Folkestone & Hythe Birds

18th - A Green Sandpiper was at Botolph's Bridge (Ian Roberts). 

17th - A Fieldfare and 7 Redwings were at the Gun Site and a Stock Dove, a Siskin, 7 Meadow Pipits, 7 Linnets and 40 Chaffinches flew over (Ian Roberts). 

16th - A Firecrest was in a garden in Folkestone (Ian Roberts). 

15th - A Little Grebe, a Water Rail, a Common Scoter and 3 Brent Geese at Samphire Hoe (Mark Kennett). 50 Fieldfares at Capel-le-Ferne and 2 Brent Geese off Hythe (Ian Roberts). 7 Purple Sandpipers on the rock groynes off Stade Court and Hotel Imperial, Hythe (Adam Whitehouse). 2 Firecrests, 2 Marsh Tits and a Blackcap along the canal at West Hythe and a Swallow over Saltwood (Brian Harper).

A Red Admiral was in a garden in Folkestone. 

12th - A Redwing and 9 Yellowhammers at Church Hougham (Ian Roberts).

11th - 2 Firecrests, 3 Redwings, 3 Redpolls and 3 Yellowhammers were in the Church Hougham area (Ian Roberts). 6 Purple Sandpipers were at Hythe off the Hotel Imperial (Adam Whitehouse).

10th - 2 Fieldfares, a Firecrest and a very late Whinchat were at Capel-le-Ferne (Gun Site) and a Siskin and a Redpoll flew east there (Ian Roberts). A Black-throated Diver, a Water Rail, 2 Little Owls and 20 Rock Pipits at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt / Phil Smith).

9th - 6 Snipe at Abbotscliffe (Mark Kennett). A Water Rail at Samphire Hoe and 200 Starlings flew in off the sea there (Paul Holt). 3 Firecrests and 2 Chiffchaffs in Folkestone Warren and a Crossbill flew over (Ian Roberts).

A Clouded Yellow was at Samphire Hoe and a Red Admiral and a Small Tortoiseshell were at Folkestone Warren.

8th - 2 Ravens were at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt) and a Razorbill and a Brent Goose flew past Folkestone Beach, where 32 Ringed Plovers were roosting (Ian Roberts). 7 Purple Sandpipers were at Hythe off the Stade Court Hotel.

7th - A Snipe, a Reed Bunting, 2 Redwings, 3 Yellowhammers and 30 Linnets were at Abbotscliffe (Ian Roberts) and a Blackcap and a Redwing were at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt).

6th - A Brambling, a Grey Wagtail and 10 Siskins were at Mill Point and an Eider was off Hythe (Ian Roberts).

5th - 2 Firecrests were at Sandgate (Enbrook Park) (Ian Roberts) and a Blackcap was at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt).

4th - A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen in cliff-top bushes between Abbot's House and the Royal Oak (Capel-le-Ferne) in the morning and 3 Fieldfares and 3 Redpolls were also noted there (Ian Roberts). A Ring Ouzel, a Little Grebe and a Little Owl at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt). 

3rd - A Snow Bunting flew west over Capel-le-Ferne Cafe (Ian Roberts) and 2 Chiffchaffs were at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt). 

2nd - A Ring Ouzel at Abbotscliffe and a Siskin, a Reed Bunting, 2 Tree Sparrows and 5 Redpolls flew over (Ian Roberts). 

1st - A Little Gull, a Great Skua, an Eider, a Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Common Scoters and 70 Gannets flew past Copt Point (Dale Gibson / Ian Roberts). 

October 

31st - Just a single Chiffchaff in the trees behind Capel-le-Ferne Cafe (Ian Roberts). 4 Lapwings arrived in off the sea at Abbotscliffe (Dale Gibson) and 40 flew west at Beachborough (Ian Roberts) suggesting some movement of this species today. A few Redpolls, Siskins, Redwings and Sky Larks also flew over.

