Beachy Head

Sunday, 21 April 2013

21 Apr 2013 Beachy Head Early frost sunny becoming warm ENE 1

We joined RKH & RES and sea-watched from 06.15-07.30. Although still virtually no real movement, an Arctic Tern gave good views feeding and 2 fine summer plumage Black-necked Grebes were the highlights.
We then covered the Birling and Birling/Belle Tout loop meeting up with PN & RK. We then covered Shooters Bottom, The Old Trapping Area and the Hotel Garden. A small influx of Blackcaps and Whitethroats several of which were feeding out in the open on the grass.

Red-throated Diver 4 E & 1 on the sea

Great Crested Grebe 1 on the sea

Black-necked Grebe 2 in s/p on the sea

Gannet 5 E & 2 W

Canada Goose 2 E

Brent Goose 5 E

Shelduck 2 E

Common Scoter 25 E

Red-breasted Merganser 2 E

Peregrine 1

Lapwing 1 W

Whimbrel 1 E

Greenshank 1 calling over Birling

Sandwich Tern 8 E

Arctic Tern 1 feeding off Birling

Swallow 9

Robin 8

Black Redstart 1 Birling

Stonechat 4

Lesser Whitethroat 1

Common Whitethroat 20

Blackcap 5

Willow Warbler 1

Firecrest 2

Carrion Crow 1 in off the sea

Raven 2

Corn Bunting 2

Small Tortoiseshell 1 (Our first butterfly for the year)

Arctic Tern feeding off Birling

Black-necked Grebes off Birling

Some of today's Common Whitehroats feeding on the grass.

Male Stonechat up the lane at Birling was probably of continental orgin.

Female Blackcap at Birling

Lesser Whitethroat in the Old Trapping Area taken by Ron Knight.

Lapwing moving W over Belle Tout

Saturday, 20 April 2013

20 Apr 2013 Beachy Head Early frost sunny but cool E1-2

We joined RKH and RDME at the sea-watch and watched from 06.00-08.00. Another pathetic sea-watch with again virtually no movement. Covered the headland sites but with the bright sunny weather after a late frost it all seemed a waste of time with only the odd migrants recorded. RKH & RES had a brief view of a male Pied Fly in the Old Trapping area but this soon moved on.

Red-throated Diver 8 E & 2 on the sea.
Great Crested Grebe 1 on the sea
Gannet 6 E & 3 W
Canada Goose 2 off Birling
Shelduck 1 E
Mallard 3
Common Scoter 6 E
Red Kite past Hodcome at 13.45
Common Buzzard 2
Whimbrel 3 E
Bar-tailed Godwit 3 E
Arctic Skua 2 E
Sandwich Tern 8 E
Commic Tern 1 E & 2 W
Firecrest 1 Old Trapping Area
Pied Flycatcher 1 male Old Trapping Area
Carrion Crow 1 in off the sea
Raven 2
Linnet 75 again in the field
Corn Bunting 1 singing

Adder 1 female below Belle Tout lighthouse.

Firecrest in the Old Trapping Area.

Friday, 19 April 2013

19 Apr 2013 Beachy Head Overcast cold W4-5 decreasing

We sea-watched from 06.30-07.05 but the sea movement was virtually non-existence. We then covered the Birling/Belle Tout loop and walked the field. Met up with RDME who had covered Whitbread Hollow and also with RKH & RK and covered Shooters Bottom and the Hotel Garden. Just the odd migrants seen including 3 Firecrests and our first Redstart for the year.

Red-throated Diver 1 W
Brent Goose 2 W
Kestrel 2
Peregrine 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 drumming Hollow
Swallow 10
Common Redstart 1 male Whitbread Hollow
Stonechat 5
Common Whitethroat 2
Blackcap 1
Chiffchaff 3
Willow Warbler 2
Goldcrest 1
Firecrest 3 (2 Shooters Bottom & 1 Hotel Garden)
Raven 1
Linnet 90 (75 in field and 15 W)
Bullfinch 2 Hollow

Firecrest in the Hotel Garden

Thursday, 18 April 2013

18 Apr 2013 Beachy Head Sunny periods but cold W 6-8

RHC sea-watched from approx. 07.00-07.50 and the highlights were 32 Bonxies and c7 Arctic Skuas.
We spent early morning and evening looking for the Corncrake in Shooters Bottom and finally connected with it at around 19.40 when it showed well along the edge of one of the paths for some 10 minutes from 20 yards range, much to DC's relief as it was a Sussex tick for him. Since 1960, 29 records although a number were seen by the late Tom Bridger who was the farmer at Cornish Farm and knew Corncrake very well. The 15th April is now our earliest Spring record, our previous earliest was on the 19 April, 1970.
Other migrants seen today included 1 Firecrest, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Common Whitethroat and also 1 Pied Flycatcher was reported from Belle Tout wood.

