With autumn migration well underway now this was another eventful week, the highlight probably being two Cory’s Shearwaters lingering offshore at Selsey Bill on 4th. Another good bird was Red-necked Phalarope – there was a confiding juvenile at Jury’s Gap on 31st, and another turned up at West Rise Marsh (Eastbourne) on 5th. The latter was still present the following day and attracted many admirers (photo attached).
A nice back-up bird at West Rise was a juvenile Black-necked Grebe which was present from 1st – 5th.
Up to four Spotted Redshanks were still in evidence at Pagham Hbr and another bird was noted at Pulborough Brooks on 2nd, and again on 6th. There were just two reports of Wood Sandpiper, both on 2nd (at Sidlesham Ferry and Church Norton). It was a good week for Curlew Sandpiper at Cuckmere Haven with sightings every day and a maximum of five birds on 3rd. Others were found at Pagham Hbr (1-2 on three dates), Pett Level (three on 1st ) and Rye Hbr (two on 5th).
A Little Stint was at Arlington Res on 3rd and other singles were recorded on 5th at Bexhill and Shoreham.
Up to three Black Terns flew west past Selsey Bill on three dates and one was at Church Norton on 31st. There was an exceptionally large movement of Mediterranean Gulls off Selsey Bill on 5th – a total of 1332 was recorded, beating the previous record by a long way (https://selseybirder.blogspot.com/).
A Quail was at Brighton Wild Park on 1st.
Beachy Head is a great place to see migrating Honey-buzzards at this time of year and, true to form, there were two overhead on 1st and another seven on 6th. One was over Pulborough Brooks on 31st. One (sometimes two) Osprey continue to be seen on Thorney Island and records came from elsewhere in the county on almost every day: singles were noted at Arundel, Beachy Head, Climping, Eastbourne, Ferring Rife, Mill Hill, Pagham Hbr and Shoreham. There were probably two different birds at West Ichenor on 4th.
A Merlin at Medmerry on 5th was noteworthy – the first of the autumn on the Selsey peninsula.
There were fewer reports of Pied Flycatcher – one was at Worthing Brooklands on 31st and three at Patching Hill on 5th. A Wryneck was at Cuckmere Haven on 3rd.
The very high Hawfinch numbers reported recently from West Dean Woods appear to have fallen off drastically, with just six noted there on 3rd.
