Male Stonechat and the Priory – Alan Crockard

A little later than expected, there is now a Brent Goose gathering in the harbour – twenty-one, this morning, in Stanpit Bight. Also around there, 18 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Common Gull, 10 Ringed Plover and 12 Dunlin. The White-tailed Eagle left at 08:50, after arriving unnoticed; while an adult male Marsh Harrier was about for much of the day. The rest of the news involves 3 Great Crested Grebe and a Kingfisher, all from Stanpit.

It’s another quiet day of news, but some nice snippets. A Yellow-browed Warbler was along the Wick riverside path and, early on, a Brambling went over Hengistbury. Stanpit also had some decent birds, not least three redhead Goosander in Stanpit Bight, but also a surprise of 9 Mediterranean Gull, all adults, in with a really good count of 24 Common Gull. In addition, a female Bullfinch was in the North Scrubs. Finally, thanks to Robin Harley, we now have an identity for last night’s fungi photo.

Egghead Mottlegill – panaeolus semiovatus. Semiovatus translating as half an egg – Clinton Whale

Around ninety minutes of visible-migration watching, from dawn, produced little. In fact, just: 400 Woodpigeon, 6 Redwing, 4 Blackbird, a Brambling and 10 Siskin; plus, low double figures of Linnet, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Pied Wagtail. Later, at 09:00, the White-tailed Eagle was on Blackberry Point and a Grey Wagtail went over Wick. Meanwhile, the Wood held a single Firecrest and seemingly only a lone Chiffchaff.

Bar-tailed Godwit – Clinton Whale

On a day of almost constant damp and drizzle, there is next to nothing to report. Early on, 5 Redpoll and 2 Siskin went over Hengistbury, where a couple of Firecrest were by the Double Bends. Then, just before midday, the White-tailed Eagle left the area – her time of arrival unknown.

Red Admiral – Clinton Whale

Brent Goose and the daily cargo flight from Hurn – Alan Crockard

There is a lot less to report upon today. A clear dawn raised hopes for a good Woodpigeon morning, but cloud soon thwarted that – just a relative handful and 60 Jackdaw really going for it. An adult male Marsh Harrier hunting the north of the area was nice though; with a Great White Egret over Wick, plus singles of Bar-tailed Godwit and Pintail in Stanpit Bight, and a Kingfisher favouring the ‘stepping stones’, just beyond the Pod, completing things.

By far the best for the day was a party of 12 Bearded Tit that headed west of the Wooden Bridge, this afternoon. Earlier, the picks of a light, but mixed, passage, mostly to the east were: a Ring Ouzel over Wick, at least 10 Brambling, 5 Redpoll and a number of heard-only Siskin; along with Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Reed Bunting, Redwing and a single Swallow. Siskin were still on the move late in the day, however, when around ten were logged over Hengistbury, where modest numbers of Chiffchaff and Goldcrest, plus a Firecrest, were decked. It was also mentioned that Song Thrush, Blackbird and Robin numbers seemed to be up. Meanwhile, settled Bullfinch were represented by three around Holloway’s Dock and two on the Wick Central Path. Casual looking at the Long Groyne saw it hosting a roost of at least 40 Ringed Plover with a couple of Dunlin, and a nice mix of wing-drying Shag and Cormorant – the new construction is proving an important haven for resting birds. To finish, the White-tailed Eagle, now again confirmed as G818, visited in the afternoon and a couple of Nuthatch were on the feeders at the bird hide. The welcome sunshine of the last day of British Summer Time also saw a few butterflies and dragonflies still on the wing – Red Admiral and Speckled Wood, to name a couple.

The best of a relatively quiet day was a Yellow-browed Warbler on the Wick central path, with a Chiffchaff nearby; while, late in the day, a Firecrest was in the North Scrubs. The pick of the waders at Stanpit was a Knot, 120 Black-tailed Godwit and a Dunlin; with the White-tailed Eagle having made a morning visit. To finish, Kingfisher were reported from both sides of the area, including one around the favoured area of Barn Bight.

