22nd October 2011 Beachy Head SE4-5 Clear

Seawatch 7.45am-8.45am
Scoter 1E
Merlin 1
Tawny Owl 1 grey phase
Bonxie 2E, 2W
Arctic Skua 4W
Guillemot 4E
Auk sp. 61E
Swallow 1
Stonechat 3
Wheatear 1
Redwing 1
Skylark 4W, 50
Pied Wagtail 2W, 2
Chiffchaff 1
Goldcrest 6
Firecrest 2
Treecreeper 1
Long-tailed Tit c.12
Reed Bunting 1
Redpoll 5W
Siskins h
Goldfinch 16E, 35
Linnet 35
Raven 2

 Grey-phase Tawny Owl at Belle Tout

 Merlin over the Top Fields

 Firecrest in the Old Trapping Area

 Redwing in the Old Trapping Area

 Long-tailed Tits in Whitbread Hollow

Firecrest in Whitbread Hollow

West Rise Marsh

Little Egret 2

Wigeon c.50

Swallow 2

Bearded Tit h

Reed Bunting c.10

16 October 2011 Beachy Head Calm and clear

Heron 1W
Short-eared Owl 1
House Martin 3
Swallow c.15W
Skylark 3W
Pied Wagtail 51E
Song Thrush 4
Wheatear 1
Ring Ouzel 2
Chiffchaff 5
Reed Warbler 1
Goldcrest 3
Treecreeper 1
Siskin c.30E
Redpoll 5W
Mealy Redpoll 1W
Goldfinch 20E
Linnet 75W
Reed Bunting 1W

 Reed Warbler in Chat Vale

First-adult Goshawk on the cliff edge in Cow Gap

Its odd appearance is primarily a result of the disruption to its crown feathers - birders who had seen it prior to ourselves had seen it being attacked by Crows. It also appeared very large-billed even by Goshawk standards and it does appear slightly deformed along the base of its culmen. That aside, it appears a first-adult Goshawk and subsequently we met its owner who confirmed its identity! It had been 'on the loose' for four days, and at the time we left Whitbread Hollow, it had evaded capture...  

Falconer trying to recaputure his Goshawk armed with what appeared to be a chicken on a string!

15th October 2011 Beachy Head & Crowlink SE2 Clear

Heron 4W
Sparrowhawk 3
Red-legged Partridge 1
Woodpigeon 20N
Stock Dove 2E
Swallow 35E
House Martin 5E
Pied Wagtail 55E
Meadow Pipit 20E
Skylark 15E
Whinchat 1
Wheatear 5
Chiffchaff 4
Linnet 70E
Goldfinch 245E
Redpoll 13E
Siskin 22E
Chaffinch 12E
Greenfinch 10E
Corn Bunting 12

Crowlink
Pied Wagtail c.25E
Wheatear 3
Isabelline Wheatear 1 first-winter ex.

First-winter Isabelline Wheatear at Crowlink

A great find and identification by Roger & Liz Charlwood Andy & Gill Swash being the first record for Sussex. The above images convey its large size, upright stance, pot-bellied appearance, large deep-based bill, pale grey-washed sandy upperparts, restricted white rump, broad black terminal tail band, broad pale buff fringes to its lesser, median and greater coverts, isolated black alula, broad whitish fringes to its primary coverts, prominant white supercilium, pale brown uppersides to its primaries and diagnostic white underwings. Superb!

With dusk falling would-be observers pursuing the Isabelline Wheatear towards Beachy

13th October 2011 Newhaven Harbour

Wheatear 3
Yellow Wagtail h
Grey Wagtail h
Alba Wagtail c.10W
Rock Pipit c.5
Ring Ouzel 9 ex.
Brambling h
Redpoll h
Siskin c.12E

9th October 2011 Beachy Head W3 Overcast with light showers

Brent Goose 250W

Scoter 1E, 6W

Merganser 11W

Hobby 2

Merlin 1

Curlew 1W

Bonxie 10E

Arctic Skua 4E

Common Tern 10W

Sandwich Tern 2

Auk sp. 3E

Great Spotted Woodpecker 2

Sand Martin 1W

House Martin 10

Swallow 20W

Pied Wagtail 12W

Meadow Pipit 80W

Wheatear 7 including the juvenile

Whinchat 1

Redwing 70W

Ring Ouzel 7

Blackbird 20

Skylark 10W

Blackcap 5

Chiffchaff 18

Goldcrest 3

Starling 200

Linnet 120W, 100

Redpoll 1W

Siskin 150W

Goldfinch 150W

Greenfinch 4

Corn Bunting 2W





Redwings over Chat Vale

Unlike elsewhere in the country we rarely enjoy the spectacle of diurnal passage Winter Thrushes at Beachy so it was nice to see some passage flocks and grounded birds during today's inclement weather conditions.

Siskins passing overhead along the Cliff Path

8th October 2011 Beachy Head NW 3 Overcast

Little Egret 1W
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 2+
Peregrine 1
Sandwich Tern 1W
Short-eared Owl 1E ex.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1W
Skylark c.60W, 75
Swallow c.100W
House Martin c.10+W
Sand Martin 1W
Meadow Pipit c.200W
Pied Wagtail c.50+W
Wheatear 9 including a juv.
Redwing 1
Song Thrush 3
Blackcap 3
Chiffchaff c.20
Goldcrest c.3
Raven 2
Chaffinch c.50W
Goldfinch c.660W
Siskin 42W
Linnet c.1,100W
Redpoll 6W
Reed Bunting 21W
Corn Bunting 10W, 4

 Short-eared Owl over Birling Gap

Juvenile Wheatear at Belle Tout

October would seem a late date for a Wheatear to retain so much juvenile plumage.

1st October 2011 Beachy Head Calm and clear.

Sparrowhawk 4 in air together

Kestrel 2-3

Hobby 2

Swallow c.100

House Martin c.500

Skylark 7W

Meadow Pipit c.135

Tree Pipit 1

Yellow Wagtail 2

Pied Wagtail 46

Redstart 1

Wheatear 3

Mistle Thrush 4N

Whitethroat 1

Chiffchaff c.40

Goldcrest 6

Goldfinch c.40

Linnet c.100

Corn Bunting 2

Common Darter 1

Red Admiral 10+

 Common Darter on Icky Ridge

Martyn Kenefick birding the Old Trapping Area