Again good numbers of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps but otherwise just very small numbers of other warblers etc. seen. Good views of a Marsh Harrier which moved E over the top fields being mobbed by a flock of corvids. The main event was the large passage of hirundines going E virtually from dawn. Swallows were the first to be moving but were soon taken over by House Martins. The main movement lasted for some 2 hours but by 9.30 am it had almost petered out. Doreen and myself did two timed counts which involved me looking along the cliffs, and out to sea and Doreen counted the hirundines moving over the fields. On both occasions on a timed count the birds were moving at 250 per minute, often skimming past us at very close range. We watched the movement for over an hour at Birling lane. I have taken a very conservative estimate of 2,000 Swallows and 6,000 House Martins moving fast E, but on 250 per minute over an hour = 15,000 birds.
Marsh Harrier 1 over the Top fields at 09.30 departed NE being mobbed by corvids.
Sparrowhawk 2 Hollow
Common Buzzard 3 Headland
Kestrel 2 Headland
Tawny Owl 2 Hollow
Great-spotted Woodpecker 1 seen on several times on the Headland
Sand Martin 3 Headland
Swallow c2,000 chiefly E
House Martin c6,000 chiefly E
Rock Pipit 1 Birling
Yellow Wagtail 11 feeding around cattle
Pied Wagtail 11
Robin 12 Headland
Common Redstart 1 Headland
Sedge Warbler 1 Hollow
Common Whitethroat 5 (4 Headland and 1 Hollow)
Blackcap 370 (350 Hollow and 20 Headland)
Chiffchaff 450 (400 Hollow and 50 Headland)
Jay 1 Hollow
Raven 1 Hollow
Starling 300 Headland
Corn Bunting 8 set-a-side field
Small Tortoiseshell 1
Common Blue 1
Small Heath 5
Painted Lady 1
Small White 5
Yellow Wagtail feeding around cattle
Marsh Harrier moving across the top fields being mobbed by corvids.
Kestrel on the Headland.
Painted Lady