Scarce Bordered Straw moth – a moderately frequent continental migrant – Robin Harley

There was far less variety today – the overhead total from Hengistbury, across the 2.75 hours from 08:00, being: 2 Siskin, 6 Chaffinch, 305 Linnet, 325 Goldfinch, 5 Skylark, 12 Pied Wagtail and 37 Meadow Pipit, mostly east; with 1400 Woodpigeon west. Much later in the day, Wick produced a Firecrest, 5 Goldcrest, 8 Chiffchaff and a Swallow. Back to the morning, when the White-tailed Eagle visited and caught a fish; with remaining notables being a Grey Wagtail in Ashtree Meadows and a Kingfisher along Grimmery Bank.

It was an autumn day full of variety. A Little Bunting was seen briefly by two observers on Hengistbury, this morning – firstly in birches at the end of the head and then in flight past the Ironstone Quarry. Meanwhile, a couple of Ring Ouzel were seen to arrive, 6 Barnacle Goose passed west, and 4 Golden Plover, 2 Grey Plover and 68 Snipe passed over; likewise, 3 Bullfinch. The more-expected travellers, mostly to the south, were estimated as: 15 Brambling, 3 Redpoll. 10 Siskin, 365 Chaffinch, 465 Goldfinch, 770 Linnet, 165 Meadow Pipit, 128 Swallow, 31 Skylark and 23 Reed Bunting; along with 3100 Woodpigeon and 65 Stock Dove. Settled birds were less plentiful, however – the returns being 2 Firecrest, 11 Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaff. The rest is a bit of mixture: a male Marsh Harrier headed north; 4 Great Crested Grebe were inside the harbour; a Sandwich Tern was about; and 17 Common Scoter were on the sea.

The highlights of a varied day came from: the unseasonable Wood Sandpiper still at Stanpit, seen in the morning from Fisherman’s Bank; a female Ruff, more accurately a reeve, coming in off the sea; a female-type Black Redstart on the HHVC roof; a Merlin over Hengistbury; and a Brambling and 5 Redpoll amongst a modest finch passage, with around 1400 Woodpigeon milling. Meanwhile: around 70 Black-tailed Godwit and a Peregrine were logged from Stanpit; and a quiet sea turned in: 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Common Gull, an eastbound Great Crested Grebe, eight westbound Brent Goose and the same number of settled Common Scoter. Wrapping up, the White-tailed Eagle spent from around 08:15 to 10:00 about the area, catching a fish in the process.

Wood Sandpiper – Scott Usher

To start, a Spoonbill passed west, during the afternoon, and yesterday’s Wood Sandpiper was again about Stanpit, for the morning. Meanwhile, there was a varied overhead movement, turned in from Hengistbury, and mostly east. This included a statistic to mention – 876 Linnet – the best total of the season so far – it’s not that long ago that day-counts of well into four figures were being recorded on multiple occasions in October. Also: a Yellowhammer, 2 Bullfinch, 23 Redpoll, 23 Siskin, 230 Chaffinch, 370 Goldfinch, 60 Pied Wagtail, 135 Meadow Pipit and 75 Swallow. The easterly breeze brought incomers with it, including: a cameo Black Redstart, 10 Redwing, 15 Song Thrush and 20 Goldcrest; with three each of Firecrest and Chiffchaff also being logged. Continuing on the arriving theme, but moving to wildfowl: three Pochard, always a decent bird nowadays, circled; 7 Shoveler and 21 Wigeon were seen checking-in; and 9 Common Scoter were on the sea, where a Red-throated Diver headed east. Finishing the post with first light: 31 Cattle Egret plus a combined 1000+ of Rook and Jackdaw left the roost, where 2 Tawny Owl were duetting.

Long-tailed Tit – Alan Crockard

The rain and wind, which dominated much of the day, actually brought some quality birds inside the harbour. A Black Tern was seen from the Viewing Platform, while a Wood Sandpiper, initially on East Marsh, settled on North Marsh – the latter a cracking record for the date. Meanwhile, a Woodlark was on South Marsh. To finish this short post, the Cattle Egret on Wick Water Meadows, this morning, numbered seventeen.

It turned into a pleasant, sunny day after a night of heavy rain,and once the early cloud cleared. There was a light westerly breeze and temperatures were again above the seasonal average. The day’s only news comes from Wick, where 3 Chiffchaff and a Firecrest were present, while a Marsh Harrier checked out Wick Spires reeds. The Cattle Egret count on the water meadows was twenty-three.

