Autumn migration gets underway

Warm winds and blue skies this past weekend saw the first signs of returning migrant birds along the beach. 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Willow Warblers, 10 Common Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps, a juvenile Common Redstart and 5 Northern Wheatears showed up. At Hope Point we witnessed a pair of Peregrine Falcons hunting and take a Feral Rock Dove at culmination after a high speed chase! Sunday saw a flying ant swarm attract good numbers of Black-headed Gulls and two Mediterranean Gulls. Offshore a constant stream of Sandwich Terns moved south whilst Northern Gannets patrolled mid channel. A Common Seal spent the afternoon along the shore and 4-5 Harbour Porpoises showed well in the sea off Kingsdown Leas. Finally a few nice Butterflies were in evidence, including Chalkhill Blue, Small Copper, Marbled White, Painted Lady, Peacock, Ringlet and lots of Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns.