Saturday 30 October 2010

30th October,2010 Beachy Head, Clear WSW 3/4

Visited a number of sites on the Head with Doreen and we also met up with RJF, JWK, MK, RKH & RES. RDME was trapping in Whitbread Hollow. Birds ringed in brackets.

Merlin 1
Common Tern 1 (1st W) feeding close in off Birling.
Swallow 2
Black Redstart 1 male still at Birling Gap.
Blackbird 25
Redwing 2
Song Thrush (1 continental bird trapped)
Blackcap 3 (1)
Chiffchaff 1
Goldcrest 14+ (3)
Firecrest 4 all in Belle Tout wood.
Long Tailed Tit 5
Tree Creeper 1 Belle Tout wood
Raven 2
Goldfinch 60
Siskin 4
Lesser Redpoll 25 (15)
Brambling heard




Firecrests in Belle Tout wood.

Lesser Redpoll trapped Whitbread Hollow (Bob Edgar).



Wren in Shooters Bottom

Friday 29 October 2010

29th October,2010 Beachy Head, Overcast S3-5

Went to Beachy with Doreen, Terry & Jill and did the usual sites on the Headland:

Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Tawny Owl 2
Black Redstart 1 male at Birling
Blackbird 10
Chiffchaff 2
Goldcrest 16
Firecrest 4 (3 Belle Tout wood & 1 Birling).
Long Tailed Tit 6
Linnet 25

Firecrest in Belle Tout wood

Firecrest by the side of Belle Tout wood (Terry Cooper)

Tawny Owl

Tawny Owl (Terry Cooper)

Great Spotted Woodpecker trapped in the Hollow 24th Oct.(Bob Edgar)

Firecrest trapped in the Hollow on the 21st Oct. (Bob Edgar)

Sunrise from Whitbred Hollow on the 22nd Oct. (Bob Edgar)

Thursday 28 October 2010

28th October,2010. Beachy Head

RDME visited the Head and did the area from Birling Gap to Belle Tout in very windy conditions.
RHC did a brief sea-watch from Birling but saw very little.

Sparrowhawk 1
Raven 2
Redpoll 1
Chiffchaffs 2
Goldcrests 10
Long Tailed Tit 30 Belle Tout wood to Birling Gap.

Tuesday 26 October 2010

26th October,2010 Beachy Head

Unfortunately, windy today and very little seen in the bushes and no diurnal migration. We met up with Bob and did a number of sites on the Headland:
Peregrine 1
Fieldfare 1
Goldcrest 15
Long Tailed Tit 15
Tree Creeper 1


Record shots of a Fieldfare in Shooters Bottom.



Sunday 24 October 2010

24th October,2010 Beachy Head, Clear NW 2-3

Doreen and myself did most of the Headland and met up with RKH, RES, SL, NG & GG.
Bob was ringing in the Hollow. The following is a combined list of species seen with birds ringed in brackets:

Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Stock Dove 13 NW
Woodpigeon 1,000 NW
Great Spotted Woodpecker 4 (1)
Swallow 16
Sand Martin 1W at Birling (SL)
Ring Ouzel 3 (1 female Shooters Bottom & 2 at Birling)
Blackbird 25
Fieldfare 6 W
Mistle Thrush 4 W
Song Thrush (1 continental bird trapped).
Blackcap 5 (3)
Chiffchaff 2 (1)
Goldcrest 2 (1)
Chaffinch 120 of which 100 moved W.
Brambling 7 W
Goldfinch 200
Siskin 5+
Linnet 100 W
Lesser Redpoll 90 (52)
Reed Bunting 1 departed high N.
Corn Bunting 1



Corn Bunting near Belle Tout wood.

Woodpigeons on the move

Friday 22 October 2010

22nd October,2010 Beachy Head Clear NW 2

Doreen and myself covered most of the sites on the Head & Bob was ringing in the Hollow. Ringing numbers in brackets:

Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Woodpigeon 600 SW
Collared Dove 1
Greater Spotted Woodpecker 1
Swallow 1
Robin 15
Black Redstart 1 at Birling
Blackbird 20
Redwing 5
Song Thrush 7 (2 continental birds trapped)
Chiffchaff 4 (1)
Goldcrest 5 (2)
Firecrest 1 (1)
Blue Tit 25
Jackdaw 60 W over the Hollow
Raven 1
Brambling 1
Siskin 1
Reed Bunting 1
Corn Bunting 1 Chat Vale & then departed high West (our first record since the 1st Aug.).

Black Redstart at Birling.


