29 March,2011 Beachy Head. Overcast NE2-3 vearing to E

We sea-watched from 06.50-09.20 and were joined by TWP. We then birded Birling Gap, Belle Tout wood & rough field and met up with PN who had already birded Shooters Bottom. We then did a further sea-watch between 12.15-13.15.

Red Throated Diver 4 E

Black Throated Diver 1 E in full summer plumage.

Great Crested Grebe 5

Gannet 9 E

Brent Goose 228 E

Shelduck 2 E

Teal 4 E

Mallard 1 E

Shoveler 5 E

Common Scoter 320 E

Velvet Scoter 2 E

Red Br. Merganser 1 E

Arctic Skua 3 E (all dark phase birds).

Kittiwake 158 E

Sandwich Tern 2 E

Auk sp 3 E

Razorbill 7 on the sea.

Guillemot 2 E

Black Redstart 1 at Birling

Wheatear 5

Chiffchaff 7

Goldcrest 1

Long Tailed Tit 2

Bottle Nosed Dolphin type 2 still off Birling.

27th March, 2011 Beachy Head.Overcast, dull & cool.NE 3-4

We sea-watched from 07.30-10.45, but the sea-watch never really got going. RHC & RKH & RES also looked in at Birling. We then did virtually all the Headland including the rough field.

Red Throated Diver 20 (19 E & 1 on sea)

Great Crested Grebe 2 E

Brent Goose 50 E

Mallard 7 E

Shoveler 17 E

Common Scoter 84 E

Red Br. Merganser 4 E

RedKite 1 over Birling drifted off NE

Peregrine 2 (1 E out to sea was a very dark bird and not a local bird).

Grey Plover 2 E

Sandwich Tern 11 E

Razorbill 3 in winter plumage on the sea.

Woodpigeon 30 E

Tawny Owl 1

White Wagtail 4 in rough field + 3 Alba Wagtails in off the sea.

Black Redstart 4

Wheatear 16

Chiffchaff 3

Goldcrest 13

Carrion Crow 3 came in off the sea.

Raven 1

Linnet 40 (15 came in off the sea).

Lapland Bunting 1 in field.

Corn Bunting

Stoat 1

Red Kite over Birling.

Wheatear at Birling

White Wagtail

26th March,2011 Beachy Head.Dull with some sea-mist. NE 1-2

We sea-watched from 06.45 to 08.50 hrs and we then did most of the Headland sites. Met up with RDME who had also covered the Headland and visited Hodcombe.

Red Throated Diver 12 (10 E & 2 on the sea)

Gannet 9 E

Brent Goose 492 E

Wigeon 2 E

Shoveler 2 E

Scoter 135 E

Red Br. Merganser 4 E

Red Kite 1 over Cow Gap drifted off E. (RDME)

Peregrine 1

Red Legged Partridge 1

Dunlin 3 E

Curlew 8 E

Med Gull 1 ad. E

Black Headed Gull 65 E

Sandwich Tern 6 E

Meadow Pipit 35

White Wagtail 7 in rough field +4 Alba Wagtails in off the sea

Black Redstart 7 (5 near Belle Tout Lighthouse, 1 Hodcombe & 1 Hotel Garden).

Wheatear 7 (including 1 in off the sea).

Chiffchaff 23

Willow Warbler 1

Goldcrest 4

Raven 1 mobbing the Red Kite

Yellowhammer 1 (our first for the year).

Corn Bunting 3

Bottle Nosed Dolphin type 1 still off Birling.

Goldcrest in the Hotel Garden.

White Wagtail - One of Seven in the rough field.

Female Wheatears

25 March,2011 Beachy Head Sunny,warm but hazy. ENE 1-2

We sea-watched from 07.00 to 09.30, we then did a number of sites on the Headland. The following were seen:

Red Throated Diver 24 (18 E & 6 on the sea).

Slavonian Grebe 1 on the sea off Birling.

Gannet 5 E

Grey Heron 2 W off Birling

Grey-lag 1 E

Brent Goose 290 E

Teal 13 E

Mallard 1 E

Shoveler 4 E

Common Scoter 523 E

Velvet Scoter 7 E

Red Br. Merganser 10 E

Curlew 1 E

Black Headed Gull 17 E

Sandwich Tern 3 E

Auk sp. 1 E

Stonechat 6 (3 pairs)

Chiffchaff 6

Goldcrest 2

Carrion Crow 4 came in off the sea.

Linnet 1 in off the sea.

Small Tortoiseshell 6

Small White 1

Bottle Nosed Dolphin type 2 off Birling again.

Pair of Stonechats at Birling

Dunnock

Small Tortoiseshell, 1 of 6 seen today.

24th March, 2011 Beachy Head Sunny cool & clear ENE 3-4

Doreen and myself first did a sea-watch for 45 minutes. We then did most of the Headland including the rough field and along the Cliff Path. Little seen on the sea,but there was a small arrival of migrants and a fine show of flowers. The following were recorded:

Red Throated Divers 3 on the sea.

