It felt great from the off today as a moderate and cold northerly wind prompted lots of overhead migration.
Finches were on the move from the off, especially Redpolls, that by the end of the session I had counted 173 birds flying east (this falling a long way short of the 374 from three or four years ago)! Most surprising however, was when counting a flock of Redpolls overhead, I noticed a small snipe flying high and north above them and to my delight, it was a Jack Snipe (my first record on the headland). Remarkably, another Jack Snipe flew in front of Nick Pope and myself halfway down Hope Bottom.
A Siberian Chiffchaff in Harry's Bush was a surprise, though this wasn't the sibe (or wherever it had originated from) I was hoping for, hence the underwhelming feeling towards it.
Highlights for Seaford Head as follows:
Redpoll - 173 E
Redwing - 9 N
Fieldfare - 2 N
Brambling - 4 E
Yellowhammer - 1 E
Ring Ouzel - 1
Blackcap - 4
Chiffchaff - 10
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1
Afterwards, I drove up to Beachy Head and walked Francis Bottom, Cow Gap to Holywell and back finding no fewer than 15 Ring Ouzels, a Woodlark and Brambling over, and just as I was leaving, the Lammergeier, which put on a superb display for over an hour before climbing to a considerable height and heading out to sea. It soon returned but repeated this act when I was over at Crowlink and seemingly never returned!
A circuit of Crowlink, Went Hill and anywhere else holding a reasonable patch of scrub was covered, though nothing was found. Lastly, Cuckmere Haven also produced nothing of any real interest.
 |
| Jack Snipe over Seaford Head |
 |
| Ring Ouzel at Hope Bottom |
 |
| Siberian Chiffchaff |
 |
| Woodlark |
 |
| Ring Ouzel |
 |
| The Lammergeier closing in on the English Channel |
