Seaford Head 31/8/14

A great morning with plenty of variety, both in the bushes and overhead. From my arrival there were small waves of migrants moving north and as the morning went on there was a continuous flow of Hirundines moving westwards. The highlight of the morning was finding a Wryneck which proved to be very elusive. The same or a different Wryneck was seen 100m north of the original sighting.

Totals are:

Wryneck - 1 (possibly 2) in elders in the SE corner of the electric fence
Spotted Flycatcher - 2
Redstart - 3
Grey Wagtail - 3 - the first of the autumn
Yellow Wagtail - 141 - huge numbers on the sheep fields as well as moving west
Wheatear - 7
Whinchat - 5
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2
Tree Pipit - 4
Whitethroat - 34
Lesser Whitethroat - 3
Blackcap - 104
Willow Warbler - 62
Chiffchaff - 27
Sedge Warbler - 2
Reed Warbler - 9
Swallow, House & Sand Martin - large numbers moving west

 a showy Wryneck 

 Willow Warbler in Hope Gap

 Yellow Wagtail near Harry's Bush

Spotted Flycatcher near Harry's Bush

Dungeness and Rye Harbour 29/8/14

After my early Dusseldorf flight, I was free to twitch, so I went to Dungeness and a couple of goodies were in store. I met Mick and we spent the rest of the afternoon together. A good set of species at Dungeness that included the following:

Melodious Warbler - 1
Red-necked Phalarope - 1 juv
Little Stint - 1 juv
Garganey - 6
Sand Martin - 1000+

After this success we went to Rye so I could hopefully get a Curlew Sandpiper on my county yearlist, where thankfully we did. A great afternoon.

 Melodious Warbler at Denge Marsh

 Red-necked Phalarope at Dungeness - phone scoped shot

Garganey at Dungeness - phone scoped shot

Cuckmere Haven 28/8/14

A couple of visits this week has produced very little down the Cuckmere. Still, there is hope with a number of scarcities reaching the eastern counties. Maximum numbers this week for the species listed are as follows:

Hobby - 2 including 1 catching Dragonflies on the 26th
Yellow Wagtail - 30
Whinchat - 3
Curlew - 59
Kingfisher - 3

The Dunlin and Ringed Plover numbers are slowly decreasing as well, with still no sign of any Curlew Sands. Also of note a Firecrest was in the garden during the week.

Splash Point 25/8/14

A short seawatch between 8.00-10.30am in horrific conditions produced the following:

Arctic Skua - 2
Great Skua - 1
Commic Tern - 4
Sandwich Tern - 9
Swift - 1
Common Scoter - 20
Gannet - 50

Seaford Head 24/8/14

A lovely morning to be out on the patch. A good number of migrants on the Head this morning, and for the first couple of hours the top sheep field was alive with Swallows and Yellow Wagtails. Other then this, a routine morning with all expected migrants on show. Totals are:

Yellow Wagtail - 93
Spotted Flycatcher - 1
Tree Pipit - 10
Wheatear - 10
Whinchat - 1
Redstart - 2
Whitethroat - 56
Lesser Whitethroat - 9
Blackcap - 42
Reed Warbler - 3
Sedge Warbler - 1
Willow Warbler - 12
Chiffchaff - 7
Hobby - 1
Swallow - 300+
Sand Martin - 50

 Wheatear at the dung heap

 Yellow Wagtail in the sheep field

Hobby over Hope Gap

Cuckmere Haven 22/8/14

Not much happening this morning on a rising tide. The usual gathering of sleepy Dunlin and Ringed Plover were very photogenic. The only interesting migrants consisted of six Whinchat and quite a few Yellow Wagtails.

