Shoreham & Beachy (17-23 September 2012)

17-21 September: Little Egret by the lock gates on 17th, 2 Peregrines on Southwick Power Station chimney, 2 adult and 2 juvenile Ringed Plover on Southwick Beach on 17th (perhaps a bit much to hope that they were local breeders), 4 Sandwich Terns on 21st and single Wheatears on Hove pitch & put on 18-19th and Southwick Beach on 18th and 20th.  Also a Nuthatch heard in the Sussex House car park at work on 18th and 20th.

22 September:  I spent the morning birding 'the top' at Beachy with John King and John & David Cooper. JK and I also doing the cliff path and rides which added virtually nothing.  Birds seen included Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Sand Martins, 200 Swallows, 1000 House Martins, Whinchat, Wheatear, single Reed & Sedge Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 8 Blackcaps, 34 Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrests, Spotted Flycatcher, a Jay over Shooter's Bottom, 2 Ravens, 40 Goldfinches and 3 Siskins (heard).  

female Migrant Hawker at Belle Tout

23 September.  I seawatched from Widewater from 07.30-09.00 but the winds were not as strong as forecast and some of the action was taking place behind me with swallows moving east on a broad front.  I recorded 17 Gannets, 10 Brent Geese (8E & 2W, my first of the autumn), Common Scoter, 8 Sandwich Terns, 550+ Swallows, 30 House Martins, 2 Meadow Pipits (E), Wheatear, Chiffchaff and 17 Goldfinches (W).  A quick look at the Adur as the tide was falling produced a Red-breasted Merganser, 41 Ringed Plover (18 adults and 23 juveniles suggesting a good breeding season), 3 Dunlin, 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (29 adults) and 21 Swallows (E).  Megan and I then walked around Rackham in the rain seeing just 4 Long-tailed Tits in the woods and a Sand Martin and 200 Swallows over the brooks.

Red-breasted Merganser on the Adur opposite Shoreham airfield

juvenile and adult Wood Pigeon on our bird table