Beachy Head 27 September

Saturday 27 September.  A very pleasant morning walking around Beachy Head with John and Doreen Cooper and John King. There was hardly a breath of wind which made conditions ideal for finding birds in bushes but there did not appear to be much too find.  A steady easterly stream of hirundines kept us alert.  For the first hour it was all Swallows (about 500) then House Martins were passing in similar numbers and I estimated 1500 Swallows, 800 House Martins and a single Sand Martin.  Most areas of bushes held a few Chiffchaffs with a total of 57 noted and Robins were much in evidence with about 30 seen.  , I also recorded 12 Sky Larks, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats, Spotted Flycatcher, Jay, 2 Ravens and 4 Yellowhammers but best of all was a Grasshopper Warbler. 

Raven over Birling

Friday 26th.  Two Little Egrets by Southwick lock gates.  No sign of any Wheatears on the beach.

Thursday 25th.  Not a good day at work, I'm closer than ever to retiring early, and no closer to completing my Colombia trip log.  Fortunately my mood was greatly improved by seeing 2 Wheatears on Hove pitch & putt and 6 on Southwick Beach.  Brilliant. 

Wednesdy 24th.  A Pheasant stood in the middle of Middle Road was reluctant to move out of the way of an approaching car and was nearly run over.  A Peregrine on Southwick Power Station roof.

Tuesday 23rd. A Peregrine on Southwick Power Station roof and a Jay near the Level.

Monday 22nd.  12 Meadow Pipits and 3 Wheatears on Hove pitch & putt and 6 on Southwick Beach