0840 BEE-EATER (Merops apiaster)

dFH: six recorded up to 1955: 5 April to June, 1 August (all below).
1829One shot near Chichester (WS) on 6 May.WB
1833[One found on shore between Arundel and Worthing.](WS) WB
1834One killed at Pett Level (ES) in August.WB
1875One obtained at Eastbourne (ES) in June.WB
1899One near Chichester (WS) in summer.WB
1903[One obtained at Burwash (ES) on 6 June.]WB HR
1905[An adult male obtained at Dallington (ES) on 31 May.]WB HR
[An adult male obtained at Burwash (ES) on 5 June.]WB HR
[One obtained near Ashburnham (ES) on 6 June.]WB HR
[One obtained at Burwash (ES) on 9 September.]WB HR
[One obtained at Brightling (ES) on 2 October.]WB HR
1911[One obtained at Winchelsea (ES) on 12 April.]WB HR
1949One arrived at Selsey Bill (WS) from south on 30 April returning south an hour later (Joy, N.H. 1949. Bee-eater in Sussex. British Birds 42:390).*
1953One west past Newhaven Harbour (ES) on 30 May.*
1955One at North Lancing (WS) on 6 June.*
Three pairs nested at Street (ES), the first British breeding record (Kimmins, D.E. 1955. Bee-Eaters in Sussex, 1955; a first British breeding record. Country Side Winter 1955 p315-8.).* dFH
One nest was destroyed (by sand excavations?) but the other 2 raised 7 young. The young of one brood left the nest on 20, 21, 25 and 27 August. The other brood left the nest on 1, 2 and 3 September. They returned regularly for a few days to roost in the holes.
Three seen on electricity wires about a mile north of East Chiltington church (ES) on 12 June (2 miles from nest site) and 5 at Street on 31 July. Nine seen 8 miles away (between Ringmer and Laughton) on 17 September feeding for some time before flying off north together. All 13 seen once fledged, remaining to the morning of 24 September when all flew off east in a tight flock (12 being seen at St. Mary's Bay, Romney Marsh, Kent on 25-26th).
In total the site was probably visited by 1000 people including 140 on one Sunday.
1956One east over A26 c4 miles northeast of Lewes (ES) on 8 May.* dFH
1957A female summered at Street (ES) from 29 May to 4 August.* dFH
It was seen at Street on 29 and 31 May, 1, 8 and 10 June and 23 July and at Spatham Lane, Ditchling frequently between 21 June and 4 August.
1958One at North Lancing (WS) on 19 September.* × dFH
1969One southeast over Hodcombe, Beachy Head (ES) on 5 June.* ×
1981One over the wood at Rye Harbour (ES) on 25 May.* ×
One circled Hodcombe, Beachy Head (ES) in poor visibility on 26 May before departing west.×
1983A party of four were present at Whitbread Hollow, Beachy Head (ES) from 26 to 28 June, when they flew off south.* ×
1984One at Birling Gap, Beachy Head (ES) on 25 May remained for much of the day.* ×
One at Sidlesham Ferry (WS) on 19 August.*85 ×
1986One west over Belle Tout, Beachy Head (ES) on 26 May.* ×
1987One east over Hodcombe, Beachy Head (ES) on 25 May.* ×
1988An adult at Belle Tout, Beachy Head (ES) early on 1 August later flew east above Cow Gap, Beachy Head.* ×
1989Seven at Beachy Head (ES) on 28 May (one flew east over Cow Gap and later a party of six arrived from south at Whitbread Hollow departing to east).* ×
One over Hodcombe, Beachy Head (ES) on 17 June.
1990One over the Coastguard Cottages, Pett (ES) and later Pett Level (ES) on 20 May.*91 ×
1991Five northeast over Hodcombe, Beachy Head (ES) on 22 May.*94
One at Rye Harbour (ES) on 3 July was seen on an electric fence near the Ternery Pool before flying off east.*
One east over Littlehampton West Beach (WS) on 4 July.*
1992One east over Shooters Bottom, opposite Hodcombe, Beachy Head (ES) on 22 May.*
1993One on the cliffs at Belle Tout, Beachy Head (ES) on 22 May was also seen flying west over Hodcombe.*
1994Two west over Shooters Bottom, opposite Hodcombe, Beachy Head (ES) on 5 June.*
2000One at Selsey Bill (WS) on 1 May.*
One at Church Norton (WS) on 21 May.*
One west over Pett Level (ES) on 11 June.*
One heard over Beachy Head (ES) on 21 August.*



SOS Home Page