20 Sept 2014 Beachy Head Overcast at dawn with misty at times, N/NE 2 then E3

We met up with RJF and MK at Birling and between us we covered all the main sites on the Headland. We also met up with SL, RKH and RES who were also birding on the Headland. LP visited Whitbread Hollow, Cow Gap, Gully and Sardine Valley and Bob and Sarah were ringing in Whitbread Hollow.

Good numbers of common night migrants but lacking any quality. The misty conditions prevented much in the way of diurnal migration with Meadow Pipits moving E in small numbers.

The following are the combined numbers with birds ringed shown in brackets:

Little Egret 3
Brent Goose 6 E
Sparrowhawk 4
Common Buzzard 1
Kestrel 4
Peregrine 2
Great Black-backed Gull 50 chiefly adults E
Swallow 60 E
House Martin 2
Tree Pipit 2
Meadow Pipit c220 chiefly E
Yellow Wagtail 5
Whinchat 4+
Wheatear 5
Reed Warbler 2 (1)
Lesser Whitethroat 3
Common Whitethroat 14 (1)
Blackcap Estimated 1,000+ (110)
Chiffchaff Estimated c150 (19)
Willow Warbler 1
Goldcrest 5
Spotted Flycatcher 1
Long-tailed Tit 2
Raven 2

Small Copper 2
Clouded Yellow 1
Hummingbird Hawk Moth 1

Spotted Flycatcher in Shooters Bottom

(taken by Laurence Pitcher)

Chiffchaff 

(taken by Laurence Pitcher)

Pair of Migrant Hawkers mating.

(All 3 taken by Laurence Pitcher)

Large Falcon sp. with bells etc feeding on a Rook in Sardine 

Valley. Larger than a Peregrine and possibly a Saker type hybrid.