats, 11 Wheatears, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Sedge

Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Garden Warblers, 49 Whitethroats,16 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 15 Willow Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher.Still good numbers of Common and Adonis Blues but insect of the day was a Red-veined Darter on the cliff-top at Hope Point.

28th

7 Wheatears and a Marsh Harrier

27th

Fewer birds today, only 6 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 17 Whitethroats and 3 Willow Warblers.

A seawatch for an hour from 07.00-08.00 produced nothing but 333 Gannets moving down channel, however we did have a Harbour Porpoise quite close in to the rocks.

26th

The birds today were probably all part of the same 'fall' as yesterday and included

7 Wheatears, 1 Whinchat, 3 Grasshopper Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers,1 Garden Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 16 Lesser Whitethroats, 26 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers and 1 Spotted Flycatcher. Also moving overhead was a Hobby, 2 Swifts, 2 Sand Martins and 70+ Swallows moving SW.

25th

With the change in wind direction and the overcast weather there was a reasonable 'fall' of mainly warblers this morning with 2 Tree Pipits, 1 Wheatear,

4 Whinchats, 1 Stonechat, 4 Garden Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 18 Lesser Whitethroats, 26 Whitethroats, 4 Chiffchaffs, 16 Willow Warblers and a Wood Warbler. There was also a small trickle SW of Swallows and House Martins.

24th

Very few arrivals today only 2 Wheatears, 3 Lesser Whitethroats,1 Whitethroat and 3 Blackcaps. On cliff-top going SW were 3 Sand Martins and a solitary Golden Plover.

Still good numbers of Common Blue and Brown Argus Butterflies.

23rd

Not so many birds today although there was some movement overhead with singles of Greenshank, Whimbrel, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail and a juv Marsh Harrier that came in off the sea at 09:15. Around the area were 16 Lesser Whitethroat,

28 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap and 2 Willow Warbler.

22nd

The first good gathering of locals this Autumn [Brendan, Nigel, Phil, Richard and Jack] were rewarded with more birds than we've had for sometime. Several Yellow Wagtails flew north along the cliff-top and around the area were 6 Wheatears, 1 Whinchat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 13 Lesser Whitethroats, 42 Whitethroats and 21 Willow Warblers.

21st

Very few birds about apart from a Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroats,2 Whitethroats and 5 Willow Warblers.

Insects better with many Common Blue, Brown Argus and Speckled Wood Butterflies. Also a single Clouded Yellow Butterfly but the 'star' was this Robber Fly eating a Flesh Fly photographed by Phil Chantler

2nd

A few more migrants today, 24 Whitethroats, 12 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Blackcapsand 15 Willow Warblers. Still many butterflies, in particular Gatekeepers,on a small patch of flowers with the wonderful name of Black Horehound I counted over 40.

1st

A walk around the area proved to be quite unfruitful with only  9 Whitethroats and

8 Willow Warblers. There was also a small passage of 13 Swallows and 31 Swifts

moving SW into a brisk breeze. I think I did the right thing in going to the cricket.