29th - On a foggy morning there was little that could be seen at Abbotscliffe and a Grey Wagtail, a Siskin, 2 Redwings, 2 Redpolls and 2 Reed Buntings were about all of note (Ian Roberts). 6 Snipe and 9 Grey Partridge were noted there in the afternoon after the weather cleared (Mark Kennett). 3 Firecrests were in the trees behind Capel-le-Ferne Cafe (Dale Gibson).

Despite a mild night just a Silver Y was trapped at Hythe. 

28th - Typical late autumn fare at Abbotscliffe with a small number of pigeons (Collared Doves, Stock Doves and Wood Pigeons), finches (Siskins and Redpolls) and Redwings passing over. A Corn Bunting was also of note there (Ian Roberts). 

27th - A Little Grebe, a Wigeon, a Water Rail, a Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs and a Reed Bunting were at Samphire Hoe whilst a Buzzard flew in off the sea there and a Great Skua was brought in and released by a vet (Phil Smith). A Ring Ouzel and 2 Fieldfares were in the trees behind Capel-le-Ferne Cafe and a Little Egret flew west (Ian Roberts).

26th - 16 Crossbills flew west at Abbotscliffe this morning and a Brambling and 16 Siskins came in off, but the only grounded bird of note was a Snipe (Mark Kennett / Ian Roberts). 2 Firecrests and a Marsh Tit were at West Hythe (Brian Harper).

 Marsh Tit and Firecrest at West Hythe (Brian Harper)

25th - 3 Firecrests were in Folkestone Warren, with 2 Firecrests and 3 Tree Sparrows in the trees behind Capel-le-Ferne Cafe (Dale Gibson). Another Firecrest was at Abbotscliffe (Mark Kennett / Ian Roberts). A few Siskins and Redpolls passed over and there was a westward trickle of Swallows. 3 Firecrests at West Hythe and one in Millenium Wood (Lympne) brought the day total up to 10.

A Clouded Yellow was in Folkestone Warren. 

24th - 3 Ring Ouzels and a Firecrest were at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt) and a Firecrest was in the trees behind Capel-le-Ferne Cafe (Dale Gibson).
 

23rd - There was no sign of yesterday's Arctic Warbler in the trees behind Capel-le-Ferne Cafe despite an extensive search this morning, but around 5-6 Firecrests were present (Dale Gibson / Ian Roberts). A Ring Ouzel, a Marsh Harrier, a Tree Sparrow, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Reed Bunting were in the Abbotscliffe area (Mark Kennett).

22nd - 2 Firecrests, a Raven, a Water Rail and 4 Long-tailed Tits were at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt). 2 Firecrests were behind Capel-le-Ferne Cafe this morning (Dale Gibson / Ian Roberts), whilst an Arctic Warbler was found there late afternoon - the first area record (Dale Gibson).

21st - A Ring Ouzel, a Redwing, a Water Rail, 2 Firecrests and 20 Blackbirds were at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt / Derek Smith).

20th - 2 Firecrests and a Wheatear were at Samphire Hoe (Ian Roberts / Phil Smith). 

19th - 2 Ring Ouzels, 2 Black Redstarts, a Wheatear and a Little Grebe were at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt). A Raven flew past Capel-le-Ferne Cafe this afternoon (Mick Vandoen).

18th - A Firecrest, a Black Redstart and a Snipe were at Abbotscliffe and a Grey Wagtail, 4 Yellowhammers, 5 Redpolls, 7 Reed Buntings, 15 Siskins, 30 Swallows, 40 Sky Larks, 150 Goldfinches, 150 Chaffinches and 750 Starlings flew over (Dale & Jamie Gibson / Ian Roberts). 3 Firecrests were in Folkestone Warren this afternoon (Dale Gibson).

Red Admirals at Capel-le-Ferne and Folkestone. 

17th - A Firecrest behind the Capel-le-Ferne Cafe and 2 Firecrests at the Gun Site, where 15 Chiffchaffs were seen and a Tree Sparrow, a few Redpolls and Siskins, 15 Redwings and 200 Goldfinches flew over (Dale Gibson).

