Another New Year, 2010. Arrived on a cold but fine morning with Doreen & DC. Short sea-watch followed by a walk up Birling Lane. Drove round to Belle Toute wood, Shooters Bottom, and onto Hotel Garden and looked over Cow Gap.
We were surprised to find a Black Redstart with a Stonechat, flicking around the car park, a useful year tick. Sea-watch quiet with 6 Brent Geese on the sea. 10 Fulmars, 1 Gannet, 1 Red Throated Diver East. Two showy Rock Pipits allowed some nice photographs. Bushes generally quite as expected although 10 Song Thrushes and 3 Fieldfares in the area. 100 Common Gulls in the Top Fields and a flock of 500 Starlings feeding in the Top Fields with the cows. Tawny Owl in usual roosting tree in Belle Toute wood.
Sign of Beachy Head Hotel.
Beachy Head Lighthouse from Icky Ridge.
Looking from above Cow Gap towards Eastbourne & Langney Point.
Hodcombe
Dusting of snow at Belle Toute wood.
Myself & Doreen near Belle Toute wood. (JFC down but not out!!)
David & Doreen in Belle Toute wood.
First for Beachy?? but not what we were hoping for.
Rock Pipit on the cliffs at Birling.
Black Redstart (wintering?) at Birling.
