Saturday 2 March 2002

2nd March 2002 Beachy 7.35am - 12.30pm. Brief sea-watch and then walked Birling, Belle Toute area and Cow Gap and Hollow and Old Trapping Area. Early morning frost but bright blue skies though with strengthening north-easterly wind

Fulmar c.5
Cormorant 1
Grey Heron 1 Cuckmere
Canada Goose 6E at Birling. C.50 Cuckmere including pair of small race birds at Charleston.
Wigeon c.15 Cuckmere
Teal c.20 Cuckmere
Kestrel 3
Peregrine 1 mobbing the Raven both in flight and diving towards it whilst the Raven was perched in the field
Oystercatcher c.5
Black-headed Gull c.75 at Beachy mainly adults with some s/p. c.100 Cuckmere.
Common Gull c.100 Beachy mainly ad. w. with a few 1st-w. c.150 Cuckmere.
Herring Gull c.30 Beachy
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 ad. s. intermedius. No contrast between the coverts and primaries.
Great Black-backed Gull 1 ad.
Stock Dove 2
Woodpigeon 2
Collared Dove 2
Green Woodpecker 2h
Great spotted Woodpecker 1 Cuckmere
Skylark c.20 with many in song. No obvious passage.
Rock Pipit 2
Meadow Pipit c.20 with most coasting
Grey Wagtail 1 moved west past Birling - early migrant.
Wren 1
Dunnock c.5 with most singing
Robin 3
Stonechat 2
Song Thrush 2
Mistle Thrush 7
Blackbird 2
Great Tit c.8
Blue Tit c.8
Long-tailed Tit 2 (1 ringed) Gulley below Cow Gap
Magpie c.4
Jackdaw c.15
Rook c.5
Carrion Crow c.5
Raven 1 being mobbed by Peregrine just inland of Old Trapping area turning upside down whilst under attack. Landed and was still dive-bombed on a further couple of occasions. Remained perched for c.10 minutes calling with bull-neck and hackles extended to the full and drooping its wings. In flight appeared very large with wedge-shaped tail and violet tinge to entire upperparts.
House Sparrow c.6
Chaffinch c.10 including birds singing
Linnet 5
Goldfinch c.20