Wednesday 10 August 2016

10th August, 2016 Beachy Head Overcast with a cold N wind force 4 decreasing to 2-3

Similar to yesterday with an early morning cold N wind. Met up with RKH at Birling and we covered Birling lane and scrub opposite, Belle Tout area, Shooters Bottom, Old Trapping Area, Hotel Garden and Icky Ridge. LP was covering Whitbread Hollow and Cow Gap area. Little seen until around 7.00 am when Willow Warblers suddenly arrived. We stood at the bottom of Birling lane and counted 26 Willows moving inland along the lane in just 7 minutes and for the next hour Willows were flicking through the cow parsley in the strong wind. Generally fewer other migrants seen compared to yesterday and with a large reduction of numbers in Common Whitethroats. Very little overhead movement recorded. The highlight was a stunning Wood Warbler which showed briefly in the Old Trapping Area before moving on.

Little Egret 1
Sparrowhawk 2-3
Buzzard 1
Kestrel 1
Red-legged Partridge 1
Cuckoo 1 Ad flying over Icky Ridge
Swallow 25 W
Common Redstart 1 (per LP)
Wheatear 3 (per LP)
Sedge Warbler 2
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Common Whitethroat 10 (compared with over 50 seen yesterday)
Garden Warbler 1
Wood Warbler 1 Old Trapping Area
Willow Warbler 130 (100 on the Headland and 30 Hollow area)
An early morning Sedge Warbler at Birling

 


Good arrival of Willow Warblers with much colour variation
on the underparts.


 

Stunning Wood Warbler which dropped into the bushes in the
Old Trapping Area, but only stayed for around a minute before
moving on

 

Adult Cuckoo flying over Icky Ridge