Received a telephone call from SL who was leading a field outing to Beachy Head and that they had just found a Great Bustard which came flying in from the East and landed in the sheep field at Birling Gap at 10.40. Doreen quickly sent a text to LP so he could quickly inform other local observers, whilst we drove from Burgess Hill to Beachy, hoping it would stay until we arrived. When we arrived, it was now at the back of the sheep field and a good many local birders were enjoying this spectacle of a female Great Bustard stately patrolling in the field at Birling Gap. We watched it for around 15 minutes, and then for no reason, it suddenly ran and took flight. it headed out over the cliffs and initially flew East but then was soon spotted by some of the local Herring Gulls who started to mob it, and it then flew around and departed West. Luckily, I had just rested may camera on my tripod and was able to obtain a series of pictures of it in flight. Both Matt and Keith have kindly sent me some of their pictures for use on this blog. Also many thanks to Simon for kindly telephoning us with the news. It was a pity that it had a red ring on one leg, but after 60 years birding on Beachy Head, for Doreen and myself, this has to go down as one of those highlights you dream about, but never expected to see.
LP has now found out the details of the ring: This female was released in August in Wiltshire. The egg came from Castilla Y Leon, Spain. This is the last year eggs will be imported , the population of around 100 birds are now breeding well and has now reached the point of being self sustaining.
A number of birders covered most of the sites on the Headland. RE was ringing in Whitbread Hollow,
LP covered Belle Tout wood ,Birling area and Old Trapping Area. KH, RKH, RES and RB covered the Radio mast bushes, Hotel Garden, Icky Ridge, Shooters Bottom.
Again reasonable umbers of Crests including 7 Firecrests, also 1 Ring Ouzel. The Eastern type Blythi Lesser Whitethroat was still present at Birling. Good numbers of Wood Pigeons were on the move again.
Great Bustard 1 female Birling with a red ring. (SL et al)
Sparrow Hawk 1
Common Buzzard 3 (2 Hollow, 1 Headland)
Kestrel 1 Hollow
Green Woodpecker 2 (1 Hollow,1 Headland)
Wood Pigeon c8,000 S-SE out to sea during first hour of light.
Swallow 4 W
Black Redstart 3 (1 Headland, 2 B/T lighthouse)
Ring Ouzel 1 Old Trapping Area
Redwing 6 (3 Headland, 3 Birling area)
Song Thrush 3 (1 Hollow 2 Headland)
Dartford Warbler 1 Birling Loop (SL et al)
Lesser Whitethroat 1 Blythi Eastern race
Blackcap 3 (1 Hollow, 2 Old Trapping Area)
Chiffchaff 5 (4 Headland, 1 Hollow was a re-trap with a Belgian ring)
Goldcrest 40 (15 Headland, 25 Hollow)
Firecrest 7 (2 B/T wood, 2 Hollow, 2 Icky Ridge, 1 Shooters Bottom)
Long tailed Tit 32 (14 hollow, 6 B/T wood, 12 Old Trapping Area)
Coal Tit 1 (British race) B/T wood (LP)
Greenfinch 5 flew over Birling
Siskin 1 Hollow
Lesser Redpoll 2 trapped Hollow
Above two pictures taken by Matt Eade
Above 3 pictures taken by Keith Hackett.
Female Great Bustard in the Sheep field at Birling, before departing West.
