October

            Total number of species for the year 172

31st

We searched the entire area today but try as we may we could not find any new birds, apart from 2 Black Redstarts and some Goldcrests. The only warblers were the Yellow-browed Warbler, the Blackcap and Chiffchaff that have been at Kingsdown for a week. We did however find a newly dead Ring Ouzel. When we went to the Bay for a tea we realised we should have had a seawatch earlier as in only 20minutes we had 3 Great Northern Divers, 2 Red-throated Divers and 2 Mediterranean Gulls fly south.

30th

There was quite a good movement overhead in the light south-easterly, of Siskins, Redpolls and Chaffinches. Elsewhere we had 7 Stonechats and 6 Firecrests, however this was the first day that we could not find a warbler this autumn......

apart from the YBW that has taken up residence.

29th

A visitor, Kim from Gloucestershire, added to our year list with a Water Rail on the clifftop.

28th

In a light south-westerly there was a small movement of Chaffinches, Redpolls, Siskins and Crossbills. In the area were 5 Chiffchaffs and 7 Firecrests, whilst the Yellow-browed Warbler still remains at Kingsdown. Also of note were the number of butterflies in the area of which we had Clouded Yellows, Commas, Painted Ladies and Red Admirals.

27th

A reasonable vis mig. today with good numbers Mipits and Finches moving south-west as well as a trickle of Swallows. Overnight there had been an arrival of thrushes... 65 Blackbirds, 20 Song Thrushes and a single Fieldfare. In the area were 7 Stonechats, singles of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Tree Sparrow and 2 Firecrests. Yellow-browed Warbler still at Kingsdown. Bird of the day was this Richard's Pipit that flew over calling at 10:46hrs.

.        

26th

Another day with a few but very interesting assortment of birds. There were 2 Woodlarks, 2 Black Redstarts, 3 Stonechats, a Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, a Firecrest and a Lapland Bunting. Also 2 Red Kites were seen flying around the area and the Yellow-browed Warbler was still at Kingsdown.

25th

Expectations were high today and although there was a good visible migration of birds moving south-west the rarity eluded us. Of note were 28 Stock Doves, 68 Swallows, 3 House Martins, 1 Sand Martin, 36 Tree Sparrows,130 Redpolls, 18 Crossbills and 569 Goldfinches. Around the area were 2 Ring Ouzels, 10 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 8 Firecrests and 2 Lapland Buntings. At 09:45 a Red Kite appeared at Hope Point and treated us all to good views for some 20 minutes as it flew over the area before wandering off north. Nigel arrived home to find a Yellow-browed Warbler in his garden at Kingsdown

.

24th

With the weather cold, wet and windy the birding was surprisingly good. We had

9 Firecrests, 9 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 5 Stonechats, 4 Bramblings and several thrushes, hirundines and pipits. But the best was this little beauty at Hope Point in the small sycamores.

We continued our birding for another couple of hours and then returned to the Monument where we found another 'goodie', an adult female Siberian Stonechat.

.

Let's hope that tomorrow's birding is as good .........and the weather is better so that we are not soaked like today.

23rd

Today Phil took these pictures of a bird that he believes is an Eleonora's Falcon

He sent an email to Dick Forsmann,

At around 12.20 I had brief views of what I believe to have been a second-year Eleonora’s Falcon at a range of about 60-80m over Hope Point. I lost the bird from view behind the Empty Wood and went for my camera. It emerged with a Peregrine in close attendance and steamed off into the wind towards The Rough. I took a series of very distant photos.
Upon arriving home I sent the following four photos to Dick Forsmann, who has commented

“Hi Phil,
Thanks for the images and for showing such belief in my capabilities. However, there is no way I could identify these! They could well be Eleonora's, nothing speaks against it, but I cannot exclude Hobby, or even juv Lanner. There is just not enough detail for a proper assessment.
The thing that speaks in favour of EF is the smallish-looking head in relation to wings and body, but as you realise, it is difficult to know, how much you can rely on shapes like this. Another thing you mentioned, is the brownish upperparts, again good for eg. 2nd cal yr EF.

I'll give EF15 a go with Photoshop. If something turns up, I let you know.

Best wishes,
Dick”

Other notable birds moving south-west 30 Alba Wagtails, 45 Redpolls and a single Woodlark.

22nd

Visible migration this morning was slow with a few finches, larks and hirundines moving. There was however a good count of 47 Crossbills moving south-west. In the area were 7 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap and 12 Firecrests.

21st

2 Little Auks north and going south 11 Little Gulls, 3 Scoters, 3 Goldeneyes, a Smew (new for site) and 2 Red-throated Divers. Also there were c.1000 Starlings in off the sea. In the area were very few birds apart from a Chiffchaff, a Firecrest, 4 Goldcrests and 150+ Chaffinches.

20th

The day promised much as almost the first birds Phil saw when he arrived was a       Great Grey Shrike.

Other birds of note included a Yellow-legged Gull, a Black Redstart, 6 Chiffchaffs,

8 Firecrests and 28 Crossbills south-west.

19th

Today: 5 Firecrests, 10 Goldcrests, 20 Crossbills, 50 Siskin, 250 Goldfinches, 4 Ring Ouzels, 1 Chiffchaff, 50 Long-tailed Tits, 20 Blue Tits and 15 Blackbirds.

