Splash Point 26/9/12

A strong southerly wind this morning was enough to get me back down Splash Point. A couple of times the rain was so heavy the visibility was reduced. Totals for the morning between 7.05am-9.45am are:

BALEARIC SHEARWATER - 1 east at 7.17am
Brent Geese - 14 west
Common Scoter - 5
Common Tern - 10
Gannet - 50
Swallow - steady stream moving eastwards

25/9/12 - In a strong SW wind the totals in an hour were:

Manx Shearwater - 1
Garganey - 1
Common Scoter - 2
Gannet - 100

Seaford Head 20/9/12

Been a while but with these continuous westerly winds the thought of finding any scarcity was non-existent. However this morning there was no wind and with clear conditions I was expecting a lot of variety flying over. This wasn't the case, but totals for the morning are:

Yellow Wagtails - 33
Meadow Pipit - 36
Siskin - 1
Chiffchaff - 42
Blackcap - 45
Willow Warbler - 1
Whitethroat - 2
Goldcrest - 1
House Martin - 400+

Goldfinches starting to flock up!

Rainham RSPB 12/9/12

Finally managed to see the juv BAILLON'S CRAKE in London this morning. After spending all day on Saturday in the hide with no sign of the bird, it was a massive relief to connect today.

It was as expected elusive but it showed pretty well when it was viewable. A great bird.

Baillon's Crake - just about viewable in this image.

Norfolk & Cambs 11/9/12

A day out with Mick and John resulted in another year tick in the form of a Baird's Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB. Also present were:

Spoonbill - 7
Curlew Sandpiper - 3
Eider - 2

Afterwards we visited Ouse Fen RSPB but dipped the White-rumped Sandpiper, but also present were:

Glossy Ibis - 1
Spoonbill - 1
Curlew Sandpiper - 5
Spotted Redshank - 2
Greenshank - 15

Baird's Sandpiper at Titchwell. UK 2012 BOU - 286

Week of Rarities

Red-footed Falcon - Chichester GPs
Short-billed Dowitcher - Lodmoor RSPB, Dorset

Both birds were phone scoped so quality rubbish as always.

Seaford Head 6/9/12

A quiet morning today with not much in the bushes and not much going overhead.

Totals are:
Tree Pipit - 3
Redstart - 2
Yellow Wagtail - 16
Wheatear - 7
Whinchat - 2
Spotted Flycatcher - 1
Nightingale - 1
Whitethroat - 25
Lesser Whitethroat - 10
Blackcap - 19
Reed Warbler - 3
Chiffchaff - 15
Willow Warbler - 1

Wheatear on Seaford Head

Seaford Head 4/9/12

A pretty uneventful morning to start of with. All of yesterdays migrants had departed and nothing had really replaced them. The only excitement of the morning was when I found a Wryneck in scrub just east of Hope Gap.

Totals are:

Wryneck - 1 (seen at 8.45-8.55am & 10.15-10.45am) - in scrub east of Hope Gap
Tree Pipit - 1
Wheatear - 5
Whinchat - 3
Yellow Wagtail - 66
Grey Wagtail - 1
Redstart - 2
Whitethroat - 22
Lesser Whitethroat - 5
Willow Warbler - 3
Chiffchaff - 3
Reed Warbler - 4
Blackcap - 9
Garden Warbler - 1
Swift - 5

Wryneck on Seaford Head

Seaford Head 3/9/12

An incredible fall of migrants on the Head this morning due to the overcast conditions. The numbers presented below are surely an under count of what was actually there. By the end of the morning, there were huge numbers of Hirundines over the sheep field.

Totals between 06.30 - 11.00 are:

Pied Flycatcher - 2
Spotted Flycatcher - 6
Redstart - 8
Tree Pipit - 2
Wheatear - 22
Whinchat - 11
Yellow Wagtail - 14
Whitethroat - 36
Lesser Whitethroat - 9
Willow Warbler - 73
Chiffchaff - 18
Blackcap - 83
Reed Warbler - 6
Sedge Warbler - 1
Garden Warbler - 1
Goldcrest - 1 (first of the autumn)
Hobby - 1
Swift - 5
Crossbill - 1

Mixed flock of Hirundines at the top of Hope Gap

Seaford Head 2/9/12

First visit to the patch for a while due to bad weather and work. It started of slow today but Hope Gap fortunately made up the numbers. Totals are:

Nightingale - 1
Redstart - 3
Whinchat - 4
Wheatear - 8
Grey Wagtail - 1 (first of the autumn)
Yellow Wagtail - 48
Whitethroat - 19
Lesser Whitethroat - 6
Reed Warbler - 2
Willow Warbler - 9
Chiffchaff - 7
Blackcap - 37
Garden Warbler - 1
Swift - 2

Redstart in Hope Gap