29 Apr 2013 Beachy Head Cloudy becoming sunny cool W4 to NW 4

We joined RDME at Birling and sea-watched from 06.15-08.00 but again very disappointing. We then covered Birling lane and Belle Tout wood and RDME visited Whitbread Hollow, Cow Gap and the Gully, PN was also birding the Headland. Although we had some rain during the night, still very low numbers of migrants logged.

Red-throated Diver 2 E
Great Crested Grebe 1 W
Gannet 32 E & 3 W
Grey Heron 1 off Birling
Brent Goose 45 E
Shelduck 2 E
Common Scoter 112 E
Bonxie 3 E
Sandwich Tern 13 E & 13 W
Auk Sp 6 E
Guillemot 2 on the sea
Tawny Owl 2
Swallow 1
Rock Pipit 1 displaying
Common Whitethroat 10
Blackcap 4
Chiffchaff 2
Willow Warbler 2
Corn Bunting 1

 

 

 

Grey phase Tawny Owl showing well

 

Male Wheatear near Belle Tout taken on the 28th by Roger Haggar.

28 Apr 2013 Beachy Head Early frost, sunny & clear becoming warm. N1 to WSW 1

After the early frost it become a warm sunny day. Very clear visibility with a N wind so little expectations of a sea-watch and looking for land migrants. We tried two sea-watches from 07.05-07.35 & again from 10.30 to 11.30. We also did the Birling lane and Birling /Belle Tout loop and were joined by PN. RDME, RKH and RES were also birding the Headland sites.

Red-throated Diver 1E
Great Crested Grebe 1 on the sea
Common Scoter 27 E
Sandwich Tern 6 E
Commic Tern 24 E
Stock Dove 2 E
Swallow 10
Yellow Wagtail 3
Black Redstart 1 female type Birling
Whinchat 1
Stonechat 7
Wheatear11
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Common Whitethroat 9
Blackcap 1
Chiffchaff 3
Willow Warbler 1
Carrion Crow 2 in off the sea
Corn Bunting 1

Late news for yesterday: 2 Hobbies flew past Hodcombe late morning.

Gorse in full flower at Birling

Pete contemplating if Arsenal can beat Man. United this afternoon

 and therefore maintain their hope for next seasons Champion 

League. Pity he missed the Subalpine warbler singing in the open,

 just to the right of his head!!

27 Apr 2013 Beachy Head Sunny and clear but cold. N 3

Back to winter this morning with yet another cold north wind blowing. No point sea-watching and we first checked Shooters Bottom but were unable to locate the Long-eared Owl. We decided to visit Whitbread Hollow, Cow Gap and the Gully which was nicely sheltered from the wind and we found a Grasshopper Warbler by the first flight of steps otherwise just small numbers of migrants seen. Met up with RJF and JK who had been covering the Headland.

Little Egret 2 E off Cow Gap
Tawny Owl 2
Swift 2
Swallow 10
Tree Pipit 1
Yellow Wagtail 3
Wheatear 5
Grasshopper Warbler 1
Lesser Whitethroat 4
Common Whitethroat 15
Blackcap 2
Chiffchaff 1
Willow Warbler 1
Long-tailed Tit 2
Linnet 40 in field
Corn Bunting 6

Male Sparrowhawk feeding on a Goldfinch in the Old Trapping Area

on the 26 April. (taken by Roger Haggar).

Female type Black Redstart at Birling on the 26 April.

(taken by Roger Haggar).

26 Apr 2013 Beachy Head Heavy rain during morning clearing late morning N 1-2

Heavy rain during the early morning with the wind switching back to the north, we had a late start waiting for the rain to ease. Small arrival of migrants with Wheatears totaling 14 and our first Whinchats for the year. The Long-eared Owl was still showing in Shooters Bottom.

Common Buzzard 1

Sparrowhawk 1

Kestrel 3

Long-eared Owl 1

Swallow 3

Whinchat 3

Wheatear 14

Common Whitethroat 12

Blackcap 1

Chiffchaff 1

Willow Warbler 7

Raven 1

Linnet 40

Red Admiral 1

Chiffchaff at Birling

 Wheatears at Birling

Raven over Shooters Bottom

Three more pictures of the Long-eared Owl taken by D.Cooper yesterday.

25 Apr 2013 Beachy Head Sunny and warm with mist at sea SW 1

With a Long-eared Owl present in Shooters Bottom today, we decided to visit the Head this afternoon and had nice views and also did a sea-watch 17.20-18.25. Pete & Mim visited a number of sites this morning and RK also kindly sent me some pictures.

Red-throated Diver 1 on sea
Arctic Skua 1 E
Sandwich Tern 12 E
Little Tern 2 E
Tawny Owl 2 B/T wood
Long-eared Owl 1 Shooters Bottom
Swallow 1
Common Whitethroat 7
Willow Warbler 1
Raven 1

Harbour Porpoise 5

Long-eared Owl Shooters Bottom taken by Ron Knight

 

Long-eared Owl Shooters Bottom taken by JFC

23 Apr 2013 Beachy Head Early thick mist NW 1-2

Bob and Pete covered most of the sites on the Headland after the mist had improved and they also covered Whitbread Hollow. Small numbers of night migrants and a Red Kite being mobbed by 2 Ravens over the Top fields.

Red Kite 1 over the Top Fields @ 10.50 being mobbed by 2 Ravens.
Swallow 2
Wheatear 3
Song Thrush 1
Common Whitethroat 11
Blackcap 6
Chiffchaff 1
Willow Warbler 8
Raven 2

22 Apr 2013 Beachy Head Overcast and mild W 3

Joined RDME for a sea-watch between 06.10-08.10 and an improvement after the last three mornings. We then covered majority of the sites on the Head including B/T field but very few migrants were recorded from the area.

Red-throated Diver 5 E
Gannet 25 E
Brent Goose 184 E
Tufted Duck 2 E
Common Scoter 203 E
Red-breasted Merganser 10 E
Peregrine 1
Bar-tailed Godwit 60 E
Whimbrel 1 E
Arctic Skua 2 E
Bonxie 3 E
Sandwich Tern 39 E
Auk Sp. 1 E
Stonechat 2
Common Whitethroat 7
Chiffchaff 1
Willow Warbler 1
Linnet 50
Corn Bunting 2