Beachy Head 2011 Summary No.10

Will now summarise the Skuas, but please bear in mind that we were away from the end of April to mid May and therefore missed the majority of the Spring Skua passage, and no details were logged during this period.

ARCTIC SKUA


2011: Spring sea-watches: Recorded on 23 dates from 29/3 (3 E) to the 18/6 (3E). In total 114 birds recorded chiefly moving E with daily maximums of 16 E on the 18/4 & 20 E on the 19/4. On the 23/7 a 2^nd S. bird with heavily barred under-wings was lingering of Birling. Autumn: Recorded on 8 dates between 13/8 (7) and 24/10 (1), with a total of 38 birds recorded of which 11 W and 25 E. and 2 on the sea. Per B.H.Log

(An average year, during the last decade an average of just over 100 per Spring were logged, a slightly better Autumn than in recent years).

GREAT SKUA

2011: Winter: 4/1 1 E, 8/1 1 E, 27/1 1 lingering off Birling.

Spring Sea-watches: Recorded on 11 dates from 2/4 (3 E) to 8/5 (1 E) when a total of 20 birds moved E.

Summer: 18/6 6 E & 2/7 1 E (appeared in good adult plumage).

Autumn: An exceptional Autumn: 17/9 (2), 9/10 (52 E), 10/10 (61 E), 11/10 (6 E), 22/10 (4), 23/10 (1 E), & 24/10 (1 E). Per B.H.Log

(Spring was unexceptional compared with recent years, although in the 1960's and early 70's it was far scarcer. We are now recording the odd birds during the winter months, and in the middle of the summer.

The Autumn numbers are completely unprecedented and are probably the highest daily counts ever for Sussex in either Spring or Autumn).

POMARINE SKUA

2011: Spring sea-watch Recorded as follows: 17/4 2 E, 19/4 1 E, 21/4 2 E (including 1 juv.), 22/4 1 E, 2/5 12 (9E & 3W), 3/5 15E, 4/5 6E, 6/5 5E, 7/5 12 E, 29/5 1 E. In total 54 E & 3W during the Spring sea-watches. Also 23/10 1 E (A very dark juvenile JFC )

(JFC & DC were away on holiday from the end of April to mid May and therefore missed the best time for this species). 

Second Autumn running a very dark immature has been recorded off Birling. These dark almost black types are in fact the commonest type of immature Pomarine Skua, the previous Autumn juv. Pom was seen in 1997 on Cow Gap beach). 

30th December, 2011.Beachy Head. Overcast W2

DC did an hour's sea-watch from 08.45-09.45 and then covered Belle Tout area and walked the rough field:

Red Throated Diver 6
Great Crested Grebe 1 E
Great White Egret 1 W @ 9.05 (Our 3rd record for Beachy)
Common Scoter 19 (15 on the sea)
Red Breasted Merganser 1 W
Razorbill 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Skylark 50
Rock Pipit 2
Mistle Thrush 1
Goldcrest 1
Raven 2

28th December, 2011 Beachy Head Overcast SW4

Sea-watched from 08.30-10.30:

Red Throated Diver 20 (18 E & 2W).
Great Crested Grebe 1 on sea
Gannet 12E & 39 W
Fulmar 21E & 9 W
Common Scoter 1 W & 15 on the sea.
Wigeon 23 E & 64 W
Kittiwake 22 E
Med. Gull 2 (1 E & 1W)
Sandwich Tern 1 E @ 09.40. (our first December record).
Auk Sp. 1E
Guillemot 2E & 1W
Razorbill 5 E

Beachy Head 2011 Summary No.9

I will now summarise some of the more regular Waders logged during the year:

LAPWING
2011: 4/6 2 in the field opposite Belle Tout wood, an unusual date. 6/11 42 arrived in off the sea, 19/11 & 17/12 1 in the rough field opposite Belle Tout wood. Per B.H.Log

(The 42 seen coming in on the 6/11 occurred with several Golden Plover arriving also a Great Grey Shrike, and both Snow and Lapland Buntings. In recent years, numbers of Lapwings have been scarce, but in the 1960's-70's they were far commoner on the Headland during the Autumn with sometimes flocks of up-to 800 have been logged).

RINGED PLOVER

2011: 4E on the 2/5 and a single bird W on the 17/9. Per B.H.Log

(It is strange just how few Ringed Plovers are now recorded on the sea-watches etc. especially with the Cuckmere Haven just to the West, and this probably reflects how the breeding population has suffered in the last 20 years. Since 2007, just 8 birds have been logged, while in the 1970's 10 sightings in a year was not unusual).

