31st July 2010 Beachy Head WSW4 fog with heavy drizzle

Gannet 20

Fulmar 5

Peregrine h

Kittiwake 16W all juv's

Oystercatcher 10W

Swallow c.10

Stonechat 8

Whinchat 1 juv.

Meadow Pipit 10

Whitethroat 5

Willow Warbler 6

Goldfinch 35

Corn Bunting 1

Corn Bunting at Birling

30th July 2010 Beachy Head NE2 and overcast soon becoming calm and sunny

Peregrine 1

Swift 3W
Sand Martin 2W, 5E
Swallow 17
Stonechat 3
Meadow Pipit 6
Nightingale h croaking Chat Vale
Grasshopper Warbler 2 ex.
Reed Warbler 2
Lesser Whitethroat 5
Whitethroat 44
Blackcap 8
Willow Warbler 47
Corn Bunting 1h

Painted Lady 1
Red Admiral 1
Peacock 1
Dark Green Fritillary 1
Meadow Brown 20
Gatekeeper 15
Chalkhill Blue 40
Common Blue 10
Small Copper 1

Blackcap at Birling Gap

The Migration Atlas states that known British-breeding Blackcaps make southerly movements in July-August, with many more in September.

Juvenile Stonechat at Birling

Grasshopper Warbler at Chat Vale

Reed Warbler at Chat Vale

Willow Warbler at the Old Trapping Area

29th July 2010 Weirwood Reservoir

Little Egret 1
Mandarin Duck c.20 including 2 juveniles
Common Sandpiper 2
Green Sandpiper 5

Fox 1
Badger 1 ex.

28th July 2010 Sutton

Ring-necked Parakeet 3

26th July 2010 Sutton

Ring-necked Parakeet 1

25th July 2010 Beachy Head WNW1-2 Low cloud with some drizzle

Hobby 1 gained height and flew south out to sea

Peregrine 2

Whimbrel 1 Cow Gap Beach, 1h Chat Vale

Swift 4

Swallow 7

Sand Martin 474 moving south and west

Stonechat 6

Common Redstart 1 male

Meadow Pipit 25

Nightingale h croaking in Chat Vale

Grasshopper Warbler 1

Sedge Warbler 1

Lesser Whitethroat 1

Whitethroat 31

Blackcap 3

Chiffchaff 1

Willow Warbler 12

Long-tailed Tit 16 in a flock above Cow Gap

Starling 70

Goldfinch 5 (including 3 flying east at 30mph alongside the car)

Linnet 30

Corn Bunting 1h

Peacock 1

Red Admiral 1

Dark Green Fritillary 1

Marbled White 1

Chalkhill Blue c.35

First-year Willow Warbler in the Hotel Garden

The Migration Atlas reveals that first-autumn Willow Warblers typically commence their Autumn migration in late July being a week or two earlier than adults that are delayed by the necessity to complete their post-breeding moult.

24th July 2010 Beachy Head Calm

Gannet 30E

Whimbrel h

Sandwich Tern h

Swallow 6W, 4

Pied Wagtail 1

Stonechat 1

Grasshopper Warbler 6 ex.

Sedge Warbler 1

Reed Warbler 3

Chiffchaff 1

Willow Warbler 6

Blackcap 2

Garden Warbler 1

Lesser Whitethroat 1

Whitethroat 25

Corn Bunting h

Dark Green Fritillary 4

Comma 3

Marbled White 8

Peacock 3

Red Admiral 4

Meadow Brown 20

Gatekeeper 15

Small Heath 1

Small Copper 2

Chalkhill Blue 70

Common Blue 5

Large Skipper 1

Silver-spotted Skipper 2

Hummingbird Hawk Moth 1 ex.

Migrant Hawker 1 ex.

Grasshopper Warbler at Birling Gap

The Migration Atlas states that the Autumn migration of juveniles passing through southeast England show three distinct peaks representing the passage of three broods roughly in late July, late August and late September. Adults typically pass through in late August and September.

Grasshopper Warbler at Birling Gap

A more heavily streaked and yellow-suffused individual

Chiffchaff at Birling Gap

The Migration Atlas states that seemingly random short-distance dispersive movements commence in July and continue into September. These merge into a more definite migratory movement that commences in late August and peaks in the second half of September.

Adult Herring Gull at Birling Gap

Juvenile Reed Warblers at Belle Tout

The Migration Atlas states that up to 30% of Reed Warblers are double-brooded. The first brood juveniles are similar in their timings of their Autumn migration to adults in that they start to leave their breeding sites in late July, with their peak passage across the south coast in the last third of August. Juveniles are characterised by their warm rusty-brown upperparts and buff flanks.

Common Blues in the Beachy Head Hotel Garden

Silver-spotted Skipper at Belle Tout

Immature male Migrant Hawker at Cow Gap

The UK's breeding population is boosted by migrants from continental Europe in the autumn.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth in Whitbread Hollow

Silver-y Moth in Whitbread Hollow

Tachina grossa in Cow Gap

At an impressive 15-19mm in length this is Europe's largest Fly

21st July 2010 Weirwood Reservoir

Little Egret 1

Mandarin Duck c.20

Common Sandpiper 1

Green Sandpiper 3

Green Sandpiper at Weirwood Reservoir

The Migration Atlas regards Green Sandpiper as one of the earliest migrant waders to return from their breeding grounds in autumn, with the first birds appearing in the UK in mid-June.

18th July 2010 Beachy Head W3-4 Clear & Old Lodge

Cormorant 12W flock of 4 followed by high-flying flock of 8
Black-headed Gull 15 incl. 1 juv.
Mediterranean Gull 1E Ad.S. 1 Ad.W. offshore
Kittiwake 2 juv. off Birling Gap Oystercatcher 3W
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Belle Tout
Swallow 2
Whitethroat 10
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Garden Warbler 1
Blackcap 2
Raven 2
Greenfinch 6
Chaffinch 15
Corn Bunting 1 + 1h

Marbled White 10
Gatekeeper 3

Old Lodge
Redstart 1

Redpoll 1

Brimstone 2

Emperor Dragonfly c.8
Golden-ringed Dragonfly 3
Keeled Skimmer 1 female
Four-spotted Chaser 1
Broad-bodied Chaser 1 male, 1 female
Common Darter 1
Small Red Damselfly 10
Large Red Damselfly 1
Azure Damselfly 10

Emperor Dragonfly at Old Lodge

Golden-ringed Dragonfly at Old Lodge

17th July 2010 Beachy Head W5-6 mainly sunny

Sparrowhawk 1

Peregrine 1

Curlew 1E

Whimbrel 1W

Herring Gull c.50 incl. 2 juv.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 3W Ad.

Mediterranean Gull 1E 2nd S, 1E Ad S, 2W Ad S, 1 juv. on sea

Kittiwake c.250W Ad. 1E juv.

Sandwich Tern 3E

Swift 3

Swallow 10

Sand Martin 15

Whitethroat 6

Lesser Whitethroat 1

Large White 1

Small White 2

Dark Green Frittilary 2

Marbled White 10

Gatekeeper 10

Meadow Brown 15

Chalkhill Blue 12

White-lettered Hairstreak 1 ex.

Small Copper 1

Small Skipper 6

Large Skipper 2

Southern Hawker 1 ex.

Male White-lettered Hairstreak at Belle Tout

Sand Martin over Whitbread Hollow

The Migration Atlas states that juveniles show orientated movement by the end of July. Adult movements appear to be later, more direct and faster with passage through the UK concentrated during August and early September.

A ringed adult Common Whitethroat in Chat Vale

The Migration Atlas states that southward migration begins in late July, with the peak movement during mid- to late August. However, this adult was clearly still feeding its fledged juveniles.

Pheasant along the rides above Whitbread Hollow

Female Chalkhill Blue in Whitbread Hollow

Chalkhill Blues in Cow Gap

Comma at Belle Tout

Immature male Southern Hawker at Belle Tout