The early thick fog eventually dissipated to give a few hours of morning sunshine before the cloud increased and overcast conditions set in for the afternoon. There was a brief glimpse of what was probably a Yellow-browed Warbler at Wick; the only other news was of 60 Swallow moving over Hengistbury, 2 Firecrest near the Lily Pond and a Wheatear at Fisherman’s Bank, Stanpit. Finally, an update on yesterday’s colour-ringed Marsh Harrier, VBA. It was ringed as a nestling on 11th June this year at Frodsham, Cheshire.

One of 8 Firecrest seen this morning – Alan Crockard

The flock of Common Scoter off Long Groyne – Paul Sheaf

The ringed Marsh Harrier at Stanpit – David J Faulkner

The sunshine and mild temperatures, combined with calm conditions first thing, brought the biting insects out in force until the light westerly breeze picked up a little to disperse them. Two Yellow-browed Warblers were present today – one at the eastern end of Hengistbury and one at Wick, the latter still there this afternoon. Arriving thrushes at Hengistbury included a Ring Ouzel on Barn Field, as well as 25 Song Thrush, 8 Redwing and 7 Blackbird heading north. There was a good variety of species moving east, the pick being a Tree Sparrow and 3 Brambling. Travelling mostly in the same direction were 330 Chaffinch, 315 Linnet, 170 Goldfinch, 85 Meadow Pipit, 28 Siskin, 14 Reed Bunting and 4 Lesser Redpoll. They were accompanied by nearly 100 Swallow, 5 House Martin and 28 Starling, while a Ruff and 4 Snipe were seen to arrive. At least 1 Bearded Tit was in Wick Hams reeds, 8 each of Firecrest and Goldcrest were noted, with 20 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap and 2 Nuthatch were scattered across the southern part of the harbour. An excellent total of 28 Cattle Egret were at Wick water meadows and 6 Water Rail were seen. A lone Coal Tit on the Barn Field was a good candidate for being of the ‘Continental’ race, but views were too brief to clinch the identification. Twenty-three Common Scoter were on the sea off Hengistbury, 70 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Brent Goose and 2 Marsh Harrier, one of which was ringed, were at Stanpit, and a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull was at Mudeford Quay this afternoon.

Wigeon at Stanpit at high tide today – Clinton Whale

The morning started with some quite heavy showers, followed by dry but overcast conditions until more rain arrived in the afternoon. There was a relatively light south-easterly wind and temperatures were above the seasonal average. A Yellow-browed Warbler was again at Wick – whether this was a new arrival or the same bird as seen nearby a few days ago is a matter of conjecture. The number of Cattle Egret on the water meadows rose to fourteen. Stanpit received some attention today, the best of the waders being a Ruff in a flock of 25 Black-tailed Godwit on North Marsh, while a female Marsh Harrier headed south through the Harbour and a Grey Wagtail was in Ashtree Meadows. At Hengistbury, Chiffchaff numbers declined to around twelve, with a further two on Wick, while 2 Goldcrest and a Firecrest were on the Batters this afternoon. Two Swallow travelled east, and a Kingfisher was in Barn Bight. Finally, an update on ringed Rock Pipit PRJ at Stanpit on 13th October: it was a male ringed at Makkevika, Norway, on 23rd March this year.

The light easterly breeze should have encouraged more overhead movement, but it was perhaps too overcast. Nevertheless, there were reasonable totals of Goldfinch and Linnet, with 475 and 385 respectively flying east over Hengistbury, together with 140 Meadow Pipit, 110 Chaffinch, 95 Alba wagtail, 19 Siskin, a Lesser Redpoll and 7 Swallow. The pick of the day’s birds were a Jack Snipe, an elusive species at Hengistbury, that was inadvertently flushed from eastern end of the Head and a Yellow-browed Warbler that was seen and heard nearby. The latter was in the company of 7 Firecrest, a further six of which were scattered around the wood and on Wick. The sea produced 120 unidentified Auk flying in both directions and 32 Common Scoter; also 2 Wigeon and a Brent Goose went west. Two Nuthatch still linger in the Nursery and 20 Chiffchaff were across the area. The day’s remaining sightings involve 20 Cattle Egret out of roost, with five at Wick water meadows, and an arriving Marsh Harrier. Finally, the best of a late afternoon sea watch was 3 Velvet Scoter past Mudeford Quay.

