September 08

               Total number of species for the year 177

We have just received a photograph of a Nightjar which was found in a greenhouse

at Copperfields off the Droveway on or around 12th September. The bird, which is new for the area, was caught and released none the worse for its ordeal.

29th

In a chill north-westerly, visible migration increased and 683 Siskins, 1500+ House Martins and 2000+ Swallows flew north along the clifftop. In the newly ploughed field there were 29 Pied Wagtails, 3 Yellow Wagtails,400+ Linnets, 600+ Meadow Pipits and 15 Wheatears. Elsewhere in the area there were 3 Redstarts,

2 Stonechats, 1 Whitethroat and 27 Chiffchaffs.

28th

Still good numbers of birds in the area although slightly less than yesterday. The

Barred Warbler put in a brief appearance as did a Dartford Warbler at Hope Point.

Other birds of note were 1 Hobby, 3 Whinchats, 21 Wheatears,1 Whitethroat,

6 Lesser Whitethroats,2 Garden Warblers, 15 Blackcaps,28 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 104 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests,4 Pied Flycatchers and 2 Brambling.

27th

The day started off well with the Dusky Warbler being refound at 07.00 and showing on and off for about an hour.

Visible migration north was quite good in the first couple of hours with 327 Linnets,

250 Siskins,230 Goldfinches, 12 Alba Wagtails, 6 Grey Wagtails,3 Tree Pipits,

11 Reed Buntings and 2 Tree Sparrows.Migration of hirundines continued all day and the counts totalled 3000+ Swallows,4000+ House Martins and 2 Sand Martins.

At about 10.30 3 Ravens gave us good views as they circled over the farm before flying off north-west and at 11.15 a Honey Buzzard flew north.

Of note around the area were 76 Song Thrushes,200+ Robins, 2 Ring Ouzels,

7 Redstarts, 4 Wheatears, 3Whinchats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler,

21 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Whitethroats, 25 Blackcaps, 77 Chiffchaffs,

1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Firecrest and 1000+ Goldcrests. As if this was not enough

another Yellow-browed Warbler was found by the village pond just after lunch.

Another excellent day..................can tomorrow be as good?

26th

We started birding today at 06:30 and yesterday's Yellow-browed Warbler was soon relocated at 07:00 in the Farm Wood. There were amazing numbers of Goldcrests around the farm as well as Chiffchaffs, 3 Ring Ouzels and singles of Spotted and Pied Flycatchers.

In the Gun Emplacement an incredibly pale bird gave Brendan a shock before he realized that it was a leucistic Spotted Flycatcher.

At 10:30 a Barred Warbler was found in the Paddock along with 2 Whinchats.

Birds continued to arrive and there were now at least 8 Redstarts and

4 Pied Flycatchers in the Paddock.

Our next rarity, a Dusky Warbler, showed itself, albeit briefly, at 15:30. It called constantly as it dashed around MacSwiggan's hedge but unfortunately didn't stop.

We were still searching for it when we heard that some visiting birders, sorry don't know your names, had found a Great Grey Shrike in the Freedown.

Fortunately this did stay and gave excellent views. Reinvigorated by this we visited Badgers Bottom, a small wood nearer the village, where we had another Yellow-browed Warbler.

As the sun went down we re-visited the Farm Wood where the original Yellow-browed Warbler gave good views to end off a great days birding.

25th

As everywhere appears to be having rare birds, Phil popped down to the Farm Wood this evening and was rewarded with 15 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler,1 Pied

Flycatcher,1 Spotted Flycatcher and, new for the year,a Yellow-browed Warbler.

21st

Visible migration upchannel continues with small numbers of Alba, Flava and Grey Wagtails, Tree and Meadow Pipits, Finches, Reed Buntings and 418 Siskins.

