Friday 13 May 2016

13th May, 2016 Beachy Head Overcast cool N-NE 5-6

Arrived to very windy conditions which made birding the bushes difficult. We covered Birling Lane, Belle Tout wood, Shooters Bottom, Old Trapping Area, Hotel Garden, Icky Ridge and the Cliff Path. Met up with Bob Edgar who had covered Whitbread Hollow and Cow Gap area. Also LP and KG were birding in the Hollow area. No sign of yesterdays Red-rumped Swallows, with the highlight being at least 5 Red Kites which gave exceptional views, otherwise just the odd migrants were seen.

Red Kite 5-6 (4 near Shooters and 1 Cow Gap @ around 08.00 and 1 Frost Hill 10.05) 
Kestrel 1
Hobby 1 appeared tired Whitbread Hollow (per LP)
Collared Dove 1 W over Birling
Swift 2
House Martin 7 N
Tree Pipit 1 Whitbread Hollow (per KG)
Common Whitethroat 25
Blackcap 1
Chiffchaff 2
Willow Warbler 1
Firecrest 1 male singing along the Cliff Path (per RDME)
Spotted Flycatcher 2

Wall Butterfly 10
Common Blue 1 (our first for the year)
Dingy Skipper 3

 

Red Kite not taking any nonsense from this Crow.



 




 
Red Kites gave a good display

 
Our first Common Blue along the cliff path


Wall Butterfly