September 25th 2018

GORING GAP: Another fine morning and a similar theme to yesterday with thousands of House Martins (4,500+) filling the skies but a noticeable increase in Swallow numbers (400+). A young Hobby was seen over the eastern most fields briefly chasing a hirundine breakfast before slipping off east. Other birds included a Whinchat that was associating with 3 Stonechat all favouring the rough field next to the dead-end road on the eastern side, a fall of Chiffchaffs was also noted with c 20 birds seen and heard. Overhead movement included 123 Meadow Pipits, 28 Siskins, five Grey Wagtails, 23 Pied Wagtails, four Yellow Wagtails, 4,500+ House Martins, 850+ Swallows, six Skylarks (nine were also in the fields) and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. A Common Buzzard caused some commotion with the local gull and corvid population while another appeared in the distance and 5 Linnets dropped in before heading off north. A Common Snipe flew over, whilst Common Tern and 3 Shelduck were oddities in the beach area. Also on the beach was a Grey Heron. The Treecreeper was in the Plantation and nine Mediterranean Gulls were around. DKC/NB

A quick call into the Gap at 15:00 produced 2 Spotted Flycatchers and c5 Willow Warblers in the holm oak plantation bordering the dumped potato field. The rough field held 2-3 Stonechat and a single Whinchat. GJ

1 of 2 Spotted Flycatcher at Goring Gap GJ