28 Feb 2015 Beachy Head Overcast cold S 6 gusting to 8

Cold dull day with a strong S wind. We sea-watched from 06.55-07.55 in difficult conditions with the S wind coming straight at us. We then visited Belle Tout wood but as expected virtually didn't see a bird in the wood. Still good numbers of birds in the set a-side field but far too windy to walk through it.

Red-throated Diver 14 (9 E & 5 W) (1 appeared to be in full s/p, and could easily be mistaken for a B.T Diver, with the throat appearing all black).
Great-crested Grebe 4 E
Gannet c20 E
Brent Goose 8 (5 E & 3W)
Eider 1 drake E
Common Scoter 3 E
Mediterranean Gull 2 ad's s/p E
Kittiwake c50 E
Auk Sp. 22 (11 E & 11 W)
Stonechat 2
Raven 1
Starling 200

Late News: The male Dartford Warbler has been recorded on two dates recently by LP, and a Black Redstart is wintering in the Hodcombe area.

15 Feb 2015 Beachy Head Overcast cool ENE 1-2

We sea-watched from 07.15-08.15 but little movement recorded. We then visited Belle Tout wood and walked the set-aside field.

Red-throated Diver 12 (11 E and 1 on the sea)
Great-crested Grebe 2 (1 E and 1 on the sea)
Gannet 37 E
Shelduck 2 W
Common Scoter 1 E
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Common Gull 40 in the fields
Auk Sp. 3 E
Skylark c200
Stonechat 2
Yellowhammer 1 female
Reed Bunting 7
Corn Bunting 80+

Part of the Corn Bunting flock

14 Feb 2015 Beachy Head Overcast with light rain SSE 1

DC and BK sea-watched from 07.15-09.15.

Red-throated Diver 47E, 12W, 6 on sea
Great Crested Grebe 1E, 1 on sea
Gannet 56E, 1W
Fulmar 6E, 16W
Greylag Goose 2E
Brent Goose 45E
Scoter 1E
Kittiwake 6E, 3W
Common Gull 7
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 in field
Auk sp. 2E

Harbour Porpoise 1

11 Feb 2015 Beachy Head Overcast, cool and clear ESE 1

With a ESE breeze forecast, we decided to go for a sea-watch from 07.15-09.00, but unfortunately very little sea-movement recorded. We then covered Birling Lane, Birling loop, Belle Tout wood and the rough field. Although the bushes were virtually bird-less and rough field again had good numbers of larks and buntings with hundreds of corvids and pigeons, with the highlight being a male Dartford Warbler.

Red-throated Diver 10 (6 E and 4 on the sea)
Great-crested Grebe 17 (6 E and 11 on the sea)
Fulmar 6
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 2
Red-legged Partridge 2
Curlew 1
Stock Dove 35
Woodpigeon 250+
Tawny Owl 2
Skylark c250
Rock Pipit 1
Stonechat 3
Dartford Warbler 1 male
Raven 3
Reed Bunting 2
Corn Bunting 30+

Great-crested Grebes on the sea off Birling

Rock Pipit in the car park at Birling

Male Dartford Warbler in the rough field.