Gannet 7 E

Common Scoter 71 E

Common Buzzard 1 soaring high over Birling.

Kestrel 1

Peregrine 1

Stock Dove 1

Tawny Owl 1

Tree Pipit 1 N over Birling

Meadow Pipit 10

Stonechat 3

Wheatear 2 males at Birling

Chiffchaff 11

Willow Warbler 1 at Birling

Long Tailed Tit 1

Raven 1

Linnet 15

Corn Bunting 4

Small Tortoiseshell 2

Two of the Chiffchaffs seen today.

Common Buzzard soaring high over Birling.

Small Tortoiseshell along the Cliff Path.

Bank of Daffodils at Birling.

Primroses.

Celandines

Common Dog Violets.

22nd March,2011.Beachy Head. Patchy cloud becoming warm and sunny. NNE 2/3

RDME sea-watched from 06.30-07.30 then birded all the usual sites on the Headland and then walked Whitbread Hollow & Cow Gap and recorded the following:

Red Throated Diver 2 on sea.

Teal 2 E

Shoveler 4 E

Common Scoter 16 E

Tawny Owl 1

White Wagtail 1 on playing field Whitbread Hollow.

Stonechat 5 pairs in whole of the area.

Chiffchaff 1 singing in Whitbread Hollow.

Jackdaw 200 in whole area.

Corn Bunting 1

19th & 20th March, 2011 Beachy Head.

RDME visited the Head on the two dates and covered most sites on the Headland on the 19th. On the 20th he did a short sea-watch in cloudy conditions with S/SW 2 winds but saw very little, and then did various sites on the Headland and also met up with RKH & RES.

RJF & JK also covered a number of sites on the Headland on the 20th. Short summary of the birds seen on both dates, but no summer migrants on the ground were recorded.

Golden Plover 1 N on the 19th.

Whimbrel 1 E on the 20th (Our first for the year).

Curlew 1 E on the 20th.

Peregrine 1 on the 20th.

Tawny Owl on both dates.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker 1 W on the 20th.

Stonechat 3 pairs on the 19th & 3 birds on the 20th.

Raven 1 on the 19th.

Firecrest 2 on the 20th. (RKH & RES).

Corn Bunting 2 on the 19th & 1 on the 20th.

14th March 2010 Beachy Head Cold NE 3/4

RDME visited the headland today birding Birling Gap Lane, Birling to Belle Tout, Belle Tout wood, Shooter's Bottom and the Beachy Head Hotel Garden seeing:

Birling 120 + BH Gulls, 3 Canada Geese (flew from W came in stayed in Birling area for 5 minutes and then flew back W), 1 Peregrine, 2 Collared Doves
Belle Tout 1 m Stonechat (sheep paddock), 2 m Wheatears (and about time too!)
Wood – 1 T Owl, 1 Buzzard, 1m 1f Stonechat, 1 Corn Bunting
Hotel - 2 Peregrines

13th March,2011. Beachy Head.Overcast, dull S2.

We sea-watched from 06.30-08.15, then walked the lane at Birling, did the area from Birling to B/T lighthouse and onto the wood and walked the rough field back to Birling. Then did Chat Vale, Old Trapping Area and Hotel Garden. Met up with RKH & RES who were doing several areas on the Headland.

Red Throated Diver 48 E (all were identified).

Slavonian/Black Necked Grebe 2 w/p E and then landed on sea, but to far to i/d.

Great Crested Grebe 5 (1 E & 4 on sea).

Brent Goose 30 E

Mallard 5 E

Goldeneye 3 W (close in off Birling).

Common Scoter 23 E

Sparrowhawk 1

Med Gull 1 ad. E.

Common Gull 250 in fields at Birling.

Tawny Owl 1

Stonechat 6

Firecrest 4 (1 B/T wood, 1 Shooters Bottom & 2 Hotel Garden) Per RKH & RES.

Corn Bunting 5

Bottle Nosed Dolphin type 1 still off Birling.

12th March,2011.Beachy Head. Fine, mild.SSE 1

We sea-watched from 06.30 - 09.20 and RDME & PN joined us. We also covered Belle Tout wood, the rough field, Shooters Bottom, The Old Trapping Area and Hotel Garden. Both Bob & Pete also covered areas on the Headland. Following birds were logged:

Red Throated Diver 13 E

Great Crested Grebe 2 on sea also 1E & 1 W

Black Necked Grebe 2 in partial s/p off Birling.

Brent Goose 270 E

Shelduck 6 (4 E & 2 W)

Gadwall 1 E

Teal 34 E

Mallard 2 E

Shoveler 5 E

Common Scoter 232 E

Red Br. Merganser 4 E

Peregrine 1

Curlew 5 E

Med. Gull 3 Ad. s/p E.

Black Headed Gull 54 (12 E & 42 sat on sea off Birling).

