1st August, 2017 Beachy Head Fine and sunny SW 2

Arrived to a fine sunny morning and we covered virtually all the usual sites on the headland apart for the Birling loop. Also met up with RB and it was great to see Simon L back at Beachy. RE was ringing in Whitbread Hollow and LP was covering a few sites on the Head although I did not see him when I was covering the whole of the Head during the morning.
At last a good arrival of night migrants chiefly Willows and acros. Very little in the way of diurnal migration seen.
Combined totals:

Marsh Harrier juvenile type with a creamy head at 12.55 headed East over the Head (per SL.)
Tawny Owl 1
Green Woodpecker 1
Great-spotted Woodpecker 1
Sand Martin 13
Swallow 20
Song Thrush 1
Grasshopper Warbler 3
Sedge Warbler 26 (24 Headland and 2 Hollow)
Reed Warbler 39 (24 Headland & 15 Hollow)
Common Whitethroat c50
Garden Warbler 5
Blackcap 12
Chiffchaff 3
Willow Warbler 175 (100 Hollow & 75 Headland)
Jay 2
Raven 2

Butterflies; Good numbers were on the wing but no count was made. The following are the more interesting ones seen.
Wall 2
Brown Argus 1
Small Blue 1
Essex Skipper 2
Painted Lady 5
Silver Spotted Skipper c5
Dingy Skipper 1 (second brood)
Dark Green Fritillary (very worn)

A nice welcome on the beach which brought smiles to our faces

Quite a cold greyish looking Reed Warbler at Birling

 

Just to prove I am not an Aquatic Warbler

Excellent arrival of Sedge Warblers.

A good fall of Willow Warblers

Sedge Warblers were also much in evidence in Shooters Bottom

Another more typical Reed Warbler in Shooters

The juvenile Cuckoo was still present

Small Blue 

  

Brown Argus

   

Even a Spitfire got in on the act.