Goldcrest on Icky Ridge


Corn Bunting in Shooters Bottom

Thursday 21 October 2010

21st October,2010.Beachy Head ,Cold,bright NW2

RDME went ringing in Whitbread Hollow this morning and recorded the following with ringing numbers in brackets:

Common Buzzard 1
Wood Pigeon 100
Song Thrush (1 continental race trapped)
Blackcap 5 (4)
Chiffchaff 5 (3)
Firecrest 1 (1)
Goldcrest 2 (1)
Chaffinch 50
Goldfinch 60
Siskin 1

Wednesday 20 October 2010

20th October,2010 Beachy Head, Clear NW2-3

Went with Doreen and spent 2-3 hours visiting a number of sites on the Head. We also saw Pete & Mim. Area was very quiet with virtually no diurnal migration and no sign of any Black Redstarts at Birling.

Sparrowhawk 2
Kestrel 2
Stock Dove 13 W
Wood Pigeon 400
Swallow 1
Pied Wagtail 15 E
Fieldfare 4
Redwing 3
Chiffchaff 7
Raven 2
Brambling 1
Linnet 40 E
Reed Bunting 2 E

Kestrel side of Belle Tout wood, taken on the 17th by Richard Fairbank



Tuesday 19 October 2010

19th October,2010.Beachy Head Clear NW3 inc. 4

RDME visited several sites on the Headland and also walked the Hollow & Cow Gap. PN & RK also covered some other areas on the Headland. The following birds were seen:

Sparrowhawk 2
Woodpigeon 150
Swallow 12
House Martin 6
Black Redstart 3 all at Birling
Blackcap 2
Chiffchaff 13
Goldcrest 4
Firecrest 1
Tree Creeper 1 Belle Tout wood
Raven 2
Starling 250
Brambling 2
Siskin 2

Monday 18 October 2010

18th October,2010 Beachy Head Wind N2 to NW

Doreen and myself visited most of the areas including Hodcombe on the Headland and Bob was ringing in the Hollow. Fine weather but very quiet with virtually no diurnal migration. Bird numbers ringed in brackets:

Brent Geese 9 W off Birling
Sparrowhawk 2
Kestrel 1
Woodpigeon 730 SE
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Swallow 1
Redwing 1
Song Thrush 6 (1 continental race trapped).
Blackcap 16 (11)
Chiffchaff 37 (21)
Goldcrest 19
Coal Tit 1 (not raced)
Raven 2
Redpoll 3

Others:
Small Copper 2
Red Admiral 2
Hummingbird Hawk Moth 1
Common Darter 1
Common Shrew 1

Sunday 17 October 2010

17thOctober, 2010 Beachy Head Mainly overcast N3.

RDME was trapping in the Hollow, and CB was watching at Holywell. I have shown the combined totals below although there may have been some overlap with Siskin numbers, and have also included the numbers seen at the seperate sites. Numbers ringed are shown in brackets.

RJF & JWK worked all the usual sites on the Headland, and there were no sightings of the Pallas's Leaf Warbler in Belle Tout wood.

Little Egret 9 off Holywell including a party of 8 East.
Grey Heron 4 West off Holywell
Brent Goose 1 juv. on the playing field in the Hollow.
Large Raptor (probable RedKite moved South going out to sea).
Hobby 1 at Holywell. (CB)
Peregrine 3
Golden Plover 2+
Common Tern 1 juv. off Holywell.
Stock Dove 210 moving over the Headland & Hollow.
Woodpigeon 4,600 (including 1 leucisitic bird).
Great Spotted Woodpecker 3 (1 Holywell & 2 on the Headland).
Skylark 31
Swallow 255
House Martin 50
Alba Wagtail 66
Dunnock 20 in the Hollow (8)
Wheatear 3
Ring Ouzel 3 (1 Holywell, 1 Chat Vale & 1 Cliff Path)
Song Thrush 15 (3) (1 Continental bird trapped in the Hollow).
Mistle Thrush 2 Hollow
Dartford Warbler 1 near Belle Tout wood.
Blackcap 2 (1)
Chiffchaff 36 (9)
Goldcrest 7 (2)
Firecrest 3 (1 male Holywell & 2 together Belle Tout wood).
Long Tailed Tit 21
Brambling 19 mainly East
Goldfinch 154
Siskin 107 mainly E. (40 Hollow, 51 Holywell, & 16+ with others heard over the Headland).
Redpoll 7
Raven 2

