Thursday 15 March 2012

15th March, 2012 Beachy Head Foggy becoming misty warm SE1

Arrived at 7.00 am to foggy conditions but could see short way out to sea and with a SE wind decided to give it a try. We sea-watched from 07.00-09.30 and then covered most of the sites on the Headland although unable to walk the field as the tractor was raking it:

Red Throated Diver 6 E & 5 on the sea.
Great Crested Grebe a pair displaying on the sea.
Gannet 23 E
Grey Heron 1 W off Birling
Brent Goose 976 E
Shelduck 7 E
Pintail 2 E (pair)
Shoveler 9 E
Pochard 1 drake E with Scoters
Common Scoter 125 E
Red Breasted Merganser 2 E
Med Gull 12 E all s/p adults.
Iceland Gull 1 ad. E @ 08.45 then settled on the sea and drifted E with the tide. 
(Our 12th record since 1960 and the first since 2001).
Sandwich Tern 2 E
Auk Sp. 10 E
Guillemot 5 E
Razorbill 6 on the sea.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 drumming B/T wood
Black Redstart 3 (1 female type on the edge of B/T wood & 2 Hodcombe)
Stonechat 2 males
Chiffchaff 10

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly 1




Some of today's Chiffchaffs.




Green Woodpecker at Birling