Another fine calm morning with any cloud burnt off by 9am, a slight SSW breeze building throughout the day.
Honey Buzzard over Michel Dean. At first glance I thought the bird was trailing a leg but on closer inspection, it’s a feather edge in front of the foot.
A very enjoyable day, out at sunrise and 14km covered on foot from the pub to Friston return. Lots of areas covered including Long Wood and Frost Hill.
Highlight was the appearance of two Honey Buzzard, the first picked up distantly (and rather excellently) by JP at 10.50am. This bird headed SE over the headland already stratospheric by the time it reached the pub and lost to view. In contrast the second was picked up at 12.45pm over Michel Dean, so low I didn’t need bins to shout it. We then watched it pass low over Shooters Bottom then circle the pub drifting off east.
Views of the first bird were distant to say the least! It was however a much darker bird then the one that followed.
In addition we saw, 12 Common Redstart, 1 Black Redstart (juv), 7 Whinchat, 17 Wheatear, 8 Spotted Flycatcher, 7 Tree Pipit, c30 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Alba Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 8 Meadow Pipit, 21 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, c65 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 9 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler & a Reed Bunting. Around 1000 hirundine were seen and along with them, 10 Swift.
Wheatear, Whinchat and a Linnet.
One of todays Whinchat, this one near the pub at dawn.
BEACHY HEAD BIRDER 