Beachy & Crowlink (18 October 2014)

Saturday 18 October.  I spent most of the day at Beachy and Crowlink, much of it with the full compliment of usual suspects (John King, John and David Cooper and Brenda Kay). Very pleasant walking around in mild if somewhat windy weather.  A good scattering of Ring Ouzels, at least 30 in total with 7 in Shooter's Bottom, 3 in the old trapping area, 15-20 in Cow Gap, 3 east of Belle Tout and one at Crowlink.  Unusually some were seen feeding on paths.  I heard a single scold from a Dartford Warbler west of Shooter's Bottom (at the second attempt) and a Hobby flew east over Crowlink.  Hopes of finding a Yellow-browed Warbler were hindered by only seeing 8 Chiffchaffs.  Other migrants were a single Wheatear, 75 Swallows and a House Martin while a Merlin added a taste of winter.  four Jays and 3 Ravens were seen and a flock of 800 mainly Greater Black-backed Gulls roosting off Crowlink included 4 colour-ringed birds, all just too far away to read although one was a North Thames bird.

Ring Ouzel at Shooter's Bottom

East Sussex highways get their weather forecast wrong

Birling and Belle Tout from Crowlink

pity overflying migrants don't always find the Beachy area as attractive as I do 

part of the gull flock off Crowlink

North Thames Greater Black-backed Gull, possibly YK9T?

Hobby going away over Crowlink

Friday 17 October.  Herring Gull A4AH at the university.

Tuesday 14 October.  2 Jays near Shoreham College.

Monday 13 October.  Peregrine on Southwick Power Station and Herring Gull A4AH at the university.