Part 2
2017: 26 Aug 2 (1 SE over Went Hill at 10.50 and 1 E over Crowlink @ 12.45, photos LP and JP)
15 Sept 1 juv Headland at 12.50 went S out to sea photo (SL and GG)
3 Oct 1 juv S out to sea at Birling at 08.18, photo (RDME and Mark Mallalieu) Per SOS web-site.
2017: Spring: Recorded on 9 dates from 9/3 (1 over the Headland) to 2/6 (3 on the Headland, with a total of 15 individuals with a daily max: 24/5 5 over the Headland). Per B.H.Log.
Marsh Harrier
2017 Autumn : Just singles recorded on three dates, 2/8 1 juvenile, 15/9 1 over the top fields and 1 on the 17/9. Per SOS web site.
Hen Harrier
2017: 17/4 1 A male in off the sea @ 0805 and headed N. Photos (LP). Per B.H.Log.
Sparrowhawk
2017: Spring: Recorded on six dates from 1/4 to 21/5 mainly singles with 2 on the 12/4. Autumn: Recorded on 21 dates from 24/7 (1) to 15/11 (1), with a total of 37 bird-days, with 3 on the 9/8, 26/8, and 27/8, and 4-5 on the 24/9. Per B.H.Log.
Common Buzzard
2017: Spring: Recorded on 18 dates with a daily max of 8+ on the 6/3 and 5 on the 16/4. On the 13/4 2 were seen with 1 displaying and on the 23/3 a very dark individual was seen.
Autumn: Recorded on 15 dates from 8/7 (1 in Whitbread Hollow), to 1/11 (2). Maxs: 27/8 6-7 over the top fields, 2/9 party of 5 over the top fields, and on the 15/9 and 17/9 10 were over the top fields.. Per B.H.log
Kestrel
2017 Spring:: Recorded on 18 dates between Jan to May although most records related to a single male bird often seen in the Cornish Farm area. Two were seen on the 22/4 and 23/4.
Autumn: Recorded on 27 dates between July to Nov with 3 on the 5/8 and 4 on the 17/9 .
A single male was present almost throughout the year but no actual sign of breeding in the area.
Per B.H.Log.
Kestrel hovering over the Cliff Path.
Merlin
2017: Spring: A female was present at Crowlink on the 16/4 and 17/4. Autumn: Singles recorded on 9 dates from 24/8 to 25/10 all from the Headland and may very well have related to just one individual. One was also seen over the top fields on the 10/12.
Just odd birds have been seen previously in December. Per B.H.Log
Hobby
2017: Spring: One was seen over Birling @ 08.40 on the 9/5 and had probably arrived in off the sea. Also informed by RHC that he had seen three different birds around Hodcome during May.
Autumn: Singles were recorded on just 6 dates from 6/7 to 6/10.
Generally a poor year for this attractive falcon on the Headland. Per B.H.Log
Peregrine
2017: Spring recorded from Jan-May. Again at least 2 pairs and probably 3 pairs present on the cliffs from Seven Sisters to Icky Ridge. Autumn: Odd adult birds were seen over the Headland from July to November, but immature birds seemed in short supply. A pair were present around Icky Ridge on several days. . Per B.H.Log
Up close to an adult Peregrine at Birling
Red-legged Partridge
2017: Spring: Up to 5 seen usually in the field opposite Belle Tout wood, although odd birds occasionally seen elsewhere on the Headland throughout the Spring. Autumn: On the 13/7 1 was seen in the Cornish Farm field and on the 14/8 an adult with a full grown young was present near Belle Tout wood. . Per B.H.Log
Pheasant
2017 Spring: Daily max: 24/3 (6). No proof of local breeding and just odd birds seen during the Autumn. Per B.H.log.
Water Rail
2017: One present in Whitbread Hollow from 26/10 to 3/11 Per B.H.Log.
Oystercatcher
2017: Spring: Recorded just in small numbers on the Birling beach with a daily max of 10 on the 10/3, and just small numbers seen during the Autumn. Per B.H.Log
Ringed Plover
2017: 13/7 1 flew over the headland and 27/8 1 heard calling over the headland Per B.H.log.
Little-ringed Plover
2017: 28 Mar 1 in off the sea @ 06.57 and headed off inland (RAB and JFC)
Our 13th record., and our first March record. Per B.H.Log.
2017 Autumn: Recorded flying over the Headland on four dates: 27/8 (1), 15/9 (1), 17/9(3), 27/10 (7). Per B.H.Log.
Grey Plover
2017: Spring sea-watches: 30/4 31 E. Per B.H.Log.
2017: 6/4 1 in field opposite B/T wood. . Per B.H.Log.
Knot
2017: Spring sea-watches: 30/4 55 E. Per B.H.Log.
