The week was notable for exceptionally high spring temperatures, a “heatwave” over northwestern Europe making daily headline news. The long-staying Long-tailed Duck (a winter visitor) on the Cuckmere thought it was about time to leave and was not seen after 25th. The long-staying pair of Garganey at Pulborough Brooks, however, was present throughout the week and still there on 30th.
There wasn’t much to say about waders, although a Little Stint was at Flat Beach (Rye Hbr) on 28th and 29th.
Two Common Cranes flew over Wilmington on 26th and a Glossy Ibis was at the Breech Pool, Pagham Hbr, on 26th and 27th.
There were three reports of Quail on 29th: at least two birds were sound-recorded during the night over Eastbourne and singing males were found at Beachy Head and Hazelholt Bottom (Shoreham) after sunrise a few hours later.
Honey-buzzards on territory were reported from the published watchpoints at Llama Park (Wych Cross) and Woolbeding Common (nr Midhurst). Two migrating birds were over Beachy Head on 27th (photo by Laurence Pitcher attached) and others were noted over Ardingly on 29th and Patcham the following day. A rare Black Kite flew south over Amberley on 25th and an Osprey was at Arlington Res on 31st.
A Little Gull was seen again at Church Norton on 25th and one was at Rye Hbr on 29th.
Reports of Golden Oriole came from Buxted Park (Uckfield) on 27th and Coates Common at Lord’s Piece on 28th. On the morning of the 30th a Bee-eater flew west over Beachy Head and a Woodchat Shrike was found at Ambersham Common.
A singing Marsh Warbler made a brief appearance near the pub on the headland at Beachy Head in the early morning of 29th and by all accounts it was a highly entertaining bird, throwing in the sounds of Black-backed Puffback (a southern African species) to its usual crazy mix of mimicry (https://beachybirder.wordpress.com/).
Two Hawfinches (an adult and a juvenile) were observed at West Dean Woods on 28th.
