Hope Gap, Seaford Head 29/8/10

Only half the circuit was covered this morning due to bad weather and tiredness. Still a few birds were seen; highlights including 1 Redstart, 11 Wheatears, 1 Whinchat, 30 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff.

Wheatears on Seaford Head

Hope Gap, Seaford Head 28/8/10

By far the highlight was the vast abundance of Wheatears. Over 6 years of doing this patch i have never seen anything like it. Atleast 80 Wheatears were counted in various places including a flock of 30. Mixed in with these were 11 Whinchats and around 128 Yellow Wagtails were feeding/flying over including a flock of 50.
Other highlights included 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Tree Pipits, 27 Whitethroats, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 23 Blackcaps, 25 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Reed Warblers and singles of Sedge and Garden Warblers.

Spotted Flycatcher and Yellow Wagtail on Seaford Head.

Splash Point, Seaford 23/8/10

A Balearic Shearwater flew east this morning, as did lots of Gannets, and singles of Arctic Skua and Common Scoter.

Rarities Galore, but no Sykes 16/8/10-17/8/10

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper and juv Red-backed Shrike at Dungeness on Monday evening. Both birds showed well but could never get close enough for good pics.

A 7 hour drive overnight up to Northumberland for the hope of seeing the Syke's Warbler actually produced a juv Spotted Crake and a fine juv Whiskered Tern. The Syke's Warbler was nowhere to be seen.

Violet Hellebroines - Marline Valley 13/8/10

35 Violet Helleborines counted today in the valley just NW of Hastings. Some like this one in flower, others in bud and others already gone over.

Note in the picture above the violet coloured stem; narrow, pointed leaves with a violet tinge to them.

Note in this second picture the pale upper inner segments and the greener, more spread out but still pointed outer perianth segments.

Hope Gap & Seaford Head 12/8/10

Great variety this morning on the patch with the highlight being a Marsh Harrier that drifted west early on. Also a Redstart and a Yellow Wagtail were both new for the autumn. Other bits included 1 Nightingale, 2 Tree Pipits, 2 Wheatears, 52 Whitethroats, 15 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 32 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps and a Garden Warbler.

Marsh Harrier, Willow Warbler and Sedge Warbler at Seaford Head/Hope Gap.

Hope Gap, Seaford Head 11/8/10

A good morning this morning with totals of 1 Nightingale (showed well by coastguards), 1 Tree Pipit, 62 Willow Warblers, 42 Whitethroats, 11 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Reed Warblers, 3 Garden Warblers, 2 each of Blackcap and Chiffchaff, 8 Wheatears and 2 Little Owls by the wood.

Reed Warbler and Willow Warbler at Seaford Head.

Hope Gap and Ebernoe Common 9/8/10

Much quieter this morning with totals of 4 Nightingales, 41 Whitethroats, 10 Lesser Whitethroats, 24 Willow Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Wheatears and 2 Dunlin flew over.

Silver Spotted Skipper at Hope Gap.

The afternoon was spent at Ebernoe Common with a Broad Leaved Helleborine and a Red Kite being the only things of note.

Friston Forest 8/8/10

Plenty of Broad Leaved Helleborines in flower in Friston Forest this afternoon. Numbers reaching around 300. Also a Garden Warbler showed well.

Hope Gap, Seaford Head 8/8/10

Totals for the morning were 3 Nightingales, 3 Wheatears, 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Garden Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 7 Reed Warblers, 30 Willow Warblers, 33 Whitethroats, 12 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff.

Sparrowhawk at Seaford Head