Wednesday 03 September 2025: Widewater, 09:00-11:00, strong WSW, clear: Mediterranean Gull 1W, Fulmar 1E, Gannet 11W. In hindsight I should have gone to Seaford or Brighton Marina to look for Sabine's Gulls that were feeding offshore. Even a couple of years ago I would have been off like a shot. Lack of motivation, difficulty in making decisions and preferring to see birds locally have eroded my confidence.
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| first-winter Mediterranean Gull west off Widewater |
Thursday 04 September 2025. A very frustrating day. Seawatched at Widewater from 06:45-09:00, most with RP, seeing just 7 Turnstones on the beach and 2 Gannets flying west. News that yesterday's Sabine's Gull was still at Brighton Marina had us heading there although it had disappeared by the time we arrived. We spent the best part of two hours looking with no success with a first-winter Mediterranean Gull and a brief Arctic Tern little compensation. Returning to Shoreham we received news that the Sabine's Gull had been seen again at Brighton Marina. Fortunately I resisted the temptation to return as it disappeared before we would have arrived and did not reappear for several hours. We called in at Shoreham Fort where a Wheatear was the only bird of note.
Friday 05 September 2025. Beeding Hill triangle with Otis, 08:45-12:30. 32 species including Stock Dove, 4 Buzzards, Great Spotted Woodpecker heard, 8 Kestrels, a close Hobby, 2 Ravens, Swallow, Willow Warbler, 7 Chifchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 9 Whitethroats, 2 Redstarts, 3 Whinchats, a male Stonechat, 33 Wheatears, 5 Meadow Pipits, 38 Linnets, Goldfinch and Corn Bunting.
Saturday 06 September 2025. Mill Hill 06:30-11:20. 2 Stock Doves, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, 3 Buzzards, Peregrine, Jay, Raven, 8 Sand Martins, 175 Swallows, 12 House Martins, Cetti's Warbler heard, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff heard, 5 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Goldfinches.
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| Raven on Mill Hill |
Sunday 07 September. Pagham Harbour (North Wall, White's Creek, Sidlesham Ferry & Church Norton) with DB & RP, 07:50-17:00. A nice day out, birds I don't often see, good company and a welcome change from Mill Hill and nearby Downland: 30 Gadwall, 2 Pintail, 20 Teal, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Avocets, 30 Grey and 91 Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, 12 Curlew, 15 Black-tailed Godwits, 28 Knot and a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper (off Whites Creek), Sanderling, 35 Dunlin, Grey Phalarope (Church Norton), Common and Green Sandpipers (Sidlesham Ferry), 145 Common and a Spotted Redshank (Whites Creek), 8 Greenshank, 8 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 44 Sandwich Terns, 3 juvenile Spoonbills (Whites Creek), 2 Cattle and 8 Little Egrets, Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzards, Kingfisher, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Kestrel, Jay, 20+ Blue Tits, 100+ Sand Martins, 1000+ Swallows, 10+ House Martins, Cetti's Warbler heard, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Blackcaps, a Lesser and 3 Common Whitethroats, Redstart, 3 Wheatears, Yellow Wagtail (North Wall), Chaffinch and 3 Greenfinches.
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| Spoonbills in Whites Creek |
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| Spotted Redshank at Whites Creek |
Monday 08 September 2025. Mill Hill 07:15-09:20. Stock Monday 08 September 2025. Dove, Sparrowhawk, 2 Jays, 40 Swallows, 35 House Martins, 6 Chiffchaffs, 30 Blackcaps, 10 Whitethroats, Spotted Flycatcher and Redstart. Adur with Megan and Otis, 09:30-11:00. Black Swan, 6 Lapwing, Knot, 9 Redshank and a Kestrel.
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| Spotted Flycatcher on Mill Hill |
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| Knot on the Adur |
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| flat rainbow from Adur Rec |
Tuesday 09 September. Steyning Round Hill (with RP)/Monarch's Way/South Downs Way, 07:50-12:30. 4 Stock Doves, 2 Red Kites, Buzzard, a Great Spotted and 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, 2 Ravens, 2 Sand Martins, 1500 Swallows, 200 House Martins, 5 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Redstarts, 3 Whinchats, Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Linnets, 70 Goldfinches, Corn Bunting and 4 Yellowhammers. Dacre Gardens: Dunlin, juvenile Little Stint and 7-8 Common Sandpipers. Smuggler's Lane: Kingfisher.
Wednesday 10 September. Mill Hill (partly with RP), 06:45-08:45. Swift, 8 Stock Doves, Buzzard, Kestrel, Raven, 2 Swallows, 25 House Martin, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps and a Whitethroat. Adur with Otis: Black Swan, 9 Lapwing, 41 Ringed Plover, 11 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 8 Redshank, 67 Great and 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. New Monks Park: Green Sandpiper, Green Woodpecker, 2 Swallows, 10 House Martins, Meadow Pipit and 8 Goldfinches.
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| sheep pecker |