Sanderling
2017: Spring sea-watches: 30/4 2 on Birling beach, 12/5 5 E. Per B.H.Log.
2017: 27 Aug 3 flying over the headland. Per B.H.Log.
Common Snipe
2017: 11/8 1 high W over Birling. Per B.H.Log.
2017: 2/1 1 flushed Whitbread Hollow, and 28/1 1 flushed Whitbread Hollow, 30/10 1 flushed from Shooters Bottom.. Per B.H.Log.
Bar-tailed Godwit
2017: Spring sea-watches: 23 Apr 8 E (plus 525 E in the evening mainly in 2 large flocks a long way out and were considered to be Bar-taileds), 29 Apr 119 E, 30 Apr 60 E.
A small improvement with the Spring numbers this year, assuming the numbers seen on the 23/4 all relate to Bar-taileds. Per B.H.Log
Whimbrel
2017: Spring sea-watches: Recorded on 12 dates with a total of 111 from 8/4 (1) to 22/5 (1 heard calling). Daily maxs: 23/4 (41 E), and 24/4 18 E. 24/7 1 heard calling. Per B.H.Log.
Curlew
2017: Spring: Recorded on 11 dates between Jan and May with 8 E on the 4/3, 9 W on 11/3 and 7 E on the 14/3. Per B.H.Log.
2017: 2/7 3 on Holywell beach. Per B.H.Log.
2017: 30/4 (3). Per B.H.Log.
2017: Spring sea-watches: Recorded on 5 dates with a total of 95 from 23/4 to 12/5.
Daily totals: 23/4 18 E, 24/4 1 E, 30/4 53 E, 1/5 11 E, 12/5 12 E .
Another reasonable Spring and follows on nicely with the 99 seen last Spring. Per B.H.Log.
Pomarine Skua off Birling
Arctic Skua
2017: Spring sea-watches: Recorded on 12 dates from 28/3 (5E) to 27/5 (1E). A total of 92 were seen with daily maxs: 23 Apr 12 E, 24 Apr 11 E, 29 Apr 20 E, 30 Apr 18E and 1 May 11 E.
An improvement from the last two Springs when numbers seen were poor.
Our best Spring to-date was in 2012 when 301 were logged with a record day total of 153E on the 25/4. PerB.H.Log.
Great Skua
2017: Spring sea-watches: Recorded on 7 dates with a total of 35E from 27/3 (1E) to 12 May (1E). Daily max: 23/4 (12E) and 29/4 (8 E).
Autumn: Singles recorded on the 10/10 off Birling, 20/10 1 high inland seen from Shooters Bottom photo, and 29 Oct 1 off Cow Gap.
An improvement in the Spring passage numbers from the last two Springs. Per B.H.Log.
Little Gull
Spring sea-watches: Recorded on 6 dates with a total of 117 E from 28/3 33 E to 12/5 (1x1stS. E). Daily maxs: 28/3 (33E), 9/4 (26E), 23/4 (53 E in 2 hrs. during the afternoon). Per B.H.Log.
Black-headed Gull
2017: Spring sea-watches: Movement logged on 16 dates with a total of 955 with Daily maxs: 11 Mar 250 (200 at dawn and 50 on sea), 13 Mar 300 Birling Per B.H.Log.
Mediterranean Gull
2017: Spring: Recorded on 21 dates with a total of 475 from 16/2 (2 ad’s s/p E) to 27/5 4 E, (2 ad’s and 2 2nd cy.). Daily maxs: 28/3 (15), 9/4 21 E, 22/4 30 E(including a flock of 22), 23/4 270 (268E and 2 on the sea). 29/4 84 E
Autumn: .With virtually no sea-watching this Autumn, it was only recorded on four dates; 10/7 5 (4 ad’s on Birling beach and 1 E), 25/7 3 ad’s W, 31/7 1 ad w/p E, 1/8 1 ad w/p feeding off shore.
Another record Spring, and how this species has increased this century. On the 23/4 a new day record although if our sea-watching had gone on all day the true count would have been around 500 (the number seen passing Seaford Head). Per B.H.Log.
Party of Mediterranean Gulls moving off Birling.
Common Gull
2017: Spring: Generally fairly small numbers seen in the fields at Birling during the early months. On the 11/3 200 were present in the Birling area, and on the 21/3 70 were on the sea off Whitbread Hollow. On the 1/4, 100 E off Birling including both adults and 1stW birds. Per B.H.Log.
Lesser Black-backed Gull
2017: Spring: 15/3 2 on the beach at Birling were not specifically raced. One of the graellsii English race was feeding with Herring Gulls on the downland above the Cliff Path on the 29/5.
Autumn: 31/7 1 juv. feeding on the headland, 7/9 2 adults, 6/12 4 in a gull flock on Birling beach. Per B.H.Log.
Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull of the English race graellsii.
Herring Gull
2017: Always present all year, with the following counts: 13 Mar 300 over Headland chiefly immature types, 17 Mar 300 feeding in ploughed field, 8 Apr 230 feeding off Birling, 200+ feeding off Birling Gap, 18/11 300 in the Birling Gap area. Per B.H.Log.
Yellow-legged Gull
2017: Spring: 3 Apr 1 (4th cal yr in ploughed field Birling) photo (LP).
Autumn: Recorded from 8/7 to 13/8 with single juveniles reported on 5 dates with 2 juvs. on the 10/7. Majority of these were seen on Holywell beach, but on the 13/8 a juvenile was seen feeding in a field with Herring Gulls at Birling and was then seen later moving W out to sea off Birling. Per B.H.Log.
Great Black-backed Gull
2017: Spring: The only movement logged was on the 17/3 with 150 W over the cliffs. On 6/12 115 chiefly adults, were present on Birling beach. Per B.H.Log.
Kittiwake
2017: Spring sea-watches: Recorded moving E on 20 dates from 28/1 (120 E) to 10/6 (160 E, and 26W). A total of 2,318 E with daily maxs: 9 Apr 473 E, 23 Apr 243 E.
Virtually no sea-watching was carried out during the Autumn with just 2 on the 6/12.
With the breeding colony of Kittiwakes at Seaford Head, it does prove difficult to decide if birds are actually moving or the adults from the colony are just moving to feeding grounds.
Per B.H.Log
Sandwich Tern
2017: Spring sea-watches: Recorded on 22 dates from 22/3 (9 E) to 10/6 (11 E). A total of 1,347 with daily maxs: 9/4 (540 E) and 29/4 (276 E). Virtually no sea-watching was carried out during the autumn.
Another good Spring and very similar numbers as seen in 2016. Although for comparison back in the 1970's when Spring sea-watching was often carried out all day, in excess of over 4,000 Sandwich Terns were often recorded on the Spring watches. Per B.H.Log
Roseate Tern
2017: 12/5 1 E with a party of Commics (KG.). over an hour later what was probably the same bird was seen going past Dungeness. Per B.H.Log
Our 19th record involving 26 individuals since 1960. Per B.H.Log
Common/Arctic Tern
2017: Spring sea-watches: Only recorded on just 5 dates from 9/4 (33E), to 12/5 (30 E). A total of just 590 E.
With the general lack of observers now sea-watching from Birling and virtually all the watching is carried our during the early morning, many Commic Terns are now missed as large recent movements are recorded at other sea-watching sites during the evening when there is no one watching from Birling. Per B.H.Log.
Little Tern
2017; Spring sea-watches: Just 10 seen on the 30/4. Per B.H.Log.
Black Tern
2017; Spring sea-watches: Just 1E on the 29/4.
Our best daily total was on the 9/5/1989 when a total of 320 moving east was logged.
Per B.H.Log.
Auk sp.
2017 Jan-Feb: Main movements: 17/1 112 E, 14/2 125 E, 15/2 c2,000+ E.
Spring sea-watches: Just recorded in small numbers on 12 dates.
Autumn virtually no sea-watches were carried out and our only sighting was on the 6/12 with 5E
Per B.H.Log
Razorbill
2017: Jan-Feb: Main movements: 17/1 100 E, 25/1 93 E, 14/2 144 E.
Spring sea-watches: Identified on just one date 27/5 1 E.
Autumn: One in s/p E on the 6/12 Per B.H.Log
Guillemot
2017: Jan-Feb: 14/2 7E, 18/2 41 E.
Spring: Just recorded on 5 dates in small numbers.
Autumn: 6/12 1 E Per B.H.Log
Puffin
2017: 12 May 1 E with 4 Guillemots @ 07.05 (JFC, RAB).
Our first record since 1998. Per B.H.Log.
Stock Dove
2017: 11/4 2 over the Old Trapping Area, 12/5 1 on the road to East Dean, 10/7 1 Birling, 24/10 1 over Birling, 1/11 6 With Wood Pigeons flying over B/T. Per B.H.Log.
Wood Pigeon
2017: Present all year, Spring: Flock of 50 on the 3/1 in the Cornish Farm field. Only Autumn movements logged: 27/10 500+, 3/11 150 moving SE, 9/11 200. Per B.H.Log
Collared Dove
2017: Spring: Recorded on six dates all singles apart from 2 on the 6/5 over Birling. All records from the Birling area apart for 1 in the Hotel Garden on the 14/4. None logged during the Autumn.
Per B.H.Log.
