28th March, 2010 .Beachy Head

Pete & Miriam covered the Headland today, but again not to many migrants seen with only 3 Chiffchaffs and 1 Firecrest seen in Belle Toute wood. Also 2 Ravens seen flying over the wood.

27th March,2010. Beachy Head.

DC did a 2.5 hrs sea-watch and was joined by RHC & PN. and the following movement was recorded: 4 Red Throated Divers E., 26 Gannets e & 12 W., 3 Shelduck W., 2 Red Breasted Mergansers E., 98 Common Scoter E., 4 Eiders E., 17 Kittiwakes E., 1 2nd summer Med. Gull, 1 dark morph Arctic Skua E.

Very few migrants seen on the Headland with a single Swallow and 2 Chiffchaffs.

RHC had a Black Redstart in Hodcombe (he also had one on the 25th).

A heavily abraded and bleached first winter colour ringed white winged gull resembling a first winter Iceland Gull in bare part colouration but structurally (angular-headed, long legged, and large billed) near identical to the accompanying Herring Gulls so considered most likely to be an albino or leucistic first winter Herring Gull.

First winter white winged Gull

24th March, 2010 Beachy Head.

RKH & RHC did a 2 hour sea-watch from Birling and recorded the following:

1 Black Throated Diver E, 3 Red Throated Divers E., 30 Scoter E., 7 Shovelers E., 50 Brents E., 3 Med Gulls E., 1 Curlew.

Also 1 Firecrest seen in B.T. wood.

23rd March, 2010 Beachy Head

TWP visited the Head today in thick mist and saw the following migrants. 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrests (1 Belle Toute wood & 1 Shooters Bottom) & 7 Redwings.

PN also visited the Headland again in thick mist but the only migrant seen was a single Black Redstart.

22nd March, 2010 Beachy Head

Pete & Miriam visited the Headland today and saw 5 Chiffchaffs, 1+ Black Redstart and 2 Firecrests.

20th & 21st March 2010 Beachy Head Calm with drizzle

Brent Geese 12E

Peregrine 2

Kestrel 1

Black-headed Gull 150E

Golden Plover 1N

Tawny Owl h

Meadow Pipit 30

Stonechat 4 males, 1 female

Black Redstart 2 female-types

Wheatear 2 males

Redwing 2

Chiffchaff 4

Firecrest 1

Raven 2

Goldfinch 5

A pollen-encrusted Chiffchaff at Birling Gap Lane

Meadow Pipit just south of Birling Gap

The Stack at Beachy Head

20th March 2010 RHC seawatched for an hour:

40 Divers east

800 Brent Geese east

5 Eider east

Also Black Redstart and 2 Firecrests recently (RHC)

18th March, 2010 Beachy Head

RKH visited Beachy today and had Brent Geese moving past Birling and 3 Firecrests with the odd Chiffchaff in Belle Toute wood.

Firecrest in Belle Toute wood (taken by RKH)

Brent Geese moving past Birling (taken by RKH).

17th March, 2010. Beachy Head

RDME did a sea-watch and recorded the following:

111 Common Scoter E., 2 Med. Gulls, 12 Divers sp. E & 2 Black Throated Divers E., 6 Brent Geese, 15 Eiders E (14 males), & 16 Gannets.

Also saw in the area 3 Ravens, & 2 Black Redstarts (1 male at Birling & female type at Belle Toute Lighthouse).

16th March, 2010 Beachy Head.

Visit to Birling to Belle Toute area by PN. produced very few birds with the highlight being a male Black Redstart on the wall of the Belle Toute Lighthouse.

RDME had a Firecrest at Birling Gap and 2 Chiffchaffs in Belle Toute wood.

15th March, 2010 Hodcombe, Beachy Head.

RHC had the first Fircrest for the Spring in Hodcombe and also had a pair of Stonechats in his garden. Also a pair of Ravens and a pair of Peregrines have been very active around Hodcombe the last few days.

13th March, 2010. Beachy Head

RDME today visited the Head but little to report other than 25 Brent Geese E and a Fieldfare in Belle Toute wood.

5th March, 201. Beachy Head.

RDME visited the Head this morning but the only birds of interest were a Little Egret on the beach of Birling and the Tawny Owl showed very well in the wood.

1st March, 2010. Beachy Head

Today, RDME had a Black Redstart at Belle Toute, Raven at Shooters Bottom and also a male Peregrine.