It was another day of mainly overcast skies, apart from a brighter spell around late morning, with a light breeze making it feel a degree or two warmer than of late. There is less news today, with all reports coming from the southern side of the recording area. At Hengistbury, 6 Black-tailed Godwit arrived from the east, while 14 Mediterranean Gull and a Common Gull headed west. There was also a good count of 50 Great Black-backed Gull, all adults, in the harbour at low tide. Otherwise, there were 3 Goldcrest and 25 Chiffchaff, as well as a further five of the latter at Wick, where the water meadows hosted 12 Cattle Egret.

The Yellow-browed Warbler along the central path at Wick – Adam Court

This Sparrowhawk was keeping a watchful eye on the feeders in the Nursery at Hengistbury Alan Crockard

One of several Meadow Pipit at Stanpit this afternoon – Clinton Whale

It was mainly cloudy today, with a light breeze that varied in direction. There have been a couple of brief sightings of Yellow-browed Warbler so far this autumn, but one found at the western end of the central path at Wick this morning lingered for the rest of the day allowing other observers to catch up with it. By late afternoon, it had moved closer to the golf course and 3 Firecrest were nearby. Marsh Harrier were on the move again, with two first-year birds heading out to sea over Whitepits and one arriving over the Sandspit. Visible migration at Hengistbury was low, but included 2 Lesser Redpoll, as well as 100 Meadow Pipit, 20 Alba Wagtail, 65 Linnet, 40 Goldfinch, 4 Siskin, 6 Reed Bunting and single-figure counts of Skylark and Swallow. Other passerines noted were 18 Chiffchaff, with a further 6 at Stanpit, 2 Goldcrest,another Firecrest, 2 Nuthatch and 6 Coal Tit. Six Jay, 2 Raven and 2 Sparrowhawk were also present. The waders at Stanpit comprised 30 each of Ringed Plover and Dunlin, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 30 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Turnstone together with around 30 Snipe. There was a single Wheatear around the Marsh, with another at Hengistbury.

The skies remained overcast for most of the morning with the odd shower and a light, mainly southerly, breeze. It was brighter in the afternoon, when the wind veered to easterly. A Short-eared Owl, initially picked up low over the Sandspit, was later seen high over the harbour heading west, and the White-tailed Eagle spent a while off Stanpit before leaving to the north. The sea was watched from Hengistbury and returned 2 Balearic Shearwater, 2 Arctic Skua, a juvenile Kittiwake, 34 Common Scoter all mostly west, as well as 3 Sparrowhawk. Travelling in the opposite direction were 183 Auk, of which only 7 Razorbill and 8 Guillemot were close enough to identify. Overhead passage was quieter today; just 95 Goldfinch, 75 Linnet, 2 Siskin, 280 Swallow and 18 House Martin went south, while 12 Blackbird flew north. Grounded migrants across the site included 24 Chiffchaff and 5 Blackcap, and 4 Firecrest were in the Wood. Also logged were 39 Black-tailed Godwit west, and 17 Snipe. A single Redwing and 7 Cattle Egret left the roost this morning, with four of the latter again on Wick Water Meadows.

Late news yesterday: A flock of 20 Barnacle Goose flew east past Hengistbury.

Sunrise over the Isle of Wight – Nick Whitehouse

The most significant event of the day was a Green Woodpecker, heard to call from the Batters – this is only the year’s second record for a species, which in the very recent past, simply held the status of ‘common resident’. The decline has also been noted elsewhere locally, but perhaps not documented more widely. During the morning, at least 3000 birds were seen travelling over or around Hengistbury, including a remarkably early movement of Wood Pigeon and Stock Dove – 730 and 112 respectively – but also: three-figure returns of Goldfinch, Linnet, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail and Swallow; high double figures of Skylark; and more accurate listings of the lower-volume species coming from: a Yellowhammer, a Yellow Wagtail, 5 Grey Wagtail, 18 Siskin, 25 Greenfinch and 16 Reed Bunting. In addition, 38 Rook were described as ‘coasting.’ Meanwhile, at sea, a couple of Great Northern Diver headed west, with a total of 19 Common Scoter comprising eleven settled and eight east, plus a mixed-direction flight of distant auks. A Whinchat on the Barn Field was a decent encounter for the date and at least 50 Chiffchaff, plus 15 Goldcrest, were about the area. To finish off: 6 Coal Tit were on the head; 4 Mediterranean Gull were logged; 250 Jackdaw came out of roost; 2 Great White Egret headed north; a Peregrine was about; and 30 Ringed Plover used the Long Groyne.

