This was another rather quiet week with not a lot to report…typical June. It was too hot to go out birding anyway, an intense heatwave hanging over western Europe causing record monthly temperatures here and in many other European countries.
Nevertheless with the first signs of return passage already underway there were a few things around, notably at Pagham Hbr where Wood Sandpipers were at the Breech Pool on 24-25th and again on 27th when a Green Sandpiper was also present.
Roseate Terns keep on appearing at Church Norton – there were two there on the mudflats on 22nd.
Up to five Honey-buzzards were observed from the Llama Park viewpoint on the Ashdown Forest and it was fascinating to continue watching the breeding pair at a different site on the webcam – the first chick appeared on Tuesday and a second hatched two days later. An Osprey was at Arlington Res on 28th.
A singing Quail was heard in the evening of 27th at Scotney Gravel Pits and a Ruddy Shelduck put in a brief showing at Sidlesham Ferry Pool on 25th before it was chased off by a Shelduck (photo by Adrian Haines attached).
Easily the best bird this week though was a singing Common Rosefinch: although it couldn’t be seen this must have been an exciting find, the bird’s distinctive whistled song emanating from the paddocks east of Pett Village early in the morning of 25th.
