Have been away for 10 days to the Bridges of Ross and Pete Mim and Bob have kindly sent me their records during this period and I have also included RJF's records for the 26th and 27th. and also the 1st Sept.
Pete had a Marsh Harrier at Birling on the 24th.
From 25/8 to the 31/8, the weather was unsettled and at times very wet and windy and therefore only low numbers of migrants were generally recorded. RJF and JK covered virtually the whole area on the 26th recording 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 16 Wheatears, 4 Whinchats, 3 Redstarts, 3 Spotted Flycatchers with small numbers of Yellow Wagtails. Bob carried out a short sea-watch on the 25th but mainly Gannets were moving.
On the 27th RJF and JK covered most of the sites on the Head and had a nice selection of migrants and RDME also covered several sites. 1 Greenshank was seen being chased by 2 Peregrines, also 2 Reed Warblers, 6 Swifts, 140 Sand Martins, 54 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Tree Pipits. 6 Redstarts, 9 Wheatears, 1 Pied Flycatcher and a Crossbill.
1st September: With calmer more settled weather Bob and Martin were able to ring in Whitbread Hollow with birds ringed in brackets, while Pete and Mim covered most of the sites on the Head and RJF and JK also birded the Headland included the Cornish Farm area:
Sparrowhawk 2
Hobby 2-3
Swallow 400+
Tree Pipit 3
Yellow Wagtail 100+
Robin 20 (7)
Common Redstart 4
Whinchat 20
Wheatear 6
Grasshopper Warbler 1 (1)
Reed Warbler 1
Lesser Whitethroat 3 (1)
Common Whitethroat 65 (13)
Garden Warbler 2 (2)
Blackcap 100 (50)
Chiffchaff 70 (24)
Willow Warbler 45 (16)
Spotted Flycatcher 7
Pied Flycatcher 1
Adonis Blue 1
Red Admiral 2
Painted Lady 1
Otherwise just small numbers of common butterflies
2nd September
Cool cloudy with SW breeze. Pete & Mim with other observers covered the Head with Bob, Sarah, Martin and Paul were ringing in Whitbread Hollow. Birds ringed included in brackets:
Sparrowhawk 2
Yellow Wagtail 8 W
Common Redstart 1
Grasshopper Warbler 1
Reed Warbler 2 (2)
Lesser Whitethroat 11 (6)
Common Whitethroat 70 (24)
Garden Warbler 6 (5)
Blackcap 125 (57)
Chiffchaff 40 (16)
Willow Warbler 50 (20 of which 6 were Northern types)
Spotted Flycatcher 3 (1)
Firecrest 1 in the Hotel Garden
3rd September:
Cloudy warm humid day with light W-NW breeze. Still fair numbers of night migrants but few observers birding today. Bob was ringing on his own in Whitbread Hollow and Pete worked the Old Trapping Area down to Birling Lane. Birds ringed in brackets:
Sparrowhawk 2
Common Buzzard 2
Hobby 1
Swallow 40+
Redstart 2 (1)
Wheatear 8
Song Thrush 1
Reed Warbler 2 (1)
Sedge Warbler (1)
Lesser Whitethroat 6 (2)
Common Whitethroat 60 (16)
Garden Warbler 4 (3)
Blackcap 70 (20)
Chiffchaff 30 (5)
Willow Warbler 55 (11, no Northern types today)
Long tailed Tit 1
Spotted Flycatcher 3
Raven 1
Red Admirals 15
