Mill Hill and Beachy (19-22 September)

Thursday 22 September. Beachy Head (Shooter's Bottom, Hotel Garden-Old Trapping Area-Cliff Path-Francs Bottom-Cow Gap-Whitbred Hollow-Rides-raptor watch & Birling-Michel Dene) 06:50-15:00. 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Great Spotted and 3 Green Woodpeckers, 7 Kestrels, Hobby (thanks to LP), Peregrine, 2 Jays, 3 Ravens, Skylark, 4+ Sand Martins, 900 Swallows, 500 House Martins, 24 Chiffchaffs, Grasshopper Warbler (flushed almost from underfoot near Hotel Garden), 26 Blackcaps (some in hand courtesy of RDME), 6 Whitethroats, juvenile Dartford Warbler (Old Trapping Area), 39 Stonechats, 3 Wheatears, Yellow Wagtail, 16 Meadow and 2 Rock Pipits, 9 Linnets and 80 Goldfinches. I'd hoped for better and it was rather telling that none of the few photos I took were of birds.

one of three presumed Grey Seals 'standing' off Cow Gap

Fox at Michel Dene

Wednesday 21 September. Mill Hill 07:15-08:55. 6 Swallows, 150 House Martins, 9 Chiffchaffs, Reed Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Meadow Pipits and a Linnets. Megan and I then took Cookie to Widewater where we saw 2 Kingfishers, 60 Swallows, 70 House Martins, a Wheatear and 4 Meadow Pipits, 9 Linnets and 80 Goldfinches. Later a Sparrowhawk circled over our road.

Tuesday 20 September. Mill Hill 08:15-10:40. Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, 2 Kestrels, Peregrine, Skylark, 6 Swallows, 35 House Martins, 12 Chiffchaffs, 21 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Firecrests and 2 Meadow Pipits.

Kestrel on Mill Hill

Spotted Flycatcher on Mill Hill

the floral end of our allotment

Monday 19 September. Lancing Ring and Steepdown with Megan and Cookie. Sparrowhawk, 3 Buzzards, Skylark, 10 Swallows, 6 Chiffchaffs, male Stonechat , 4 Wheatears, 20 Linnets and 80 Corn Buntings.. 

Wheatear on Steepdown