After several days of wet and windy weather, today was at long last sunny and dry but still a cold strong wind. We sea-watched from 06.30-07.30 without any expectations and unfortunately we were proved right. It was again difficult to check the bushes due to the strong wind, and we covered Birling lane, Radio mast bushes, Hotel Garden, Icky Ridge, Old Trapping Area, Shooters Bottom and Belle Tout wood, but other than 5 Meadow Pipits no other new arrivals were found. The Firecrest, which I first saw on the 7/3, was still showing well in Belle Tout wood, and there was briefly a summer plumage Mediterranean Gull in the sheep fields at Birling.
Gannet c30 of Birling
Canada Goose 1 W
Common Scoter 3 E
Sparrowhawk 2 (1 Birling and 1 high NE over Shooters Bottom)
Common Buzzard 2 over Shooters Bottom
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1 Icky Ridge
Pheasant 1 flushed Belle Tout wood
Mediterranean Gull 1 ad s/p Birling sheep fields
Black-headed Gull 30 W
Green Woodpecker 1 B/T wood
Skylark 50+ set-aside field
Meadow Pipit 5 Headland
Pied Wagtail 2 Birling
Stonechat 4
Firecrest
1 B/T wood (probably
the same bird seen on the 7/3).
Corn Bunting 2 Birling
Firecrest in Belle Tout wood.
