Axe Cliff

I enjoyed an absolutely thrilling few hours up Axe Cliff this morning.  Thankfully the wind wasn't as strong as forecasted, and with mostly clear skies birds were pilling through west. 

Sunrise over Portland Harbour

 

It was a vismig watch of both quantity and quality. I shall list what went into my notebook first, then write some more about the highlights...

Axe Cliff 07:30 - 09:45 (west unless stated):  Marsh Harrier (juv north at 08:15), Short-eared Owl (lingering for ten minutes over fields from 08:40 then flew NE), 22 Jackdaw, 15,350 Wood Pigeon, 370 Stock Dove (the more I looked the more I saw!), 145 Starling, 64 Skylark, 1 Woodlark (09:08), 8 alba Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 106 Meadow Pipit, 2 Coal Tit, 395 Chaffinch, 1 Brambling, 240 Linnet, 165 Goldfinch, 76 Siskin, 17 Redpoll, 11 Crossbill (eight and three) and 5 Reed Bunting.

Grounded migrants were few and far between, just two Chiffchaff and five Stonechat.  But am glad the bushes were so quiet as it meant I could spend the whole time looking up!

So the Marsh Harrier, a gorgeous smooth as velvet dark chocolate juvenile was the first highlight. It was actually the first time I have ever seen a Marsh Harrier up at Axe Cliff...

It didn't hand around at all - flying straight through north

Yellow legs gleaming in the early morning sun!

 

Next nice treat was the Short-eared Owl, which spent ten minutes looking like it didn't really know where it was going, before it finally moved off north east.  My first on patch since 10th May 2023...

My first view of it - love their ridiculous shape!

  

Something tells me this may have been the moment that it spotted me!

Then at 09:08 it went a bit crazy, starting with a flock of eight Crossbill that flew overhead chupping excitably. Just as they disappeared out of view the sweet sound of a calling Woodlark caught my attention, and I proceeded to a lovely views of one flying low west just inland of me, in perfect light 'tu-leeing' sporadically as it flew.  Incredibly, especially when considering Axe Cliff is my favoured vismig spot on patch, this was my first Woodlark here!  And since we've lost our wintering flock they are a bit of a patch rarity now, in fact this was my first one on patch since Feb '19 when I had one over Seaton during a period of snowy weather.  

Dan over Salcombe Hill (east of Sidmouth) had one just over thirty minutes later, be great if it was the same bird. I haven't had chance to calculate the distance but it feels about right to me!

Another three Crossbill flew over just as I was leaving, and for entertainment value the two Coal Tits are worthy of a special mention.  Twice they chickened out of leaving the Undercliff, calling frantically each time they tried, but they finally got the confidence on their third attempt and flew off west along the cliff edge.

So yes, that's the quality covered.  And of course quality does help, but as ever it is the quantity that really made it special.  The number of finches on the move was really impressive for Axe Cliff, which does not act as a funnel at all with many birds passing inland of here.  However it was the first big autumn push of Wood Pigeons and Stock Doves that really wowed, with most flocks today passing really low...

Let the spectacle commence!

Coming in front of Beer Head

 

As often is the case the flocks seemed to get better as the morning progressed

  

The closer you look the more you see!

And I'll sign off with this very short video.  Many of the flocks flew though this low, so the whoosh of Pigeon-wings was often heard as they came over...

 

Hopefully this is a flavour of things to come for what is left of autumn 2025...