April

                                    Species total for the year is 108

29th

Several hours looking at the sea today finally had its rewards (just) with the following moving up channel: 30 Whimbrel, 2 Knot, 78 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Tufted Duck (a rare bird at Bockhill!), 2 Arctic Skuas, 34 Sandwich Terns, 21 Common Terns, 11 Dunlin, 1 Little Tern, 2 Great Skuas, 5 Grey Plover and a single Little Gull. 4 Ring Ouzels and 2 Wheatears were the only notable birds in the area.

28th

Seawatching during the day produced 52 Bar-tailed Godwits, 54 Gannets, 7 Whimbrel, 2 Greylag Geese all moving up channel and 1 Pomarine Skua in the evening. In the area there were few birds but single Black Redstart and Hobby provided a pleasant distraction.

24th

A short seawatch in the evening only produced 21 Sandwich Terns, and 4 Mediterranean Gulls.

21st

With the wind to the south-east, we were hopeful of some good migrants, although the result was a little more surprising. Very little vis-mig with a handful of Swallows, a couple of Sparrowhawks and the odd Yellow Wagtail. Looking to the sea produced 2 Shoveler, a Mute Swan and close views of 3 Pomarine Skuas  at 0750 complete with spoons. An hour later it was the sight of 2 Ravens heading south towards Dover that got us excited, as these were a new bird for the area.

20th

A few Swallows, Linnets and Goldfinches moved  into a cold north-easterly wind and our first Whitethroat of the year sung on the cliff-top. A short sea watch in the afternoon produced 104 Brent Geese, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and 7 Pomarine Skuas at 1428.

17th

The female Ring Ouzel still remains in the Freedown.

15th

A few more migrants today, 11 Swallows, 1 Sand Martin, 5 Lesser Whitethroats,

2 Chiffchaffs and the first Tree Sparrow

14th

Some 50plus Swallows, 2 House Martins, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Siskin and 150 Linnets moved along the cliff-top into a cold north easterly breeze. In the area 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers and 1 Ring Ouzel had arrived overnight and at sea 2 Whimbrels, 3 Common and 1 Arctic Tern and 2 Mediterranean Gulls flew upchannel.

9th

With the wind changing to a light south-westerly we had our first influx of summer migrants which were 2 Swallows, 10 Sand Martins, 10 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers and 1 Tree Pipit.

7th

After yesterday's influx of birds, the north-easterly wind brought migration to a

stop and we only had one Swallow and 2 Coal Tits of note. However Coal Tit was a

new bird for the year.

6th

A fresh NW wind this morning gave us our first taste of spring with 400+ Chaffinches, 4 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, a Merlin, a Short-eared Owl in off at 9.30 and a Marsh Harrier at 1020. Two Red Kites that drifted SW at 9.00 were however a spectacular sight. This Common Lizard was also making the most of the spring weather.