Berry Head,

Berry Head,

22^nd April 2009

About twenty of us met in the Berry Head car park at 10.00a.m. The day started overcast but after an hour or so a hazy sun came out, accompanied with an onshore breeze.

First stop was at the slight dip between the two forts. A distant Peregrine perched on the rocks to our left. Looking down at the sea revealed a hive of activity with Guillemots coming and going together with Fulmars and the very distinctive call of Kittiwakes. A quick look at the top area showed a Wheatear, but little else.

Inside the main fort the RSPB are building a new covered viewing area just below where the Warden’s hut used to be before it was blown away by the Winter gales (less warden!). The cliffs are perfectly layered for nesting and every available spot seems to be taken up by Guillemots, Fulmars and Kittiwakes. This is a real spectacle and I believe one of the biggest nesting sites of Guillemots on the South coast. Sea watching produce 14 Whimbrel in passage and a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

On the North side of the fort a Peregrine showed itself well on the cliff top just a few yards from our party. Returning across the scrub to the wardens bungalow revealed several singing Whitethroat and a Blackcap. Saving the best to last, Cirl Buntings showed themselves on the bird feeder! About two and half hours produced 33 species.

Lyndon Savage

List taken by David Freeman, many thanks.

Also seen: Grey? Seal, Goat, Speckled Wood and several other unidentified butterflies.

Birds seen, in BOU order or alphabetic order

BOU order

Pheasant

Fulmar

Gannet

Cormorant

Buzzard

Peregrine Falcon

Whimbrel (14)

Lesser Black backed Gull

Herring Gull

Kittiwake

Guillemot

Rock Dove

Wood Pigeon

Swallow

Wren

Dunnock

Robin

Wheatear

Blackbird

Blackcap

Whitethroat

Chiffchaff

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Magpie

Jackdaw

Crow

Raven

House Sparrow

Chaffinch

Greenfinch

Linnet

Cirl Bunting (m and f)

Alphabetic order