BEACHY HEAD BIRDER

Clear skies light WNW wind, cold.

A bright morning and a dry one! It has been torrential at times over the last fortnight, with wet periods often during the morning hours. The were a few points of interest over head, c300 Starling arrived in off the sea, 20 Redpoll, 10 Linnet, 20 Chaffinch, 20 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin, 1 Yellowhammer, singles each of Common Snipe and Golden Plover too. A Chiffchaff and single Fieldfare in the hedge by the radio mast, 2 Firecrest and 8 Goldcrest in the wood at Belle Tout. A Swallow and House Martin slowly moved west at Birling Gap, not looking out of place in the blue skies and sunshine, my latest ever here for both species.

Earlier in the week I had Ring Ouzel in both Shooters and around Belle Tout wood.

Overcast & rain at first, clearing, light SW wind.

Woodpigeon and Stock Dove, its that time of year when the ubiquitous become quite spectacular, about 2000 in mixed flocks this morning.

This morning ran to type with a light passage 250 Goldfinch, 30 Linnet, 80 Chaffinch, 80 Siskin, 40 Redpoll, 5 Reed Bunting. Whilst 10 Goldcrest were around the edge of the wood.

Goldfinch.

4 Redpoll alighted briefly near the wood before moving on.

During early afternoon I nipped across to Norman’s Bay where the lingering Sabine’s Gull was feeding along the tide line amongst 10 Little Gull, 3 Med Gull, a juv. Common Tern and a mix of commoner gull species.

Sabine’s Gull and Black headed Gull.

The bird showed nicely passing within a few meters as it worked the surf.

Sabines’ and Little Gull.

A close flyby, moulting in a few grey mantle and covert feathers.

Overcast, frequent squalls and strong gale force SSW winds.

Looking east at Birling Gap

With storm Ciaran bringing the promise of displaced seabirds, I started the day at Langney Point, somewhat begrudgingly it being a few miles “off-the-patch” and I saw very little, just 4 Little Gull, 6 Brent Geese, 15 Dunlin and a single Red-breasted Merganser moving west. I left Dave T there and then headed west, on to Beachy Head where at Birling Gap Chris B had seen some of the Leach’s Petrel that by midmorning had begun tracking east down the Sussex coast. The old cafe buildings now being torn down, I stood atop the stairs to the beach which is unfortunately far more exposed to the elements. Almost immediately, to my left, a wader towered up off the sea at close range. Getting the bin’s on it, I was delighted to see a Grey Phalarope gaining height and once caught by the wind, disappeared quickly east. Then between 11.20 and 13.45hrs I personally saw c40 Leach’s Petrel, often at close range through bin’s and ‘scope. Although the total between CB, DT, RAB and myself was 112 between 10.20 and 14.50hrs. Certainly countywide records for that species were smashed today. Two Cattle Egret were seen at East Dean (CB)

Leach’s Petrel at Birling Gap. Although some of the Petrels showed really well photography was challenging with rain, poor light and strong winds not helping.

Brent Geese passing Langley Point.

Rain at first, clearing light ESE wind.

View from shooters on the 24th

After it dried up a small number of birds were on the move overhead, all east. c150 Goldfinch, c 25 Siskin, c10 Redpoll, c30 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 15 Linnet, 1 Woodlark, 2 Redwing and a Ring Ouzel went west. Around 6 Ring Ouzel appear to be staging in Shooters the last few days, with 13 seen on the 22nd (RAB), I also heard a Dartford Warbler there on that date whilst a Short-eared Owl was reported. Also on the 22nd, RAB had what he initially believed to be a Common Swift feeding with House Martin around the cliff top path above the hollow but upon reflection he now believes it could have been a Pallid Swift, unfortunately no one else saw the bird and it went unresolved.

Ring Ouzel in Shooters on the 24th.

I popped in to see the Long-billed Dowitcher that has been present in the Cuckmere for a few days now. It fed in the company of a pair of Bar-tailed Godwit along the main river there. At a pleasing distance and in great light.

Clear skies a strong NW wind, unseasonably cold.

Looking east towards Eastbourne town and Hastings.

