Thurs 28th July

At Climping this morning (mainly around Atherington) where early migrants were again obvious. A Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher were in the horse paddock hedge, whilst a Grasshopper Warbler was flushed from long grass at a field edge. Two Lesser Whitethroats, ca. 20 Common Whitethroats, 25 Willow Warblers and a few Blackcaps and Reed Warblers were also logged. Two pairs of Swallows were found nesting in the small wooden stable, whilst a Buzzard, a Little Owl and two Jays were at Bailiffscourt.

A little sign of autumn migration in the patch this morning when a Grasshopper Warbler flicked out of the long grass near the campsite. A juv Stonechat in the fields, then relocated in the horse paddock. Good numbers of Willow Warblers with at least 30 in the Climping area alone, 12 Whitethroat, with 1 Lesser in Baliffscourt.  Several each of Blackcap, Reed and Sedge Warbler. Best of the rest being 1 Little Owl,  1 Common Sandpiper on the beach and 7 summer plummaged Sanderling, with about 7 Meditteranean Gulls in the gull flock west of the hotel.

Four Common Sandpiper on the river this morning, also at least 20+ Mediterranean Gulls in various plumages in the Climping beach area. Best of the rest being 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3-4 Little Owl, 15 Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, and several Sandwich Tern offshore.

Late morning stroll around the farm in a glorious sunshine produced at least 50 Lapwing over the north fields, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 8 Reed Warbler 2 Sedge Warbler 1 Bullfinch, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Great crested Grebe, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Swift and good numbers of Swallow moving through.