WOODCOCK

2011: 8/11 1 in Whitbread Hollow. Per B.H.Log

(Woodcock are not recorded annually and Whitbread Hollow is the main site).

WHIMBREL

2011: Spring sea-watches: Recorded on 12 dates from 19/3 (1 E) to the 8/5 (2E). In total 661 moved E with daily maximums of 14/4 110 E, 19/4 103 E. During the Summer 4 W on the 19/6 & 4 W on the 9/7. Also 29/7 1 calling over Whitbread Hollow & 7/8 1 W. Per B.H.Log

(The 19/3 is our earliest Spring date with our previous earliest was the 25/3/06. An excellent Spring and our best for a number of years. Our best Spring to date was in 1976 when 960 were logged including an impressive movement of 488 on the 19/4).

BAR-TAILED GODWIT

2011: Recorded from the 17/4 to 9/5 . In total 1,035 were recorded moving E. with a daily maximum of 507 E on the 2/5.  Per B.H.Log

(In the last 10 years or so, very poor numbers have been logged during the Spring sea-watches but back in the 70's several thousand were logged annually on the Spring sea-watches and in 1962 a spectacular movement  on the 27 & 28/4  when  combined totals of approx.10,000 moved East past Cow Gap).

GREEN SANDPIPER
2011: 20/8 Two moved over the Headland. Per B.H.Log

(Only our second record this Century although back in the 1960's, when we were camping in the Hollow, they were virtually annual with birds heard calling during the night. On two occasions parties of 5 have been flushed from the dew ponds on the Head).

GREENSHANK

2011: 22/4 2 over Birling & 2/9 1 going over the Headland. Per B.H.Log

(Our first records since 2007).

KNOT

2011: Recorded on 4 dates during early May with 63E on the 2/5, 16E on the 4/5, 3E on the 5/5 & 2E on the 7/5 PerB.H.Log

(Surprising our first records since 2006. In 1990, 428 were recorded during May).

AVOCET

2011: Just three records with 1 E on the 17/4, 2 E on the 18/4 & 1E on the 2/5. Per B.H.Log

(A poor Spring although they are not recorded annually).

STONE CURLEW

2011: A single bird was flushed from the rough field opposite Belle Tout wood on the 25/4 and departed E. (D.Cooper & B. Kay). Per B.H.Log

(Our 14^th record since 1960, although 7 of these were seen in the 1960’s and this is our first record since 2005).

GREY PHALAROPE

2011: On the 24/10 1 past Birling moving E and then returned W close in. (J.F.Cooper, Mrs D.R.Cooper & P. Netherway). Per B.H.Log

(Our first record for the Headland since regular watching commenced in 1960, and lets hope Red Necked Phalarope follows in the near future).

Beachy Head 2011 Summary No.8

RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE

2011: Recorded on and off throughout the year with a pair present on several dates during the Spring but during the Autumn only a single bird recorded on 9 dates. No sign of local breeding Per B.H.Log 

(Our area has never held more than 2-3 breeding pairs and Long Down is often a favorite site and this site is very rarely visited).

QUAIL

2011: At least 1 bird calling from the grassy field between Belle Tout & Hodcombe.(PN & MN)

On the 9/7 1 was flushed from the rough field opposite Belle Tout wood, (DC & BK) and on the 21/8 1 was flushed from the Cliff Path (RJF & JK). Per B.H.Log

(At least 3 different individuals recorded, 2 of which were flushed. Slightly above average year).

PHEASANT

2011: On the 2/1 18 were flushed from the rough field opposite Belle Tout wood. Young were seen to the West of Belle Tout wood during the breeding season. Up to 8 were present in the Belle Tout area in December. Per B.H.Log

GOLDEN PHEASANT

An intriguing report taken from the Sussex Bird Report for 2010:

2010: 29/8 A single bird unsexed was reported from the woods above and west of Birling Gap, but no other details known.  Per Sx. B.R No.63.

(If correct, one assumes it has been locally released).

Beachy Head 23rd December, 2011 Overcast SW4.

