Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
Yet again, I had my lunch by St. Catherine’s Point while working on the island again and took the time to do a search for migrants around the fields and cliff. The southern half of Britain is still experiencing a long-term high pressure weather front and therefore, many migrants are just pouring through, therefore I was hoping for something around today. There were a few people around again today, just out for a walk, which included one birder off to do some seawatching by the look of it.
A Chiffchaff was in song when I pulled up in the car but I couldn’t locate the bird. Walking along the footpath leading down to the Lighthouse, I also heard both Willow Warbler and a Common Whitethroat on the hill but only the former was seen. The Common Whitethroat was heard singing several times but wouldn’t reveal itself.
Overhead, at least two Common Buzzards were seen soaring and displaying high over the cliff and a female Sparrowhawk flew low over the hill. Swallows were in good numbers with a small trickle of birds flying in off the sea. A single Sand Martin flew around the lighthouse also.
A pair of Yellowhammers was holding territory and seen well perching on brambles as was a pair of Linnets. A single Green Woodpecker was seen flying over the hill heading east. A singing Blackcap showed well high in a small tree but best of all was a male Redstart seen as I was walking back up the road towards the car. The bird was calling continuously until it flew down to snatch an insect then flying back to its perch.
As I was walking back to the car, a Stoat ran across the road and darted into the roadside hedge, another year tick. As I got in my car, a Jay flew across the road into the neighbouring woods. Yesterday, both Hoopoe and Wryneck were seen on the island by a lucky few but no sign of the birds today.
