11th-18th September

The last few days have produced an enjoyable variety of birds, as autumn begins to move into first gear. After Storm Aileen during the week, the weekend weather switched to what are traditionally optimum vis-mig conditions here, and indeed a gentle north-west with clear skies on Saturday generated big numbers of movers.

Allden's Hill, 16/9/2017

It started on Allden's Hill with Meadow Pipits obviously moving overhead as I pitched up at 07:10. It turned out to be a remarkable day for this species - by the end of it I tallied 378, a huge figure for here, and over triple my previous record of 115. Interestingly, lots of the groups were moving high north-west, into the wind, though at least 30-40% were travelling high south. The Allden's Hill vigil lasted until 09:00, during which time 174 were counted.

Later in the day a flock of at least 50 dropped into the long grass at Hive Field, during a spell of showers that also saw more than 150 hirundines (primarily House Martins) fly south over Tilsey Farm. Until that point Swallows had been the main hirundine movers, with 124 going south during the earlier Allden's Hill watch. The final tally of Swallows for the day was 213, and House Martins 143.

The other large Meadow Pipit flock that were on the deck was at Bonhurst Farm. This group was well over 60 strong, and feeding in the livestock fields and adjacent grass meadows, but by my second visit in the afternoon they'd all gone. Presumably, these birds had dropped down on their way south for a short-while, or perhaps they'd pitched up here the previous evening and fed up before departing.

Whinchat, Bonhurst Farm, 16/9/2017

Whatever the case, they weren't the only ones to use Bonhurst as a pit-stop, with 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whinchat and plenty of Hirundines also present. I've never seen this farm so lively and attractive to migrants before - the Surrey Wildlife Trust have already made improvements to the site, and it bodes well for the future. Elsewhere, a couple of Siskins and a Hobby moved through, and there seemed to be a slight increase in Blackbirds and Song Thrushes - probably a sign of things to come.

The winds on Sunday were the same, but conditions very different, with mist and drizzle throughout. Good for grounded bits I thought, but in practice little to see, though a Barn Owl flushed from the willow scrub opposite New Barn Pond was a very welcome illumination on this gloomy morning.

As I was visiting my parents in the afternoon I figured it’d be rude to not stop by Pagham Harbour, and it was well worthwhile, with 16 wader species, including Spotted Redshanks and a Curlew Sandpiper, and a juvenile Turtle Dove among the highlights. This area is probably my favourite place to bird after the patch, bringing back memories of childhood, as well as the perennial belief you could find something nice, no matter what time of year.

Grey Phalarope, Hayling Island, 17/9/2017

On the way back, we briefly visited Hayling Island, and enjoyed good views of the Grey Phalarope which had been present on the flood adjacent to the oyster beds since Storm Aileen. I somewhat ambitiously searched all the patch ponds for a lost seabird following Aileen's visit last week, and even scoured the wider area, including the reservoir at my old stomping ground Tuelsey Farm. Alas, nothing to be found, though the latter site did produce a Common Sandpiper and Kingfisher.

Weather-wise, there’s more to come, and it seems the weekend and beyond hold a great amount of potential. With a hurricane to the west and easterlies, originating over Siberia and converging on Britain, occurring in tandem, I doubt I’m the only birder licking their lips in anticipation. A beast from the east this autumn would be the perfect icing on a remarkable 2017 cake - indeed, a trip to Norfolk today yielded a mighty one, in the shape of Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, just six days after I scored yank gold with a Least Sandpiper at Lodmoor, Dorset.