Beachy and the Downs (08-10 September)

Thursday 10 September. Frank Lambert and I visited Beachy spending 8 hours covering Shooters Bottom, Z-Bends, Hotel Garden/Cliff Path/Frances Bottom/Cow Gap/Whitbread Hollow/Rides, Birling-Belle Tout and Crowlink. It was hard going with relatively few birds seen. I saw a distant Marsh Harrier departing south at about 9 am, 3 Sparrowhawks, 3 Buzzards, 25 Gannets, Green Woodpecker, Peregrine, 6 Ravens, 60+ Swallows, 20+ House Martins, a Willow Warbler, 11 Chiffchaffs, single Sedge and Reed Warbler, 9 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser and 28 Common Whitethroats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts, 3 Whinchats, 25 Stonechats, 6 Wheatears, a Tree and 20 Meadow Pipits and 12 Siskins. Other Siskins were heard as was the Cetti's Warbler in Cow Gap.

Whinchat at Beachy Head

Wheatear at Beachy Head

Wednesday 09 September. I drove Cookie up to Beeding Hill and we walked SE along the Monarch's Way then N to Truleigh Hill and back W skirting Room Bottom. There were still a few nice migrants around but it was quieter than on recent visits. I saw Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, 9 Kestrels, 3 Sand Martins, 9 Swallows, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Whinchats, 7 Wheatears, 25 Siskins (a flock flying W) and a Yellowhammer.

Wheatear on Beeding Hill

Whinchat on Truleigh Hill

Whitethroat on Truleigh Hill

Tuesday 08 September. Megan and I took Cookie to Cissbury seeing 2 Stock Doves, Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 4 House Martins, 3 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Redstarts, Whinchat and 2 Stonechats and hearing Siskin. Later I cycled to Shoreham Beach, Widewater and the Adur Saltings for high tide. Highlights were 12 Sandwich Terns from the Ferry Bridge, 5 Wheatears on Shoreham Beach, the juvenile Mandarin at Widewater, a Greenshank and 5 Grey Herons on the Saltings and at least 34 Turnstones roosting on boats from the Norfolk Bridge.

Stonechat at Cissbury

Whinchat at Cissbury

Mandarin with Mallard on Widewater

seen on my third attempt