A late start after an arduous trip back from Scilly the day before. I started at Birling Gap, Belle Tout and Shooters Bottom, a modest overhead passage which included small numbers of Redpoll, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Siskin and Reed Bunting headed into the wind. Whilst working the bushes two Ring Ouzel were heard but remained hidden, little else was seen beyond 5 Goldcrest, 8 Chiffchaff and 5 Blackcap. Upon getting a coffee from the Cadence Cafe I noted a strong passage of almost exclusively Chaffinch had started in earnest over the highest point of the headland. From 10.55hrs flocks of about 20/30 birds were arriving in-off-the-sea and heading NNW. A bit of excitement came at 11.03hrs when I heard a Red-throated Pipit call once, and then twice from a flock of c25 birds, I located it amongst the Chaffinch but virtually no detail could be seen due to the harsh light. By 11.30hrs it had virtually stopped with a total of at least 650 Chaffinch seen in a little over 30 minutes. c30 Meadow Pipit and c10 Siskin were also seen/heard. c200 House Martin and 10 Swallow fed over the hollow in the lee of the wind.

Chaffinch arriving.

Overcast, light NW wind, cloud clearing later.

Looking west.

Another day of high-volume passage on Beachy Head, I covered the top area with RAB visting Birling, Belle Tout, Shooters & Long Wood. Combined totals as follows.

300 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 150 Blackcap, 90 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 450 Meadow Pipit (Mostly roving feeding flocks) 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Tree Pipit, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Wheatear, Whinchat, 3 Redstart, 30 Swallow, 20 House Martin, 5 Sand Martin, 30+ Siskin over, 3 Reed Bunting. RE estimated even greater numbers of Chiffchaff and Blackcap in the Hollow.

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff… one of many!

Meadow Pipit.

Blackcap.

Similar high numbers on the 21st September, it would seem the unsettled weather created by the passing remnants of hurricane Lee created a “back log” with many 100’s of migrants moving in the calmer conditions that followed. Not much in the way of recent highlights but a Ruff which circled the headland on the 16th was an interesting new species for me here. I also saw 22 Balearic Shearwater and a single Manx on the 20th viewing from near by Langley Point.

Light SE wind at midday.

A Hobby with a full crop passing Shooters in the 13th.

Generally passerine migrants were quite sparse this week but RAB found there to have been an overnight arrival of Chiffchaff with 45+ in the top bushes alone this morning. I did a quick, hours sky-watch at midday with another juvenile Marsh Harrier passing through, 4+ Sparrowhawk and 20+ non-migratory Common Buzzard seen, along with a local pair of Peregrine. About 4000 hirundine, mostly House Martin were around the headland on the 13th and a Hobby passed through. I’m hearing Siskin most mornings, not big numbers but a suggestion a larger influx maybe building, mostly going heard and not seen although a flock of 20+ went over on the 11th.

Still, clear and very warm light easterly breeze by midday.

Juvenile Marsh Harrier approaching from the west.

Which came a little closer.

A late morning walk over Shooters Bottom revealed the usual suspects along with a single Redstart, 3 Whinchat and a Wheatear. A skywatch from 10am to 1pm was a little disappointing given the date and conditions. I only managed a single Marsh Harrier and a Red Kite along with the 12+ local Common Buzzard.

Pied Flycatcher and Redstart in Shooters in the 7th.

Also on the 7th, 2 Clouded Yellow’s were seen along with a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, a Short eared Owl was seen again.

Calm after a few days of strong wind, hazy and humid.

My second Turtle Dove of 2023 after quite a few blank years for me. This juvenile moved about the hawthorns in the old trapping area, it seemed a little tired so I retreated and let it be.

A reasonable morning, more activity than the last 2/3 days. c50 Common Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Blackcap, 6 Reed Warbler, 4 Willow Warbler, 12 Chiffchaff, 1 Dartford Warbler. Masses of lingering House Martin in the many 1000’s including big congregations on the ground near Shooters. 4 Redstart, 5 Wheatear, 14+ Whinchat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher. 30+ Yellow Wagtail, 6 Tree Pipit, 8 Meadow Pipit. 2+ Siskin heard. A Short eared Owl was seen again at Shooters.

Chiffchaff now beginning to out number Willow Warbler.

House Martin at Shooters.