Month: March 2024

Not my earliest here but still a welcome sight in my brief walk up the cliffs this morning, a female Wheatear hopped along the fence line at Fan Bay along with 4 Stonechats. 14 Chiffchaff across the site 6 of which seemed to be recently in and feeding up, a few of which were wearing their early spring pollen horns.

The Peregrines co-caught a Woodcock over the sea at Lighthouse down, where a 2nd winter Yellow Legged Gull flew along the cliffs, a few Meadow pipits and siskins arrived in off here but little else. No chaffinches in any number yet for me this spring.

Off to Hong Kong now see you soon.

A warm sunny 20th of March, a light SE breeze and seemingly a few Ring Ouzels in Kent today and y’day, earlier dates than I’ve seen them by 2 weeks or so here but a noisy male in Langdon Hole first thing followed by another at the South Foreland end of the patch were both lovely to see.

No Wheatear or hirundines yet, but today felt like the tides had turned, 2 White Wagtails West along the cliff tops, 4 Chiffchaff and 2 Firecrest in the wood and valley, a Vocal Tawny Owl in bottom wood, A brave lone Lapwing flew along the cliffs at langdon, seemed to survive as i saw it/one over the farm 15 mins later. Grey Partridges somewhere up top, up to 13 Common Buzzards in a kettle over the farm plus another kettle of 8 and another of 11… not sure how many birds involved really. 3 Red Kites plus 4 Sparrowhawk and active local Peregrines .

Local Fulmars are being entertaining, I’ve paid so much more attention to them recently especially the pairs on the cliff above my house, such a great bird. A pair took up residence on last years Ravens nest over the winter…they’ve since been booted off of course.

Ive been working away alot and going away again tomorrow for more work but will be about pretty much all of april and may, looking forward to the daily routine of the cliffs.

Working again but this time way up North in Caithness. After work on the 13th I checked Thurso Bay, at the spot where the river feeds out into the sea and came across this Adult Kumlien’s Gull whilst on the phone to young Dante. Darker grey in the very outer 2 primaries visible from this distant phone scope photo, along with darker iris and mantle tone. Some grey patterning in the primary tips was visble in the field too but sadly it was too late in the day to get nice flight shots.

The following evening I was joined by John Bell and we had another adult Kumlien’s drop in just before dusk, a paler indivual but again grey patterning in the outer primaries visble through optics.

Abit of digging around and both birds were clearly different to the beautiful adult that has been in place at Helmsdale harbour for a good while, Thanks to Dave Pullen for that. I called in on that bird on the drive back which was still in place (below), awful light but it showed brilliantly for the proper camera.