9th April, 2011 Beachy Head.Clear cool & sunny NE 3

We sea-watched from 06.10 t0 08.10, but wind and conditions were against us and not a lot was seen. We were joined by most of the regular observers.

We then covered all the areas on the Headland but the stiff wind made observing difficult.

Gannet 20

Grey-lag Goose 2 E

Gadwall 2 E

Shoveler 12 E

Common Scoter 41 E

Red Br.Merganser 8 E

Curlew 10 E

Arctic Skua 1 E

Med Gull 4 E

Kittiwake Approx 200 E

Sandwich Tern 3 E

Common Tern 2 E

Tawny Owl 1

Sand Martin 1

Swallow 8

White Wagtail 4 +4 Albas in off the sea.

Wheatear 6

Common Whitethroat 3

Blackcap 2

Willow Warbler 1

Raven 1

Linnet 40 (mainly coming in off the sea).

Peacock 1

Dotted Bee-fly 2

Tawny Owl in the wood.

8th April, 2011 Beachy Head. Fine warm & sunny, NW 0-1

Doreen and myself concentrated on birding the various sites on the Headland today in beautiful weather. RDME was also working the Headland and kindly telephoned us when he located 2 Red Kites sat in a field just to the E. of Shooters Bottom. We were joined by RHC, who informed us that he has seen Red Kites over the last 3 days with 1 on the 5th, 2 on the 6th and up to 12 yesterday including 8 in the air together.

The following birds seen today were the combined totals of of RDME & our sightings:

Shelduck a pair around Birling area probably prospecting.

Red Kite 2 in field to the East of Shooters Bottom drifted off East.

Common Buzzard 1 over the Head

Black Redstart 1 at Birling

Wheatear 4

Blackcap 9

Chiffchaff 5

Willow Warbler 22

Raven 1-2

Corn Bunting 1

Peacock 2

Brimstone 1 B/T wood.

Dotted Bee-Fly 2 at Birling.

Red Kite tussling with a Raven near Shooters Bottom.

Two Red Kites were present this morning near Shooters Bottom.

Chiffchaff in the Old Trapping Area.

Female Wheatear at Birling

Male Stonechat at Birling.

Male Chaffinch at Birling.

Two more pics of the Dotted Bee-fly at Birling.

White Tailed Bee

7th April, 2011.Beachy Head. Cold at first becoming fine & sunny.

RDME covered virtually all the sites on the Headland including the Cliff Path. He also met up with PN who covered some of the areas. Fall of Willow Warblers:

Common Buzzard 1 (PN)

Collared Dove 2

Tawny Owl 1

Swallow 5

Wheatear 6

Blackcap 2

Chiffchaff 5

Willow Warbler Approx. 50 (including 1 acredula type in the Old Trapping Area, with darkish legs, almost entirely grey and white just a hint of colour in lower cheeks, primaries and poss. undertail coverts.) RDME & PN.

Raven 1

Corn Bunting 1

Peacock 2

Small Tortoiseshell 1

6th April, 2011 Beachy Head Clear & sunny WSW 2

Doreen and myself did a sea-watch for 1.5 hrs, but it was very uneventful. We then walked virtually the whole of the Headland sites including the rough field, met up with Richard & RKH, generally very quiet although weather was beautiful and just a handful of migrants seen:

Gannet 17 E

Common Scoter 24 E

Kestrel 1

Peregrine 1

Sandwich Tern 7 E

Tawny Owl 1

Swallow 4

Black Redstart 1 Shooters Bottom

Wheatear 1

Blackcap 2

Chiffchaff 5

Willow Warbler 8

Firecrest 1 Shooters Bottom

Linnet 120 (100 in Rough field & 20 W).

Corn Bunting 1

Peacock 2

Dotted Bee-fly (Bombylius discolor) 1

Pair of Herring Gulls prospecting on the cliff edge.

Peacock - One of two seen today.

Dotted Bee-fly Bombylius discolor

Found up the Lane at Birling. It is a Nationally scarce Bee-fly

and much scarcer than Bombylius major.

(Many thanks to RKH who was able to identify it from my Picture).

4th April,2011. Beachy Head Sunny,clear & cool. WSW 2-3

We did a sea-watch for 1.25 hours and were joined by TWP. Doreen and myself then walked from Holywell into Whitbread Hollow, the Gully and Cow Gap, out first time this year. TWP covered Birling and Belle Tout wood.

Red Throated Diver 3E

Gannet 9 E & 5 W

Grey-lag 2 E

Common Scoter 22 E

Red Br. Merganser 1 E

Great Skua 1 E

Sandwich Tern 6 E

Auk sp. 55 E

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 drumming Hollow.

Meadow Pipit 10 pairs in Cow Gap.

Black Redstart 2 at Birling. (TWP)

Wheatear 2 in Whitbread Hollow

Blackcap 1

Chiffchaff 10

Willow Warbler 1

Weasle 1 in Whitbread Hollow.

Wheatear on the bank leading out off Whitbread Hollow.

Meadow Pipit in Cow Gap.

Following pictures taken in the Gully & Cow Gap.

Three pictures taken in the Gully below Cow Gap.

Cow Gap looking east.

Cow Gap looking west.

Looking across the southern end of Whitbread Hollow towards Eastbourne.

3rd April, 2011.Beachy Head.Sea fog & sunny periods. W 2

Went to Beachy but unfortunately sea-fog kept rolling in and it wasn't possible to sea-watch.

Managed to walk Birling, Belle Tout, Rough field and other sites on the Head, but generally only odd migrants were seen as follows:

Swallow 1

Black Redstart 2

Wheatear 1

Blackcap 2

Chiffchaff 4

Goldcrest 1

Firecrest 1

Linnet 120.

Cobweb with dew at Birling.

Belle Tout lighthouse showing above the sea-fog.

Sea-fog rolling in at Birling Gap, bang goes our seawatch.

2nd April, 2011. Beachy Head Sunny & mild. SE2-3

We did a 5 hour sea-watch from 06.15 - 11.15 hrs. and was joined by RHC, and RKH & RES. for some of the time. We covered much of the Headland including the rough field and Cliff Path. The following were recorded:

Red Throated Diver 30 E

Black Throated Diver 1 E in full s/p.

Great Crested Diver 3 E

Black Necked Grebe 9 on sea drifted off E. (7 in s/p & 2 in w/p).

Gannet 128 E

Brent Goose 141 E

Shelduck 5 E

Wigeon 4 E

Gadwall 1 E

Teal 67 E

Mallard 5 E

Pintail 3 E

Shoveler 66 E

Pochard 2 E

Tufted Duck 3 E

Eider 14 E

Common Scoter 1,695 E

Velvet Scoter 27 E

Red Br. Merganser 27 E

Kestrel 1

Peregrine 2

Whimbrel 6 E

Great Skua 3 E

Little Gull 11 E

Kittiwake Approx. 800 E (estimated, no count made).

Sandwich Tern 379 E

Common Tern 2 E

Auk Sp. 32 E

Tawny Owl 1

Alba Wagtail 3 in off the sea.

Blackcap 3 (2 males & 1 female) in B/T wood.

Chiffchaff 3

Raven 1

Linnet 40

Corn Bunting 5

Brimstone 1

Small Tortoiseshell 1+

Tawny Owl in Belle Tout wood (RKH)

Cowslip - the first of many hundreds.

Male Yellowhammer taken on the 26th March near Belle Tout.