LP covered the area from the Beachy Head Hotel to Shooters Bottom and RKH visited the Headland, and found the highlight of the Autumn so far with a Melodious Warbler in the Old Trapping Area.
There was a good arrivals of summer migrants with 12 Redstarts and with only part of the headland being covered. Diurnal passage included 19 Tree Pipits and 81 Yellow Wagtails. The following totals have been supplied by LP.
Sparrowhawk 2
Merlin 1 (The first of this Autumn)
Great-spotted Woodpecker 1
Tree Pipit 19 overhead (including a party of 12)
Yellow Wagtail 81 overhead
Swallow 300
Common Redstart 12
Whinchat 2
Wheatear 5
Grasshopper Warbler 1
Lesser Whitethroat 5
Common Whitethroat c50
Blackcap 6
Spotted Flycatcher 3
taken by RKH.
Melodious Warbler in the Old Trapping Area
25th August, 2017 Beachy Head sunny and warm SE 1-2
We covered Birling lane, Old Trapping Area, Hotel Garden and Icky Ridge, LP covered Shooters Bottom, and RE was ringing in Whitbread Hollow. We also met up with RKH, RHC and a number of other birders who were hoping to see the Melodious Warbler which appears to have been taken by a Sparrowhawk this afternoon.
Still fair numbers of night migrants on the headland although not so many as yesterday while in Whitbread Hollow Blackcaps numbered 200 with over 100 ringed and another influx of Reed Warblers. Diurnal passage saw a build up of the 3 species of hirundines, 12 Swifts, 32 Yellow Wagtails E and 15 Tree Pipits.
Combined totals:
Sparrowhawk 2
Kestrel 1
Tawny Owl 1
Short-eared Owl 2 Shooters Bottom (LP)
Swift 12
Great-spotted Woodpecker 2
Sand Martin c50 E
Swallow c570 (many E)
House Martin c120 chiefly feeding with Swallows over the cliffs and Belle Tout lighthouse
Tree Pipit 15
Meadow Pipit 40
Yellow Wagtail 47 (32 E and 15 Birling field)
Common Redstart 4
Whinchat 1
Sedge Warbler 5
Reed Warbler 36 (35 Hollow)
Melodious Warbler 1 still present this morning in the Old Trapping Area.
Lesser Whitethroat 9
Common Whitethroat 75 (20 Hollow and 55 Headland)
Garden Warbler 20 Hollow
Blackcap 210 (10 Headland and 200 Hollow with over 100 ringed)
Chiffchaff 3
Willow Warbler 30 (20 Hollow and 10 Headland)
Goldcrest 1 Birling
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Corn Bunting 5
On our journey home we had an immature Marsh Harrier fly over the road at Southease and as it past over our car it made a loud screech call.
Some of today's Yellow Wagtails in the field at Birling.
(taken in very early morning sunlight).
Redstart in the Old Trapping Area
Spotted Flycatcher in the Old Trapping Area
Melodious Warbler in the Old Trapping Area (2nd day)
The strong sunlight made the lower breast and belly yellower
whereas it was in fact whiter. The short primaries just
extending over the base of the tail and the lack of the
pale panel in the wings are good identification features.
(shame about the leaf on the last picture)
(taken by LP)
Short-eared Owl in Shooters Bottom.
