Sunday 29 September 2002

29th September 2002 Beachy Head 7.00am - 2.30pm. Light SE wind, sunny and very clear

Cormorant c.6
Little Egret 3 with 1E past Birling and 2 on Cow Gap Beach
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 2
Merlin 2
Stock Dove 1
Swallow c.30
House Martin c.70
Pied Wagtail c.10E
Robin c.10
Stonechat c.6
Barred Warbler 1 imm. Old Trapping area. Large size immediately apparent with sturdy grey legs, heavy grey bill with basal half of lower mandible a dirty pinkish colour. Large beady black eye placed in centre of plain rounded head. Crown, nape, mantle, rump and ear coverts brownish grey. Median and greater coverts, tertials and secondaries dark centred with broad pale fringes. Underparts paler resembling those of a Garden Warbler with darker greyish chevrons apparent on the lower flanks and undertail coverts. Very skulking occasionally appearing on the edge of Elders to feed on berries.
Chiffchaff c.15
Starling c.20
Linnet c.60
Goldfinch c.10
Greenfinch 1

Saturday 28 September 2002

28th September 2002 Beachy 7.00am - 2.30pm. Calm and sunny after dawn drizzle

Cormorant c.6W
Mute Swan 4W
Brent Goose 1W
Sparrowhawk 2
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 2 adults
Merlin 2
Pheasant 1
Green Woodpecker 2
Wryneck 1 Chat Vale In flight it appeared somewhat reminiscent of a small Shrike both in size and structure complete with long rounded tail. Broad vertical black stripe running from nape down centre of mantle against grey body plumage immediately apparent. Upperwing pattern complex with brown basal colour with pale-spotted coverts and a pale-barred effect across the flight feathers. Tail long and rounded with diffuse broad darker bars. Whilst seen perched distantly it was seen to hold a short pointed bill above the horizontal and a broad dark eyestripe was visible as was a yellowish-buff throat contrasting with whiter underparts. 
Skylark c.30 in single flock
Swallow c.50
House Martin c.50
Meadow Pipit c.50
Tree Pipit 1
Pied Wagtail c.10E
Yellow Wagtail 1
Wren c.4
Robin c.10
Stonechat c.10
Blackcap c.10
Whitethroat 2
Reed Warbler c.3
Chiffchaff c.15
Goldcrest h
Raven 2
Linnet c.65
Goldfinch c.15

Sunday 22 September 2002

22nd September 2002 Beachy 6.45am - 2.30pm. Light northerly wind becoming sunny and clear


Gannet c.10
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel c.3
Peregrine 1
Sandwich Tern c.5 on rocks off Gulley
Collared Dove 1
Sand Martin c.3
Swallow c.350
House Martin c.500
Meadow Pipit c.100
Tree Pipit c.3
Pied Wagtail c.10
Yellow Wagtail 1
Grey Wagtail 2
Wren 2
Robin c.5
Redstart c.5
Wheatear c.10
Whinchat 1
Stonechat c.8
Blackcap c.10
Whitethroat c.3
Chiffchaff c.15
Goldcrest 1
Spotted Flycatcher 1
Raven 1
Linnet c.35
Goldfinch c.10
Siskin 2

Saturday 21 September 2002

21st September 2002 Beachy 7.05am - 2.45pm. Light cold northerly, overcast becoming sunny


Marsh Harrier 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel c.5
Skylark c.8
Sand Martin c.5
Swallow c.1000E
House Martin c.1000E
Tree Pipit 3
Meadow Pipit c.200
Pied Wagtail c.2
Yellow Wagtail c.20
Grey Wagtail c.10E
Robin c.5
Redstart 3
Wheatear c.10
Whinchat 1
Stonechat c.5
Blackbird 1
Blackcap c.10
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Whitethroat c.6
Reed Warbler 2
Chiffchaff c.12
Spotted Flycatcher c.4
House Sparrow c.10
Linnet c.60
Goldfinch c.10

Sunday 15 September 2002

15th September 2002 Beachy 6.45am -3.00pm

Little Egret 2E past Birling
Sparrowhawk c.3
Kestrel c.3
Merlin 1 very small male near Old Belle Toute Lighthouse
Peregrine 2
Golden Plover 1 on ground briefly opposite Beachy Head Hotel
Snipe 1
Swift 1
Green Woodpecker 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Sand Martin c.30
Swallow c.200
House Martin c.200
Tawny Pipit 1 1st-w
Tree Pipit 11
Meadow Pipit c.40
Yellow Wagtail c.12
Grey Wagtail 1
Robin 7
Whinchat 3
Wheatear 9
Grasshopper Warbler 1
Sedge Warbler 1
Reed Warbler 2
Lesser Whitethroat 2
Whitethroat 12
Blackcap 10
Chiffchaff 6
Goldfinch 10
Linnet 100
House Sparrow 10

Saturday 14 September 2002

14th September 2002 Beachy 6.45am - 2.30pm

Sparrowhawk c.4
Kestrel c.4
Peregrine 2
Snipe 1
Green Woodpecker c.2
Skylark c.20
Sand Martin c.20
Swallow c.300
House Martin c.800E
Tawny Pipit 1 1st-w. favouring the white concrete track leading to Cornish Farm and adjacent stubble field. A large and pale Pipit with at times Wagtail-like behavior of pumping its tail. Bill long, narrow being pointed, primarily pink with a darker tip being frequently held above the horizontal. Legs very bright mostly appearing a bright pink but sometimes almost straw-coloured especially when viewed from behind. Crown a pale buff appearing slightly streaked darker towards rear and on nape. Poorly marked darker lateral crown stripes forming a dark border above its long pale supercilia. Narrow dark eyestripe being most prominent behind eye with lores mostly just giving the impression of a darkish loral line but at other times appeared quite pale - certainly never gave the impression of having well-marked dark lores. Pale crescent bordering lower half of dark eye. A slightly darker moustachial stripe contrasting with whitish submoustachial stripe in turn contrasting with obvious and long dark malar stripe. Ear coverts had a warm sometimes almost gingery tone. Throat white. Mantle buffy-brown with diffuse darker streaking. Median coverts with round dark centres with complete narrow whitish fringes, thus the median coverts formed a row of dark spots. Greater coverts dark centred with complete pale fringes. Broad pale fringes to dark centred long tertials. No primary projection noted. Tail long appearing buffy with white outer tail feathers. Upper breast with diffuse spotting/streaking somewhat blurred and appeared to be fading with a mixture of grey and buffy ‘patches’. Belly and undertail coverts almost white with a hint of a buffy tinge. In flight it gave a quiet sparrow-like ‘chup’ call.   
Tree Pipit c.4
Meadow Pipit c.100
Yellow Wagtail c.40
Grey Wagtail 1
Pied Wagtail 4
Robin 7
Redstart 3
Whinchat 6
Wheatear c.25
Grasshopper Warbler 1
Reed Warbler 1
Whitethroat 6
Blackcap 15
Chiffchaff c.6
Willow Warbler c.3
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Goldfinch 10
Linnet 70
House sparrow 10
Raven 1

Sunday 8 September 2002

8th September 2002 Beachy 6.30am - 2.45pm

Peregrine c.8
Green Woodpecker 3
Sand Martin c.50
Swallow c.500
House Martin c.20
Tree Pipit 3
Grey Wagtail 3E
Robin c.10
Redstart c.14
Whinchat c.6
Wheatear 5
Grasshopper Warbler 10
Sedge Warbler 2
Reed Warbler 4
Lesser Whitethroat 8
Whitethroat c.75
Garden Warbler 2
Blackcap 20
Chiffchaff c.30
Willow Warbler c.150
Wood Warbler 1
Goldcrest 4
Spotted Flycatcher c.25
Goldfinch 2
Linnet c.50
Yellowhammer 1
Corn Bunting 2

Sunday 1 September 2002

1st September 2002 Beachy 6.15am - 2.30pm. Clear and sunny with light NE wind

Marsh Harrier 1 juv./female. Very high appearing all-dark with yellow legs and feet just visible.
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel c.2
Peregrine c.3
Merlin 1juv./fem
Swift 1
Bee-eater 1 Heard approaching from the south whilst just on the ridge south of Belle Toute wood. Quickly located in the air flying towards me whereupon it approached to virtually directly overhead at a height of only c.40m where it was joined by a mixed flock of hirundines which almost started to mob the Bee-eater. It almost hung in the air for around a minute before circling several times, gained height and departed south still remaining vocal being a loud liquid ‘pprulut’. Very pointed features with long slightly decurved dark bill. Obvious bright yellow throat contrasting with a narrow black breast band and remainder of body plumage turquoise-blue. Pointed wings with orangey cast with noticeable black trailing-edge being broadest across secondaries. Long tail with elongated central tail feather projection.
Green woodpecker c.2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Sand Martin c.50
Swallow c.250
House Martin c.50
Rock Pipit c.4
Yellow Wagtail c.20
Grey Wagtail 2
Redstart c.5
Wheatear c.8
Whinchat c.5
Blackcap c.2
Lesser Whitethroat c.2
Whitethroat c.12
Willow Warbler c.10
Spotted Flycatcher c.3