Cetti’s Warbler – Alan Crockard

Grey Heron – Barrie Taylor

There were certainly harriers on the move this morning – a grey male Hen Harrier passed west at sea; while a minimum of four, but almost certainly five, Marsh Harrier were logged – one of them a clear male, the others all female-types. Although Chiffchaff numbers were down from yesterday, a Yellow-browed Warbler was around Holloway’s Dock; with a lunchtime gathering of 20 Pied Wagtail and 30 Meadow Pipit being returned from Crouch Hill. Meanwhile, other news from Stanpit involved a Greenshank and 6 Brent Goose. Back to the early morning, when 26 Cattle Egret and 38 Little Egret left the roost, and a Tawny Owl was sighted.

1cy (upper) and adult Cattle Egret – Peter Boardman

Wheatear – Clinton Whale

Oystercatcher – Alan Crockard

The last few autumns have seen Jay gathering on Hengistbury – a band of sixteen at the end of the head, this morning, being notable. Chiffchaff were also conspicuous – at least a hundred across the site, including a nice concentration by the Viewing Platform – as well as 3 Firecrest and 5 Goldcrest, those in the Wood, 9 Blackcap and 3 Wheatear. To finish with the passerines, a Mistle Thrush, always a good bird for the area, headed north over Wick. Singles of Greenshank and Knot at Stanpit, where there were also 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, at least 40 Black-tailed Godwit, 43 Ringed Plover and 40 Dunlin, were the best of the waders; while between them, the Long Groyne and Holloway’s Dock, hosted a further 50 Ringed Plover and 70 Dunlin. The sea again returned a good Mediterranean Gull figure – eighty bird – plus a settled Common Scoter; and, as is becoming tradition, finishing with egrets – a Great White Egret in Stanpit Bight and 5 Cattle Egret on the usual meadows.

There were 2 Yellow-browed Warbler on site today – one by the Viewing Platform on Wick, the other just west of Holloway’s Dock – both were brief encounters, however. The sea, meanwhile, produced a few bits and pieces – the best being singles of Arctic Skua and Little Gull, an adult, as well as two ‘commic’ terns; but also, 3 Kittiwake, 36 Mediterranean Gull and 9 Sandwich Tern, all west. Wader-wise, a Common Sandpiper was on the sandspit groynes, while Stanpit hosted 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 9 Black-tailed Godwit, and 56 Dunlin were in Holloway’s Dock. Overhead migration, all to the south, included 670 Swallow, 220 Goldfinch, 62 Pied Wagtail and 88 Meadow Pipit; with decked passerines returned as: a Firecrest, a Treecreeper and 5 Blackcap on Hengistbury; 3 Wheatear, 3 Pied Wagtail and 34 Meadow Pipit feeding on Crouch Hill; and 5 Chiffchaff on Wick.

We’ve now had it confirmed the White-tailed Eagle, around since Friday, is G818, a now nearly adult female that spent much of last winter in the area. As the map shows, however, she chose to spend her summer in Scotland – eagle photo, Scott Usher – map, courtesy of Forestry England

There’s not much to report from a day of rain and then some sunshine. A Firecrest was on Wick, close to the Wooden Bridge, with 7 Chiffchaff on the fields; while, around Long Field, there were a further twenty-five ‘chiffs’, as well as 3 Blackcap. Moving to butterflies and the afternoon weather saw plenty of Speckled Wood still on the wing. To finish this short post, the breakfast club of Cattle Egret on Wick Water Meadows attracted fifteen participants.

