8 Sept 2014 Beachy Head 2/8 cloud NE3/4

RDME visited the Head briefly this morning and covered Shooters, Birling  Lane and the Wood.

One Wryneck was seen again in Shooters Bottom but otherwise small numbers of night migrants although warblers were very active and he felt he had probably under-estimated these. Only small number of hirundines were seen during his visit and 20 Meadow Pipits moved E.

Sparrowhawk 1
Wryneck 1
Meadow Pipit 20 E
Swallow 150 E
House Martin 50 E
Song Thrush 2
Sedge Warbler 1
Reed Warbler 2
Common Whitethroat 20
Garden Warbler 1
Blackcap 30
Chiffchaff 8

Late News from Hodcombe:
5th Sept: Wryneck 1 (making a total of 3 in the area on this date), Common Redstart 2, Pied Flycatcher 12, Spotted Flycatcher 5, Whinchat 5. 6th Sept: Wood Warbler 1 briefly.

7 Sept 2014. Beachy Head. Early mist becoming fine sunny and hot with virtually no wind.

We met up with JK at Birling and covered virtually all the main Headland sites including Birling and Belle Tout loop. Also met up with a number of the regular birders including RKH and RES. Bob and Paul were ringing in Whitbread Hollow and my good friend Tony Quinn lead a small party into Whitbread Hollow/Cow Gap area. Kris Gillam also visited a number of sites and saw a total of 3 different Wrynecks.

Fewer migrants seen on the Headland although an early morning passage of Swallows and House Martins, with small numbers of Yellow Wagtails and also 7 Grey Wagtails flew W. Blackcap numbers were again high in the Hollow with Wrynecks now numbered 4 with 2 seen together in Shooters Bottom, 1 again in Whitbread Hollow and 1 in Cow Gap. AQ found a Kingfisher on the eastern side of the Hollow which is just our 6th record since 1960 and the first since April, 1985!! The female Merlin again put in several appearances over the Top Fields.

The combined totals, with birds ringed are shown in brackets:

Little Egret 2-3
Sparrowhawk 5
Marsh Harrier 1 juv/female type over the Top Fields
Common Buzzard 4+ over the Top Fields W over the Top Fields.
Kestrel 3
Merlin 1 female
Hobby 1
Peregrine 1
Bar-tailed Godwit 1 feeding on playing field
Collared Dove 1 W over Birling
Kingfisher 1- our 6th record and the first since April. 1985.
Wryneck 4 (2 Shooters Bottom, 1 Hollow and 1 Cow Gap)
Swallow 400
Sand Martin 1
House Martin 500 W
Meadow Pipit 40
Tree Pipit 1
Rock Pipit 1
Yellow Wagtail 21
Grey Wagtail 7 W
Dunnock Small numbers seen to be moving with 2 flying off high with Tits.
Common Redstart 1 male
Whinchat 4
Wheatear 7
Song Thrush 1 (1)
Grasshopper Warbler 1 (1)
Sedge Warbler 1
Lesser Whitethroat 3 (1)
Common Whitethroat 60 (12)
Garden Warbler 2 (2)
Blackcap estimated 1,000 in Whitbread Hollow (170)
Chiffchaff 22 (4)
Willow Warbler 18 (2)
Spotted Flycatcher 1
Chaffinch 27 E
Goldfinch 20
Linnet 15 W

Raven 2

Brown Argus 1
Comma 1
Chalkhill Blue 2
Red Admiral 3
Clouded Yellow 1

Pale Common Buzzard over the Top Fields.

At least 4 different Common Buzzards were soaring over the Top Fields.

A good day for Wrynecks with 4 being seen in the area.

(above 3 taken by David Cooper)

Sedge Warbler at Birling

(taken by David Cooper)

Comma at Belle Tout

A faded Brown Argus

  

6 Sept 2014 Beachy Head Overcast warm N 0-1

We met up with JK at Birling and covered most of the sites on the Headland including Icky Ridge but not the B/T loop. Also met up with a number of the regulars on the Headland. Bob and Sarah were ringing in the Hollow.
Small numbers of common night migrants throughout the area with the Wryneck showing again, our first Merlin of the Autumn, and a Pied Flycatcher in the Hollow. Diurnal migration was mainly Swallows with a lot feeding over the Head and small numbers of Wagtails.
The following are the combined numbers from ourselves and Bob and Sarah with birds ringed are shown in brackets:

Grey Heron 1
Sparrowhawk 2
Kestrel 3
Merlin 1 female
Tawny Owl 3
Swift 2
Wryneck 2 seen together in Shooters Bottom.
Swallow c1,500
House Martin 400
Tree Pipit 3
Yellow Wagtail 10
Grey Wagtail 1
Common Redstart 3
Whinchat 3
Wheatear 3
Grasshopper Warbler 4+
Reed Warbler 5 (3)
Lesser Whitethroat 4
Common Whitethroat 60 (12)
Garden Warbler 3 (2)
Blackcap 265 (86)
Chiffchaff 16 (2)
Willow Warbler 23 (3)
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Pied Flycatcher 1 Hollow
Jay 1

Weasel 1

Wryneck in Shooters Bottom

Grasshopper Warbler on Icky Ridge

5 Sept 2014 Beachy Head Overcast but warm NE 3-4 decreasing to 2

RDME was ringing in Whitbread Hollow and had an interesting fall of night migrants which included an adult Wryneck and 4 Pied Flycatchers with again good numbers of Blackcaps.

