Horrid autumn- 20/8/17

A Horrid factoid- As with most Peninsulas, the boundary for the Horrid Hill peninsula is rather grey. The most natural shoreline gives a rather large base (the eastern end being Mariners Wharf, a clue as to why that shape). However, eastern fields are private, and the central area is the Visitor Centre, car park and picnic area, not the most exciting area for birding. The artificial viewing mound (white circle) does offer viz mig alternatives, whilst the sheltered Sharps Green pond (red circle) offer good cover for migrants. For the sake of cheering up the dullest of causeway days, both the pond and the mound are part of 'the Peninsula' for the sake of this blog between now and mid-November. (For 'purity', I never record these sites as one in the notebook. Horrid Hill always means the causeway.)

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20/08/17
05:55-07:10

Point- A little busier. Two Willow Warbler, singles of Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap. Two Lesser Whitethroats were the first for some days, the breeding pair and fledged young from the start of the month having moved off. The moulting Cetti's Warbler also gave itself away once or twice.

Viz mig- nothing save a few Swallow- 46 west, ten south.

Sharp's Green Pond held a few warblers- four Whitethroat, three Blackcap, two Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, a (resident) Cetti's Warbler and a Sedge Warbler. A Sparrowhawk was seen just on my 'border' of the Peninsula, by Sharp's Green car park.