Arrived at Birling in cloudy humid conditions and completely calm. Felt ideal conditions for a fall of migrants but after walking the lane at Birling it was virtually birdless. We then covered all the areas on the Head and just small numbers of night migrants were found. We also walked the rough field and also The Rides (no sign of the Melodious Warbler). Met up with various birders included RKH, RES & PN who were also birding the Headland. Bob was ringing and birding in Whitbread Hollow and like us had only a few new migrants. Other than a few hirundines, there was no sign of any diurnal migration although 5 Tree Pipits had been grounded. Birds ringed are included in brackets.
Met Office view
Sparrowhawk 2
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Sand Martin 2
Swallow 35
Tree Pipit 5
Common Redstart 2
Wheatear 2
Sedge Warbler 1 (1)
Reed Warbler 1
Lesser Whitethroat 2
Common Whitethroat 35 (3)
Garden Warbler 1
Blackcap 13 (3)
Chiffchaff 7 (2)
Willow Warbler 58 (7)
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Raven 2
Goldfinch 50
Red Admiral 6
Banded Snail hundreds & hundreds and probably thousands in the rough field.
Kestrel near Birling
Tree Pipit in the Rides
Common Redstart in the Old Trapping Area
Autumn Ladies Tresses at Birling
Small Tortoiseshell 1 of 12 seen on the 18th.
Adult Female Greater Spotted Woodpecker trapped in Whitbread
Hollow on the 20th. (pictures taken by Bob Edgar)