Sandwich Tern 3 E

Auk sp. c10 E

Tawny Owl 1

Skylark c25

Alba Wagtail 3 (2 in off the sea & 1 N over fields).

Black Redstart 1 female type Hotel Garden.

Stonechat 1 pair Shooters Bottom.

Firecrest 4 (1 Birling, 1 B/T wood & 2 Shooters Bottom).

Long Tailed Tit 3 Shooters Bottom

Raven 1

Corn Bunting 2

Also

2 Bottle Nosed Dolphins types off Birling.

Firecrest in front of the sea-watch site at Birling.

Record shot of the 2 Black Necked Grebes off Birling.

Common Dog Violets are now fully out in flower.

11th March, 2011.Beachy Head.Clear, fine & mild. WSW 0-1

Doreen and myself did a sea-watch for almost 2 hours from 07.00-08.45 hrs. We then birded in Belle Tout wood, walked the rough field and then walked Shooters Bottom. RDME covered most of the Headland including the Cliff Path. PN also covered the Birling/Belle Tout area and RKH & RES also covered a lot of the Headland. The following are the combined totals of birds seen:

Red Throated Diver 20 E

Great Crested Grebe 4 on the sea.

Brent Goose 44 E

Common Scoter 6 E

Med Gull 1 ad. E

Common Gull 150 in the Birling area

Tawny Owl 1

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 drumming in Whitbread Hollow.

Skylark 25

Stonechat 6 (small arrival).

Firecrest 1 singing & displaying in B/T wood.

Long Tailed Tit 8+

Carrion Crow 3 came in high from the sea.

Raven 2

Starling Flock of 150 in the Top fields.

Brimstone 1 Shooters Bottom

Bottle Nosed Dolphin again seen off Birling.

Brimstone in Shooters Bottom

9th March, 2011. Beachy Head. Overcast cool. WSW 4

We first did a 30 minute sea-watch from 09.00-09.30. Little of interest seen: 3 Divers & a Kestrel which came in off the sea @ 09.30. We then did a number of the more sheltered areas on the Headland looking for early migrants, but everywhere very quiet with a male Stonechat at Birling was probably a new migrant and we located the Tawny Owl in the wood.

8th March, 2011 Beachy Head. Fine, sunny mist to sea. SE to WSW 1-2

RDME arrived at 06.45 and sea-watched until 08.30, he then walked the Birling Gap to Belle Tout area looking for migrants. Doreen & myself sea-watched from 10.00 - 12.00 before checking Belle Tout wood and walking the rough field. PN & MN also covered the Birling/Belle Tout area. Combined sea-watch totals etc as follows:

Diver 46 E (about 15 were identified as R/T).

Great Crested Grebe 4 on sea.

Gannet 10 E

Brent Goose 202 E (including a leuicistic bird).

Gadwall 4 E

Teal 20 E

Tufted Duck 3 E

Eider 4 drakes E

Common Scoter 100 E

Red Kite 1 South out to sea @ 12.40 hrs.

Tawny Owl 1

Curlew 7 E

Common Gull 60 Birling area.

Kittiwake 130 E

Skylark 25

Meadow Pipit 4

Long Tailed Tit 12

Corn Bunting.

Also 1 large all black Cetacean considered to be a possible Bottle Nosed Dolphin off Birling for 15 minutes.

Red Kite which came from East Dean heading South, it then soared

over the cliffs gaining height, before going out to sea

7th March, 2011. Beachy Head. Fine & Sunny ENE 2.

We did a short 35 minute sea-watch and then walked the lane at Birling Gap, looked in Belle Tout wood and then spent almost 90 minutes in the rough field near Belle Tout but couldn't re-locate the Lapland Bunting seen yesterday. The following are our sightings:

Red Throated Diver 9 (4 E & 5 on the sea).

Great Crested Grebe 4 on sea.

Teal 1 E

Common Scoter 7 E

Peregrine 1 right low down over our heads at Birling.

Med. Gull 1 ad. s/p in the fields at Birling.

Stock Dove 13 (including a flock of 10 E)

Skylark c40

Long Tailed Tit 11

Corn Bunting 3

Hare 1

Fox 1

Adult Peregrine over the lane at Birling Gap.

Adult summer plumage Med. Gull flying over the fields at Birling.

6th March 2011 Beachy Head NE3

Grey Heron 1 SE

Brent Goose 19E

Peregrine 1

Lesser Black-backed Gull 6 adults on Birling beach

Red-legged Partridge 1

Skylark c.30

Meadow Pipit 6

Lapland Bunting 1 ex.

Corn Bunting 9

Raven 2

Chalk cliffs south of Birling Gap

Birling Gap Hotel

The most-recent cliff fall at Beachy Head

Birling Gap from the top of the lane

Common, Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed Gulls at Birling Gap beach

Green Woodpecker at Birling

Grey Heron over Belle Tout

An acrobatic Raven