10 April 2013 to 17 Apr 2013 Beachy Head

We have just returned from a week's birding in Cyprus, but both Ron Knight and Roger Haggar have kindly sent me their sightings and photographs during the week we were away.

10th April, 2013:
RKH sea-watched from 07.10-09.00 and covered some sites on the Head. RK also covered most of the sites on the Head:
Red-throated Diver 11 E
Black-necked Grebe 1 s/p on the sea
Brent Goose 1,316 E
Teal 16 E
Common Scoter 25 E
Merlin 1 sat on a fence post along the road.
Curlew 10 E
Sandwich Tern 5 E
Black Redstart 1 male Hodcombe
Wheatear 1
Ring Ouzel 3
Blackbird Good influx noted
Willow Warbler 2
Goldcrest 14
Firecrest 1

13th April, 2013
RKH sea-watched from 06.35-09.00 and again covered several sites on the Head. RJF and JK both visited the Headland and covered a number of sites.
Red-throated Diver 12 E
Slavonian Grebe 2 s/p on the sea.
Brent Goose 13 E
Common Scoter 102 E
Red-breasted Merganser 5 E
Arctic Skua 1 E
Bonxie 5 E
Mediterranean Gull 30 E
Little Gull 19 E
Sandwich Tern 41 E
Commic Tern 4 E
Auk Sp. 3 E
Tawny Owl 2
Black Redstart 1 female type
Stonechat 4
Wheatear 1
Blackcap 2
Willow Warbler 2
Chiffchaff 2
Goldcrest 1
Firecrest 2

14 April, 2013
RKH sea-watched from 07.15-08.30:
Red-throated Diver 2 E
Manx Shearwater 1 W @ 07.45
Brent Goose 5 E
Cmoon Scoter 50 E
Velvet Scoter 2 E
Sandwich Tern 11 E
Commic Tern 1 E
Wheatear 1

15 April, 2013
RKH covered a number of sites on the Head.
Swallow 1
Common Whitethroat 1
Willow Warbler 5
Corncrake 1 found in Shooters Bottom by Richard Butler and was still present on the 17th and seen by many observers.

Corncrake in Shooters Bottom taken on the 17th by Ron Knight.

Adult male Ring Ouzel taken in Shooters Bottom on the 10th

by Ron Knight.

Common Whitethroat taken in Shooters Bottom on the 15th by Roger Haggar.

Willow Warbler taken on the 13th by Richard Fairbank

Monday, 8 April 2013

8 Apr 2013 Beachy Head Overcast, cold ENE 3-4

If yesterday was Spring, this morning it felt like a return to winter at Beachy. We sea-watched from 06.30-10.10 and RHC & RKH joined us. Good variety of ducks moving today, but still no Garganey were i/d. RB was also birding some of the sites on the Headland and we also briefly visited Belle Tout wood but we were still shivering from our sea-watch and decided to head for home:

Red-throated Diver 42 (37 E & 5 on the sea)
Great Crested Grebe 6 (2 E & 4 on the sea)
Slavonian Grebe 3 on the sea (1 in virtual full s/p)
Gannet 120 E
Brent Goose 1102 E
Shelduck 15 E
Wigeon 4 E
Gadwall 5 E
Teal 40 E
Mallard 9 E
Pintail 53 E
Shoveller 66 E
Pochard 2 E (pair)
Tufted Duck 5 E
Common Scoter 728 E
Velvet Scoter 4 E
Red-breasted Merganser 8 E
Peregrine 1
Curlew 6 (5 W & 1 in off the sea)
Redshank 1 E
Mediterranean Gull 4 E
Black-headed Gull 21 E
Sandwich Tern 15 E
Auk Sp. 130 E
Guillemot 8 chiefly on the sea
Razorbill 8 E
Skylark 4 in off the sea
Alba Wagtail 2 in off the sea
Chiffchaff 4
Goldcrest 2-3 B/T wood
Firecrest 1 B/T wood
Carrion Crow 9 in off the sea
Corn Bunting 1

Harbour Porpoise 1

Sunday, 7 April 2013

7 Apr 2013 Beachy Head Clear sunny cold, heavy frost NE to E 0-1

Late news for the 2nd Apr with a Firecrest at Hodcombe.

Yesterday the 6th Apr a brief visit during the late afternoon produced 16 Mediterranean Gulls E and c300 Black-headed Gulls E.

Today the 7th Apr, we sea-watched from 06.50-10.30 and again from 13.55-15.05. For once a good sea-movement. Roger and Liz. found a superb Stone Curlew in the field behind Hodcombe and it showed well for a short while before taking off and we were unable to re-locate it, otherwise just the odd migrant seen:

Red-throated Diver 175 E

Black-throated Diver 1 E

Great-crested Grebe 2 E and 4 on the sea.

Gannet 35 E

Brent Goose 1,636 E

Shelduck 8 E

Gadwall 1 E

Shoveller 2 E

Eider 5 E (4 drakes)

Common Scoter 764 E

Velvet Scoter 9 E

Red-breasted Merganser 19 E