October

29th

A much better day today with a light northwesterly and birds moving across the Channel into the wind. Although not particularly large numbers we did have  a good selection with 1 Marsh Harrier, 104 Stock Doves, 3 Woodlarks, 34 Alba Wagtails, 15 Meadow Pipits, 2 Ring Ouzels, 3 Tree Sparrows, 10 House Sparrows, 16 Carrion Crows, 24 Chaffinches, 19 Siskins, 48 Greenfinches, 27 Goldfinches, 39 Linnets, 3 Redpoll, 2 Corn Buntings, 7 Reed Buntings, 1 Snow Bunting and 6 Yellowhammers.

In the area were 1 Black Redstart, 1 Coal Tit, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Firecrest and 10 Stonechats.

Still lots of butterflies around, notably many more Painted Ladies and 2 Clouded Yellows.

28th

What a poor day, a vis. mig. produced only 40+ hirundines moving southwest and a solitary Chiffchaff  at Hope Point was the only warbler in the area........are then any more birds left in the county?

26th

A vis.mig. early this morning produced a reasonable movement southwest of 1034 Starlings, 27 Stock Doves, 1 Swift, 135 Swallows, 9 House Martins, 16 Skylarks, 62 Meadow Pipits, 12 Chaffinches, 157 Greenfinches, 36 Goldfinches, 54 Linnets, 5 Siskins, 1 Tree Sparrow and 3 Yellowhammers.

In the area were 7 Stonechats, 1 Ring Ouzel and 2 Clouded Yellow Butterflies.

25th

Early in the morning 185 Goldfinches, 15 Bramblings and 4 Swallows moved south west. On the sea, between 10.00 - 12.00, there were 669 Brent geese, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 22 Scoters, 2 Wigeon, 2 Eider, 10 Knot and 8 Auks going downchannel, whilst up to 5 Great Skuas harried gulls offshore.

24th

A little more vis. mig. today with a smattering of hirundines and finches. Around the area were 6 Brambling, 50 Skylark, 1 Ring Ouzel, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Firecrest and

9 Goldcrests.

23rd

Although, at last, the rain had stopped and the weather had become quite pleasant there was only a little increase in migrants around the area, notably there were 3 Black Redstarts, 5 Stonechats, 1 Ring Ouzel, 7 Wheatears, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 13 Goldcrests and 1 Firecrest. 

Also there were 5 species of Butterfly [Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood ande Large White] and a Humming-bird Hawkmoth.

21st

In the first 2 hours after dawn birds were moving southwest and we had 1081 Goldfinches, 341 Greenfinches, 13 Siskins, 332 Linnets, 31 Swallows, 32 Meadow Pipits, 39 Alba Wagtails, 3 Yellowhammers and 71 Tree Sparrows.

In the area were 2 Ring Ouzels, 1 Black Redstart, 10 Wheatears, 7 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Firecrest, 5 Goldcrests and 1 Merlin.

11th

Some vis. mig. south west this morning with 15 Alba Wagtail, 50 Skylark, 15 Swallow, 205 Goldfinch, 46 Linnet, 1 Siskin and 2 Reed Bunting.

Around the area was very quiet with only 8 Chiffchaff and 7 Stonechats.

However  the sea was far from quiet or empty and from 11:00-13:30hrs we had 5 Red-throated Diver,605 Brent Geese, 369 Common Scoter, 1 Shelduck, 119 Wigeon, 44 Pintail, 4 Teal, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Great Skua, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 31 Sandwich Tern and 1 Razorbill all moving down channel.

7th

With a north-westerly, the day promised much as we all gathered by the Monument at dawn. During the first hour there was some vis. mig. with 21 Alba Wagtails, 9 Siskins, 9 Greenfinches, 96 Goldfinches and 12 Reed Buntings moving north.

Around the area were 4 Wheatears, 9 Stonechats, 8 Blackcaps, 56 Chiffchaffs, 9 Goldcrests, 130 Linnets and 4 Sparrowhawks, whilst in the 'set aside' field there was a Woodlark, presumably one of the birds that arrived on the 4th.

Although the day didn't reach it's full potential we did add another bird to our year list with a Kingfisher in the Bay.

Also of note were the many Red Admiral Butterflies, all moving west, and 5 Clouded Yellows.

4th

In a light north-westerly breeze and the warm sunshine there were Chiffchaffs calling from every hedge and 82 were counted as well as 7 Blackcaps and 1 Willow Warbler. Other birds seen were 3 Stonechats, 5 Reed Buntings, 3 Alba Wagtails, 250 Swallows, 525 House Martins and 2 Woodlarks that spent the afternoon in the 'set aside' field next to the Paddock.

3rd

In the better weather today many more warblers were seen, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 7 Blackcaps and 59 Chiffchaffs. Also 6 Wheatears and 2 Stonechats had arrived in the 'big field'. At around 12.00 hrs 4 Common Buzzards flew west.

2nd

In an hour's seawatching during the morning we had 2 Red-throated Divers [Summer plumage], 50 Gannets, 11 Arctic Skuas, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 40 Common Gulls, 150 Sandwich Terns and a Black Tern. Also a Harbour Porpoise was seen close to the shore.

In the area there was 1 Hobby, 2 Wheatears, 3 Chiffchaffs and the first Brambling of the autumn