David Thorns

Surprising, really, that almost nothing happened this week – it’s supposed to be the most exciting time of the year! Prevailing westerly winds are no doubt to blame…

The American Golden Plover at Jury’s Gap continued to show in a stubble field near the sand pit and Spotted Redshank were still around at Pagham Hbr with a maximum of four again on 5^th. A Purple Sandpiper was present again on 5^th-6th on the eastern arm of Brighton Marina.

A Red-necked Grebe flew west off Selsey Bill on 9^th.

Perhaps the highlight of the week was an impressive flock of 12 Common Cranes over Amberley Wildbrooks on 5^th – interestingly the same flock had been noted over a site in Buckinghamshire earlier in the day. Four Spoonbill were at Rye Hbr on 6^th and one was at Pagham Hbr on two dates (photo by Les Phillips taken on 6^th attached). A Glossy Ibis was reported at Pulborough Brooks on 9th.

The Honey-buzzard season will be sadly over soon – one of last was seen flying over Amberley Wildbrooks on 5^th.

Ring Ouzel were reported from Cissbury Ring (one on 5^th), Beachy Head (two on 5^th and 7^th), Wild Park LNR (Brighton) on 10^th and Hastings CP (two on 11^th).

Bird of the Week has to be a superb juvenile Pallid Harrier found in a field near Littlehampton Golf Course on 3rd, although unfortunately it didn’t stay for very long. Osprey sightings have dwindled lately; there was one at Littlehampton on 28^th , one (again) at Thorney Island on 2^nd and another flying over Eastbourne on 4^th. The good run of Short-eared Owl at Beachy Head continues with one flying in off the sea on 4^th.

Last week’s Little Stint at Sidlesham Ferry was last seen on 1^st when it appeared in the afternoon ahead of the rising tide. Others were found at Cuckmere Haven (a juvenile on the meanders on 28^th) and at Rye Hbr on 2^nd. A Purple Sandpiper was at Brighton Marina on 3^rd and the American Golden Plover was observed almost daily near the sand pit at Jury’s Gap. Two Spotted Redshanks remained all week at Pagham Hbr and another was at Rye Hbr on 2nd; on the same day a bird was found on the Adur (just south of Botolphs) which was a good local record.

A Garganey was at Rye Hbr on 3^rd.

There were two reports of Wryneck on 3rd, one in the Youth Hostel car park at Southease and the other at Rye Hbr. Plenty of Ring Ouzels were around with sightings of up to seven birds at Hastings CP on 2^nd and nine at Beachy Head the following day. Two were at Steyning Round Hill on 2^nd.

The first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn was caught and ringed at a private site in Sedlesham on 2^nd and one was found the following day in the churchyard at Church Norton. Another was caught and ringed at Cissbury Ring on 4^th.

It’s a good time now to come across migrating Woodlark and flyovers were duly noted at East Preston on 28^th, Ferring Rife on 1^st, Shinewater Park (Eastbourne) and Beachy Head on 2^nd ,and West Dean on 3^rd.

A rare Little Bunting was a surprise find in the ringing nets at Charlston Reedbed on 1^st (photo by Jack Kellett attached).

Rather a quiet week with nothing much out of the ordinary, although the American Golden Plover was found again near the sand pit at Jury’s Gap on 25^th and 27^th. A Little Stint was at Sidlesham Ferry on 26^th-27th and a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was seen again at Cuckmere Haven on 24^th and 26^th. A Spotted Redshank was at Flat Beach (Rye Hbr) on 24^th and whilst  there were generally fewer sightings of them at Pagham Hbr, four were still present on 21^st.

A Caspian Gull was at Church Norton on 24^th on a day when Selsey Bill saw its first returning Brent Geese. On 22^nd there were at least two Spoonbill on the meanders at Cuckmere Haven and perhaps the same birds were observed flying west over Seaford Head in the late afternoon. Two flew over Weir Wood Res the following day and six were at Castle Water (Rye Hbr) on 26^th.

It was a great week at Beachy Head for Short-eared Owl with three seen in five days (photo of one on 26^th by Laurence Pitcher attached). A juvenile Honey-buzzard flew out to sea there on 21^st. An Osprey was again at Thorney Island on 22^nd and another flew over Weir Wood Res on 23^rd.

Reports of Pied Flycatcher came from Seaford Head on 21^st, East Preston on 22^nd and Goring on 23^rd.

Beachy Head had Grasshopper Warbler on 25^th and 26^th and one at The Severals (Church Norton) on 25^th was the latest recorded on the Selsey peninsula this century.