15th - There was a little passage at Abbotscliffe including a Tree Sparrow, a Fieldfare, a Yellowhammer, 2 House Sparrows, 2 Redpolls, 3 Reed Buntings and 4 alba wagtails but few grounded migrants (Ian Roberts). A Ring Ouzel, 5 Chiffchaffs and 20 Robins were at Samphire Hoe and 9 Shelduck and 170 Siskins flew east there (Paul Holt). 2 Ravens and a Buzzard were at Church Hougham (Mark Kennett).

14th - A Great Grey Shrike flew east down the Hougham Valley from Abbotscliffe and at least 1 Ring Ouzel, a Wheatear and 5 Redwings were seen there, whilst 1,500 Starlings flew in off (Mark Kennett / Ian Roberts). A Ring Ouzel was at Samphire Hoe (per RBA).

13th - The Yellow-browed Warbler was still at Samphire Hoe and a Buzzard, a Firecrest, a Brambling, a Wheatear, up to 3 Ring Ouzels, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Black Redstarts, 7 Chiffchaffs, 9 Redwings and 50 Med Gulls were also seen (Paul Holt / Phil Smith / Ian Roberts). A Ring Ouzel, 2 Grey Wagtails and 3 Mistle Thrushes were at Abbotscliffe (Ian Roberts).

Brambling at Samphire Hoe (Phil Smith) 

12th - A Yellow-browed Warbler and a Ring Ouzel were at Samphire Hoe and 300 Brent Geese flew over (Paul Holt). 

11th - A Firecrest, 2 Ring Ouzels, 5 Reed Buntings and 13 Chiffchaffs were at Abbotscliffe and a Redpoll, a Grey Wagtail, 11 Siskins and around 320 Goldfinches flew over (Ian Roberts / Mark Kennett). A Firecrest was at the Gun Site (Dale Gibson). A Wheatear, a Yellowhammer, 2 Redwings, 2 Ring Ouzels, 6 Song Thrushes, 11 Chiffchaffs, 17 Blackbirds and 22 Robins were at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt).

A Painted Lady at Abbotscliffe. 

10th - An improvement in the weather and a few more birds around: a Grasshopper Warbler, a Firecrest, a Fieldfare, 2 Wheatears, 2 Ravens and 5 Ring Ouzels were at Abbotscliffe (Dale Gibson / Ian Roberts), a Firecrest, a Brambling, the first Redwing of the autumn, 3 Ring Ouzels, 4 Black Redstarts, 13 Chiffchaffs, 18 Robins and 20+ Stonechats were at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt) and a Firecrest was at Mill Point (Ian Roberts). 

6 Clouded Yellows, 3 Painted Ladies, 2 Red Admirals, a Speckled Wood and good numbers of Large and Small White were at Mill Point and 3 Clouded Yellows were at Abbotscliffe. 

9th - It was difficult doing the bushes in the strong easterly wind but 2 Firecrests were at Abbotscliffe. A few Brent Geese passed Samphire Hoe, where a Black Redstart and a Grey Wagtail were noted (Ian Roberts). A Blackcap and 6 Chiffchaffs were at the Gun Site (Mark Varley).

Despite the wind Red Admiral, Comma, Peacock and Large White were seen at the Gun Site. 

8th - Again Goldfinches on the move, this time at Abbotscliffe, and a few Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs in the bushes there (Ian Roberts). Very quiet for the time of year.

7th - Very little at Samphire Hoe though Linnets and Goldfinches appeared to be moving (Ian Roberts).

6th - A similar day with just a single Arctic Skua off Samphire Hoe though there were a few Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs in the bushes (Ian Roberts).

5th - Just a single Arctic Skua off Samphire Hoe (Ian Roberts). 

4th - The Dartford Warbler and 2 Ravens at Samphire Hoe. 

3rd - An Arctic Tern, a Red-throated Diver and 13 Brent Geese flew past Copt Point (Ian Roberts). The tern was new for the year which shows just how poor seawatching has been this year! 

