Hope Gap, Seaford Head 30/7/10

Much more variety today with highlights being 2 Hobbies and a s/p Golden Plover which flew over, 1 Nightingale, 43 Willow Warblers, 7 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 54 Whitethroats, 9 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps and 3 Chiffchaffs.

A Silver Spotted Skipper was also seen just east of Hope Gap.

Purple Hairstreak 28/7/10

A Purple Hairstreak in the garden this morning.

Hope Gap, Seaford Head 28/7/10

A clear night meant most of yesterdays birds had departed, but there was still a few birds left. Highlights were 56 Whitethroats, 18 Willow Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers, 2 each of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs and singles of Lesser Whitethroat and Wheatear.

Reed Warbler and Blackcap in Hope Gap.

Hope Gap, Seaford Head 27/7/10

A great mornings birding around the patch at last. An obvious fall of migrants was evident with overnight rain, but calm conditions.
Highlights were singles of Grasshopper, Sedge Warbler and Nightingale, 56 Willow Warblers (all juvs), 71 Whitethroats, 12 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Reed Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 recently fledged Wheatears (local population) and 2 Common Sandpipers along the river.

Skylark, Willow Warbler and Wheatear at Seaford Head.

Hope Gap, Seaford Head 26/7/10

Again another quiet morning with 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warblers, 26 Whitethroats, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Willow Warblers and approx 100 Swifts moving west.

Willow Warbler and 'racing' Pigeon at Seaford Head

Hope Gap, Seaford Head 25/7/10

Much quieter this morning with just 2 Nightingales, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 37 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Reed Warblers, 4 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps and 127 Sand Martins.

Grasshopper Warbler and Swallows in Hope Gap.

Hope Gap, Seaford Head 24/7/10

In and around Hope Gap this morning were 3 Nightingales (calling together), 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers, 8 Willow Warblers, 39 Whitethroats, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps and 3 Chiffchaffs.

Willow Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler in Hope Gap. (poor record shots)

Hope Gap, Seaford Head 23/7/10

The first 2 Grasshopper Warblers of the autumn were seen this morning. Also 2 Reed Warblers, 38 Whitethroats, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers and a Blackcap.
Swallow on Seaford Head

Hope Gap, Seaford Head 22/7/10

Around the patch this morning were 2 Nightingales, 2 Reed Warblers (first of the autumn), 43 Whitethroats, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps and a Willow Warbler.

Whitethroat and Skylark at Hope Gap

Hope Gap, Seaford Head 21/7/10

The first juv Willow Warbler of the autumn was seen this morning in the Gap. Also a juv. Reed Bunting was present, suggesting it had just flown up from the Cuckmere, not a migrant. Also 39 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps and a small movement of Swifts heading west.

View of the wood (Harry's Bush) where Flycatchers should be soon.

Hope Gap, Seaford Head and Charleston area 20/7/10

In and around Hope Gap this morning was an early Nightingale 'croaking' away in the dense undergrowth. Other bits and bobs included 35 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 7 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Sand Martins and a Common Sandpiper on the river.

Yellowhammer at Hope Gap

Later on in the morning i visited the Charleston Bottom area and Friston Forest and found 2 White-Letter Hairstreak and a Brown Hawker along the ridge.

In the Forest were hundreds of Broad Leaved Helleborines, unfortunately another week before these are out in full flower.

On the bank there were many Small Skippers but i did manage to find an Essex Skipper amongst these, however it was a problem to photograph. Also many Brown Argus, Small Copper and a Chalkhill Blue.

Marbled White, Meadow Brown and Chalkhill Blue at Charleston Bottom

Hope Gap, Seaford Head 19/7/10

In and around Hope Gap this morning produced 48 Whitethroats, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, Raven and 19 Sand Martins also flew east.

Raven over Hope Gap.

Different views of Hope Gap only.

Frog Firle 17/7/10

On the ponds at Frog Firle were 3 Small Red-eyed Damselflies, 5 Blue-tailed Damselflies and an Azure Damselfly. Also an Emperor and a Southern Hawker.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly at Frog Firle - note the curved abdomen, the abdominal segments 2 and 8 are completely blue and the wings extend just past the join between segments 6 and 7.

White-tailed Plover - Dungeness RSPB

A bit greedy, but i went to see the White-tailed Plover for the second time in four days. Much better views this time on the ARC pit and Dungeness. Also present was a single Green Sandpiper, Hobby and a strong eastward migration of Sand Martins.

Old Lodge, Ashdown 10/7/10

Late morning and early afternoon on Old Lodge produced some great Dragonflies species. The main highlights for me were 5 Keeled Skimmers (3M+2Fem), 1 Golden-ringed Dragonfly and 5 Small Red Damselflies. Other Dragons of note were 8 Emperors, 2 Four Spotted Chasers, 5 Broad Bodied Chasers, 1 Southern Hawker which had just emerged, 27 Azure Damselflies, 12 Large Red Damselflies, 1 Banded Damoiselle and a Dark Green Fritillary.

Also a Nightjar was heard churring briefly which was quite unusual.

Female Keeled Skimmer in flight

Southern Dragonfly
Small Red Damselfly

Golden Ringed Dragonfly

Keeled Skimmers

White-tailed Plover 7/7/10

Saw the superb White-tailed Plover at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London this afternoon. I managed to get out of work promptly and make my way up to London in just over an hour. Also present were 2 Little-ringed Plovers, 2 Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper.

White Letters 6/7/10

Visited a patch of Bramble near Litlington and found 5 White-letter Hairstreaks. Also a Gatekeeper, Small Copper, Southern Hawkers and 2 Common Darters.