Saturday 4 August 2001

4th August 2001 Beachy 6am - 12.30pm. Light westerly wind. Sunny though overcast to the south with two impressive water spouts seen off Cow Gap swirling the sea below them.


Fulmar c.10
Balearic Shearwater 2 Single flew east seen from top of Lane at 6.50am and 2 were watched following a red fishing boat for around 45 minutes from 9.45am. Appeared small alongside Herring Gulls. Noticeable brownish cast to upperparts with underparts appearing oily with pale dirty-white underwings and dusky undertail-coverts contrasting with paler belly. Appeared wholly dark at range when sat on the water.
Gannet c.50
Heron 1
Sparrowhawk 1 very lazy flight observed
Kestrel c.2
Peregrine 1
Oystercatcher c.5
Great Skua 1 juv. flew east off Birling. Restricted wing ‘flashes’
prob Arctic Skua 1 distantly west off Birling
Black-headed Gull c.100 mainly adults
Kittiwake c.30
Comic Tern 2W
Swift c.5
Swallow c.5
House Martin c.10
Garden Warbler 1
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Whitethroat c.15
Sedge Warbler 2
Reed Warbler c.5
Willow Warbler c.10
Corn Bunting c.5