Saturday 23 March 2002

23rd March 2002 Beachy 6.30am - 1.30pm. Sea-watched for 30 minutes then walked Birling & Belle Toute areas, Cow Gap & Hollow and Chat Vale. Cold E light wind. Overcast

Fulmar c.5
Gannet c.5W
Cormorant 2
Little Egret 2 Upper Cuckmere
Grey Heron 1 in flight heading inland at Beachy
Mute swan 1 Cuckmere
Canada Geese c.15 Cuckmere including the 2 resembling Lessers. 2 flew E past Birling before heading inland over Birling Hotel
Shelduck 1E
Wigeon c.20 Cuckmere
Teal c.15 Cuckmere
Kestrel 2
Peregrine c.2
Pheasant c.6
Oystercatcher 2E
Avocet 1E
Herring Gull c.100 with 1st winters, 2nd winters and adults being seen. Adults very vocal including bird flying with very elastic wingbeats - display?
Great Black-backed gull c.12 flew E past Birling including immatures and adults
Stock Dove 3
Woodpigeon c.20 including party of 6 over sea which headed inland over Belle Toute lighthouse taking avoiding action against nearby Peregrine
Green Woodpecker h
Skylark c.20 no passage
alba Wagtail 3 flew over high
Meadow Pipit c.25 including some evidence of passage
Wren c.3 with a couple in song early in morning
Dunnock c.10 with relatively little song compared to previous weekends
Robin c.5 with a few singing
Black Redstart 2 around Beachy Head Hotel
Wheatear 1 male
Stonechat c.5
Redwing 1 Cuckmere
Blackbird 1
Chiffchaff 1 plus h singing Burgess Hill
Goldcrest 1
Firecrest 1
Great Tit c.4
Blue Tit c.4
Magpie c.10
Jackdaw c.15
Rook c.15 with partial albino individual - white patches in wing and on rump
Carrion Crow c.15 with a couple of individuals showing white in wing
House Sparrow c.8 Birling
Chaffinch c.10 with several flying quite high so possibly moving
Linnet c.4
Corn Bunting 3