Migration!

Whinchat, 1 of at least 9 around The Point

Despite no sign of the Wryneck there were still many birds around and over The Point this morning, including the beach up to the lifeboat station a minimum of 42 Wheatears, 9 Whinchats, 2 Stonechats, many Common Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, smaller numbers of Reed Buntings, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Willow Warblers, lots of Siskins over though probably only 40-50 seen, many more Meadow Pipits, 3+ Tree Pipits, Grey and Yellow Wagtails, 100s of Hirundines, at least 3 Swifts, a Black Redstart, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2+ Sparrowhawks, a Hobby, a Goldcrest in the observatory garden.

 Wheatear, 1 of at least 42 around The Point

At the north end of the Long Pits at least 3 Spotted Flycatchers, many Sylvia Warblers and Chiffchaffs, a Cetti's Warbler, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, more Siskins, Meadow Pipits and Hirundines over, also another Hobby.

 Spotted Flycatcher north end of the Long Pits

At lunchtime Dengemarsh Gully was surprisingly quiet except for the steady stream of Swallows leaving for the continent. The hedges in Denge Marsh Road did however hold lots of Common Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, in the fields more Wheatears, 2 more Whinchats and Yellow Wagtails. A short visit to Springfield Bridge saw the usual Marsh Harriers but not a single Egret, though Great White, Little and the Cattle Egret were seen by others around the reserve.

Juvenile Gannet passing the fishing boats

The main event this afternoon was the spectacle of countless Swallows streaming out to sea over and either side of me, as far as I could see. ere the main event this afternoon, I started counting them but could not keep up, so I sat back and enjoyed the spectacle.

14.20-16.20 from the boats:

Great-crested Grebe: 4 around
Gannet: 62W
Oystercatcher: 2W
Turnstone: 2 on beach
Knot: 1W
Arctic Skua: 1W
Mediterranean Gull: 1W (1stW)
Sandwich Tern: 492W
Common Tern: 15W
Auk sp: 1W
Swallows: 2,000-3,000 out (probably a very conservative estimate)
Harbour Porpoise: 3+

Turnstone on the beach this afternoon