The week will be memorable for Storm Austen and Storm Boelo, both sweeping in from the west, one after the other, and wreaking havoc across the country. Hardened seawatchers’ eyes must have lit up at the prospect although these storms proved to be less of a birding event than that of Storm Ciarán in 2023.
Of the two storms it was Boelo’s arrival on 24th which caused the most excitement with Leach’s Petrel somehow spotted in its raging sea at Brighton and Langney Point (Eastbourne). There were good numbers of Little Gull too at a few sites, most notably Hove where at least 72 flew east. On the following morning a Sooty Shearwater flew east past Worthing and Little Gulls were seemingly everywhere with small numbers reported all along the Sussex coastline. Some of these gulls were venturing inland a little, with records coming from Arlington Res, Shinewater Park (Eastbourne) and most notably Piddinghoe where 40 were observed over the lake. Another unusual sighting on 25th was a Guillemot, discovered well inland at Weir Wood Res.
There’s not a lot to say about waders; a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was on the meanders at Cuckmere Haven on 25th, a Purple Sandpiper was again at Brighton Marina on 19th and up to four Spotted Redshank were still present at Pagham Hbr.
More Russian White-fronted Geese arrived with sightings at Pulborough Brooks and Amberley Wildbrooks where up to 31 were present on 22nd. Four Spoonbill were at Rye Hbr on 19th.
West Rise Marsh in Eastbourne might well be a great birding site but it’s absolutely hopeless for terns; for some mysterious reason they are almost never seen there, so a juvenile Arctic Tern flapping over the lake on 22nd was a massive surprise and a fantastic local bird (photo attached). Surprisingly it was still present on 25th, clearly in no rush to start its long journey in this kind of weather.
A Short-eared Owl was over Beachy Head on 19th and another was at Davis Park (Hove) on 23rd. Osprey were noted at Pulborough Brooks and Bewl Water on 22nd, and Hastings on 24th.
Water Pipit were recorded at Amberley Wildbrooks on 19th , the Breech Pool (Pagham Hbr) on 22nd and Pulborough Brooks on 25th. A Rock Pipit was found at Weir Wood Res on 21st and a Shore Lark was at Rye Hbr on 22nd.
The rarest bird this week was undoubtedly a Barred Warbler, seen briefly in the early morning of 19th at Shinewater Park (Eastbourne). A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Pulborough Brooks on 20th.
Three Ring Ouzel were at Beachy Head on 22nd and another was at Sullington Hill (Storrington) on 25th. The Hooded Crow at Bulverhythe (Hastings) was seen again on 19th.
A Snow Bunting seen flying in off the sea at Selsey Bill on 23rd was fortunately found again the following day on the beach nearby, and it was still present and showing well on 25th. Two Hawfinch flew over Hastings CP on 19th.