The feeders at the bird hide do seem to have initiated a colonisation by Nuthatch – one of two yesterday. This bird is ringed, but the CHOG-operated, Christchurch Harbour Ringing Station, has never done such a thing. The origins of this individual would be really interesting to ascertain. A challenge for some close-up photos – Alan Crockard

In the morning drizzle, Swallow again passed through – around 200 to the east in an hour’s spell from 08:00; but then the movement changed to south, matching the veer of the wind. Also, a handful of Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipit attempting to travel. Meanwhile, the White-tailed Eagle spent about an hour around Blackberry Point, before leaving to the north around 10:15. The rest is a bit of a miscellany: the Chiffchaff figure was twenty or so birds, most of those becoming active towards the late-afternoon about Wick; a Knot at Stanpit is the only wader report; a Firecrest sang in the Wood; and the Wick Cattle Egret numbered eleven in the morning and then nine later in the day.

An easterly movement of Swallow was the feature of the day, throughout. With birds moving near constantly and on a broad front, then accurate assessment of numbers is nigh on impossible. A couple of examples, however: between 07:30 and 09:30 around 500 went over the top of Hengistbury; with an estimate of 450 in four hours from the lower parts of the head. With them, went a late Sand Martin, 2 House Martin, around 50 Pied Wagtail, and a few Linnet and Goldfinch. Early on, a Marsh Harrier seemed to arrive and, a little later, the White-tailed Eagle put in a brief appearance. Meanwhile, the best on the deck were 8 Wheatear on Crouch Hill, and small numbers of Chiffchaff and Blackcap on Wick, where the Song Thrush numbers were reckoned to have increased slightly. To finish, there were 5 Brent Goose at Stanpit, a couple of 1cy Mediterranean Gull moved through and the Wick Water Meadows Cattle Egret were logged at eight.

At least 2 Kingfisher were about Stanpit today – Alan Crockard

It’s been a while since a White-tailed Eagle visited, so one for a couple of hours at Stanpit, this afternoon, was nice. Meanwhile, the more interesting waders in the high-tide roost there were a Knot, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Black-tailed Godwit. Nearby, Crouch Hill hosted 8 Wheatear, with a further two at Whitepits, and the day saw a constant trickle of Swallow to the east. Late on, 5 Eider headed east past Long Groyne and a Marsh Harrier, seen from Mudeford Quay, left the area in the same direction. To finish on Wick: where around 10 Chiffchaff were logged and the morning siege of Cattle Egret on the meadows numbered three.

A glimpse of the House Martin spectacle over Hengistbury this morning – Chris Chapleo

Clouded Yellow butterfly at Ocean Point – Clinton Whale

There were a couple that got away this morning! Firstly, a small, ringtail harrier that headed out to sea from the Barn Field – strongly suspected by the two experienced observers involved to be a pallid, but not seen well enough to clinch; and, secondly, a swift over Wick Fields, which was described as being quite brown. Meanwhile, as the video suggests, the recent House Martin theme continues, with as many as 6000 estimated to have passed through in a couple of hours, this morning. Although this sounds impressive, it’s only around 15-20 years ago that 20,000+ may have been the number. Other than a brief Ring Ouzel from Hengistbury, the rest of the post is from Stanpit: where a Spotted Flycatcher was by the Pod; 4 Wheatear, plus a collection of Meadow Pipit and Skylark were on Crouch Hill; and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Tufted Duck were in the bight.

Although there are no submissions from Hengistbury, it’s clear from casual returns around the general area there was again a significant House Martin presence in the early-morning and late-afternoon. Also inline with yesterday, Chiffchaff were about – ‘tens’ in the North Scrubs being a clear indicator of that. Meanwhile, 3 Wheatear were on and 2 Raven passed over Crouch Hill.

Stock Dove – a great photo in a couple of ways: rarely seen on the ground in the area, not least in juvenile plumage – Peter Boardman

The next two weeks will see the peak of the finch migration – Greenfinch – Alan Crockard

There were plenty of birds to be seen at both ends of the day. The early morning saw at least 85 Chiffchaff and 15 Blackcap around the south-western part of the area, as well as a Firecrest, a Whinchat, a Garden Warbler, a decked Tree Pipit and a Yellow Wagtail. Skipping to the late afternoon and hordes of House Martin gathering across Christchurch as a whole – plus a few Swallow – and 4 Wheatear on Crouch Hill. Back to mid-morning and a Honey Buzzard over to the south, a Marsh Harrier north and a Skylark in song over the Barn Field.