5 Nov 2012 Beachy Head Misty cool becoming fine sunny and warm N 1-2

We started off at Birling and walked the lane and then checked the gorse area behind Belle Tout wood for Dartfords and then Belle Tout gully and over to the wood. No sign of the Hume's Leaf Warbler during our stay and we met up with PN, RB RHC and a few other birders. We then went to Hodcombe and covered the garden. Small passage of Woodpigeons also Ring Ouzel and a female type Marsh Harrier.


Met Office view
Low pressure is centred to the southwest of Wales, with an associated occlusion indicating banding of showers. Various troughs around the UK indicate areas of enhanced shower activity. A number of weather fronts across Mediterranean Europe indicate unsettled conditions.

Marsh Harrier 1 female type
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Stock Dove 20
Woodpigeon 1,300 S
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Swallow 12
Black Redstart 1 Birling
Ring Ouzel 1 male
Blackbird 15
Song Thrush 3
Blackcap 1
Chiffchaff 1
Goldcrest 3
Raven 2
Starling 480 (80 W)
Brambling 1
Corn Bunting 2

Raven on the cliff edge in Belle Tout gully

 

Female type Marsh Harrier drifting high E over Belle Tout.

3 Nov 2012 Beachy Head Early heavy showers becoing sunny. W 2-4

We met up with Richard and John at Birling and covered most of the sites on the Headland but concentrated in Belle Tout wood where the Hume's Yellow-browed was showing well although still very active. RDME was in Whitbread Hollow. Good numbers of other birders present wit the attraction of the Hume's. Only a few other migrants were seen although another c3,000 Woodpigeons moved out to sea.

 Met Office view
A complex area of low pressure, with three separate centres, lies to the north of the UK, with an assortment of fronts associated with it. Further west, an elongated area of high pressure lies over Greenland. Tightly packed isobars between the two indicate northerly strong winds over and around Iceland.

Little Egret 1
Common Scoter 10 on the sea
Sparrowhawk 1
Merlin 1
Peregrine 1
Stock Dove 15
Woodpigeon c3,000 S out to sea
Swallow 20
Redwing 6
Blackcap 1
Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler 1
Goldcrest 6
Jay 2
Raven 2
Goldfinch 35

Channel ferry in a rainbow off Birling

 My efforts with the Hume's

David's effort with the Hume's

 

 

Sound-recording of the Hume's

 

Sonogram of the Beachy Hume's

Sonogram of a Hume's in Sweden October 2011



2 Nov 2012 Beachy Head Sunny periods with heavy showers W 2-3 to 5 when raining

Fairly blustery conditions with some very heavy showers allowed  for only limited coverage. We birded the lane and then spent the rest of our time in Belle Tout wood looking for the Hume's Leaf Warbler. After a couple of very brief sightings by other birders we finally connected with excellent views from 5 yards feeding in the centre of the wood just below the pathway for several minutes. It was only approx. 2 feet above the ground but it was very active but never remained long in one place.
Also 1 Merlin over the field and 1 Brambling in the bushes at the top of the lane.


Met Office view
Low pressure is situated over and to the north of the UK, with a number of fronts associated with it. Those over the UK indicate areas of more frequent showers. Closely- packed isobars around Iceland, on the northwest flank of the low, indicate strong winds here. High pressure prevails further west in the Atlantic and over Greenland.

1 Nov 2012 Beachy Head Sunny periods but heavy showers

The Hume's Leaf Warbler was again present on the Western side of Belle Tout wood.

John Stanton has kindly sent me the following pictures taken on Beachy Head during October.

Hume's Leaf Warbler taken on the 31st Oct in Belle Tout wood

Yellow-browed Warbler taken on the 10th Oct in The Old Trapping Area

Firecrest taken on the 10th Oct

Siberian Stonechat taken on the 22 Oct near Birling Gap

All pictures taken by John Stanton

31 Oct 2012 Beachy Head Overcast with heavy showers W 4

The Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Belle Tout wood attracted some attention today and 2 Chiffchaffs and 10 Goldcrests were also present. Mick Davis managed to obtain some good pictures of the Hume's

Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Belle Tout wood (taken by Mick Davis)



Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler taken by John Stanton

30 Oct 2012 Beachy Head Fine and Sunny N/NNW 2-3

PN & RK covered the sites on the Headland and RDME & SM were ringing in Whitbread Hollow. John Marchant was also birding the Headland yesterday and today. Birds ringed today are included in brackets.

Just a scattering of migrants although JM discovered a Hume's Yellow Browed Warbler ( our 4th record and all in Belle Tout wood)  around mid-day and although elusive it was also seen by a number of other observers during the afternoon. Yesterday a Firecrest and a Woodcock were also seen by JM.


Met Office view
A complex area of low pressure to the north of the UK has a number of fronts and troughs associated with it, some of which are affecting the UK. Low pressure is also situated over Portugal and Spain, while an area of high pressure sits over the northwest Atlantic, centred near Newfoundland.

Woodpigeon 400
Tawny Owl 4
Swallow 15
House Martin 3
Wren 4 (2)
Robin 10 (4)
Black Redstart 1 1stY.
Blackbird 30 (6)
Fieldfare 12
Song Thrush 2
Lesser Redpoll 30 (25)
Bullfinch 1
Reed Bunting 4
Corn Bunting 4

Hume's Yellow Browed Warbler taken in poor light by Matt Eade.

28 Oct 2012 Beachy Head Fine sunny but cool at first becoming overcast W 1 increasing to 2-3

We started at Birling meeting up with JK, RJW, & MK. expecting in the clear calm conditions a good diurnal migration although it was only a trickle. We then covered most sites on the Headland meeting up with PN, GG & RK. Very few migrants recorded in the bushes although John Marchant recorded a large Woodpigeon flight on the eastern side of the Headland from the Holywell area of approx. 14,000 birds.

Late news from the 27th was a Hobby which maybe our latest date, and on the 28th a Short-eared Owl.


Met Office view
A ridge of high pressure in the south of the UK has meant fairly quiet conditions. A trough through the English Channel indicates organised showers. Weather fronts across the north of the UK have been introducing cloud and outbreaks of rain. A deep area of low pressure is bringing very unsettled weather across Italy and surrounding countries.

Pochard 4 off Birling
Common Scoter 12 off Birling
Sparrowhawk 2
Kestrel 1
Merlin 1
Peregrine 1
Stock Dove 40
Woodpigeon 1,500 (+14,000 on the Eastern side of the Headland).
Collared Dove 1
Skylark 70
Swallow 1
House Martin 11
Robin 10
Blackbird 20
Redwing 4
Mistle Thrush 3
Song Thrush 6
Blackcap 1
Chiffchaff 1
Goldcrest 8
Raven 2
Brambling 2
Goldfinch 30
Siskin 2
Linnet 100
Redpoll 5
Bullfinch 1
Corn Bunting 9