1st - A Dartford Warbler, a Water Rail, a Little Owl, a Whitethroat, 2 Black Redstarts, 7 Blackcaps, 9 Chiffchaffs, 10 Stonechats and 12 Robins at Samphire Hoe and 2 Grey Wagtails flew west there (Paul Holt).

September 

29th - A Grasshopper Warbler and good numbers of Stonechats and Chiffchaffs at  Abbotscliffe (Ian Roberts).

28th - A Wheatear, a Whitethroat, a Snipe, 3 Blackcaps, 7 Jays and 10 Chiffchaffs at Abbotscliffe, a Marsh Harrier flew in off the sea there and a Grey Wagtail and 3 Siskins flew east (Mark Kennett / Ian Roberts). A Hobby, a Little Owl, 4 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps and 12 Meadow Pipits at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt).

27th - A Sedge Warbler, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs and 10 Wheatears at Abbotscliffe. A Little Owl and a Wheatear at Church Hougham. 7 Chiffchaffs at Capel-le-Ferne (Ian Roberts).

10 species of butterfly was quite good for the end of September: 2 Clouded Yellows, an Adonis Blue, Small Copper, Small Heath, Small White, Large White, 2 Comma and 4 Common Blues at Samphire Hoe, Wall at Abbotscliffe and 3 Speckled Woods at Capel-le-Ferne. A Common Seal was off Samphire Hoe.
 

26th - A Little Owl, 2 Black Redstarts, 7 Wheatears, 9 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 14 Stonechats and 15 Robins at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt) and a Buzzard, a Willow Warbler, a Wheatear, 5 Black Redstarts, 6 Blackcaps and 10 Chiffchaffs at Abbotscliffe where a Grey and 15 alba wagtails flew east (Dale & Jamie Gibson / Ian Roberts).

2 Clouded Yellows at Abbotscliffe.

Wheatear at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt)

24th - A Garden Warbler, a Common Sandpiper and 2 Wheatears at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt) and a Grey Wagtail at Abbotscliffe (Ian Roberts).

23rd - A Little Owl and 15+ Blackcaps at Samphire Hoe and 60 Goldfinches flew east (Paul Holt).

22nd - A Green Sandpiper, a Snipe, a Hobby, a Sedge Warbler and 2 Kingfishers at Nickoll's Quarry (Ian Roberts).

21st - A Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Whitethroat, 2 Ravens, 4 Wheatears, 10 Chiffchaffs and 14 Blackcaps were at Samphire Hoe and a Buzzard and 2 Grey Wagtails flew east (Paul Holt). Just a Whinchat and a Wheatear of note at Abbotscliffe (Ian Roberts).

20th - Good numbers of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were at Samphire Hoe, where a Shag, a Teal, a Water Rail and a Grey Wagtail were also seen, and c.800 House Martins flew east. Highlight of the day there however were 2 House Sparrows, a rare bird indeed at the Hoe, and my 180th species there (Geoff Burton / Ian Roberts). A Tree Pipit, 3 Wheatears and 11 Blackcaps were at Abbotscliffe (Mark Kennett).

The second night of the National Moth Weekend produced 54 moths of 20 species, including 2 Clancy's Rustics, a noctuella, the prasinaria form of Barred Red, and singles of Orange Sallow and Centre-barred Sallow.

19th -Visual migration at Abbotscliffe included a Tree Pipit, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Collared Dove, 2 Jays, 2 alba wagtails, 3 Grey Wagtails, 4 Yellow Wagtails, at least 100 Meadow Pipits, and about 200 Swallows and 1,400 House Martins per hour, with a few Sand Martins mixed in. Grounded migrants comprised a Blackcap, 2 Reed Buntings, 4 Wheatears, 4 Whinchats and 4 Chiffchaffs. A Tree Pipit and a Wheatear were at the Gun Site (Ian Roberts).

It was the first night of the National Moth Weekend and it was clear with a cool NE breeze and a minimum temperature of 15C. A mercury vapour and an actinic trap at Hythe caught 53 moths of 15 species, including the migrants Clancy's Rustic, noctuella (Rush Veneer) and 4 Silver Ys. Usual autumn fare included Lunar Underwing and Feathered Ranunculus, whilst the most common species were Epiphyas postvittana, Large and Lesser Yellow Underwings, and Shuttle-shaped Dart. 2 Painted Ladies were at Abbotscliffe. 

