18 FEb 2013 Beachy Head Fine, sunny cold E2-3

We sea-watched from 07.30-09.00 but less movement recorded today and we didn't walk any of the usual sites.

Red-throated Diver 37 (32 E, 2 W and 3 on the sea).
Great-crested Grebe 2E
Gannet 24 E
Brent Goose 15 E
Common Scoter 7
Kittiwake 81 E
Auk Sp. 120 (80 E & 40+ on the sea).
Guillemot 2
Razorbill 40 E

17 Feb 2013 Beachy Head Clear sunny becoming warm ESE 1-2

We sea-watched from 07.40-11.10. Good passage of Pintail, Curlew and an early Arctic Skua. Briefly checked Birling Lane and Belle Tout wood.

Red-throated Diver 70 (62 E 5 W & 3 on the sea).
Great-crested Grebe 1 on sea.
Gannet 10 E
Brent Goose 110 E
Shelduck 2 E
Wigeon 15
Gadwall 4 E
Teal 54 E
Mallard 2
Pintail 76 E
Shoveler 12 E
Common Scoter 19 E
Kestrel 2
Peregrine 1
Curlew 96 E
Arctic Skua 1 d/p ad E @ 08.00.
Mediterranean Gull 2 E
Little Gull 5 E and then landed on the sea.
Black-headed Gull 66 E virtually all adults.
Herring Gull Many hundreds chiefly immatures E.
Kittiwake 17 E
Auk Sp. 180 E
Guillemot 6
Razorbill 116 E
Meadow Pipit 4 in off the sea.

Curlew moving east off Birling Gap

Snowdrops at the top of Birling lane.

13 Feb 2013 Beachy Head Overcast, dull cold. ENE 1-2

We sea-watched from 07.40-09.10 and then covered the usual sites around Birling & Belle Tout, Shooters Bottom, The Old Trapping Area and Hotel Garden. The area was extremely quiet:

Red-throated Diver 137 E
Gannet 5 E
Kittiwake 8 E
Auk Sp. 866 E (c50 were i/d and all were Razorbills).
Tawny Owl 1
Robin 10
Song Thrush 8

8 Feb 2013 Beachy Head Fine Sunny cold NW 2

Visited the Head and covered the sites around Birling and Belle Tout and walked the field. No sign of any cold weather movement.

Sparrowhawk 1

Common Gull 150

Tawny Owl 2

Skylark 70

Rock Pipit 1

Robin 10

Song Thrush 3

Goldfinch 11

Corn Bunting 2

Tawny Owl sat high up.

30 Jan 2013 Beachy Head Sunny periods cool WSW 5-6

We sea-watched from 07.55-09.25 and were joined for some of the time by RKH.

Red-throated Diver 45 (34E, 10W & 1 on the sea)

Great-crested Grebe 2W

Brent Goose 20E

Oystercatcher 21 on the beach at Birling.

Curlew 2

Auk Sp. 10E & 3W

28 Jan 2013 Beachy Head Sunny mild cloud cover 1/8 SW4

Bob covered Birling lane, and then walked to Belle Tout gully and onto the wood and back to Birling, with the milder weather most of the Thrushes appeared to have departed:

Sparrowhawk 1
Fieldfare 6
Redwing 6
Song Thrush 1 (41 recorded in this same area on the 25th).

RHC recorded from Hodcombe approx. 1,000 Fieldfares, at the start of the cold spell, but also didn't record any Woodcocks etc.

I have recently downloaded on the following web-site: http://jfcbirdingtrips.blogspot.co.uk/ the following trip reports with pictures, for those who may be interested:

POLYNESIAN & PITCAIRN ISLAND TRIP REPORT
THE LESSER ANTILLES and MARYLAND TRIP REPORT
ARGENTINA (Which is in two parts).

25 Jan 2013 Beachy Head Overcast cold E 1-2

Carried out a sea-watch from 07.45-09.00 and then checked Birling lane, the gully at Belle Tout, Belle Tout wood and rough field. An impressive and close flock of 52 Red-throated Divers were present on the sea off the B/T gully but only stayed a few minutes before they all took off and departed out to sea.

Red-throated Diver 119 (63E, 3W, & 1 on the sea plus flock of 52 on the sea and then departed SW) 

Great-crested Grebe 1E

Gannet 4E

Common Scoter 1E

Auk Sp. 316 (267E & 49W)

Guillemot 1 close in on the sea

Razorbill 32E

Skylark 120 in field

Rock Pipit 3-4 Birling

Blackbird 12

Fieldfare 41

Redwing 13

Mistle Thrush 3

Song Thrush 41

Fieldfare at Cornish Farm