A sunny day, and moderately warm. After a quick trip into town this morning I made it out to Rottingdean. It was busy, but there was plenty to see including the ever-present fulmars who are either settled into their comfortable nest sites or patrolling up and down the cliff face while pretending they could land if they really wanted to.
While the fulmars have assumed ownership of the cliff (they tolerate the jackdaws, pigeons and starling, but it's always clear who in charge), down by the shore things are rather different. This is the main gull and wader territory, and several oystercatchers were feeding as the tide receded.
I walked t the far end of the 'undercliff walk', just beyond Saltdean. I was rewarded with several good sightings, not least the surprising and continued presence of a sizeable group of great crested grebes.
At the far end of the walk you are rewarded with some great views of the cliffs as they rise another 100 feet or so. A small group of cormorants were gathered about half way up one of the eroded faces.
I watched them for a while and then turned my gaze slightly further along the coast. I could barely see it, but a small dark shape high on one of the cliffs was just interesting enough to draw the camera. This is a very hefty crop but it's also very clearly a peregrine. 
The final shot is of one of the many local pigeons. Commonplace and often derided as pests, they are wonderful to watch on the wing especially, as here, when they are coming in to land on a rocky perch.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D EF and 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
derWandersmann
11 Mar 2012A fine tour, Words … with excellent commentary.
The peregrine's distinctive silhouette would have drawn my camera, too, though my tele is only half the FL of yours.
I like the pigeons and doves, and as I've observed them through the years, I've seen Merlyn's description of their habits over and over again.
Excellent shots of the fulmars!
cakkleberrylane
11 Mar 2012That was a great day for photos! And what a treat to see the Peregrine!
derWandersmann
11 Mar 2012Where do you live, Lois? Peregrines are becoming increasingly common, especially in our larger cities (they love the high buildings). It's not unusual to see them perched on tall lampposts, working the medians and vegetated edges of the local throughways … looking for mice, rats, and other tasties. Well … small rats, anyway … they're not really huge birds, and a big rat could be quite challenging.
Words
11 Mar 2012Lois, peregrines are great, but I had an even better sighting today. 😉
Words
11 Mar 2012dW, thanks! There's certainly a change in the air. It feels that we are through with winter for now (it has a habit of returning when least expected) and it's good to get out in the sunshine. I'd heard a peregrine was up on those cliffs, but this is the first time in several visits that I've actually seen it.
cakkleberrylane
12 Mar 2012Great!! Can't wait to see it!!
SittingFox
19 Mar 2012Nice to see the falcon :up: That cormorant looks like it's hanging on the cliff like a gecko!
Words
19 Mar 2012Adele, the cormorants looked great out there on the cliffs.