29th

A small influx of birds arrived on a light north-westerly, two Spotted Flycatchers, one Wheatear and a very vocal Icterine Warbler that sung in the farmyard for most of the day.

24th/28th

Storm Petrels were noted for the rest of the week with one on 24th and four on 25th/26th/27th. Manx Shearwaters were seen on 25th/26th and on 28th the only seabirds of note were 100+ Common Scoters going north.

On 27th over 150 Painted Lady Butterflies were on the oilseed rape in the big field.

21st

In another good seawatch from 05.30hrs to 16.00hrs there were 38 Manx Shearwaters, one 'Blue' Fulmar, one Great Skua, many Auks and two more Storm Petrels. Two Harbour Porpoise and a Grey Seal were also seen.

At the Monument a Golden Oriole was seen coming in over the clifftop and moving off north-west.

20th

A day long seawatch in a strong westerley produced 12 Manx Shearwaters, nine Little Terns, 330 Sandwich Terns, 13 Guillemots, four Razorbills and a ringtail Montagu's Harrier all moving downchannel.

The bird of the day was a Storm Petrel seen feeding offshore on four occasions between 15.00hrs and 17.30hrs.

15th

Very little movement apart from a Blue-headed Wagtail, a Hobby, three Mute Swans and a Hawfinch.

14th

A better day with the wind from the east. In the area was a Turtle Dove, a Hobby and Greenshank as well as, new for the year, a Sedge Warbler and three Whinchats.

At 11.00 hrs we decided to do a seawatch and were pleasantly surprised with three Red-throated Divers, one Great Northern Diver, four Sanderling, three Whimbrel, three Manx Shearwaters and three Velvet Scoters.

13th

In misty weather very few birds were seen apart from a Marsh Harrier, Greenshank, Firecrest and Turtle Dove. Interestingly, on the clifftop, there were three newly arrived Willow Warblers singing between Hope Point and Kingsdown.

12th

Three Red Kites NW along the cliff top at midday!

8th

A Hoopoe flew NE along Otty Bottom this afternoon at 1725.

7th

Between the periods of rain and thick mist we had a good seawatch with three Red-throated Diver, 11 Turnstone, 16 Whimbrel, 10 Ringed Plover, 10 Oystercatcher, one Great and one Arctic Skua and at 09.03 five Pomarine Skuas.Also during the morning a Harbour Porpoise was present of the rocks in the Bay.

New arrivals in the area were two Tree Pipits, one Cuckoo and a Black Redstart.

6th

On a light north westerly there was a small sea passage of three Red-throated Divers, one Black-throated Diver, nine Gannet, nine Cormorant, nine Shelduck, 70 Common Scoter and three Arctic Skuas. Around the area was a Merlin, Tree Pipit, five Yellow Wagtail and at 09.16hrs a Black Kite flew south west along the clifftop. The bird was seen later at Abbotscliffe

5th

An early morning seawatch produced 12 Brent Geese, nine Common Scoter, seven Shelduck, four Knot and one Dunlin upchannel, whilst incoming passerines included four Turtle Dove, six Yellow Wagtail, one Grey Wagtail, one Alba Wagtail, one Wheatear and three Coal Tits.

4th

Today proved to be the best day of the Spring so far with a light south easterly bringing in a few Swifts, Swallows, Yellow Wagtails, a single Crossbill, two Tree Pipits and at 07.02hrs a Red-throated Pipit. The bird flew around the Monument and landed in the Paddock, it was subsequently flushed by a dog walker (isn't it always) but not before it was seen , by two lucky observers, to be a red throated Red- throated Pipit. It was last seen at 07.14hrs heading off south west.

In the afternoon nine Pomarine Skua passed up channel at 15.10hrs and many insects, including Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Peacock Butterflies arrived on the clifftop.

3rd

On the sea, going upchannel, there were 13 Gannet, 124 Common Scoter, one Whimbrel, 15 Oystercatcher, 18 Sandwich and 112 Common Tern and an Arctic Skua. Coming in from the east were one Sparrowhawk, two Yellow Wagtail, two Coal Tit and one Wheatear.

In the village by the school a female Golden Oriole put in an appearance during play break

2nd

A short seawatch produced very little apart from six Brent Geese, 15 Common Scoter, a Whimbrel, 12 Oystercatcher and 15 Sandwich Tern feeding offshore.

1st

Very bad weather and no birds seen.