| 12/7 | Looking for Common Sandpipers today but saw Drake Ruddy Duck on the River instead. | |
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| 14/7 | My first returning Common Sandpiper on the Left side of main channel. | |
| 15/7 | East Hide, 6 Grey Plover, 1 in full Summer Plumage and another in part Summer,
A Bar Tailed Godwit was preening on the side of Clammerkin channel, with the tail showing well, the first one I've seen since 12th Feb. At least 1 Whimbrel with poor crown stripe but bold eyestripes and short curved bill. From the Boathouse there were a possible 2(?) by the Harbour entrance, and 2 flew up Causeway Lake calling. | |
| 16/7 | WeBS count included 102 Mediteranean Gulls on the shingle banks, the highest number I've ever seen here,
-mostly adults, with a group of 94 together. Also Common Gulls have returned with 5 here today. There were 12 Egrets roosting, with a Heron, in a tree to the E. side of Quarr "fish" pond. An unusual addition was 1 Greenshank at Wootton Bridge (E. side of millpond). | |
| 21/7 | Went out there with GS and CM. 1 Green Sandpiper was my first since the spring, also 3 Whimbrel flew in,
About 5 Teal, plenty of Lapwing and 3 Curlew. Plus the usual Little Egrets, Herons and Canada Geese. | |
| 22/7 |
Waders increasing, with 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, and a Dunlin in Summer Plumage.
4f Tufted Duck and the Escaped Chiloe Wigeon. With lots of Mediterranean Gulls in the area now. | |
| 28/7 | Some fresh migrants in the Valley W. of the Fort including;-4 Lesser Whitethroat, c15 Willow Warbler,
and a Cuckoo which looks like a late Adult. (Usually get Juveniles at this time of year) An amazing show of butterfies, mainly Male Chalkhill Blues, only a couple of Females, 1 Clouded Yellow. |
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| 6/8 | Young juv and adult Dartford Warbler, these are very scarce this year, so good news.
(The cold winter, wet spring and extensive gorse clearances seem to have hit them hard). A good show of Willow-Chiffs, and a close-up view of a Sparrowhawk dashing though the bushes. | |
| 16/8 | Atherfield, 10.00 |
Seawatching at St Catherine's Point didn't produce much more than Gannets,
Intended to return though Chale Green -but the road was closed! so decided to visit Dungewood Lane. I was looking for Partridges but saw none, the lane was full of migrants flitting along the hedges -quite promising with Yellowhammers, Whitethroats and Willow Warblers all around. The big suprise came at the bend to the farm, sitting on the Hedge Parsley heads was a
Went back to car for Telescope and Phone to alert other birders, but most didn't answer their phones!
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| 31/8 | Whale Chine (8.00) Atherfield Pt. Dungewood Lane |
Very windy but a good Raptor day, a Peregrine was seen over the sea then came along the cliffs
First a Kestrel, then a Raven went after it. Only 1f Wheatear on the cliff top today. 50+ Herring Gulls in the Bay were seen later on the fields N. of Whale Chine, Here were 85 Herring Gull, 1 LBB, 1 GBB & 2ad. Yellow Legged Gulls plus some immatures(?) Checked for RB Shrike at Dungewood Lane but not found, 3 Red Legged Partridges ran along the lane
Driving back past Atherfield Farm I spotted a Hobby(?) dashing over the fields chasing hirundines,
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| 2/9 | Ventnor Esp (8.00) -Seawatch with CM. |
Very windy from the W. with showers and a fairy rough sea. Regular Gannets passing though from E. and W. with many Juvs and Sub Adults.
There were groups of Swallows moving w. just over the waves, then a single juv Kittiwake came by W. 2 Sandwich Terns came right by the Marina. Of more interest was a Dk. Phase Arctic Skua also W. The highlight was a dark Shearwater Sp. fairly distant going W. @10.00. Direct flight and shearing over the waves, also climbing up and diving into the sea near Gannets.
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| 17/9 | Rofford Marsh (15.00) | I missed the 4 Little Stints yesterday, luckily they were still here today, but rather difficult to see at the back,
with 2 Dunlin, a Snipe and a Greenshank. Another was seen at the Station Pond earlier, but not re-located, however there 3 more Snipe, Shoveler, lots of Teal, 11 Wigeon and a Tufted Duck. |
| 11/12 | Fort Victoria (7.20) | A SW Gale, blowing rain sideways today! Looked a good day for Petrels
Very quiet though with just Black Headed Gulls and Egrets going by, then a few Turnstone Just about to give up when a Dunlin Sized bird appeared at 8.45, just off the seawall blowing E. in the wind,
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