18th April, 2017 Beachy Head Sunny but cold early morning becoming warmer NE 5-6 decreasing to 3-4

A very cold NE wind made birding unpleasant during the early morning but improved later. We covered Birling lane, Old Trapping Area, Hotel Garden, Icky Ridge, Cliff Path, Shooters Bottom, Belle Tout wood, where we met up with Richard Fairbank and his sister Ruth. They had walked from Crowlink to Shooters Bottom. The clear conditions and cold NE wind were not ideal for a fall of migrants although several small parties of Linnets moved E.

Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Tawny Owl 1
Swallow 6
Wheatear 3 (RJF)
Common Whitethroat 2
Blackcap 2
Chiffchaff 5
Willow Warbler 25
Linnet 50 (several small parties E)

Early Spider Orchid 2 in flower

Late news from yesterday: LP and friend again covered much of the area and had similar numbers to the previous day with the highlight being an adult male Hen Harrier which arrived from the sea at 08.50 and departed high to the N. Also 16 Yellow Wagtails N and 1 White Wagtail were seen.

 

Kestrel hovering

Early Spider Orchid