Dunlin along the river

Cuckmere Haven 20/8/14

It's been a while since I've been down here, mainly due to work. Quite a few Waders along the river including some very showy Ringed Plovers. Totals are:

Dunlin - 29
Ringed Plover - 14
Kingfisher - 2
Whimbrel - 2
Yellow Wagtail - 20+
Whinchat - 1

 Ringed Plover

Whinchat by the scrape

Seaford Head 16/8/14

Plenty of variety this morning but numbers were about average. An increasing northerly wind and the odd cloud cover slowed things down for a period. The first Snipe of the autumn were flushed by the dung heap and the sheep field which were certainly a surprise. Plenty of Hirundines as well moving through in a westerly direction.
Totals are:

Spotted Flycatcher - 1 on golf course
Snipe - 2
Yellow Wagtail - 11
Tree Pipit - 3
Nightingale - 1
Wheatear - 11
Redstart - 1 by the wood
Whitethroat - 61
Lesser Whitethroat - 11
Willow Warbler - 45
Chiffchaff - 2
Reed Warbler - 8
Sedge Warbler - 1
Garden Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 1
Swallow - 200
Sand Martin - 250
House Martin - 30
Swift - 1

 Willow Warbler in Hope Gap

 Snipe over the Dung Heap

 Lesser Whitethroat in Hope Gap

 Reed Warbler in Hope Gap

Hummingbird Hawkmoth in Hope Gap

Barcelona 13/8/14

Alpine Swift - 26 all flying south.

I am sure all these birds were migrating, as I doubt the airport is the most suitable area for this many birds.

Cuckmere Haven 11/8/14

Very windy, very quiet, but a storm driven Kittiwake on the scrape was noteworthy. Totals are:

Kittiwake - 1 juv on scrape

Whimbrel - 1

Little Ringed Plover - 1

Wheatear - 5

Little Ringed Plover, Redshank and Kittiwake on the scrape

Splash Point 10/8/14

A slow seawatch this morning from around 6.20am - 11.00am. I didn't keep a log, but most numerous species were Gannets and Kittiwakes, including some very smart looking juveniles. Other totals include:

Balearic Shearwater - 2 (one east at 7.43am which was pretty distant, and every so often tracked back west, whilst the other bird at 10.10am was much closer and flew straight through, again going east)
Arctic Skua - 1 l/p
Common Tern - 1
Sandwich Tern - 2
Gannet - 200+
Gadwall - 2

Pulborough Brooks 9/814

Saw the Pectoral Sandpiper this afternoon which showed nicely from Jupp's Viewpoint. At least 3 Black-winged Stilts were also on view.

Fortunes changed on the way home when unfortunately I was involved in a car crash. Sad to say goodbye to the Clio, but thankfully I and everyone else are ok, just a shame about my bruised toe!!

 Pec Sand

:-(

Seaford Head 7/8/14

Plenty of activity this morning with an increase in both Sylvia and Phyllosc Warblers. The morning felt ideal for a couple of raptors, and this proved so with Marsh Harrier and Hobby over. As the temperature increased a few Hirundines started to move but no huge numbers. Totals are:

Pied Flycatcher - 1 along the main ride in Hope Gap
Yellow Wagtail - 1
Wheatear - 3
Nightingale - 2
Whitethroat - 50
Lesser Whitethroat - 15
Garden Warbler - 3
Blackcap - 5
Willow Warbler - 51
Reed Warbler - 8
Sedge Warbler - 5
Hobby - 2
Marsh Harrier - 1 juv/fem type at 10.15am
Peregrine - 1 successfully caught a Green Woodpecker
Sand Martin - 30

 Pied Flycatcher - a very welcome sighting after no spring birds were found this year

 Willow Warbler 

one less Green Woodpecker 

Church Norton & Sidlesham 5/8/14

A great day down in West Sussex today with Bob Self, and being joined by Ian Barnard for most of the day. By far the highlight was the adult Long (Short) -tailed Skua off Church Norton, which first showed itself at around 6.40am. Next was the Cattle Egret at Sidlesham, yet another good yeartick. Both birds showed relatively well. Good to meet lots of familiar faces today, and have lots of laughs.

Long-tailed Skua off Church Norton - showed better on the incoming tide

Cattle Egret at Sidlesham

Seaford Head 4/8/14

A pretty good morning today, somewhat a relief after hearing of the doldrums from the weekend. A good number of Acros were around, especially Reed Warblers, as well as steady numbers of the other commoner migrants. Very little moving overhead. Totals are:

Wheatear - 1
Nightingale - 1 again only heard 'croaking'
Whitethroat - 25
Lesser Whitethroat - 12
Reed Warbler - 14
Sedge Warbler - 8
Willow Warbler - 24
Chiffchaff - 5
Garden Warbler - 2
Blackcap - 5
Swallow - 20
House Martin - 7

 Sedge Warbler in Hope Gap

Willow Warbler in Hope Gap