JFC's Birding: 16th October, 2018 Beachy Head sunny and warm SE-S 1-2

A beautiful warm day, birding in shirt sleeves. We met up with a number of birders today and between us we covered most of the sites on the Headland. We also visited with RAB, Roger and Liz in Hodcombe. RE was ringing in Whitbread Hollow. MM did another diurnal migration watch at Birling from 07.15-09.30 and also walked the downs to Cornish Farm and Long Down. Small numbers of night migrants were logged chiefly Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, but also included a late Reed Warbler and a Brambling. Diurnal migration included 295 Goldfinches E, small numbers of Siskins and 160 Starlings W.
Combined totals:

Sparrowhawk 1 on the Headland
Kestrel 2
Merlin 1 near Hotel Garden (SL)
Peregrine 2 over Cornish Farm
Tawny Owl 1 Hollow
Swallow 23 chiefly E
Pied Wagtail 10 (4 E)
Meadow Pipit 25 E
Wheatear 1 Long Down
Song Thrush 1 continental trapped Hollow
Reed Warbler 1 Hotel Garden
Blackcap 22 (20 Hollow and 2 Headland)
Chiffchaff 48 (28 Headland and 20 Hollow)
Long-tailed Tit 6 Hollow
Jay 3 (1 Hotel Garden and 2 Hollow)
Raven 1 Hollow
Starling 160 W (perhaps the start of the influx from Russia)
Greenfinch 10 E
Chaffinch 25 (8 high SE)
Brambling 1 near Cornish Farm
Goldfinch 445 (150 Headland and 295 E)
Linnet 120 E
Siskin c6 E
Bullfinch 1 male Hotel Garden
Reed Bunting 2-3 Hotel Garden

Grey Seal 1 off Icky Ridge

Clouded Yellow 5
Speckled Wood 3
Meadow Brown 1
Small Copper 1
Painted Lady 1
Red Admiral Several
Small Heath 1
Common Blue 3

Common Darter 1