Saturday 16 October 2010

16th October,2010. Beachy Head. N to NE 2 to 4-5

Visited Beachy with Doreen and first stop was at Belle Tout wood. Long last we caught up with the Pallas's in the elderberry clump on the western side of the wood,and had some excellent views. At sunrise it called a few times probably as it was leaving its roost.
Good numbers of birders present looking for the Pallas's which then became very elusive again, owing to the strong wind picking up. Met up with RJF. RKH, RES etc also saw Chris Ball who had checked out Holywell where he had seen 30 Chiffchaffs which I have included in our totals below:

Sparrow Hawks 4
Common Buzzard 1 (RJF & JWK)
Peregrine 3 together over the cliffs at Belle Tout
Merlin 1+
Golden Plover 3
Wood Pigeon 180 S
Short Eared Owl 1
Swallow 50
House Martin 10
Wheatear 2 (PJ)
Ring Ouzel 2
Fieldfare 10
Redwing 20
Pallas's Leaf Warbler 1 Belle Tout wood
Chiffchaff 41
Goldcrest 12 (including 2 which arrived in off the sea and landed in the hotel guttering).
Tree Creeper 1 Belle Tout wood (RJF & PJ)
Raven 2
Reed Bunting 1
Chaffinch 60 E
Brambling 7 (5 dropped into Belle Tout wood RJF & PJ).
Goldfinch 100 E
Siskin 5



Goldcrests on Icky Ridge.

Record shot of Sort Eared Owl heading towards the cliff edge.

Friday 15 October 2010

15th October,2010 Beachy Head Wind N 3-4

Went with Doreen to Beachy and covered most of the Top, and RDME was ringing in Whitbread Hollow. Good numbers of birders present looking for the Pallas's. It proved very elusive during the morning only being seen on one occasion, but finally showed well during the afternoon.
Following birds seen with the number of birds ringed in brackets.

Little Egret 3 off Birling
Sparrow Hawk 1
Kestrel 4 (an immature bird found dead, probably due to starvation)
Merlin 1 female type
Peregrine 1
Stock Dove 12 SE.
Short Eared Owl 1 (RES & KH)
Swallow 80
House Martin 15
Wheatear 1
Ring Ouzel 2
Blackcap 25 (10)
Pallas's Leaf Warbler 1 Belle Tout wood
Chiffchaff 37 (11)
Goldcrest 26
Treecreeper (1 Re-trap, ringed 27 Sept)
Raven 2+
Chaffinch 40
Brambling 1 Belle Tout wood
Goldfinch 100
Siskin 2



Pallas's Leaf Warbler Belle Tout wood (all taken by Roger Haggar)

Thursday 14 October 2010

14th October, 2010 Beachy Head Wind NNE3 to 4-5

Went to Beachy this morning with Doreen and also met up with Pete & Mim and Tony Quinn.
Not to many migrants in the bushes and only a small trickle moving over. Following were seen:

Sparrow Hawk 1
Kestrel 4
Merlin 1 (PN)
Peregrine 2-3
Swallow 130
House Martin 10
Pied Wagtail 15 (6 East)
Robin 7
Stonechat 9
Wheatear 4
Ring Ouzel 2
Blackbird 5
Song Thrush 2
Blackcap 1
Chiffchaff 21
Raven 2
Starling 700
Goldfinch 150 East
Siskin 2
Linnet 70 East

During the afternoon Tony Cook found a Pallas's Warbler in Belle Tout wood and was also seen by several other observers.

RHC had a Short Eared Owl in Shooters Bottom on the 13th.


Raven on the cliff edge fence at Birling




Tuesday 12 October 2010

12th October, 2010 Beachy Head. Wind NE 3/4

RDME & RES visited the usual sites on the Head today and recorded the following:

Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 3
Merlin 1 (RES)
Stock Dove 20
Gtr. Spotted Woodpecker 1
Swallow 34
Meadow Pipit c100
Song Thrush 15
Ring Ouzel 4
Blackbird 10
Wheatear 2
Blackcap 2
Chiffchaff 24
Goldcrest 9
Firecrest 1
Goldfinch 50+
Brambling 4
Raven 1

Also Stoat 1 & Red Admiral 1

Records from the 11th October by PN: 1 Common Redstart, 4 Wheatears, 5 Siskins, 3 Goldcrests, 13 Chiffchaffs, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Ravens, & 1 Grey Plover calling as it flew over Shooters Bottom.