That distant, unidentified harrier over Beachy Head I mentioned last week might well have been the very same Pallid Harrier found over fields east of Findon on 14th. A fair number of people managed to see it since it was still roaming around there the next morning, although it shifted away to Steyning later in the day. A Pallid Harrier was reported on the 17^th at West Rise Marsh (Eastbourne), and an adult female Hen Harrier was over Steep Down on 19^th.

A nice-looking pale juvenile Honey-buzzard was over Arlington Res on 15^th and presumably the same bird was seen again a little later migrating out to sea at Beachy Head (photo by Laurence Pitcher attached). Actually it’s been a good autumn for them on the headland there – according to beachybirder this was the 15^th individual so far!

Osprey was noted almost daily at Pagham Hbr and Thorney Deep had one again on 16^th and 19^th with two present on 20^th.

Seawatching at Selsey Bill was rather low key although two Balearic Shearwaters went west on 14th and a Great Northern Diver going east on 18^th was the second earliest autumn bird this century. A Little Gull flew west on 20^th.

The two Little Stints at Sidlesham Ferry were present until 15^th , where a Grey Phalarope was found on 19^th. At Pagham Hbr there were up to five Spotted Redshank daily and a Curlew Sandpiper on 14^th-15th, with two present on 18^th.  A Wood Sandpiper was at Weir Wood Res on 14^th and the American Golden Plover at Jury’s Gap was found again on 19^th. The Red-necked Phalarope at West Rise Marsh was still present on 16th.

There was clearly a significant passage of hirundines midweek with two huge swarms of Swallows (totaling roughly 20,000 birds) going south over the Adur at Passie’s Pond on 15^th and equally spectacular sightings of House Martin (at least 10,000 birds) over the cliffs at Beachy Head the following day. Exceptional numbers of hirundines were also noticed offshore at Selsey Bill on 16^th on a day when nearby Medmerry saw a “continuous westerly movement” (https://selseybirder.blogspot.com/).

The Hooded Crow at Bulverhythe (Hastings) was seen again on 18^th at the waste recycling site. A Hawfinch flew over Hastings CP on 15^th.

A popular bird was the fearless Red-necked Phalarope at West Rise Marsh (Eastbourne) which remained throughout the week and gave great views for many admirers. Up to three Little Stints moved around Pagham Hbr and were equally obliging at times, two of them quite faithful to the pool at Sidlesham Ferry and feeding close to the roadside (photo taken on 11^th by Peter Alfrey attached).

A Wood Sandpiper was at Pulborough Brooks on 7^th and there were two juvenile Curlew Sandpipers on the Adur estuary at Shoreham on 8^th. Up to five Spotted Redshanks were still at Pagham Hbr and a Purple Sandpiper was at the Brighton Marina on 10^th. The rarest wader was an American Golden Plover which was discovered on 13^th in a stubble field near the sandpit at Jury’s Gap on 13^th . The bird was found in exactly the same field as last year’s American Golden Plover, so is surely the same bird returning?

A Black-necked Grebe was at Scotney Gravel Pits on 9^th.

Black Tern was recorded on 10^th and 13^th at Medmerry and Little Gull flew past Selsey Bill nearby on 9^th and 13^th.

A Bee-eater was an exciting find at Pett Level on 10^th, seen initially flying overhead and found again later perched on overhead power lines.

Fewer migrating Honey-buzzards were spotted this week – singles were over Weir Wood Res on 8^th and Beachy Head on 9^th and 10^th. A Montagu’s Harrier was over Foxhole Farm at Cuckmere Haven on 10^th and a distant juvenile harrier (either Pallid or Montagu’s) was at Beachy Head on 11^th. There were several sightings of Osprey again with birds over Selsey (7^th), Medmerry (8th) and Pagham Hbr (9^th and 12^th) . On 13^th singles were at Warnham LNR, Newhaven Hbr, Church Norton and Shoreham.

A Wryneck was at Steyning on 9^th and 10^th and another was at The Severals (Church Norton) on 12^th.

Pied Flycatchers are now few and far between – one was at Wild Park LNR on 7^th and one at nearby Patcham on 10^th.

With autumn migration well underway now this was another eventful week, the highlight probably being two Cory’s Shearwaters lingering offshore at Selsey Bill on 4^th. Another good bird was Red-necked Phalarope – there was a confiding juvenile at Jury’s Gap on 31^st, and another turned up at West Rise Marsh (Eastbourne) on 5^th. The latter was still present the following day and attracted many admirers (photo attached).

A nice back-up bird at West Rise was a juvenile Black-necked Grebe which was present from 1^st – 5^th.

Up to four Spotted Redshanks were still in evidence at Pagham Hbr and another bird was noted at Pulborough Brooks on 2^nd, and again on 6^th. There were just two reports of Wood Sandpiper, both on 2^nd (at Sidlesham Ferry and Church Norton). It was a good week for Curlew Sandpiper at Cuckmere Haven with sightings every day and a maximum of five birds on 3^rd. Others were found at Pagham Hbr (1-2 on three dates), Pett Level (three on 1^st ) and Rye Hbr (two on 5th).

