Friday 03 July 2026. Knepp 08:50-13:50, with David Buckingham. 4 Stock Doves, Turtle Dove heard briefly twice, 2 Red Kites, 2 Buzzards, Great Spotted and 2 Green Woodpeckers, Swallow, Jay, Chiffchaff several, Reed Warbler heard, Whitethroat, 4 Bullfinches, 3 Linnets and 5 Goldfinches. My fourth visit to Knepp looking for Turtle Doves, current score being two black visits followed by two where briefly heard. In contrast I've seen Turtle Doves at Knepp every year from 2014-2025 although they've become increasingly hard to find in recent years. It is not helped by me being deaf in one ear although with DB's super hearing that wasn't an excuse today.
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| unco-operative Purple Emperor at Knepp |
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replica German Foker DR1 Triplane over Knepp
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Sunday 05 July 2026. Lancing Ring with Megan and Otis: Stock Dove, Skylark, 2 Sand Martins and 2 Swallows west, Chiffchaff and Blackcap heard, 2 Whitethroats and 3 Corn Buntings.
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| Corn Bunting at Lancing Ring |
Tuesday 07 July 2026. Mill Hill with Otis: 2 Swifts, 2 Red Kites, 3 Buzzards, Skylark heard, Chiffchaff heard, 4 Blackcaps, 10 Whitethroats, 4 Song Thrushes, 2 Linnets and a Goldfinch. Crown Road: 20 Swifts over the road at dusk.
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| tatty Red Kite over Knepp |
Wednesday 08 July 2026. Brooklands with Megan and Otis: Stock Dove, Little Grebe heard, 4 Reed Warblers heard. Crown Road/St Giles Close: 7+ Swifts at dusk.
Thursday 09 July 2026. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Skylark heard, 8 Swallows west, 2 Long-tailed Tits, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, 2 Linnets and 5 Goldfinches. Crown Road/St Giles Close: 8 Swifts and 2 Stock Doves.
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| Otis |
Friday 10 July 2026. Old Toll Bridge to Lancing Hill and back with Otis: 2 Grey Partridges, 5 Stock Doves, 4 Swifts, 2 Oystercatchers, 9 Lapwing, Redshank, adult Mediterranean Gull, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Buzzards, Green Woodpecker, Skylark, 6+ Sand Martins, 25+ Swallows, 20+ House Martins, Reed Warbler and Blackcap heard, 4 Linnets, 10 Goldfinches and a Corn and 2 Reed Buntings. While walking back, just south of Lancing Equestrian Centre hundreds of Rooks and Jackdaws starting flying around in a big panic over Lancing Hill. It was several minutes before they dispersed and I could only think that a large raptor had gone over. Scan as hard as I could failed to pick up anything. Buzzards and Red kites are fairly frequent in this area and I'd suspect it was something bigger (Osprey/White-tailed Eagle)?
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Song Thrush on Lancing Hill
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| big fish from the Old Toll Bridge |
Saturday 11 July 2026. Shoreham Boardwalk/Fort with Megan and Otis: 2 Swifts and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Crown Road: 3 Swifts at dusk.
Sunday 12 July 2026. Worthing Prom with Megan and Otis: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls and a Sandwich Tern offshore. Crown Road: 5 Swifts at dusk.
Monday 13 July 2026. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Swift, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Skylark heard, 4 Swallows, Whitethroat, 4 Linnets and Goldfinch heard. Crown Road: 5 Swifts at dusk.
Tuesday 14 July 2026. Old Toll Bridge to Adur Saltings (on a rising tide) with Otis: 5 Oystercatchers, 4 Lapwings, 5 Whimbrel, Curlew, 2 Common Sandpipers, 10 Redshank, Greenshank, 4 adults and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 5 Little Egrets, Blackcap, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtails, 4 Linnets and 2 Goldfinches. Crown Road: 6 Swifts at dusk.
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| Little Egret from the Old toll Bridge |
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| Whimbrel on the Adur |
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| adult and juvenile Mediteranean Gull by the houseboats |
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| juvenile Mediteranean Gull by the houseboats |
Wednesday 15 July 2026. Brooklands with Megan and Otis:2 Sparrowhawks, Buzzard, Kestrel, Chiffchaff and Blackcap heard. Adur saltings from bus (very high tide): 11 Little Egrets. Coombes Field 4 Dogs with Megan and Otis: A Jay and 9 Goldfinches. Crown Road: 3 Swifts at dusk.
Thursday 16 July 2026. Adur with Megan and Otis: Oystercatcher, 4 Lapwing, 2 Whimbrel, Reed Warbler, Linnet and 3 Goldfinches. Crown Road: 6 Swifts at dusk.
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| Jersey Tiger in Old Shoreham |