Sunday 10 October 2010

10th October 2010 Beachy Head ENE5 Clear

Little Egret 1
Brent Geese 5E
Sparrowhawk 2
Peregrine 1
Kestrel 5
Golden Plover 2E
Curlew 2E
Woodpigeon c.80
Stock Dove 750E
Swallow 300E
House Martin 35E
Sand Martin 1E
Woodlark 2E ex. over Belle Tout
Skylark 50
Meadow Pipit 10W, 60E
Yellow Wagtail 2 (PN)
Grey Wagtail 1E
Pied Wagtail 61W
Starling 115W
Mistle Thrush 3E
Song Thrush 18
Ring Ouzel 6
Robin 10
Redstart 1 Birling
Wheatear 5
Whinchat 2
Stonechat 6
Chiffchaff 31
Goldcrest 1
Firecrest 2 Old Trapping Area
Tree Sparrow 3W
Chaffinch 75E
Brambling 2W
Redpoll 2W
Siskin 40E
Goldfinch 1,280E
Linnet 40E, 50
Reed Bunting 1
Raven 2

Alan Kitson also had a Black Redstart and a single Lapland Bunting between Birling and Crowlink.

Woodlark overflying Belle Tout

Firecrest in the Old Trapping Area

Stock Doves over the Old Trapping Area

Goldfinch in the Beachy Head Hotel Garden

Saturday 9 October 2010

9th October 2010 Beachy Head ENE5 Thick fog for first hour

Buzzard 2
Sparrowhawk 2 (1 trapped)
Kestrel 7
Dunlin 1W
Stock Dove 7E
Red-legged Partridge 2
Skylark 50
Swallow 175E
House Martin 5E
Pied Wagtail 17E
Yellow Wagtail 1E
Meadow Pipit 60E
Stonechat 10
Redstart 1
Whinchat 2
Wheatear 3
Robin 10
Song Thrush 16
Redwing 1 (RHC) 2 (RDME)
Blackbird 5
Starling 12E, 500
Blackcap 1
Chiffchaff 12
Goldcrest 6
Spotted Flycatcher 1
Goldfinch 405E
Siskin 8W
Linnet 100
Brambling 9W
Lapland Bunting 2E Birling Gap

Comma 1
First-year male Sparrowhawk trapped in the Hollow (Jacob Everitt)

Friday 8 October 2010

8th October,2010 Beachy Head

RDME visited the Head, generally quiet with a Golden Plover & 2 Ravens flew over the Hollow, and in the Old Trapping Area 2 Firecrests & 3 Goldcrests were present.

Thursday 7 October 2010

7thOctober,2010. Whitbread Hollow.

RDME was ringing in the Hollow today and recorded the following, with ringing numbers in brackets:

Wind: E 1-2 becoming SE 3-4.

Sparrowhawk 2
Song Thrush 5
Reed Warbler 1
Blackcap 50 (17)
Chiffchaff 50 (30)
Goldcrest 6
Long-tailed Tit 17
Chaffinch 20
Siskin 20
Redpoll 2
Raven 1

Paul James had 2 Honey Buzzards fly South out to sea from Holywell shortly before 08.00 hrs.

On the 6th October Alan Kitson had a Honey Buzzard fly out to sea from Birling at 10.54 hrs.

Tuesday 5 October 2010

5th October,2010 Beachy Head

Very Cloudy, Wind S/SW force 5.

RDME visited the Head in windy conditions and did most of the usual sites before the rain came.
Migrants seen: 150 Swallows, 150 Meadow Pipits, 1 Ring Ouzel in Shooters Bottom, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, also seen 1 Peregrine and 2 Kestrels.

Monday 4 October 2010

4th October, 2010 Beachy Head.

RKH visited the Head today and did several of the sites. Migrants seen included good numbers of Chiffchaffs & Blackcaps, also 4 Ring Ouzels, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts, 2 Common Whitethroats, 1 Willow Warbler, and a Grasshopper Warbler seen by G. Gowlett.

Ring Ouzel in the Old Trapping Area (RKH)

Spotted Flycatcher in the Old Trapping Area (RKH)

Saturday 2 October 2010

2nd October 2010 Beachy Head Calm & Overcast

Sparrowhawk 2
Kestrel 4
Short-eared Owl 1 ex.
Collared Dove 2W
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1W, 1
Skylark 7E, 100
Swallow 125
Pied Wagtail 12
Meadow Pipit 40W, 150
Tree Pipit 5
Blackbird 2
Ring Ouzel c.4 (RJF, RES)
Robin 15
Redstart 1
Wheatear 4
Stonechat 8
Whinchat 1
Blackcap 5
Chiffchaff 30
Goldcrest 1
Blue Tit 5W, 5
Lapland Bunting 1 fvo
Reed Bunting 1
Chaffinch 3E
Greenfinch 10
Linnet 300
Siskin 20W
Raven 1

Comma 1

Short-eared Owl over Belle Tout

Whinchat at Belle Tout

Chiffchaff at Belle Tout