It was a typically lively last week of August with a good number of the scarcer migrants turning up, although there was nothing exceptionally rare. The best bird was probably a Puffin, a top draw bird in Sussex, seen flying west off Selsey Bill on 30th. Balearic Shearwaters were also seen at Selsey with two flying west on 28th and another the following day.
A Wood Sandpiper was noted again at Pett Level on 27th and there were four at Cuckmere Haven on 28th. There were several reports of Curlew Sandpiper with singles on the Adur at Shoreham on 24th, Church Norton on 26th and Rye Hbr on 28th. Church Norton had two on 28th , four on 29th and three on 30th. There were three at Snowhill Creek (West Wittering) on 28th and up to four were at Cuckmere Haven on 29th-30th.
Two Little Stints were at Church Norton on 24th with a single still present from 26th-28th. Up to three Spotted Redshank remain at Pagham Hbr and one was at Pett Level on 27th.
A Little Gull was offshore at Climping on 24th and 25th and three were there on 29th. Selsey saw one flying east on 27th and another west on 29th. A juvenile Caspian Gull flew over the pools at Pett Level on 25th.
Quite a good week for Black Tern with a maximum of five west from Selsey Bill on 28th, and 1-2 at Church Norton on three dates. One was off Climping on 29th. A superb Roseate Tern performed well at Church Norton on 29th (photo by Andrew House attached).
Osprey was seen on every day of the week with sightings at Church Norton, East Hill (Hastings), Fishbourne, Whitbread Hollow (Beachy Head), Weir Wood Res and Thorney Island (where two birds were present on 25th). The male Honey-buzzard was still present at the webcam on 30th along with one (possibly both) of the juveniles. Migrating Honey-buzzards were picked up on the coast at Hastings CP on 24th and 25th, and at Beachy Head on 27th.
A Wryneck was found at Sheepcote Valley (nr Brighton) on 26th and another was at Rye on 28th.
Pied Flycatcher was reported daily with singles at Climping, Truleigh Hill (Shoreham), Eastbourne, West Dean, Spithurst, Pagham Hbr and Brooklands Park (Worthing). Two were at Beachy Head on 25th, and at Coldean on 27th.
On 28th a Serin flew over Selsey Bill and the previously reported Hooded Crow at Bulverhythe (Hastings) was seen again at the waste recycling site.