Turtle Dove
2017: 3/5 1 briefly in the Old Trapping Area departed W. (LP) Per B.H.Log
Very sad that the shooting and destruction in the Mediterranean region has almost brought this fine species to the brink of extinction. In 70 years of bird-watching, this is the first year I have not recorded a Turtle Dove. It was always a pleasure in the Spring to hear its purring in Whitbread Hollow and along the Cliff Path, two of its former breeding sites in the 1970's, and in the Autumns, I would occasionally flush small parties from the then stubble fields on the Headland.
Cuckoo
2017: Spring: Sadly none recorded this Spring. Autumn: 1 present in Shooters Bottom from 26/6 to 29/6 and a juv. present in Shooters Bottom from 23/7 to 2/8.
No repeat of the reasonable numbers seen last Autumn. Per B.H.Log.
Cuckoo at Shooters Bottom
Little Owl
2017: Spring: None recorded. In July 1 bird was present in Birling Manor Farm and on the 12/7, later it was seen with a fledged young but unfortunately, no birds have been seen subsequently.
Good news that the Little Owl has again bred on the Headland. Birling Manor Farm is a large private farm with a number of sites which are not viewable from the road and therefore it is likely that the birds could be still present. Per B.H.Log.
Little Owl sat on the wall of Birling Manor Farm.
Tawny Owl
2017: Pairs again present in Belle Tout wood where they raised at least 1 young and heard in Whitbread Hollow. The pair in Whitbread Hollow were heard all autumn, but the Belle Tout family were not recorded during the autumn although they do have a habit of hiding away. Per B.H.Log
Tawny Owl, of the rufous form, in Belle Tout wood.
Short-eared Owl
2017: Spring: 8/5 1 over the Hollow.
Autumn: 25/8 2 flushed in Shooters Bottom, 27/8 1 Shooters Bottom, 28/8 1 Shooters Bottom,
31/8 1 Shooters Bottom, 17/9 1 near Old Trapping Area photo , 17/10 1 over the Headland.
Probably the August Shooters Bottom birds related to just 2 individuals and the Autumn total was probably 4 different birds. Per B.H.Log
Nightjar
2017: One trapped and ringed in Whitbread Hollow on the 22/8 (RDME).
Just our 11threcord, and the second this century, and the third that has now been ringed on the Headland.
Swift
2017: Spring: Just recorded on 7 dates from 19/4 (1) to 29/5 (10 E) with only a total of 24 seen all Spring.
Autumn: Recorded on 22 dates from 3/7 (1) to 18/9 (1) Largest movements logged: 24/7 230 W in drizzle between 08.00-08.10, 25/7 c1,200 with 330 Birling moving fast W from 06.20-07.00, c800 over the Headland sheltering below the cliffs from the strong N wind at around 08.00 and c70 high in the air late morning.), 29/7 40 feeding low over bushes in the Hollow, 5/8 275 (25 W, 50 feeding over top fields and c200 Hollow), and 14/8 c180 feeding over Shooters Bottom on an ant swarm during the evening. Per B.H.Log.
Swift in moult over Birling.
Bee-eater
2017: 29/5 a party of 8 W @12.13 over Birling (KG), 11/7 1 over Hodcombe @ 08.00 (RHC)
Our largest party to date and since 2008 it has been recorded annually with the exception of 2010. Per B.H.Log
Wryneck
2017: 4 Sept 1 Shooters Bottom (LP) Per B.H.Log
Green Woodpecker
2017: Spring: A single bird recorded on 3 dates during Jan and Feb in the Birling/B/T area. Mar-May Just recorded on 9 dates chiefly singles but 2 on the 14/3 and 17/3. Autumn: A juvenile was recorded on a number of dates in the Birling/Belle Tout area with 2 on the 11/8. Singles were also seen in Whitbread Hollow and Long Down during the autumn. . Per B.H.Log
Juvenile Green Woodpecker at Birling in July.
Great-spotted Woodpecker
2017: Spring: 19/2 1 drumming in Whitbread Hollow. Autumn: Recorded on 7 dates from 24/8 to 17/11 chiefly singles but 2 on the 25/8 with singles in Whitbread Hollow and on the Headland. Two were ringed in Whitbread Hollow.
Per B.H.Log.
in
Juvenile Great-spotted Woodpecker flying over Birling.
Woodlark
6/11 1 over the Headland (LP), and 15/11 1 appear to come in from the sea at Birling then headed E until lost to sight (JFC). Per B.H.Log.
Skylark
2017: Jan-Feb: Good numbers seen in the set-aside field opposite Belle Tout wood as follows: 3/1 200, 13/1 200, 14/2 150, 24/2 70.
Spring: Good numbers breeding in the top fields a rough estimate of 50 pairs. On the 1/3 1 came in off the sea.
Autumn: On the 18/11 200 were estimated to be feeding in the set-a-side field and 150 were still present on the 25/11, and 80 on the 20/12. Per B.H.Log.
