August marks the point when autumn migration really begins to gather pace in Sussex. Summer may still be firmly in evidence, with long days and warm weather, but the first signs of the changing season are everywhere. Waders are moving south through our wetlands, summer visitors are beginning their journeys to Africa, and the first waves of migrant passerines are starting to appear along the coast and across the Downs.
For the Sussex birder, August is a month of transition. The last of our breeding birds remain, but increasingly they are being joined by travellers from much further north. With the right weather, almost anywhere can produce something of interest, although coastal wetlands, downland and headlands are particularly worth exploring.
Passage waders
August is arguably the best month of the year for passage waders in Sussex. Adults that have completed their breeding attempts in northern Britain, Scandinavia and the Arctic are already heading south, with juveniles following later in the month on their first migration.
Wetlands with exposed mud and shallow water can consequently be exceptionally productive. Black-tailed Godwit, Common and Green Sandpipers, Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover and Whimbrel are all realistic targets, while careful scanning can produce scarcer species such as Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank.
Good places to look include Medmerry, Pagham Harbour, Pulborough Brooks, Cuckmere Haven and Rye Harbour. As ever, however, water levels are crucial. With the long, hot summer we are experiencing, some wetlands have dried out completely, leaving little or no suitable habitat for passage waders. Where wet mud remains, though, the rewards can be considerable.
Migrant passerines
By the middle of August, the first substantial waves of autumn passerine migration should be underway. Willow Warblers are among the earliest species to move in significant numbers, while Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, and Reed and Sedge Warblers gradually become more numerous.
The movement of Sand Martins is already well underway, while Swallows and House Martins gather in increasing numbers as they prepare for their eventual departure.
The most exciting days are those when the weather produces a genuine fall of migrants. Coastal and downland sites can suddenly come alive, with tired birds dropping into bushes and hedgerows to feed and recover.
The entire stretch between Birling Gap and Beachy Head is worth checking, as are Cissbury Ring, Climping Gap, Pagham Harbour and Seaford Head. Cloudy conditions combined with light rain and overnight winds from the east or south-east can be particularly productive.
Among the more desirable migrants to look for are Common Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Wheatear, Whinchat and Yellow Wagtail, while a lucky observer might encounter a Grasshopper Warbler or Pied Flycatcher.
Seawatching
August can also produce some rewarding seawatching, particularly when strong onshore winds push birds close to the Sussex coast. Selsey Bill, Splash Point and other exposed viewpoints are well worth checking during suitable weather.
Common Terns and Sandwich Terns should be among the more obvious species, but check carefully for scarcer species such as Arctic and Black Terns and Little Gulls.
Offshore concentrations of terns can also attract the attention of Arctic Skuas. These formidable pirates pursue terns relentlessly until their victims disgorge the contents of their crops, which the pursuing skua then catches in mid-air.
August is also potentially a good month for the critically endangered Mediterranean Shearwater with Selsey Bill likely to hold the lion’s share should any appear.
Honey-buzzards and Ospreys
August provides the last real opportunity to look for breeding Honey-buzzards in Sussex before the birds begin their autumn movements.
The county’s breeding population now exceeds 20 pairs, making Sussex one of the best places in Britain to look for this elusive species. Established viewpoints at Ashdown Forest and Woolbeding Common offer opportunities to watch adults soaring above the woodland, particularly during warm, sunny weather when they take to the air in search of food for their recently fledged young. Other birds of prey which may well be encountered as these sites in August include Goshawk, Hobby and Red Kite.
Osprey, unlike Honey-buzzard, does not breed in Sussex, but they do pass through the county every autumn. Chichester and Pagham Harbours are among the best areas to keep an eye on, while inland reservoirs such as Arlington and Weir Wood can also produce sightings. Headlands, including Beachy Head, are worth watching too, as birds on migration may pass overhead.
Unlike in spring, autumn Ospreys can sometimes linger for several days, particularly at favoured sites such as Thorney Deeps.
Rarities
For the rarity-minded birder, August is when things really start to get interesting. The combination of returning waders, migrating passerines and birds displaced by weather systems means that almost anything can turn up.
Vagrant waders are perhaps the most obvious targets. Pectoral Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint and Red-necked Phalarope are all species that could suddenly appear among the more regular passage birds.
The coastal bushes offer another tantalising possibility. A Red-backed Shrike or Wryneck would not be entirely unexpected during a favourable spell of easterly winds, while there is always the possibility of something much rarer, such as a Melodious Warbler or Ortolan Bunting.
Tips for August Birding
- Check wetlands regularly: August is one of the best months for passage waders, particularly at sites where muddy feeding margins remain.
- Work the coastal and downland bushes: Migrant passerines can appear almost anywhere during suitable weather, so check scrub, hedgerows and even small patches of cover carefully.
- Watch the weather: Southeasterly winds can produce sfalls of passerines, while strong onshore winds can make seawatching particularly rewarding.
- Keep looking: August migration is constantly changing, so a site that appears quiet one day can be transformed the next.
Above all, keep checking. By August, Sussex is already firmly in autumn migration mode. With every passing week, more birds will be on the move – and the variety, excitement and possibility of finding something unexpected will only increase.