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 17th at West Rise Marsh (Eastbourne), and an adult female Hen Harrier was over Steep Down on 19th.
A nice-looking pale juvenile Honey-buzzard was over Arlington Res on 15th 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 15th individual so far!
Osprey was noted almost daily at Pagham Hbr and Thorney Deep had one again on 16th and 19th with two present on 20th.
Seawatching at Selsey Bill was rather low key although two Balearic Shearwaters went west on 14th and a Great Northern Diver going east on 18th was the second earliest autumn bird this century. A Little Gull flew west on 20th.
The two Little Stints at Sidlesham Ferry were present until 15th , where a Grey Phalarope was found on 19th. At Pagham Hbr there were up to five Spotted Redshank daily and a Curlew Sandpiper on 14th-15th, with two present on 18th. A Wood Sandpiper was at Weir Wood Res on 14th and the American Golden Plover at Jury’s Gap was found again on 19th. 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 15th 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 16th 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 18th at the waste recycling site. A Hawfinch flew over Hastings CP on 15th.