Clancy's Rustic at Hythe (Ian Roberts)

18th - At least 40 Sand Martins, 130 Meadow Pipits and 300 each of Swallow and House Martin flew east at Abbotscliffe but only 2 Whinchats and 2 Wheatears were on the ground there (Ian Roberts). 

2 Painted Ladies were at Abbotscliffe. 

17th - A Whinchat and at least 4 Wheatears were at Samphire Hoe and 2 Brent Geese flew east, whilst 2 Wheatears were at Abbotscliffe (Ian Roberts). A Green Sandpiper was at Nickoll's Quarry, where there were also a Lesser Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and 3 Whitethroats, and a Brent Goose was off the Hythe Redoubt (Roger Norman). 3 Whinchats and 5 Wheatears were at Church Hougham (M Kennett).

16th - A Reed Bunting, a Siskin and 55 Meadow Pipits flew east at Abbotscliffe and hirundines were moving at around 400 Swallows and 900 House Martins per hour, with smaller numbers of Sand Martins. Grounded migrants were limited to a Whinchat and 8 Wheatears (Ian Roberts / Mark Kennett). At Samphire Hoe there was a Common Sandpiper, a Dunlin, a Whinchat and 10 Wheatears (Phil Smith).

15th - A Merlin, a Shag, a Common Sandpiper, a Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps and 5 Wheatears at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt). 2 Tree Pipits were at the Gun Site this evening (Dale Gibson).

13th - 2 Redstarts and 2 Wheatears were at Abbotscliffe and there was a good movement of Sand Martins and Swallows to the east (Ian Roberts). At Copt Point  3 Little Egrets flew east, 5 Golden Plover flew in off and a Red-throated Diver was offshore (Ian Roberts / Dale Gibson). A Redstart was still at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt).

12th - 2 Redstarts, 3 Whinchats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Blackcap at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt). However a bit of a clear-out at Abbotscliffe, with just a Whinchat, a Wheatear and a Blackcap there (Ian Roberts). 

10th - A better day with singles of Pied and Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart and Whinchat amongst a small arrival of common migrants at Abbotscliffe (Ian Roberts).

9th - Again nothing more than a Tree Pipit and a Wheatear at Abbotscliffe (Mark Kennett). 

8th - Still only one Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whinchats and 5 Whitethroats at Abbotscliffe (Ian Roberts).

7th - 5 Arctic Skuas and 50 Gannets flew west past Samphire Hoe and a Grey Wagtail flew over there (Ian Roberts). Just 1 Whinchat, 5 Whitethroats and 7 Sand Martins at Abbotscliffe (Mark Kennett). 

6th - A Spotted Flycatcher, a Sedge Warbler, a Wheatear, 2 Whinchats, 2 Jays, 3 Blackcaps and 8 Whitethroats were at Abbotscliffe and a Swift and a few Sand Martins flew west (Ian Roberts).

5th - A north-westerly usual drops a few migrants in and it was certainly an improvement on recent days with a Grasshopper Warbler and a Redstart at the Gun Site (Dale Gibson) and 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Wheatears and 5 Whinchats at Abbotscliffe (Ian Roberts). A few Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Whitethroats and Blackcaps were noted at both sites and a Buzzard, a Tree Pipit, a Grey Wagtail and several Yellow Wagtails and Sand Martins flew over. A Wheatear, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Turtle Doves and 2 Swifts were at Botolph's Bridge (Brian Harper).

4th - Little more than a couple of Whinchats at Abbotscliffe (Ian Roberts).

3rd - A Bonxie past Copt Point was the only bird of note (Dale Gibson). 

2nd - Just a single Whinchat at Abbotscliffe (Ian Roberts). A quiet start to the month. 

For a review of 2008 click here.

For earlier years select 'Bird reviews' in the menu.