10 November 2013 Beachy Head Sunny, clear but cold NW-N 3 increasing to 4

We met up with RJF and JK at Birling and covered most of the sites on the Headland. Woodpigeons and some Stock Doves were on the move this morning in the clear weather although the number of migrants on the ground were few and far between. Bob visited Whitbread Hollow.

Sparrowhawk 1

Kestrel 2

Peregrine 2

Stock Dove 80 chiefly W

Woodpigeon approx. 1,850 chiefly W.

Black Redstart 1 Birling

Stonechat 4

Ring Ouzel 1 Hollow

Mistle Thrush 1

Song Thrush 1

Chiffchaff 1

Goldcrest 2

Firecrest 3 Hollow

Chaffinch c30 W

Goldfinch 60

Bullfinch 2

Reed Bunting 1

Peacock Butterfly 1

RJF and JK continued birding after I left and had a total of 5,200 Woodpigeons and 250 Stock Doves also Common Buzzard, 3 Swallows and a House Martin.

Woodpigeons on the move this morning.

Green Woodpecker at Birling

 

Goldcrest enjoying the late sunshine in the Hotel Garden.

8 November 2013 Beachy Head Overcast with occasional showers W/NW 1-2

Bob was ringing this morning in Whitbread Hollow with up to 50 Lesser Redpolls and 25 Swallows seen with 3 Firecrsts trapped.
Birds ringed in brackets:

Woodpigeon 100 E
Tawny Owl 1
Swallow 25
Blackbird 10
Song Thrush 2 (1 continental bird trapped)
Blackcap 2 (2)
Chiffchaff 1 (1)
Firecrest 3+ (3 trapped with birds also calling)
Long-tailed Tit 3
Jay 2
Chaffinch 30 (4)
Goldfinch 30 (1)
Lesser Redpoll 30 (17)
Bullfinch 1

7 November, 2013 Beachy Head Overcast and mild. SW 1-2

Brief visit this morning meeting up with Pete at Birling. We just covered the Birling lane and Birling to Belle Tout loop. Very little seen in this area other than Sparrowhawk, Fieldfare  1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat and 30 Goldfinches. No sign of any Dartford Warblers today.

Fieldfare in Belle Tout wood

 Sparrowhawk hunting around Birling Gap

2 November 2013 Beachy Head Cloudy with sunny periods W-NW 2-3 increasing later

RDME was ringing in Whitbread Hollow and RJF,JK and SL were covering the Headland. Little evidence of any diurnal migration although reasonable numbers of Lesser Redpolls were present in the Hollow and RJF and JK had our second Pallas's Leaf Warbler for the Autumn moving up the lane at Birling, otherwise 2 Firecrests, 3 Black Redstarts and 31 Swallows were seen.
Birds ringed in brackets:

Sparrowhawk 1
Tawny Owl 2
Great-spotted Woodpecker 1
Stock Dove 14
Swallow 31
Robin 25 (5)
Black Redstart 3
Ring Ouzel 1 heard
Song Thrush 3 (3 Continental birds)
Blackcap 7 (5)
Pallas's Leaf Warbler at Birling.
Chiffchaff 10 (1)
Goldcrest 7
Firecrest 2 (1)
Raven 1
Chaffinch 20+ (7)
Goldfinch 240
Lesser Redpoll 50 (17)

29 October 2013 Beachy Head Fine, sunny W 3

 Just a short visit this morning, and concentrated in the Birling to Belle Tout area. Met up with a number of regular birders. Bob also covered Whitbread Hollow.
Good numbers of diurnal migrants logged with 420 Stock Doves with 270 over the Headland and 150 over the Hollow, otherwise just a few other migrants recorded.

Stock Dove 420 (in flock sizes from 17 to 100) (Our best year was in 2010 when 750 moved E on the 10/10).
Wood Pigeon 80 E
Great-spotted Woodpecker 1
Skylark 11 W
Swallow 9 W
Meadow Pipit 50 W
Alba Wagtail 3 W
Stonechat 1
Wheatear 1
Ring Ouzel 1
Blackbird 20
Song Thrush 2
Blackcap 2
Chiffchaff 10
Goldcrest 2
Firecrest 2
Chaffinch 20 W
Brambling 3 (2 W)
Greenfinch 43 W (Our best total this year)
Goldfinch 400 (300 W)
Siskin 8 W
Linnet 200 W
Lesser Redpoll 22 W
Reed Bunting 5 W

Good numbers of Stock Doves moving today.

Maybe our last Wheatear for this year.

27 October 2013 Beachy Head Early morning rain, sunny periods later gale force SW winds gusting up to force 9.

Matt found a Shore Lark above Belle Tout wood and John King and myself quickly made our way there, in gale force winds gusting up to force 9. Difficult to hold the camera still, but luckily the sun came out allowing some fast shutter speeds. This Shore Lark was our 7th record involving 15 individuals since 1960. 

Also present on the Head were 2 Wheatears, and 3 Firecrests. No definite sighting of the Pallas's, but obviously the gale force winds made looking in the wood very difficult.

We left at 1.00 pm and at 2.40 pm a pager report of a Common or Pallid Swift flew over the Headland heading NE. You just can't win them all!! 

 

 

 

 

Shore Lark above Belle Tout wood.

26 October 2013 Beachy Head Overcast with showers SW 7

A number of birders present today including RJF and RDME. chiefly in the Belle Tout area  looking for yesterday's Pallas's. which proved very elusive in the windy conditions, but did occasionally show in the wood. Also the Snow Bunting was again present between the wood and the gully, also 1 Firecrest, a few Goldcrests, 15 Chiffchaffs, 1 Wheatear and 2 Siskins.
RJF had a Woodlark going E.

Yesterday there were 3 Firecrests in the area.