Beachy, Dotterel and Beeding Hill (30 August-02 September)

Wednesday 02 September. I took Cookie to Beeding Hill and we walked along the Monarch's Way towards Thundersbarrow turning up to Truleigh Hill and back along the side of Room Bottom. In just over three hours we saw 2 Buzzards, 2 Great Spotted and a Green Woodpecker, 5 Kestrels, 3 Ravens, at least 11 Sand Martins, 150 Swallows, 200 House Martin, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, a Lesser and 4 Common Whitethoats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts, 5 Whinchats (and 1 by Mill Hill as we drove up), Stonechat, 6 Wheatears, 20 Meadow Pipits, 25 Linnets, 3 Corn Buntings (near the Quarry) and 3 Yellowhammers. 

Wheatear on Beeding Hill

Whinchats on Beeding Hill

Buzzard guarding its flock

Meadow Pipit near Truleigh Hill

Tuesday 01 September. I went to Beachy with Frank Lambert. We arrived at Shooter's Bottom at about 06:40 and worked out way up to the Hotel Garden. Then we tried Icky Ridge, dropped down into Frances Bottom and Cow Gap and returned around the Hollow, Rides and Hotel hedge. From Birling Gap we walked to Belle Tout and Michel Dene. Early activity soon died off although Swallows were moving east most of the time. I saw 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Buzzards, a Short-eared Owl (in Shooters), female Merlin and adult Hobby, 2 Ravens, at least 10 Sand Martins and 600+ Swallows but only 1 House Martin, 3 each of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, 2-3 Grasshopper Warblers (in Frances Bottom), 35 Blackcaps and a Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser and 30 Common Whitethoats, 8 Redstarts, Whinchat, 15 Stonechats, 10 Wheatears (Cow Gap beach and Michel Dene), 3 Yellow and a Grey Wagtail and a Tree Pipit. Some nice birds but overall rather disappointing, especially no flycatchers! We drove to Crowlink in the hope of rectifying that but heard news of 3 Dotterel near Ditching Beacon (a nice find for Rich Kelly we later learned) had us heading there instead. The Dotterel were on view when we arrived, nice through the scope but distant for photography, although they soon walked into a fold of the field making them very hard to see for anyone less than an inch taller than me.

male Redstart at Beachy

another Redstart in the same hedge

Meadow Pipit at Beachy

two of the three Dotterel at Ditchling Beacon

my first Sussex Dotterel for over 11 years

Monday 31  August. Megan and I took Cookie to Mill Hill  and saw Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 2 Sand Martins, 10 Swallows, 25 House Martins, Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaffs, 15 Blackcaps, 15 Whitethroats, Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat and Stonechat.

Spotted Flycatcher at Mill Hill

Adonis Blue at Mill Hill

Sunday 30 August. Megan and I took Cookie to Mill Hill on a windy morning seeing Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, Redstart and 2 Whinchats.