Unfortunately, I haven't received any details from the Headland so far today, although I understand a Wryneck was present  in Shooters Bottom per RBA, which I have included in the totals, if I do receive any updates I will add these to the blog later.

Birds ringed are shown in brackets:

Kestrel 1
Tawny Owl 1
Great-spotted Woodpecker 1
Wryneck 2 (1 ad trapped Hollow and 1 reported from Shooters Bottom))
Yellow Wagtail 1
Song Thrush 1 (1)
Reed Warbler 1 (1)
Common Whitethroat 15 (6)
Garden Warbler 3 (3)
Blackcap 300 (98)
Chiffchaff 4 (2)
Willow Warbler 6 (4)
Pied Flycatcher 4 (4 - of which 3 were ad. females)

(taken by Bob Edgar)

Adult female Pied Flycatcher in Whitbread Hollow

(taken by Bob Edgar)

Adult Willow Warbler in Whitbread Hollow

 

(taken by Bob Edgar)

Adult Wryneck in Whitbread Hollow

3 Sept 2014 Beachy Head Early mist becoming fine sunny and warm ENE 2-3

We covered the main sites including The Rides but not Belle Tout wood or loop on the Headland, meeting up with a number of the regular birders who were also covering the Headland. RDME was ringing in Whitbread Hollow.
Generally a decline in night migrants with a thin scattering over the Head and Blackcap numbers had again decreased in the Hollow. Diurnal Migration was again mainly hirundines although small numbers of Meadow Pipits were heading East during the early morning.

Birds ringed are shown in brackets:

Sandwich Tern 1
Tawny Owl 1
Swift 1
Sand Martin 30 E
Swallow c800 E
House Martin c500 E
Tree Pipit 1
Meadow Pipit 20 E
Yellow Wagtail 22
Grey Wagtail 3 E
Common Redstart 5
Whinchat 2
Wheatear 3
Common Whitethroat 45
Blackcap 150 (20)
Chiffchaff 5
Willow Warbler 2
Spotted Flycatcher 4
Jay 2
Raven 2
Reed Bunting 1

Clouded Yellow 2-3
Weasle 1

2 Sept 2014 Beachy Head Overcast becoming sunny NE 3 increasing to 4 and then decreasing to 2

RDME was ringing in Whitbread Hollow and LP visited a number of sites on the Headland. Another reasonable fall of night migrants with an increase in Chiffchaff numbers and still good numbers of Blackcaps. Also 2 Pied and 8 Spotted Flycatchers. Diurnal migration again mainly consisted  of Swallows and House Martins, and a Marsh Harrier was seen again, this time moving S and probably out to sea.

The following are the combined totals from the two observers and include birds ringed in brackets:

Marsh Harrier 1 S over Belle Tout

Sparrowhawk 1

Hobby 1

Tawny Owl 1

Swift 3

Sand Martin c20

Swallow c600

House Martin c400

Yellow Wagtail 19

Dunnock 15 (9) An increase in Whitbread Hollow

Common Redstart 3

Sedge Warbler 1 (1)

Reed Warbler 5 (2)

Lesser Whitethroat 3

Common Whitethroat 90 (9)
Blackcap 375 (55)

Chiffchaff 26 (4)

Willow Warbler 33

Spotted Flycatcher 8

Pied Flycatcher 2

(taken by Laurence Pitcher)
Pied Flycatcher-2 seen today


(taken by Laurence Pitcher)
Spotted Flycatcher-8 seen today


(taken by Laurence Pitcher)
Female Redstart at Belle Tout

1 Sept 2014 Beachy Head Overcast with drizzle Wind W

ME covered The Old Trapping Area, Hotel Garden, Icky Ridge, and Birling lane. RB covered Shooters Bottom and the Belle Tout wood and loop to Birling so virtually between them most of the main Headland sites were covered. Bob and Sarah were ringing in Whitbread Hollow.

Exceptional numbers of Blackcaps were present in the Hollow and nets had to be closed for a period to allow for the birds to be processed. The nets were re-open but again had to be closed due to rain spreading in, so the impressive ringing total would almost certain to be considerably higher. Otherwise night migrants were still in reasonable numbers but not to the same extent than yesterday with the highlights being a Pied Flycatcher in Belle Tout wood and our first Goldcrests for the year with 2 at Birling. Diurnal Migration chiefly was with hirundines mainly Swallows with large numbers moving W but no specific counts or estimates made. A Marsh Harrier passed through the Birling/Belle Tout area and was present for around 10 minutes and seen by both ME and RB.

The following are the combined totals of the observers which includes birds ringed which are also show in brackets.

Marsh Harrier 1 seen Birling/BT area
Tawny Owl 1
Great-spotted Woodpecker 1
Swallow Large numbers moving W but no counts made.
Yellow Wagtail 32
Common Redstart 3
Whinchat 5
Reed Warbler 6 (4)
Lesser Whitethroat 3
Common Whitethroat 60 (7)
Garden Warbler 1
Blackcap Estimated 2,000 in Whitbread Hollow (153) with 43 also seen on the Headland.
Chiffchaff 7 (3)
Willow Warbler 25 (4)
Goldcrest 2 (Our first for this year with none logged at all during the Spring)
Spotted Flycatcher 1 (1)
Pied Flycatcher 1 B/T wood

Clouded Yellow 1