Autumn Migration, 30th October 2017, 07:00 - 10:30

In the last couple of weeks, I've been trying to get to grips with autumn visual migration (vismig) over patch and I've been really enjoying it! Arriving just after dawn, it was evident that good numbers of Wood Pigeon were on the move again and by the end of the session I estimate that several thousand had moved through - one memorable flock passing only a few feet above my head! An amazing experience! I don't know who was more surprised? Me, by the sudden rushing/drumming of wind on feathers or the leaders of the flock which were unexpectedly confronted by a human figure on an otherwise deserted clifftop! The exact numbers were difficult to estimate this morning because with a light northerly wind veering to north easterly, the flocks were well spread over a broad front. Most flocks were heading inland in a north-westerly direction or across the Marshwood Vale rather than along the coast. For 2 1/2 hours from 7am Pigeon flocks were passing at regular intervals but most of the mass-movement had petered out by around 09:30.
But what about the finches, starlings and pipits? Today, the number moving through patch were not as massive as some days last week. The Finch and Skylark passage continued until around 10:15. but by then the birds were passing at height above my observation point and so it became even more difficult to accurately record numbers.
On the surrounding hedges and at field margins there were a few Blackbirds and 2 Song Thrushes. I'm assuming that these were new overnight arrivals.
Temperature wise, the colder northerly winds over the weekend has led to a drop in overnight temperature and first thing this morning it was much colder, at around 4 degrees, but warming as the sun grew in strength. By the time I left a dragonfly and even a late Clouded Yellow butterfly were on the wing. My final counts from this morning's session are as follows which should all be read as minima.  All birds were heading W or NW unless otherwise noted.

Wood Pigeon 5 - 6,000
Song Thrush 4
Bullfinch 4
Redwing 2
Fieldfare 2 (first for me on patch this winter)
Starling 140
Jackdaw 86
Linnet 4 (East)
Skylark 9
Chaffinch 24
Meadow Pipit 2 (West), 10 (East)
Snipe 1
Goldfinch 2 (East)
Cattle Egret 1
Stock Dove 2
Greenfinch 2
Chiffchaff 1
Blackcap 1

So, no Ring Ouzel or Hawfinch yet for me which is disappointing, but a Cattle Egret (picked up in the 'scope over the fields while I was checking the Pigeon flocks) was a bonus as was the Snipe.

Breathtaking numbers of Wood Pigeon (estimate 5- 6,000 on passage again today) - these photos go nowhere near illustrating the spectacle but here goes anyway. Another brilliant morning on patch:

Butterfly - Clouded Yellow

Dragonfly - Male Common Darter

Juvenile Pallid Harrier - Charmouth 26 Oct 17

This morning I found a Pallid Harrier AND it was on Patch!! I've been doing some vismig birding high up on the cliffs above Charmouth and have been amazed and inspired to see so many fairly common birds coming through patch in high numbers, 100s of Chaffinches, 100s of Meadow Pipits and a supporting cast of Bullfinches, Redwings, Starlings, 2 Swallows, Wood Pigeons, Linnets in a constant stream. But when I started watching this morning I was not expecting to see any rarities moving through. I was standing, on a cliff and the Harrier drifted past, so perhaps in a way the Pallid Harrier found me rather than the other way around! What a moment! Fantastic!

Location: high, overflying above Charmouth West Cliff, coastal Lyme Bay, Dorset at 09:15

Where and when seen: At 09:15 I noticed a group of Corvids noisily mobbing a bird flying high over Charmouth Beach Car Park. Viewing with binoculars the group was moving slowly along the west cliff line in the direction of Lyme Regis ie westwards.

Observation point: My observation point was at the top of the cliff near and on the same elevation as Lyme Regis Golf Course. The bird was above my viewpoint so all photos taken are from beneath and mainly show the underside.

Viewing: I observed the bird for about 1-2 minutes. On viewing, I ID'd immediately as a Harrier sp. on structure with long wings. But which one? Hen, Montagu's or Pallid? Unusual for the Charmouth area, I therefore took several photos (attached). The last harrier I saw was the Axe Wetlands Montagu's Harrier last year so I'm familiar with the silhouette/structure.

The bird was flying high beneath grey skies and the Corvids pushed it slightly higher so that at one point the bird appeared to enter cloud (Earlier I had noticed that the cloudbase was fairly low around the same elevation as the top of Golden Cap).

As I didn't have my phone with me I dashed home to text local birders and the guys further down the coast so that they could look out for this rarity. I really hope that this super stunning bird reappears further down the coast somewhere. I emailed Steve W @axebirder with a couple of images so thanks again for help with ID and ageing - A Juvenile Pallid Harrier!

Juvenile Pallid Harrier

And some more photos, some where it was mobbed by Corvids. What a morning on patch!

And I'm told that if/when accepted this will be only the 2nd Dorset record of Pallid Harrier. The last being 1938!! (record info. per @brettyebrant)