Summary 23 Aug 2013 to 3rd Sept 2013. Beachy Head

Have just returned from Southern Ireland and will give a summary of birds seen at Beachy Head during this period. Many thanks to Bob Edgar for collating the records and apologies for any errors but with good numbers of migrants being seen during this period at Beachy the odd error or omissions may have occurred.

23 Aug - Very little seen on the Headland.

25 Aug-Approx. 30 Whinchats feeding in the recently cut fields at Cornish Farm, Pied Flycatcher in the Old Trapping Area and a Wryneck present in Shooters Bottom.

26 Aug- Small numbers of night migrants present in Whitbread Hollow with 25 Yellow Wagtails also present. 2 Pied Flycatchers present on the Headland.

27 Aug - 2 Grasshopper Warblers trapped and 2 Wrynecks reported from Shooters Bottom.

28 Aug - A good fall of night migrants with a Wryneck in Hodcombe, 2 Grasshopper Warblers trapped, 12 Reed Warblers (7 trapped), 60 Willow Warblers (25 trapped), 16 Yellow Wagtails, 12 Wheatears, 2 Redstarts, 6 Whinchats, 5 Spotted and 1 Pied Flycatchers, 100 Common Whitethroats (23 trapped).

29 Aug - Influx of both Robins 15 (7 trapped) and Blackcaps 35 (16 trapped) in Whitbread Hollow also  Redstart 1 trapped, Grasshopper Warbler 1 trapped, Reed Warbler 5 (3 trapped) Garden Warbler 3 trapped, Willow Warbler 25 (12 trapped).

30 Aug Bob was again ringing in Whitbread Hollow but had fewer new arrivals and a good few re-traps from previous days. Whinchat 3, Wheatear 5, Lesser Whitethroat 5 trapped, Blackcap 30 (10 trapped) and Spotted Flycatcher 2 (1 trapped).

1 Sept - BHRG were ringing in Whitbread Hollow and RJF and JK covered the Headland. Good numbers of night migrants recorded with birds ringed in brackets. Hobby 1, Yellow Wagtail 45, Common Redstarts 6, Whinchats 3, Wheatear 2, Reed Warbler 10 (6), Sedge Warbler (2)  Common Whitethroat 72 (17), Garden Warbler 8 (6), Blackcap 50 (25) Chiffchaff 12 (6) Willow Warbler 90 (12), Spotted Flycatcher 5 (1) and Pied Flycatcher 3 (2).

3 Sept - Bob was again ringing in Whitbread Hollow and had a further arrival of Sylvia warblers. Birds ringed are shown in brackets. Reed Warbler 8 (5), Common Whitethroat 30 (15), Garden Warbler 11 (10),
Blackcap 80 (42), Chiffchaff 10(5), Willow Warbler (2). Also a Badger was seen.

The following photographs were taken by Ron Knight during this period

Pied Flycatcher in the Hotel Garden on the 25th

Whinchat at Cornish Farm on the 25th, approx. 30 present today.

Spotted Flycatcher in the Old Trapping Area on the 26th.

Pied Flycatcher in the Old Trapping Area on the 26th.

Wryneck in Shooters Bottom on the 26th.