May 2005

Thursday 19th

10 Crossbills south was the only record of note.

Saturday 14th

Six hours today on the sea! This produced 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel, 1 extremely close summer plumaged Black-throated Diver, 2 Avocets, 6 Grey Plovers, 10 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Greenshank - all up channel.

Friday 13th

Five hours on the sea produced the following, all moving up channel: 3 Pomarine Skuas, 1 Arctic Skua, 119 Gannets, 21 Sandwich Terns, 1 Knot, 12 Common Tern s, 3 Black-throated Divers, 1 Ringed Plover, 10 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Dunlin, 4  Grey Plover, 2 Red-throated Divers and 1 Whimbrel.

Thursday 12th

A good movement of Gannets and terns together with 4 Pomarine Skuas, 1 Great Skua, and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits. A count of at least 130 Common Twayblades was the only other record of note:

Sunday 8th

Better weather, but a strong westerly wind produced 1 Hobby and 3 Crossbills in off plus 2 Arctic Skuas north.

Saturday 7th

Heavy rain prevented much birding on the cliff top with just a single Hobby sheltering in the wood. A few hours on the sea gave us a variety of species, but in low numbers: 1 Great Skua, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 5 Dunlin, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Whimbrel plus Common and Sandwich Terns. A Grey Seal was present offshore.

Friday 6th

A few Swallows and Swifts moving together with a female Marsh Harrier.

Thursday 5th

A summer plumaged Shag on the sea was bird of the day!

Wednesday 4th

The only birds of note today were 3 Crossbills and a single Hobby in off.

Tuesday 3rd

A good movement of Swallows was eclipsed by another female GOLDEN ORIOLE moving south, although it did stop off briefly in the bushes by the Monument.

Monday 2nd

Not as good as yesterday, although the first records of the year included 3 Garden Warblers and single Spotted Flycatcher and Reed Warbler. A Firecrest and Redstart both added some colour. There were also 2 Harbour Porpoises offshore.
               

Sunday 1st

A brisk south easterly wind promised and delivered in the form of 33 Pomarine Skuas between 06.30 and 08.15, together with 2 Arctic Skuas and single Great Skua. Visible migration was also excellent with 5 Turtle Doves, 2 Cuckoos, 21 Yellow Wagtails, but best of all 3 GOLDEN ORIOLES: a stunning male closely followed by 2 females, all moving quickly south.