A Little Stint was at Arlington Res on 3^rd and other singles were recorded on 5^th at Bexhill and Shoreham.

Up to three Black Terns flew west past Selsey Bill on three dates and one was at Church Norton on 31^st. There was an exceptionally large movement of Mediterranean Gulls off Selsey Bill on 5^th – a total of 1332 was recorded, beating the previous record by a long way (https://selseybirder.blogspot.com/).

A Quail was at Brighton Wild Park on 1^st.

Beachy Head is a great place to see migrating Honey-buzzards at this time of year and, true to form, there were two overhead on 1^st and another seven on 6^th. One was over Pulborough Brooks on 31^st. One (sometimes two) Osprey continue to be seen on Thorney Island and records came from elsewhere in the county on almost every day: singles were noted at Arundel, Beachy Head, Climping, Eastbourne, Ferring Rife, Mill Hill, Pagham Hbr and Shoreham. There were probably two different birds at West Ichenor on 4^th.

A Merlin at Medmerry on 5^th was noteworthy – the first of the autumn on the Selsey peninsula.

There were fewer reports of Pied Flycatcher – one was at Worthing Brooklands on 31^st  and three at Patching Hill on 5^th. A Wryneck was at Cuckmere Haven on 3^rd.

The very high Hawfinch numbers reported recently from West Dean Woods appear to have fallen off drastically, with just six noted there on 3^rd.

It was a typically lively last week of August with a good number of the scarcer migrants turning up, although there was nothing exceptionally rare. The best bird was probably a Puffin, a top draw bird in Sussex, seen flying west off Selsey Bill on 30^th. Balearic Shearwaters were also seen at Selsey with two flying west on 28^th and another the following day.

A Wood Sandpiper was noted again at Pett Level on 27^th and there were four at Cuckmere Haven on 28^th. There were several reports of Curlew Sandpiper with singles on the Adur at Shoreham on 24^th, Church Norton on 26^th  and Rye Hbr on 28^th. Church Norton had two on 28^th , four on 29^th and three on 30^th. There were three at Snowhill Creek (West Wittering) on 28^th and up to four were at Cuckmere Haven on 29^th-30th.

Two Little Stints were at Church Norton on 24^th with a single still present from 26^th-28th. Up to three Spotted Redshank remain at Pagham Hbr and one was at Pett Level on 27^th.

A Little Gull was offshore at Climping on 24^th and 25^th and three were there on 29^th. Selsey saw one flying east on 27^th and another west on 29^th. A juvenile Caspian Gull flew over the pools at Pett Level on 25^th.

Quite a good week for Black Tern with a maximum of five west from Selsey Bill on 28^th, and 1-2 at Church Norton on three dates. One was off Climping on 29^th. A superb Roseate Tern performed well at Church Norton on 29^th (photo by Andrew House attached).

Osprey was seen on every day of the week with sightings at Church Norton, East Hill (Hastings), Fishbourne, Whitbread Hollow (Beachy Head), Weir Wood Res and Thorney Island (where two birds were present on 25^th). The male Honey-buzzard was still present at the webcam on 30^th along with one (possibly both) of the juveniles. Migrating Honey-buzzards were picked up on the coast at Hastings CP on 24^th and 25^th, and at Beachy Head on 27^th.

A Wryneck was found at Sheepcote Valley (nr Brighton) on 26^th and another was at Rye on 28^th.

Pied Flycatcher was reported daily with singles at Climping, Truleigh Hill (Shoreham), Eastbourne, West Dean, Spithurst, Pagham Hbr and Brooklands Park (Worthing). Two were at Beachy Head on 25^th, and at Coldean on 27^th.

On 28^th a Serin flew over Selsey Bill and the previously reported Hooded Crow at Bulverhythe (Hastings) was seen again at the waste recycling site.

After a long dry spell there was at last some significant rainfall midweek: it flooded over roads and (even worse) some of those exposed muddy areas which might have gotten us a decent wader. At coastal locations such as Beachy Head there were the usual suspects at this time of year  (Redstart, Whinchat and Wheatear), but numbers were somewhat underwhelming.

A Red-necked Grebe flew east past Selsey Bill on 23^rd and a Garganey was at Pett Level on 22^nd.

Up to four Spotted Redshanks were again at Pagham Hbr and Wood Sandpipers were noted at Pett Level on 19^th and Rye Hbr on 20^th. The adult-type American Golden Plover was seen again on Flat Beach (Rye Hbr) early on 23^rd.

