2nd Sep

A Wryneck was seen at the Long Pits again amid another decent arrival of common migrants including a Short-eared Owl, a Hobby,  45 Willow Warblers, 15 Chiffchaffs, four Sedge Warblers, two Grasshopper Warblers, 55 Blackcaps, three Garden Warblers, 55 Lesser Whitethroats, 120 Whitethroats, three Spotted Flycatchers, two Pied Flycatchers, three Redstarts, four Whinchats and ten Wheatears.  A Dotterel flew over the area during the morning along with a Golden Plover, two Snipe and four Greenshanks, 945 Swallows, 150 House Martins, 55 Yellow Wagtails, four Grey Wagtails and three Tree Pipits.

Seawatching was fairly slow but a Black Tern, two Great Skuas and six Arctic Skuas passed offshore and a juvenile Caspian Gull at the fishing boats were noteworthy.

Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

The moth traps produced 14 Small Mottled Willows, three Palpita vitrealis and a Vestal (with a further four seen in the field). Three Clouded Yellows were also seen.

The White-winged Black Tern was still showing well on Burrowes Pit, RSPB.

1st Sep

There was an excellent arrival of migrants today with a Nightjar, a Wryneck and a Red-backed Shrike of particular note and numbers provided by 80 Willow Warblers, ten Reed Warblers, 56 Blackcaps, 39 Lesser Whitethroats, 88 Whitethroats, four Spotted Flycatchers, three Redstarts, three Whinchats and also a Short-eared Owl, two Grasshopper Warbler, a Firecrest and a Pied Flycatcher. Birds passing through overhead included two Buzzards, 930 Swallows, 112 House Martins, 11 Yellow Wagtails and three Grey Wagtails.

The sea was fairly quiet but six Arctic Skuas, a Great Skua and a Sooty Shearwater were seen during the day.

Seven Clouded Yellows were seen.

The White-winged Black Tern was still showing well on the RSPB Reserve.

31st Aug

Another breezy day but with reduced offshore passage which still produced an adult Sabine's Gull west in the morning along with a Gadwall, a Little Tern, three Black Terns, 422 Common Terns, 635 Sandwich Terns, a Little Gull, seven Mediterranean Gulls, four Arctic Skuas and a Balearic Shearwater. Single juvenile Caspian Gull and Yellow-legged Gulls were on the beach.

Very quiet on the land although a White Stork made several flights over the recording area in the morning and single Grey Wagtail and Tree Pipit also passed through.

Two Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

Three Clouded Yellows were seen.

Elsewhere the White-winged Black Tern continues its stay on the RSPB reserve and a Red-necked Phalarope was found on Scotney Sand Pit. 

Access to the Observatory

Please be aware that we now have scaffolding around the building, due to roof works, so care is needed with parking and access. 

Thank you.