Saturday 7 April 2012

7th April, 2012 Beachy Head Overcast cool & clear NE 1-2

We sea-watched from 07.00-08.05 and then covered all the Headland sites including the field and Cliff Path. Met up briefly with RDME who also had covered many of the sites including Whitbread Hollow/Cow Gap area. Another small fall of migrants recorded:

Red Throated Diver 1 E
Gannet 4 E
Brent Goose 35 E
Shelduck 2 E
Common Scoter 15 E & 6 W
Common Snipe 1 flushed from field.
Mediterranean Gull 2 E
Tawny Owl 1 calling
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Whitbread Hollow
Swallow 4
Common Redstart 1 male (our first for the year)
Stonechat 12
Wheatear 3
Ring Ouzel 1 male (our first for the year)
Song Thrush 3
Blackcap 3
Chiffchaff 12
Willow Warbler 23
Carrion Crow 1 in off the sea
Raven 1
Linnet 70 (19 W)
Corn Bunting 1 left the field and departed high E until out of sight.


Chiffchaff at Birling


Willow Warbler at Belle Tout


Meadow Pipit at Birling


Greater Black Back Gull with ring no. JA551 on Birling beach


Third-summer Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. intermedius at Birling

The extensive dark subterminal band to the bill ages this individual as did its dark-stained central tail feathers that were best appreciated in flight but just discernible here.



Stonechat at Birling


Stonechat at Belle Tout


Cowslips now in flower