Two Spoonbills were present at Iford Brooks on 18^th and another was at Pett Level the following day. Spoonbill is a good local bird in the Eastbourne area so one at Shinewater Lake on 21^st was noteworthy – it was still present on 23^rd (photo attached).

A Roseate Tern flew west at Chichester Hbr on 18^th.

There were several sightings of Osprey: a bird was at Thorney Island from 17^th – 19^th and one was at Pagham Hbr flying northwest on 18^th. A bird flew east off Climping Beach on 21^st and there were others the following day at Hastings CP and Angmering. A bird was sighted on 23^rd on the Adur at Shoreham. There was a report of a Montagu’s Harrier over Pulborough Brooks on 21st.

I’ve been so busy this week I totally forgot to check the Honey-buzzard webcam, but all is apparently well: the adult female has left for Africa (probably leaving on 21^st ) and the male should shortly follow leaving the two healthy juveniles on their own…they will head off over the channel sometime next month, or possibly as late as early October.

There were more Pied Flycatchers during the week with singles at Cissbury Ring on 17^th, Langmeads (East Preston) and Beachy Head on 20^th, Climping and Hastings CP on 21^st, Beachy Head on 22^nd and Hastings CP on 23^rd. There were two birds together in a private garden at Normans Bay on 20^th.

A Wood Warbler was at Langmeads on 20^th and a juvenile Red-backed Shrike at Combes Valley CP on 23^rd.

Yet another heatwave and a spectacular partial solar eclipse dominated the news headlines this week, the eclipse drawing large crowds to watchpoints around the county such as Beachy Head. The avian reaction to the event was interesting as well with gulls and corvids apparently flying early to roost and, in my garden at least, an eerie silence taking hold as the light faded.

Up to three of the Spotted Redshanks at Pagham Hbr continued to show and two Wood Sandpipers were at Pett Level on 13^th. An adult-type American Golden Plover was at Rye Hbr on 14^th-15th and a Red-necked Phalarope was photographed in the early morning of 16^th at Jury’s Gap. There was an interesting record of an exceptionally early and visibly tame Purple Sandpiper on the beach at Cuckmere Haven on 15^th.

A Black Tern was again reported offshore at Rye Hbr on 12^th.

It was a really good week for Pied Flycatcher with numerous reports: one was found at Knepp Castle Estate (West Grinstead) on 10^th with others the following day at Shinewater Park (Eastbourne), Woolbeding Common and Cissbury Ring. On 14^th birds were at Hastings CP, Pagham Hbr, Hope Gap (Seaford Head) and Warnham LNR. Other singles were noted on 15^th at Stanmer (nr Falmer), Black Down NT and on the west bank of Ferring Rife (photo taken by Nick Oliver attached). There were at least five across the headland at Beachy Head that day and one was in the churchyard at Church Norton on 16^th.

Sussex has been well publicised of late for it’s breeding Honey-buzzards but our Hawfinch population is something to shout about as well; remarkably there were around 90 seen flying from roost at West Dean Woods on 15^th which could conceivably be a record count in the UK for the month of August.

What is it with Stone-curlews and Monday mornings? It happened again this week, a bird being found in a field east of the Adur near Upper Beeding on 3rd; thankfully it was out in the open and admired by many throughout the day. Another Stone-curlew was seen and heard as it flew past Belle Tout Wood (Beachy Head) on 8^th.

Two Spotted Redshanks were present all week at Pagham Hbr and a moulting adult Curlew Sandpiper was found there, at White’s Creek, on 9^th (photo courtesy of Paul James attached). A Wood Sandpiper was on the meanders at Cuckmere Haven on 8^th.

A male Montagu’s Harrier flying east was a great record at The Midrips on 8^th. There was a report of a Black Kite at Small Dole on 9^th and an Osprey was observed catching fish on 4^th and 5^th from the North Wall at Pagham Hbr. It was another fascinating week at the Honey-buzzard webcam where the youngsters (now looking big and sturdy) were seen flying away from the nest for short periods (https://sos.org.uk/about/our-work-with-people/surveys/honey-buzzards/).

A Roseate Tern and possibly two Black terns were reported offshore at Rye Hbr on 9^th . Other Black Terns were noted earlier in the week with a juvenile inland at Weir Wood Res on 4^th and another from the Gooders Hide at Rye Hbr the following day.

A 3cy Caspian Gull was at Pelham Beach (Hastings) on 4th and a juvenile Kittiwake was a good inland sighting at West Rise Marsh (Eastbourne) on 9th.

A Quail could be heard singing at Beachy Head on 8th. A Spoonbill was visible from the Discovery Centre at Rye Hbr on 7^th and three birds flew over there the following day.

A Hooded Crow was at the Waste Recycling Site at Bulverhythe (Hastings) on 4^th, presumably the same bird as the one in the town in early May?