Tuesday 3 May 2016

3rd May, 2016 Beachy Head Sunny clear and warm N to W 1

A lovely morning, we did a brief sea-watch from 06.45-07.30 but as expected no movement. We covered Shooters Bottom, Old Trapping Area, Hotel Garden, Icky Ridge, Cliff Path and Belle Tout wood. Met up with Roger H. who did most of the sites with us and Bob who covered Birling Lane, Birling loop and B/T wood, Whitbread Hollow and Cow Gap. Laurence was also in Whitbread Hollow and Cow Gap. We also saw several other birders on the Headland.
With the clear sunny conditions, it was a surprise that reasonable numbers of common night migrants were present and Bob saw our first Hobby for the year. Hirundines are not usually to much of a Spring feature at Beachy and therefore a reasonable arrival of Swallows and House Martins was enjoyable.

Common Scoter 2 W
Kestrel 1
Hobby 1 (per RDME)
Peregrine 1
Swallow 60 N
House Martin 10 N
Common Redstart 2 females Whitbread Hollow (per RDME)
Whinchat 1 male Whitbread Hollow (per LP)
Song Thrush 1
Sedge Warbler 1 (per RDME)
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Common Whitethroat 15
Garden Warbler 2
Blackcap 12
Chiffchaff 3
Willow Warbler 60
Spotted Flycatcher 1 B/T wood

Early Spider Orchid 17(per RDME)
Speckled Wood 1