The forecast thunderstorms thankfully remained offshore during the morning and the near-calm and overcast conditions dropped the first Autumn fall of migrant Warblers dominated by Willow Warblers although one wonders if Grasshopper Warblers were in fact the more numerous? We met PN who later saw a flock of 5 Red Kites arrive from the direction of the sea before leaving high inland. With a warm front forecast to cross the English Channel from south to north being due to arrive around midday we decided to seawatch in case it pushed any Shearwaters ahead of it, and for once, the plan duly delivered two species just minutes ahead of the first downpour of the afternoon!
Manx Shearwater 3E ex. 2 at 2.24pm & 1 at 2.28pm
Balearic Shearwater 1 E then W ex. at 2.24pm
Heron 1
Red Kite 6 including a flock of 5 that arrived from the direction of the sea at 11.45am
Sparrowhawk 1
Bonxie 1E at 3pm
Mediterranean Gull 5W adults, 1 juvenile loafing offshore
Swift 20
Sand Martin 15
Swallow 85
Black Redstart 1
Blackcap 1
Whitethroat 31
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Grasshopper Warbler 6 ex.
Reed Warbler 3
Sedge Warbler 2
Willow Warbler 35
Raven 1
Grasshopper Warbler in the Old Trapping Area
Black Redstart on cliff below Cow Gap
Chalkhill Blue in Cow Gap
one of the many seen today
Cow Gap Field
cultivated in WWII but now home to many Chalkhill Blues and a favoured haunt of migrant Grasshopper Warblers