Sea-watch 08.15-09.15:
Red Throated Diver 2 (1 E & 1 W)
Gannet 150 E
Brent Geese 6 E
Common Scoter 21 (3 E & 18 on the sea)
Red Breasted Merganser 1 W
Auk Sp. 6 E

Beachy Head 2011 Summary No.7

To continue with the annual summaries and I will now deal with the Raptors


COMMON BUZZARD

2011: Spring: Recorded on 7 dates from 27/2 (2 soaring over the Cattle Fields), to 25/4 (1). Just 8 birds involved. Summer: 2/7 1 near Birling, which may suggest local breeding in Friston forest. Autumn: Recorded on just 5 dates from 27/8 to 15/9 involving 7 birds. Per B.H.Log

(No repeat of the exceptional Autumn of last year when 10 were recorded on a single day).

SPARROW HAWK

2011: 3/1 1, Spring: Recorded on 8 dates mainly singles but 2 on the 25/4. Breeding: probably took place in the Holywell/Whitbread Hollow area. Autumn: Recorded virtually throughout the Autumn, with daily maximums of 4 on several dates. Per B.H.Log

(There were none seem arriving in from the sea or leaving out to to sea, and no real noticeable mid-September passage).

RED KITE

2011: An exceptional year and I have listed all the sightings which I know about:

8 Mar 1 S from East Dean, then soared above the cliffs gaining height before heading out to sea S @ 12.40. JFC DRC PN MN

26 Mar 1 over Cow Gap drifted off E. RDME

27 Mar 1 Over Birling & drifted off NE. DC & BK

5 Apr 1 seen from Hodcombe RHC

6 Apr 2 seen from Hodcombe RHC

7 Apr Up to 12 seen from Hodcombe with 8 in the air together. RHC.

8 Apr 2 In field E of Chat Vale & then drifted off E. RDME, JFC, DRC, RHC.

11 April 1 drifted W over Top fields. JFC, DRC, RKH, RHC

17 Apr 1 over the Old Trapping Area PN & MN

24 Apr 4 in air together opposite Shooters Bottom DC. Et al

25 Apr 3 including 1 leucistic individual DC & RHC

19 June 1 flew over Hodcombe & headed off E RHC

27 Aug 1 over the Top Fields RHC

Per B.H.Log

(Needless to say, by far our best year ever, and I wonder if this will now become an annual event, with the good numbers now breeding in Southern England. From 1960 to 1990, just 6 were recorded at Beachy, in the 1990's a further 5 were recorded, when the first wing-tabbed birds were seen. A further 8 were recorded between 2000 to 2010. Thirty were logged this year not allowing for duplications, and this now bring our total since 1960 to 49).

HONEY BUZZARD

2011: An average year: 27/8 3 over the Top Fields (with 1 seen by RHC & 2 others photographed. ME, JFK,GG) & 10/9 1 over Shooters Bottom went out to sea and was photographed by R. Izzard. Per B.H.Log

MARSH HARRIER

2011: Just recorded on three dates as follows: 10/5 1 arrived in off the sea opposite the Hotel Garden, 21/8 1 over the Top Fields, & 15/9 1 over the Headland. Per B.H.Log

(A disappointing year, with just two seen during the Autumn, although we have had some blank years in the past).

OSPREY

2011: 8/9 1 off Birling Gap (RHC) & 10/9 1 S went out to sea from Belle Tout (GG & SL). RHC also had a further 2 birds but full details not know. Per B.H.Log

(An above average year with 4 sightings, and our best year since 2000 when 6-7 birds were seen in association with the Honey Buzzard influx).

HOBBY

2011: An average sort of year: None logged during the Spring. Autumn; Recorded on just 8 dates from 29/8 to 9/10, mainly singles but with 2 on 3/4 dates. Per B.H.Log

PEREGRINE

2011: Recorded throughout the year mainly at their usual breeding sites, with the maximum logged on any one day was 4. Breeding still around 3 pairs and a number of juvenile birds were seen on the Headland during the Autumn. Per B.H.Log

MERLIN

2011:None logged during the Spring. Autumn. Singles recorded on 12 dates from the 1/9 to 19/11. Per B.H.Log

KESTREL

2011: Jan-Feb: Singles seen on 3 dates, Spring: Singles recorded on just 7 dates.

On the 9/3 1 bird arrived in off the sea.

Odd birds recorded on 5 dates in July, but breeding not suspected. Autumn: Frequently recorded throughout the Autumn but mainly related to 2 juvenile type birds around the Top Fields. The maximum seen on a single day during the Autumn was just 3. On the 10/10 1 was seen to arrive in off the sea. Per B.H.Log

(A poor year with no noticeable influx recorded in mid-September. In the late 1960’s it was considered that the area held 3 breeding pairs).