2nd April, 2019 Beachy Head Sea-mist, overcast, cold with rain late morning. W 4

Arrived at Birling to yet another sea-mist, which again hampered the sea-watch. We sea-watched from 07.00-08.30 although the last 30 minutes very little was seen moving. We then visited Belle Tout wood and scrub below B/T lighthouse, Old Trapping Area, and Icky Ridge. RE covered Birling lane, Whitbread Hollow and Belle Tout wood, LP also covered Belle Tout wood, and then walked to the scrub below the old lighthouse and the Birling loop, and RB covered Shooters Bottom and the valley opposite and other sites on the Headland.
Small sea-passage during the first hour, but then very little seen. Small numbers of night migrants on the Headland which included our joint earliest Grasshopper Warbler which was reeling below B/T lighthouse and our earliest ever Sedge Warbler singing in Whitbread Hollow.
Combined Totals:

Red-throated Diver 3 E
Great-crested Grebe 2 on the sea
Gannet 27 E
Brent Goose 162 E
Common Scoter 14 E
Sparrow Hawk 1 male Birling
Common Buzzard 1
Peregrine 2 Icky Ridge
Sandwich Tern 2 E
Tawny Owl 1 calling
Green Woodpecker 2
Meadow Pipit 56 (40 arrived from the south)
Black Redstart 2 female types B/T lighthouse
Wheatear 1
Redwing 2
Song Thrush 3
Grass-hopper Warbler 1 reeling (photo) in scrub below B/T lighthouse (LP) Our joint earliest date with the previous date was on the 2/4/2002.
Sedge Warbler 1 singing in Whitbread Hollow (RE) Our earliest date, the previous earliest date was on the 6/4/2009.
Blackcap 1
Chiffchaff 14
Willow Warbler 2
Raven 1
Linnet Flock of 60 in ploughed field
Corn Bunting 10

 

 Chiffchaff in the Old Trapping Area.