31st August, 2018 Beachy Head Sunny periods, E 2-3

At long last an easterly wind. A number of birders present on the Headland this morning. We covered Shooters Bottom and field opposite, Old Trapping Area and Toilet Block bushes, we also did a raptor watch from 11.30 to 12.30 with SL. Great to see Bob Izzard with GG today. Bob has been very poorly recently so great to see him out birding again today. They were covering some of the Headland sites. RAB walked the foot-path to Long Down and then covered the Hotel Garden, Icky Ridge, Toilet Block Bushes, Old Trapping Area. RE covered Birling lane, Birling to Belle Tout loop and Belle Tout wood.
A nice selection of common night migrants, a juvenile Marsh Harrier moved E over the top fields although the highlight was a Nuthatch which visited three separate sites and is only our 14th record since 1960. At long last a decent passage of hirundines with a few Yellow Wagtails and a single Swift.
Combined Totals:

Fulmar 1
Marsh Harrier 1 juv. type E over the Headland @ 08.30
Common Buzzard 6+ over Top fields
Kestrel 2 Headland
Swift 1 E
Great-spotted Woodpecker 1 Toilet block bushes
Sand Martin 40 E
Swallow c2,000 chiefly E (1,000 E between 08.00 - 09.00)
House Martin 35 E
Tree pipit 1 Toilet block bushes
Yellow Wagtail 12 E
Pied Wagtail 8 Birling
Common Redstart 4
Whinchat 4
Wheatear 9
Sedge Warbler 1 Shooters Bottom
Reed Warbler 1 Shooters Bottom
Lesser Whitethroat 3 Headland
Common Whitethroat 48 Headland
Blackcap 1
Willow Warbler 6 Headland
Nuthatch 1 at 3 different sites on the Headland. ( our 14th record since 1960).
Raven 1

                                                                             

Common Redstart in the Old Trapping Area.

 

Nuthatch on the Headland

 Tree Pipit near the radio mast.

 

Wheatear on the Headland.