Saturday 11th September 2021

Wheatears

 Overcast through the morning although it became brighter and sunnier by lunchtime with a light SW breeze; it was the first day of the autumn so far with a little overhead passage to talk about as birds on the move included 447 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 5 Grey Wagtails and 31 Meadow Pipits accentuated by 3 Hobbies and an Osprey high over the docks.

Grounded migrants were thin on the ground but comprised 5 Wheatears, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warblers and a Reed Warbler.

Ringing: Robin 1, Blackcap 1, Willow Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 1, Grey Wagtail 1

Chinese Character is a classic "bird-poo" mimic in the traps at the moment

Friday 10th September 2021

Pearly Underwing is a migrant that has been in short supply this year

 Light southwesterlies and light cloud cover through the morning becoming sunnier in the afternoon; quiet again for new migrants which today comprised 16 Grey Wagtails south, a Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Pipit, 2 Wheatears, 2 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins and 40 Swallows south, a Blackcap and 2 Whitethroats.

With the change in wind direction we could at least see the sea to confirm there were few birds passing by rather than just thinking there is - there was though a Gannet, a Curlew, 4 Teal, 2 Wigeon and a Tufted Duck.

Ringing: Robin 2, Grey Wagtail 2, Whitethroat 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1

Thursday 9th September 2021

First noted here in 2007, Cypress Pug is now annual in small numbers, wandering here from stands of alien Cypress trees

 After some light overnight rain, it was a calm morning with cloud and mist drifting in and out before bright sunshine won the rest of the day; it was a quiet birding day as migrants just comprised 7 Grey Wagtails, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Wheatears, a Willow Warbler, a Whinchat and 5 Yellow Wagtails.

As the light breeze swung round into west a trickle of 180 Swallows, 8 House Martins, 2 Jackdaws and a Heron responded by moving south.

Ringing: Robin 2, Blackcap 1, Grey Wagtail 2, Dunnock 2, Blue Tit 1

Wednesday 8th September 2021

Migrant Hawkers

 Warm, bright sunshine again right through the day with the slightly increased ENE breeze failing to clear the hazy conditions again rendering any attempts at seawatching tricky to say the least; there were fewer migrants across the area than yesterday as totals comprised 10 Grey Wagtails, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Wheatears, 2 Meadow Pipits, a Blackcap and a Willow Warbler.

Feathered Brindle is a nationally scarce species that occurs from Suffolk southwards on areas of vegetated shingle & sand dunes.

Ringing: Woodpigeon 1, Robin 1, Blue Tit 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blackcap 1, Grey Wagtail 3

Tuesday 7th September 2021

Grey Wagtail

 Very calm with warm, bright sunshine throughout becoming virtually hot by late morning; it remained very hazy though bordering on misty first thing meaning there was no chance of any meaningful seawatching and all the interest had to be gleaned from the land.   There was though a nice selectin of migrants which included the Wryneck again being very elusive, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 13 Whitethroats, a Tree Pipit, an excellent 14 Grey Wagtails (with seven of them tempted into the Heligoland trap), a Reed Warbler, 12 Wheatears, 2 Blackcaps, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Willow Warblers and 2 Redstarts.

Also of note were 32 House Martins and 4 Swallows south and an influx of presumably local 20 Robins.

Ringing: Blackbird 1, Robin 5, Reed Warbler 1, Whitethroat 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blackcap 1, Tree Pipit 1, Grey Wagtail 7

Some of the 179 Treble-bars in the traps this morning - nice to see this species doing well on its second emergence

Monday 6th September 2021

First site record of the nationally scarce Lesser Calamint, Calamintha nepeta has been found on the banks of Darrell's Battery.   Rather bizarrely it was named the "2021 Perennial Plant of the Year" back in January, an award given it by the Perennial Plant Association. 

 Light ENE winds and bright but hazy sunshine throughout didn't drop too many migrants into the area but those that were included the Wryneck seen briefly again, 9 Wheatears, 3 Willow Warblers, 6 Whitethroats, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and a Whinchat.

Other little bits comprised 26 Teal south, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone, a Dunlin and 3 Kestrels.

Ringing: Blackbird 2, Robin 2, Blackcap 1, Garden Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 1

First record this autumn of Feathered Ranunculus which does well on this stretch of coast

Sunday 5th September 2021

A handful of migrants in very low numbers including 6 Swallow, 5 Wheatear, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Grey Wag, 3 Lesser 'throat, 2 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Jackdaw, Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, Spot Fly & Yellow Wag plus Pied Fly & Wryneck from yesterday still present. 

One knows is autumn when the Brick is starting to show up.

Ringing: 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Great Tit, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler.