Saturday 4 January 2014

4th January 2014 Birling Gap 9am-12am S6

Brent Geese 488E, 7W
Wigeon 4E
Scoter 1E
Red-throated Diver 4E
Diver sp. 1W
Great Crested Grebe 1E, 2W
Fulmar 10
Gannet 35E
Little Egret 1 on beach then flew west
Bonxie 5E (1 9.36am, 1 9.38, 1 9.39, 2 9.42) - JFC looked up the previous Beachy January daily maximum that was 2 on the 13/1/13
Little Gull 1 adult winter at 10.42am arrived from the west and flew back west - JFC looked up the previous Beachy winter daily maxima that are 5 on the 25/12/89 (Leach's Petrel day) and 3 on the 30/1/09
Kittiwake 20E
Auk sp. 134E
Guillemot 3E
Razorbill 1E
Curlew 3W

Newhaven Harbour
Eider 5
Purple Sandpiper 8 on east pier

Birling Gap
Further significant cliff falls yesterday necessitated the National Trust moving the fence back from the cliff edge. The horizontal projection just visible from the Safety Boat Association hut are the tram tracks!
 
Birling Gap Safety Boat Association Hut
 Lots of roof slates have been displaced in the last week. The Coastguards mentioned the cliff edge is already undercut in this area too with almost a cave appearing. Permission exists for the hut to be moved back from the cliff edge but will anyone act in time?
 
Brent Geese passing Birling
The easterly passage of Brent Geese seems to commence earlier every year! 
 
 



Adult winter Little Gull with Black-headed Gulls off Birling
Arriving from the west with a feeding flock of Black-headed Gulls, despite briefly foot-paddling, they all too quickly departed back westwards unfortunately before I could attempt to digiscope them