Still around the area are 4 Common Redstarts, 4 Wheatears, a Pied Flycatcher and

4 Whitethroats whilst numbers of Lesser Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs have     increased to 22 and 46 respectively. New arrivals were 1 Snipe, first for the year, and a Ring Ouzel. However 'bird of the day' was an Osprey that flew north at 10.20 putting every gull in the area into a panic

'Thing' is a large escaped falcon that has been around the cliffs for several months

20th

The morning started off well with a movement north of 2 Tree Pipits, 226 Meadow Pipits, 4 Grey 4 Yellow and 6 Alba Wagtails, 21 Carrion Crows, 3 Redpolls,

379 Siskins and 3 Reed Buntings. A Merlin was seen coming in off the sea as was a Spotted Redshank which was new for the year. A walk around the area produced

3 Wheatears, 5 Stonechats, 4 Redstarts, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 19 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Whitethroats, 9 Blackcaps, 29 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler,

1 Pied Flycatcher and a Short-eared Owl. After 10.30 most birds had disappeared

apart from 3 Common Buzzards that hung around the wood by Ringwould.

19th

A small movement north of 2 Tree Pipits, 111 Meadow Pipits, 9 Goldfinches and 109 Siskins whilst around the area there were 2 Wheatears, 2 Whinchat,

10 Lesser Whitethroats, 7 Blackcaps, 43 Chiffchaffs and a Pied Flycatcher.

18th

Very few migrants today only 9 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Common Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps and 28 Chiffchaffs. A small number of Swallows fed across the stubble fields.

17th

The movement of Siskins has slowed and only 32 were noted flying north today, however around the area were 5 Wheatears, 3 Common Redstarts, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 46 Chiffchaffs and 2 Spotted Flycatchers.

16th

The NE breeze still made it quite chilly but more migrants had arrived overnight.

In the paddock there were 3 Common Redstarts, a Firecrest, 3 Lesser Whitethroats

and 3 Chiffchaffs. Elsewhere there were 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Pied Flycatcher,

2 Common Redstarts, 18 more Chiffchaffs, 7 Wheatears and singles of Blackcap and Whitethroat. Overhead migration was slow with 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtails,

6 Swallows and 85 Siskins.

15th

In the chill NE breeze there was a small trickle north along the cliff- top of Swallows,Siskins and Meadow Pipits. In the area were 12 Wheatears,2 Common Redstarts ,6 Lesser Whitethroats, 15 Chiffchaffs,1 Firecrest and a Hobby hunting across the stubble field.

14th

Another movement north of 308 Siskins and singles of Grey and Yellow wagtails

whilst around the area there were 5 Whinchats, 1 male Common Redstart,

6 Blackcaps, 11 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Reed Warbler, 43 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers and a Spotted and Pied Flycatcher.

13th

An excellent day with a movement of 236 Siskins, 7 Tree Pipits, 415 Meadow Pipits, 8 Grey and 9 Flava Wagtails moving north and 220 Swallows and 10 Sand Martins moving south.Around the area there were 10 Wheatears, 4 Whinchats, 1 Redstart,

1 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler,

18 Whitethroats, 15 Lesser Whitethroats, 21 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers and

49 Chiffchaffs.

6th

From 07:30-09:30 we had 1 Sooty Shearwater, 126 Commic Terns, 10 Sandwich Terns and a solitary Swallow fly south

Around lunchtime Bob Gomes had 2 more Sooty Shearwaters fly south

In the afternoon this juvenile Shag ended up on the beach resting from the rough seas.

Shag Tony Morris

5th

A seawatch from 08:30-12:00 was quite productive with 7 Sooty Shearwaters,

4 Arctic Skuas, 2 Great Skuas, c.100 Commic Terns, 67 Gannets and 2 Shags all moving south.

In the afternoon from 15:30-17:30, again moving south, there were  6 Sooty Shearwaters, 12 Arctic Skuas, 2 Great Skuas, 45 Common Terns, 35 Sandwich Terns and 1 Arctic Tern.

3rd

Although the weather had improved the birds were still thin on the ground with only 4 Whinchats,1 Reed Warbler,4 Lesser Whitethroats,3 Whitethroats,1 Blackcap,

2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Willow Warblers.