Beachy Head 21/08/2018

This morning I visited Beachy Head, followed later by a trip to Holywell, Eastbourne. Beachy Head was quite windy, and therefore there were not many passerines around, but patience showed up a handful of species, the most exciting of which was clearly a MELODIOUS WARBLER which turned almost exactly where yesterday's bird appeared - in the row of bushes between the toilet block and the radio mast. It showed well for about five minutes actively feeding on the plentiful elderberries, defying all efforts of photography (well done to the 'Beachy Birder' who got some shots yesterday) before vanishing despite efforts to relocate the bird. Apart from that bit of excitement, there was not a lot around, although there seemed to be numerous Swallows, House and Sand Martins flying around the cliffs and buildings. A Kestrel and a Buzzard formed the raptor list, and, although another birder I met had seen a Peregrine, I failed to find one.

Belle Tout lighthouse from the visitor centre car park

Arlington Reservoir, 03/08/2018

Today, in the scorching heat, I visited Arlington Reservoir. There were the usual large numbers of Canada Geese, with a few Greylag Geese in their midst. Black-headed Gulls were also out in quantity, and these were milling around near the edge of the water. I counted at least 13 Great Crested Grebes of various ages, from the slope from the car park, but the one of the highlights was a flyby juvenile Black Tern, which quickly flitted past, before flying off amongst the much larger Black-headed Gulls. It remained in the area until at least 13:00. The woodland was very quiet, apart from the Woodpigeons and Blackbirds, but butterflies were plentiful, with individuals being identified as Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, and Common Blue. From the hide came another highlight of the day: Little Stint on the dam, later relocating to the shoreline further round to the farm opposite the hide.