Joss Bay 20/09/23

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Driving back from Spurn today I headed to Thanet where an American Cliff Swallow had been found yesterday at Joss Bay. As I travelled down there were reports of it being seen well along the cliffs and nearby cabbage field. 

Arriving at 3 p.m. there had been no sign of the bird for one and a half hours although House Martins and Sand Martins were present. The swallow then flew briefly over the cabbage field before heading towards the golf course, so it was a relief to know it was still in the area. The bird returned at 4 p.m. and flew over the field for about five minutes giving reasonably good views. That proved to be the last acceptable sighting of the day, and rain set in within an hour.

My only previous experience of Cliff Swallow in UK was 40 years ago on St.Mary's in October '83.



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