Funnel cloud at Beachy (08 September 2013)

Sunday 8 September.  A morning at Beachy with Frank Lambert and John King with much of the time spent with John and David Cooper and Brenda Kay.  A few migrants were seen early on, mainly around Birling but most of the time Frank and I were comparing notes on recent West Papua trips, mine a private one, Frank leading Birdtour Asia's.  Birds seen were Peregrine, 20 Swallows, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Redstarts (including an excellent male), 5 Whinchats, 16 Stonechats, 2 Wheatears, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 23 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and 2 Ravens.

Funnel cloud off Beachy Head, as viewed from Belle Tout

it became more apparent as it moved towards Eastbourne

Saturday 7 September.  An hours seawatch from Widewater failed to prodice any shearwaters although two distant Fulmars had me going for a while.  Otherwise just a few Gannets and Sandwich Terns were moving and what appeared to be a very distant Bonxie.  20 Turnstones and a Wheatear were at Shoreham Fort and 4 Ringed Plover and 10 Dunlin on the Adur.   In the afternoon a walk around Cissbury Ring with Megan produced a Buzzard and Spotted Flycatcher.

Thursday 5 September.  Peregrine on Southwick chimney.
Wednesday 4 September.  Sparrowhawk over our road.
Tuesday 3 September.  Peregrine on Southwick chimney.

Monday 2 September.  Nice views of the juvenile Red-backed Shrike between Rottingdean and Balsdean.