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 25th and 27th. A Little Stint was at Sidlesham Ferry on 26th-27th and a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was seen again at Cuckmere Haven on 24th and 26th. A Spotted Redshank was at Flat Beach (Rye Hbr) on 24th and whilst there were generally fewer sightings of them at Pagham Hbr, four were still present on 21st.
A Caspian Gull was at Church Norton on 24th on a day when Selsey Bill saw its first returning Brent Geese. On 22nd 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 26th.
It was a great week at Beachy Head for Short-eared Owl with three seen in five days (photo of one on 26th by Laurence Pitcher attached). A juvenile Honey-buzzard flew out to sea there on 21st. An Osprey was again at Thorney Island on 22nd and another flew over Weir Wood Res on 23rd.
Reports of Pied Flycatcher came from Seaford Head on 21st, East Preston on 22nd and Goring on 23rd.
Beachy Head had Grasshopper Warbler on 25th and 26th and one at The Severals (Church Norton) on 25th was the latest recorded on the Selsey peninsula this century.
