Picture titles

Pallas's Gull - Oman 28th Feb 2024

31 October, 2009

Best of the bunch today being 3w Eider, several small flocks of  Brent Geeese east and west  and 1 Black Redstart on Atherington Lodge.

28 October, 2009

Still no goody so willl have make do with this supporting cast, 1 Peregrine over 1st wood, 1 Firecrest Ballifscourt, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 3 Stonechat, 15 Redpoll, 30+ Siskin, 11 Curlew 1 Bar T Godwit, and several Sanderling on the shoreline.

25 October, 2009

3 Firecrest in 1st wood this morning along with 4 Chiffchaff, also 1 Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Partridge, and 25 Curlew,

24 October, 2009

Another poor shot of Firecrest in bad light and pouring rain


2-3 Firecrest around Baliffscourt  this morning also 5 Chiffchaff in the area

23 October, 2009

West Beach & Golf Course


  Firecrest, 2 Peregrine, 3 Kingfisher, 7 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Stonechat, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 20 Curlew, and several Redpoll and Siskin still moving.

21 October, 2009

2-3 Firecrest and 2 Goldcrest in first wood this morning, also in the area 7 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 3 Little Egret, and 8 Curlew.

20 October, 2009

At last signs of things hotting up with 3 Firecrest at Baliffscourt, also 9 Chiffchaff, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Siskin, 1 Stonechat, 1 Buzzard and 4 Grey Partridge 1 Little Egret and 16 Curlew, offshore 3W probable Red T Diver, 2E Gannet and 3E Red B Merg,

18 October, 2009

1st Brambling of the Autumn at Baliffscourt Court this morning also 3 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 27 Siskin, 2 Redpoll, 12 Chiffchaff, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Blackcap, 2 Stonechat, 1 Buzzard, 1 Jay, 3 Great S Wood, 5 Curlew, 1 Golden Plover, 4 Grey Plover and 8 Great C Grebe offshore.

17 October, 2009


Suprise of the day was the Golden Plover, seen in the field west of the mill, also  6 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 5 Grey Partridge, 9 Stonechat, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Jay, 4 Great S Wood, 15 Curlew and several Gannet offshore.

15 October, 2009

Another great day weather wise, but not for the birds, with 2 Peregrine, 3 Lapwing, 3 Redpoll, 3 Reed Bunting, 1 Treecreeper, 150+ Siskin, 450+ Goldfinch, 2 Stonechat, 35W Brent Geese, and 1W Gannet being the only birds of note.

14 October, 2009

Hopefull seawatch this morning produced 21W 4E Gannet, 9W 33E Brent Geese, 8E Red B Merganser, 5W Shelduck, 7 Great C Grebe, 1200+ Goldfinch, 4 Redpoll, 140 Siskin, 13 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap and a flock of 25 House Martin over Ballifscourt.

12 October, 2009




Lovely bright sunny day with lots of Meadow Pipits on the golf course, i decided to amble about that end of the coast today. The best i could manage was 2 Wheatear at west beach, 4 Stonechat, 25+ Chiffchaff, 8 Little Egret, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Blackcap, 1 Buzzard 3W Brent Gesse and still good numbers of finches moving east.

10 October, 2009

Lovely day for a stroll, but with no birds about found it very discouraging, highlights being 2 Mediterranean  Gull, 2 Reed Bunting, 6 Siskin, 36 Chiffchaff, 10 Blackcap, 2 Wheatear, 2 Sparrowhawk, 4-5 Buzzard, 6 Grey Partridge, 6 Stonechat, and 1 Little Owl.

09 October, 2009

At Climping this morning plenty of visible migration for the first couple of hours, then the SE wind increased from force 2-3 to 5-6 and it mostly stopped. Totals logged (all moving E) were:- Goldfinch 840, Pied/alba Wagtail 55, Meadow Pipit 100, Swallow 200, House Martin 40, Linnet 170 and Siskin 45. Passerines were harder to find in the windy conditions, but the sheltered spots held 20+ Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps and a Wheatear. A Coot on the open sea was unusual, but otherwise there was not much activity offshore;  5W shelduck, 2W Common Scoter, a small movement of Gannets, several Red-breasted Mergansers and  Brent Goose.

Thursday 8th October

At Climping this morning the most obvious movement was of at least 760 Goldfinches moving E in small flocks; followed by 150 Meadow Pipits, 70 Pied Wagtails, and 45 Siskins. A careful scouring of the 50+ Chiffchaffs present failed to produce anything more exciting (despite Yellow-broweds elsewhere!) and back up birds included 10 Blackcaps, 1 Sedge Warbler, 15 Stonechats, 3 Wheatears, 50 House Martins and 150 Swallows. Local birds included 3 Jays, 2 Grey Partridges and a Kingfisher

06 October, 2009

Out in the rain again taking shelter opposite Atherington Cottages were there was 1 Firecrest with several Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, also 1 Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk and Chukar around Ballifscourt.

05 October, 2009

1E Whimbrel, 3E Gannet,  1 Stonechat, 22 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcap, 2 Lapwing, and 1 Grey Wagtail was all i could muster this morning during the constant rain.

Saturday 3rd October

A change in the weather, with heavy rain and a strong SW wind forecasted! However the reality was just a moderate W wind with little rain,  The sheltered spots held plenty of Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps, whilst a Peregrine was hunting high over the fields. A couple of hours sea-watching produced 24 Dark-bellied Brent Geese W (my first of the autumn), 5 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Med Gulls, 12 Gannets, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Shelduck, 2 Common Terns, 1 Sandwich Tern and 70 Oystercatchers.

02 October, 2009

Took a walk around the fields north of the Golf Course this evening, not a lot happening with 1 Buzzard, 5 Grey Heron, 3 Stonechat, and 5 Grey Partridge.

01 October, 2009

Plenty of Chiffchaffs around (ca. 60) but fewer Blackcaps (15) during this morning's meanderings at the Gap. A Little Owl flushed from the side of the Golf Course was a surprise, but not much otherwise to report; singles of Lesser Whitethroat and Grey Wagtail, 50 Meadow Pipits, 4 Wheatears, a couple of Stonechats, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 3 Buzzards.