A much better morning after yesterday's heavy rain. We covered all the main sites on the headland and a very good arrival of Chiffchaffs with the majority moving inland in small parties during the first hour of light. Many thousands of hirundines moving west during the first 3 hours probably in excess of 80+ a minute over the whole of the headland. At first they were virtually all swallows but during the last hour or so, house martins had taken over. Probably a total of 15,000 hirundines, when the movement dropped off around 10.00 am, many house martins and swallows were feeding over the top fields with also many high in the sky. Siskins were also moving west with many being heard calling but not seen. A dark juvenile Marsh Harrier flew high over Shooter Bottom and the top fields.
Canada Goose c20 E over the cliffs at Birling
Teal 1W
Commic Tern 15 W
Marsh Harrier 1 dark juv over the top fields
Sparrowhawk 3
Common Buzzard 1
Kestrel 4
Red-legged Partridge 1
Great-spotted Woodpecker 1
Swift 1
Swallow c8,000 mainly W
House Martin c7,000 mainly W
Sand Martin 11 W
Pied Wagtail 11 W
Yellow Wagtail 2 W
Meadow Pipit 75 W
Tree Pipit 1 W
Wheatear 4
Common Redstart 1
Robin 20
Reed Warbler 1
Blackcap 10
Common Whitethroat 8
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Chiffchaff 170+ many moving inland during the first hour
Spotted Flycatcher 4
Linnet c100 mainly W
Siskin 30 W with many heard but not seen.
Just one Swift seen today over the cliffs at Birling
Very large arrival of Chiffchaffs with the majority moving inland during the first hour.
An all dark juvenile male Marsh Harrier over the top fields.
