29 December 2014 Beachy Head Sharp frost becoming fine and sunny but cold N 2-3

With the onset of cold weather, we decided to visit Beachy today and covered The Birling to Belle Tout loop, Belle Tout wood, the Cornish farm rough field and Shooters Bottom. No real hard weather movement in progress although impressive numbers of Skylarks and Buntings in the rough field. Careful look for Dartfords in their usual sites but no sign of any.

Peregrine 2
Stock Dove 2
Tawny Owl 2
Skylark c500 in rough field.
Meadow Pipit 10
Fieldfare 10
Song Thrush 5
Goldfinch 3
Reed Bunting 1
Corn Bunting c30+ in rough field.

(taken by David Cooper)

One of the 10 Fieldfares seen today.

(taken by David Cooper)

Skylarks - c500 were present in the rough field

 

 Adult Peregrine over Shooters Bottom

13 Dec 2014 Beachy Head Fine Sunny with light but cold NE breeze

We called into Birling and spent around 2 hours walking the Birling loop also covering Belle Tout wood. Met up briefly with Chris Ball at Birling. Highlight of the morning was an adult male Dartford Warbler which showed very well in the gorse above Belle Tout wood.

Common Buzzard 1
Sparrowhawk 2
Tawny Owl 2
Rock Pipit 3
Meadow Pipit 2
Dartford Warbler 1 ad. male

Recent late news from RHC:
Two parties of Pink-feet between 15-20 Nov. A flock of 15 over Hodcombe and 2 days later a flock of c30 over Hodcombe. This second flock was also seen flying over Jevington, by birders watching the Rough-leg.
Our 4th and 5th records and the first since 1971, although a number of unidentified Grey Geese over the years have been seen some of which were considered to be Pink-feet.

Rough-legged Buzzard 5 Dec 1 flew past Hodcombe from 12.40-12.50 on the 5/12 and then departed W over cliffs at Shooters Bottom. (Considered the same bird which has been present at Jevington (5 miles from Hodcombe), and it was seen leaving high heading south a short while before being seen at Beachy.

Black Redstart Odd birds present around Hodcombe from late Nov. into early Dec.

Also a Dartford Warbler still present in Shooters Bottom on the 9 Dec (per LP).