Horrid autumn- 13/8/17

A Horrid factoid- The Hill is mentioned specifically seven times in the 1985 local avifauna. The species most unlikely to recur from those seven seen during the 40 years under review? Cirl Bunting.

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13/08/17
06:10-07:25, high, dropping tide

Grey Heron, commuting back to Hoo
after feeding south of the estuary overnight

Point- Two Cetti's Warblers sounding off. Two Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and three Chiffchaff (the latter most likely wanderers from the shoreline population).

Viz mig- Eight Yellow Wagtail west and 194 Swallow moving west with some purpose at last (30 or so were still 'playing' around the causeway and shoreline).

A distant high-tide roost of Little Egret on Darnet- not a regularly used site.

Offshore- combined totals for Sharp's Green Bay, Ferol peak and Rainham Saltings. Spotted Redshank, 220 Turnstone, 484 Redshank, five Whimbrel, 62 Dunlin, single Common Tern, 22 Little Egret and the Shelduck family party again.