Saturday 5 November 2011

5th November, 2011. Beachy Head. Overcast NE 1-2

We met up with RDME & JK at Birling and also saw PN briefly. We covered the whole of the Head including the Cliff Path and the rough field. RDME went into Whitbread Hollow, Cow Gap and the Gully. CB covered Holywell 07.40-08.55 and then visited some sites on the Head.

Large easterly passage of Finches during early morning at both Birling & Holywell. I have given combined totals and have also shown individual totals for the finch movements at the two sites with B = Birling & H = Holywell.

Great Crested Grebe 2 on sea off Holywell
Little Egret 1 E over the Downs near B/T wood.
Sparrowhawk 1 W
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 2
Snipe 1 flushed from rough field.
Stock Dove 25 S
Woodpigeon 160 S
Short Eared Owl 1 flushed from rough field near Birling.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Skylark 108 (31 E & 25 W).
Swallow 7
House Martin 2
Alba Wagtail 14 E
Wren 8
Black Redstart 1 near Holywell
Stonechat 4
Ring Ouzel 1 Whitbread Hollow
Chiffchaff 2
Goldcrest 8
Firecrest 3 (2 Birling & 1 Holywell).
Tree Creeper 1
Raven 3
Chaffinch 50 (38 E @ H)
Brambling 2
Greenfinch 18 E (10 @ B & 8 @ H).
Goldfinch 2,135 E (1,440 @ H & 695 @ B).
Siskin 217 E (142 @ H & 75 @ B).
Lesser Redpoll 236 E (147 @ H & 89 @ B).
Crossbill heard only at Birling.
Bullfinch 4
Reed Bunting 4 (3 W)


Record shot of Short Eared Owl near Birling Gap.
A curiously dark individual.