Unchanging North Westerly wind direction and its increased strength over the weekend dampened enthusiasm somewhat. However a juv Cuckoo and 2 Hobbies highlighted a windy walk on the 17th.
Lighter winds today and Rich B and I slowly tracked East from Langdon first thing and notched up a decent list of birds: Great White Egret North East at 10.30, Ring Ouzel, 3 Black Redstart, 2 Firecrest, Tree pipit, Swift, Whinchat, Grasshopper warbler, 30 Chiffchaff, 20 House Martin, 800 House Martin, 600 Swallow, 2 Snipe,3 Little Egret,2 Grey Wagtail,2 Yellow Wagtail 9 Curlew, 15 Stonechat, Reed Bunting. Whilst Steve and Russ had seen a Ring tailed Hen Harrier and heard a Dotterel.
A mid-afternoon walk with Amy away from the patch developed a brilliant edge when a feeding ball of Hirundines c1500 strong (mostly House Martins) started zipping up and down at the top of the cliffs along Round down above Samphire Hoe.
With them were smaller numbers of Swallows and Sand martins but also 2 Swift. I stood on the old concrete bunkers as the birds swarmed around, it was really very nice, perhaps saying goodbye to the numbers.
A surprise Brambling, my first of the autumn joined the ranks and flew among the hirundines briefly before circling, calling and heading west along the cliffs. A Ring Ouzel also noisily flew west between the cliff edge and the A20.
PERDIX BIRDER 