25th July, 2017 Beachy Head Overcast early morning becoming sunny. N 2 increasing to 5 then decreasing to 1-2

We covered our usual areas on the Headland commencing at Birling, LP covered the area from the Hotel Garden to Shooters Bottom. We also met up with RKH and briefly with RB.
An excellent early morning passage of Swifts chiefly when it was overcast and windy, also a small arrival of Willow Warblers including what appeared to be a number of adult birds, but otherwise a disappointing back-up of other night migrants. When the sun was out and the wind was less, good numbers of butterflies were on the wing

Combined totals:

Little Egret 1 Birling
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Mediterranean Gull 3 ad's W
Swift c1,200 (330 Birling moving fast W from 06.20-07.00, c800 over the Headland sheltering below the cliffs etc. from the strong N wind at around 08.00 and c70 high in the air late morning.)
Green Woodpecker 1 Birling
Sand Martin 6
Swallow 15
Common Redstart 1 male near the Old Trapping Area
Sedge Warbler 2
Lesser Whitethroat 2
Common Whitethroat 23
Willow Warbler 32 including a number of adult looking birds.
Raven 1

Meadow Brown 40
Gatekeeper 50
Wall 1
Brown Argus 1
Common Blue 50
Chalk Hill Blue 50 (all males)
Small Copper 1
Silver Spotted Skipper 1
Painted Lady 1
Red Admiral 2

Common Darter Dragonfly 1

A worn looking Swift on the move

A large early morning movement of Swifts

A typical 1st cal yr. bird 

Small arrival of Willow Warblers including a number

of adult type birds as shown above.

Common Whitethroat at Birling

Lesser Whitethroat in Shooters Bottom

 

Common Darter at Birling

Underwing of the male Chalk Hill Blue

A worn Brown Argus

 

Silver-spotted Skipper-A favourite of mine.