18 Jan 2013 Beachy Head Overcast cold with snow SE 2-4

With a SE wind and snow spreading along the South coast from the West Country, we decided to pay a quick visit to Birling where we sea-watched from 07.55-08.55 and then had time to check Birling area and Belle Tout wood before the heavy snow arrived. Sea-watch was fairly slow with just small numbers of divers and auks, and no sign of any cold weather movement at the sites which we covered.

Red-throated Diver 13 E
Great-crested Grebe 7 E
Gannet 2 E
Curlew 1
Auk Sp.67 E (only 6 i/d and all were Razorbills).
Common Gulls 400 on the sea off Birling and all were adults.

13 Jan 2013 Beachy Head Sunny periods cold NNE 1-2

Sea-watched from 07.55-10.00 and we then walked Birling lane, through Belle Tout field and wood before returning back to Birling. Other than the sea-watch, very little evidence of any cold weather movement.

Red-throated Diver 40 (36 E, 1W & 3 on sea)
Great-crested Grebe 4 E
Fulmar 7
Gannet 120 E
Little Egret 1 E a little way out to sea and appeared to be moving.
Brent Goose 242 E
Shelduck 8 E
Wigeon 1 on sea
Teal 1 E
Common Scoter 9 E
Velvet Scoter 1 E
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Great Skua 2 E
Common Gull 250+ in fields at Birling
Auk Sp 655 E (c20 were i/d as Razorbills).
Skylark c200+
Rock Pipit 1
Song Thrush 3
Raven 3

Bob and Sarah went into Whitbread Hollow and had a Kestrel, Tawny Owl and 2 Jays.

1 Jan 201Belle Tout lighthouse3 Beachy Head Fine, sunny & mild W2

We sea-watched from 08.15-09.20 and then walked Birling lane and along cliff edge to Belle Tout lighthouse and wood and then walked back to Birling via the rough field. Generally very few passerines present and didn't see any House Sparrows or Blackbirds on our walk.

Red-throated Diver 2 E

Fulmar 5

Gannet 3 W

Shelduck 1 W

Wigeon 8 on sea

Velvet Scoter 4 E @ 08.40

Common Buzzard 1 sat on wall

Kestrel 1

Curlew 4

Black-headed Gull 40 W

Kittiwake 6 W

Auk Sp. 1 E

Skylark 70 in field

Rock Pipit 2-3

Stonechat 1 male

Goldfinch 15 

Beachy Head Lighthouse on a beautiful 1st January, 2013.

Exmoor ponies at Birling.

 

Kestrel on the cliff edge.

8 Dec 2012 Beachy Head Overcast becoming fine and sunny mild NW 0-1

With a good weather forecast we decided to visit the Headland. We sea-watched for 50 minutes and with very light winds we walked right through the rough field returning back to Birling. We then checked Belle Tout wood and stopped briefly at the Old Trapping Area.

Red-throated Diver 19 W

Great-crested Grebe 8 W including a milky-tea coloured leucistic individual.

Fulmar 1

Grey Heron 1

Wigeon 6 W

Teal 19 W

Mallard 7 W

Common Scoter 1 female on the sea

Kestrel 1

Oystercatcher 4

Common Gull 50 

Auk Sp. 27 W

Tawny Owl 2

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1

Skylark 100

Song Thrush 4

Raven 2

Goldfinch 30

Siskin 1 heard

Grey Seal 1 off Birling

Goldfinches feeding in the rough field.

1 Dec 2012 Beachy Head Cold clear and frosty.

David and Brenda visited the Headland in the hope of finding some Waxwings. They covered virtually all the Headland including the Cliff Path and looked down into the Hollow.

Fulmar 12 had returned to Birling
Gannet 4
Teal 5 E
Red-breasted Merganser 1 W
Auk Sp. 20 E
Black Redstart 1 at Birling
Song Thrush 2
Goldcrest 1
Goldfinch 10
Siskin 3 N
Redpoll 1 heard
Corn Bunting 1

A very wintry Belle Tout - autumn is over!

Black Redstart at Birling Gap

18 Nov 2012 Beachy Head Fine sunny but cool. Wind very light

DC and BK visited the Headland and covered virtually all the usual sites including B/T field. Unfortunately they were unable to park at Holywell and therefore could not have a look for the Siberian Chiffchaff.
Generally very little in the area and no sign of any diurnal migration:

Sparrowhawk 2
Goldcrest 5
Firecrest 1 (Hotel Garden)
Corn Bunting 1

If anyone is interested I have added a trip report on our recent trip for Eastern migrants to Hegura-jima, Japan on the following blog site:
http://jfcbirdingtrips.blogspot.co.uk/

16 Nov 2012 Beachy Head Overcast mild and misty with fog mid-morning ESE 2

Covered Birling, Belle Tout wood and Holywell before the fog came down. Little of interest seen other than 1 Black Redstart and no sign of any Chiffchaffs at Holywell.

Peregrine 1
Tawny Owl 2
Black Redstart 1
Song Thrush 3
Goldcrest 8