18th

Fewer birds than yesterday, in cold, clear conditions; although 14 Chiffchaffs and a single Firecrest tempted us with the promise of something rarer. It was not to be.

17th

The highlight of today was a total of 81 Crossbills, along with 755 Goldfinches, 23 alba Wagtails, 34 Redpolls and smaller numbers of Swallows, Siskin and Brambling. In the area 12 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest were the sum total for a long day in the field.

12th-16th

Unfortunately, there has been virtually no coverage this week. The Wryneck was still present and 2 Spoonbills flew north at Hope Point on the 12th. This Dartford Warbler was also present at Hope Point on the 15th.

11th

Good numbers of birds moving north overhead with 93 Alba Wagtails,133 Siskins,

1686 Goldfinches, 13 Redpoll, 90 Linnets, and 19 Reed Buntings. In the area were 12 Stonechats, 4 Ring Ouzels, 1 Whinchat, 8 Blackcaps, 95 Chiffchaffs and

7 Firecrests. Around lunchtime a Barred Warbler and a very showy Wryneck were found at Hope Point and later a Dartford Warbler on the cliff-top. Late afternoon a Short-eared Owl was seen coming in off the sea and 2 Ravens flew north.

10th

We arrived at 07:00hrs to a NW breeze with cloud cover which produced a steady movement N of 886 Goldfinches, 95 Siskins, 31 Chaffinches, 35 Linnets, 35 Reed Buntings, 21 Crossbills, 126 Alba Wagtails, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtails, 58 Skylarks, 8 Yellowhammers, 4 Tree Sparrows, 29 Meadow Pipits. There also appeared to be a small movement of 5 Sparrowhawks West.In the area were 5 Ring Ouzels, 3 Wheatears, 12 Stonechats, 12 Blackcaps, 156 Chiffchaffs, 19 Firecrests, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 250 Meadow Pipits and 75 Skylarks feeding in the fields and

1000 each of Swallows and House Martins. During the afternoon 27 Redwing and 26 Song Thrushes dropped into the Paddock and Farm. In the morning a Yellow-browed Warbler was found at Kingsdown and in the afternoon another was found in the Empty Wood.

During the course of the day we had a good number of insects, 8 species of butterfly ( Clouded Yellow, Red Admiral, Peacock, Painted Lady, Comma, Small and Large White,Speckled Wood) also a Hummingbird Hawkmoth and 2 species of Dragonfly (Southerrn Hawker, Ruddy Darter)

9th

After yesterday's calm weather todays strong easterly made birding difficult and very few things were noted in the trees. A few Goldfinches seemed to be moving but little else. However in the afternoon, when the rain had just started, Phil was amazed to see a Monarch Butterfly flying over the Farm. Unfortunately it disappeared towards the Gun emplacement and was not seen again. This is the third record at Bockhill since October 14th 1995. JRC,PJC,AJM.

8th

Pity I wasn't out at dawn as after yesterday's rain there appeared to be a lot of birds moving. However although I only counted from 09:00-10:30  on the cliff-top there were 11 Crossbills,13 Alba Wagtails, 455 Goldfinches, 19 Skylarks, 4 Great Tits, 24 Siskins, 41 Swallows, 66 Meadow Pipits, 7 Reed Buntings and 2 Ravens all going north. Around the area were 3 Stonechats, 2 Snow Buntings, 5 Blackcaps, 45 Chiffchaffs and 2 Yellow-browed Warblers feeding together by Bert's Garden. JRC.

6th

A brief visit to the 'Bock' produced nothing on the sea and a quick walk around the Paddock and Farm was not much better.Only birds of note were 28 Chiffchaffs and a large flock of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits numbering 57+. JRC

4th

What a change from yesterday's howling gale,we were back to normal with a light westerly breeze and a trickle of Siskins,Goldfinches and Alba Wagtails moving north along the cliff. Around the area were 300+ House Martins, 62 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, a single Firecrest, the usual 2 Snow Buntings and newly arrived 12 Stonechats. In the distance over the golf-club 2 Common Buzzards were being hassled by the local Peregrines. JRC,PJC,NLJ,AJM,BAR,SRW

3rd

From 07:00-08.45, in a strong wind, there was a SW movement of 22 Alba Wagtails, 25 Meadow Pipits, 40 Goldfinches, 62 Linnets, 1 Kestrel, 79 Swallows and

237 House Martins. On the sea from 09:00-12:15 we had a record count of 169 Mediterranean Gulls this, after last weeks record count of Chiffchaffs, made up for the poor number of species that we have had so far this year.....or does it? The rest of the seawatch consisted of single Red and Black-throated Divers, Manx Shearwater, Guillemot, 16 Arctic Skuas, 3 Great Skuas, 19 Brent Geese and 2 Arctic Terns. JRC,PJC,RNH,NLJ,JR,GS,BAR.

1st

On the first of the month with a light NW breeze more was expected but unfortunately the birds seemed to be the leftovers of yesterday's arrivals. Of note were 54 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 2 Snow Buntings and singles of Redstart, Stonechat and Firecrest. The only excitement was when 2 Ravens flew over and caused panic amongst the local gull population. JRC,BAR.