16th March, 2012 Beachy Head Overcast becoming misty SW 2-3

We sea-watched from 06.25-09.25 and were joined by RDME & RHC. Between us all the birding sites were covered on the Head and RDME also visited Whitbread Hollow:

Red Throated Diver 14 E & 5 on the sea.

Gannet 25 off Birling with many moving E.

Brent Goose Approx 2,500 E with many very large flocks including one estimated at 550.

Shelduck 1 E

Teal 1 E

Pintail 1 drake E

Curlew 4

Mediterranean Gull 3 E

Black Headed Gull Approx. 200 E all in quite large parties flying very high out to sea.

Sandwich Tern 2 E

Auk Sp. 44 E

Guillemot 3 on the sea

Razorbill 4 on the sea

Peregrine 2 drinking from the water trough at Birling

Tawny Owl 3

Alba Wagtail 3 in off the sea.

Stonechat 3

Wheatear 11(Our first for the year)

Chiffchaff 6

Firecrest 1 B/T wood (Our first for the year)

Long Tailed Tit 2

Tree Creeper 1

Raven 2

Rufous phase of the Tawny Owl.

15th March, 2012 Beachy Head Foggy becoming misty warm SE1

Arrived at 7.00 am to foggy conditions but could see short way out to sea and with a SE wind decided to give it a try. We sea-watched from 07.00-09.30 and then covered most of the sites on the Headland although unable to walk the field as the tractor was raking it:

Red Throated Diver 6 E & 5 on the sea.
Great Crested Grebe a pair displaying on the sea.
Gannet 23 E
Grey Heron 1 W off Birling
Brent Goose 976 E
Shelduck 7 E
Pintail 2 E (pair)
Shoveler 9 E
Pochard 1 drake E with Scoters
Common Scoter 125 E
Red Breasted Merganser 2 E
Med Gull 12 E all s/p adults.
Iceland Gull 1 ad. E @ 08.45 then settled on the sea and drifted E with the tide. 
(Our 12th record since 1960 and the first since 2001).
Sandwich Tern 2 E
Auk Sp. 10 E
Guillemot 5 E
Razorbill 6 on the sea.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 drumming B/T wood
Black Redstart 3 (1 female type on the edge of B/T wood & 2 Hodcombe)
Stonechat 2 males
Chiffchaff 10

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly 1

Some of today's Chiffchaffs.

Green Woodpecker at Birling

14th March, 2012 Beachy Head Overcast misty cool ENE 1-2

We sea-watched from 06.45-07.15. Met up with RHC & PN at Birling and covered the lane, walk upto Belle Tout Lighthouse and onto the wood and then walked the field:

Red Throated Diver 2 on the sea.

Snow Goose 6 flew in over the cliffs from the sea at Birling 

at 10.00 hrs, then flew around Birling before departing high 

SE at 10.10 hrs.

Sparrowhawk 1

Med. Gull 1 in fields at Birling

Razorbill 2 on the sea.

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 B/T wood.

Skylark 25 in field

Black Redstart 1 Hodcombe

Goldcrest 1

Raven 1

Goldfinch 25 in the field

Linnet 70 in the field

Six Snow Geese over Birling Gap

13th March, 2012 Beachy Head Overcast misty mild NE 1

Sea-watched from 06.50-07.50 with RDME, also met up with PN, and we covered all sites on the Headland including Icky Ridge & the field and RDME went into Whitbread Hollow:

Red Throated Diver 2 E
Great Crested Grebe 1 E
Gannet 11 E
Peregrine 1
Stonechat 4 (3 males)
Blackbird 10
Chiffchaff 1
Goldcrest 1
Tree Creeper 1
Long Tailed Tit 3

PN visited the Birling/Belle Tout area on the 12th:

Common Buzzard 1 SE over Birling towards Belle Tout wood
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Goldcrest 2

Violets in flower

11th March, 2012 Beachy Head clear cool becoming sunny & warm NW0-1

Sea-watched from 06.50-07.50 and then met up with PN and covered the Birling area, Belle Tout wood and the field:

Red Throated Diver 8 E

Great Crested Grebe 5 on the sea.

Gannet 34 E

Grey Heron 1 W

Shelduck 1 W

Common Scoter 19 E

Sparrowhawk 1

Common Gull 300 (virtually all adults) at Birling

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 B/T wood drumming

Alba Wagtail 1 in off the sea.

Stonechat 2

Chiffchaff 1 B/T wood

Long Tailed Tit 3

Tree Creeper 1 B/T wood

Linnet 25 in field

Raven 17-21 (An exceptional movement, with 4 over B/T wood followed by 17 over downs near Birling, they were very noisy and after several minutes of circling 15 departed high E until out of sight). The Raven is chiefly sedentary although some immatures can make extensive movements.   

Part of the Raven flock migrating E over Beachy Head

10th March, 2012 Beachy Head Overcast, mild W 1

Sea-watched 06.50-08.20 and were joined by RDME & PN. We then covered the lane at Birling, walked to the B/T lighthouse and onto the wood and back through the field. PN & RDME covered Shooters Bottom and RDME visited Whitbread Hollow:

Red Throated Diver 4 E
Great Crest Grebe 4 on the sea
Gannet 10 E & 8 W
Grey Heron 1 W off Birling
Brent Goose 120 E (including 1 milky-tea coloured leucistic bird)
Peregrine 1
Auk Sp. 2 E
Razorbill 2 on the sea
Tawny Owl 2 calling in Whitbread Hollow
Skylark 20 in the field
Rock Pipit 1
Alba Wagtail 3N & 1 W
Stonechat 7 (mostly males)
Long Tailed Tit 2
Goldfinch 3
Linnet 25 in the field
Bullfinch 1 singing in Whitbread Hollow

 

Skylark in the field at Belle Tout

9th March, 2012 Beachy Head Cloudy W0-1 increasing to 2

We sea-watched from 07.00-08.30 and were joined by RDME, RHC & PN. We also covered virtually all the sites on the Head including walking through the field:

Red Throated Diver 10 E & 1 W
Great Crested Grebe 3 on the sea.
Gannet 10 E
Canada Goose 2 flew over the cliffs.
Brent Goose 210 E
Shelduck 2 E
Eider 10 drifted E (5 drakes)
Common Scoter 3 E
Peregrine 2
Med Gull 1 over Birling
Common Gull 200+
Razorbill 3 on the sea
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Black Redstart 1 female type Birling (our first for the year)
Stonechat 4 (all males)
Linnet 32 in the field