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 13th. An adult-type American Golden Plover was at Rye Hbr on 14th-15th and a Red-necked Phalarope was photographed in the early morning of 16th 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 15th.
A Black Tern was again reported offshore at Rye Hbr on 12th.
It was a really good week for Pied Flycatcher with numerous reports: one was found at Knepp Castle Estate (West Grinstead) on 10th with others the following day at Shinewater Park (Eastbourne), Woolbeding Common and Cissbury Ring. On 14th birds were at Hastings CP, Pagham Hbr, Hope Gap (Seaford Head) and Warnham LNR. Other singles were noted on 15th 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 16th.
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 15th which could conceivably be a record count in the UK for the month of August.
