27 June 2012 Beachy Head Foggy conditions

With a report of a possible Thrush Nightingale singing in Shooters Bottom on the 26th, several observers visited the area during the evening and heard a Nightingale Sp. singing quietly. RDME visited the area during the morning of the 27th and also heard it singing and although it was a fairly quiet song and possibly it was only a sub song, he felt that it was probably a Common Nightingale. As far as I am aware it has only been heard.

Some pictures which I took on the 25th.

Fulmars off the cliffs at Birling

Large Skipper at Belle Tout

Common Green Grasshopper at Belle Tout

22 June 2012 Cloud 3/8 WSW 6-8

RDME sea-watched from 05.55-07.10 and recorded the following:

Manx Shearwater 4 E (2 @ 06.13 & 2 @ 07.00)
Gannet 79 E & 13 W
Common Scoter 8 E
Curlew 3 W
Sandwich Tern 16 E
Auk Sp. 1 E

19 June 2012 Beachy Head Fine warm & sunny S 1

We did a short sea-watch from 07.15-07.45 and then covered the Birling to Belle Tout area including walking the lane and field and also visited the Old Trapping Area:

Gannet 10 E

Little Egret 1 E & 1 W

Sandwich Tern 4 E

Guillemot 1 E

Common Blue 10

Small Heath 20

Large Skipper 1

Dark Green Fritillary 3

Meadow Brown 15

Silver Y Moth 12

Stoat 1

 I guess the car park must have been full

or maybe he couldn't be bothered to walk down the steps!!

Looks like its time for another twitch

Belle Tout wood in summer plumage

Common Spotted Orchid

First Pyramidal Orchids showing

Bee Orchid

Small numbers of Silver Y moths seen today

Our first Meadow Browns for the year

Just one Large Skipper so far seen this year

Our first Dark Green Fritillaries for the year

8 June 2012 Beachy Head Storm but dry & cool SW 8-9

We sea-watched in stormy conditions from 05.45-08.45:

Manx Shearwater 5 W
Gannet Approx. 50 coming & going
Brent Goose 1 E (Our latest Spring date)
Common Scoter 5 E
Curlew 1 off Birling
Bonxie 5 E
Sandwich Tern 14 E
Auk Sp. 4 W

5 June 2012 Beachy Head Overcast cool Wind 0-SE 2

We joined RDME at Birling and sea-watched from 05.40-08.45 & 10.20-10.50. We also covered from Birling to the old lighthouse, Belle Tout wood and the field. RDME covered the lane at Birling and Whitbread Hollow:

Gannet 210 E & 15 W

Little Egret 2 E

Common Scoter 12 E

Hobby 1 over Biring

Peregrine 1

Red Legged Partridge 1

Pomarine Skua 2 E @ 07.30 landed on the sea for 20 minutes before departing, they then flew high and circled in the sky for around 5+ minutes.

Arctic Skua 3 E

Sandwich Tern 36 E

Auk Sp 2 E

Guillemot 2 E

Lesser Whitethroat 2 singing

Garden Warbler 1

Blackcap 4

Corn Bunting 1

Bee Orchid 5 

Wall Butterfly 1

Wall Butterfly near Belle Tout wood

2 June 2012 Beachy Head Overcast cool NE 4

We sea-watched from 06.25-07.55 and then covered all the usual sites on the Headland:

Gannet 175 E

Pochard 1 E

Common Scoter 69 E

Hobby 1 over Belle Tout

Curlew 3 E

Arctic Skua 2 W

Sandwich Tern 3 E

Little Tern 2 E

Guillemot 1 on sea

Razorbill 2 E

Swift 5

Swallow 7

Lesser Whitethroat 2 singing

Corn Bunting 3

Bee Orchid 1 in flower

Spotted Orchid 2 in flower

Bottle Nosed Dolphin 1 off Birling

First Bee Orchid for the year

Spotted Orchids at Belle Tout

Speckled Wood at Belle Tout wood

 

Aquilegias in Shooters Bottom