16/09/2014 Seaford Head with Paul and Group

Tuesday 16th September 2014
Seaford Head  (park at South Barn (grid ref TV504980))
Paul and Group  07.30



The weather conditions today were highly favourable to our seeing migrants with easterly winds to push the birds inland as they migrated down the east coast into the channel and low overnight cloud to dissuade them from carrying on over the sea.  With temperatures expected to reach the mid twenties we were guaranteed a great mornings birding.
 

• Things didn't go to plan however and we did not see any rarities and with the exception of Hope Gap there were not many birds to see at all.  Our first steps from the car park towards the golf course and onto the cliff edges were almost barren with respect to migrants although we did see Ravens, Wheatears, Linnets, Kestrels, a Buzzard and Meadow Pipits.  Harry's Bush was also lacking in bird activity. 

• The highlight of the early morning was our ascent from Hope Gap where the valley was crawling with migrants.  I have never seen so many Chiffchaffs in one place; there must have been scores of them, interspersed with the odd Willow Warbler and good numbers of Whitethroat and, particularly, Blackcap.  We even had Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler together, allowing Paul to point out the very fine ID differences between them.  We repeated the walk at about 11.00 only to find the occasional example of theses species, highlighting the importance of a very early start to see migrants.

• The other main action was at the mouth of the Cuckmere where we targeted the Yellow Wagtails in among the sheep grazing in the field adjacent to the west side of the river.  Whilst watching the wagtails we also managed to get sightings of a Kingfisher - my third in less than a week - as it flew up and down the channel.

• Along the Cuckmere we did manage to see a Wall Brown butterfly - a new species to me.

Wall Brown
Library picture

Today's species list:
Brent Goose
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Kestrel
Bar-tailed Godwit
Common Redshank
Herring Gull
Black-headed Gull   (10)
Woodpigeon
Kingfisher
Green Woodpecker
Skylark
Sand Martin
Swallow
House Martin
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Yellow Wagtail   (20)
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Redstart
Stonechat
Wheatear
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Blackcap   (30)
Whitethroat
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw
Raven
Carrion Crow
Starling   (40)
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Linnet


A lovely morning, in excellent company, with one or two highlights but not throwing up the desired scarcities, although a couple of Honey Buzzards were seen by a local birder nearby.