It was quite something on Friday afternoon to be watching the very first Wheatear to arrive back in England: rather bedraggled and lonely-looking he was perched motionless on the rocks at Sovereign Hbr (Eastbourne) and under grey skies and in the pouring rain was probably wondering why he’d bothered to hurry (photo taken earlier in the day by Laurence Pitcher attached). Sand Martin was another early sign of spring this week with two birds flying over Weir Wood Res on 26th and one at Chichester GP on 28th.
At least one Slavonian Grebe remained offshore at Selsey Bill and one was noted at Church Norton on 25th. A Black-necked Grebe flew east past Birling Gap on 26th. A Black-throated Diver was on the sea at Elmer on 25th and another was in Chichester Hbr on 28th and 1st.
Numbers of Russian White-fronted Geese seem to be falling off slightly although 106 were still at Pett Level on 23rd. Others were at Pulborough Brooks (10 on 1st) and Litlington (21 on 25th). Two were still present at Pagham Hbr on 27th.
A Little Gull was noted at Henfield Levels on 23rd and Worthing on 25th.
Water Pipits were either seen or heard at Pulborough Brooks on 23rd and 27th, Litlington on 25th and Henfield on 26th. Hawfinches were reported from a number of sites: on 23rd a maximum of 30 were observed at West Dean Woods and seven were at Harting Down (Midhurst). One was found at Lindfield on 27th and the following day saw four at Wakehurst Place and five in Paddockhurst Park (Turners Hill).
