29th May, 2017 & 2nd June, 2017 Beachy Head

29th May, 2017. Overcast E2

Went with Terry and briefly sea-watched from 06.20-06.50, but virtually no movement. We then covered most of the sites on the Headland meeting up with KG in Shooters Bottom but no new migrants were seen. We departed at 11.15 am and KG returned to Birling and had a party of 8 Bee-eaters flyover W at 12.18.

Gannet 15 E
Heron 2 soaring high up over Cornish Farm
Kestrel 1
Lesser Black Backed Gull 1 adult
Swift 10
Swallow 12
Bee-Eater 8 W @ 12.18 over Birling (KG).
Song Thrush 5
Common Whitethroat 12
Blackcap 2
Chiffchaff 5

Wall 1
Brown Argus 1
Common Blue 6
Small Heath 2
Dingy Skipper 1 Cliff Path
Painted Lady 1
Speckled Wood 8
Red Admiral 1

Adult Lesser-black Backed Gull

 Dingy Skipper along the Cliff Path

2nd June, 2017 Partly overcast becoming warm. E1-2

We covered Birling lane, Old Trapping Area, Hotel Garden, Icky Ridge, Cliff Path, Shooters Bottom. and Belle Tout wood. RE covered the Whitbread Hollow area.

Very little recorded although RE had a Lesser Whitethroat in the Hollow. The highlight was a Red-veined Darter which showed well along the Cliff Path before being lost as it flew into Cow Gap.
LP had 3 Red Kites on the headland at 14.00.

Bee Orchids now coming into flower

 

Male Red-veined Darter along the Cliff Path

I wonder if RJF brought this back from Mongolia.