Monday 21-Friday 25 May. Highlights cycling to work were a singing male Black Redstart on 21st and 25th (by the Tarmac/Hanson building and on Shed 7 respectively), singing Rock Pipit on Shed 7 on 24th and both Peregrines on 4 days. Also up to 12 Swifts daily over the road/house.
Friday 25 May. The Black-tailed Godwit was still on the Adur along with a Common Sandpiper and a colour-ringed Herring Gull although by the time the latter was seen the light was too poor to read it.
Saturday 26 May. Birling and Belle Tout. After seeing nothing up the lane at Birling John King and I were joined seawatching by a full set of Coopers. Between 06:45-09:30 I saw 2 Garganey, a Bonxie, 110 Common Scoter, 15 Shoveler, 24 Sanderling, 3 Mediterranean Gulls (flying west) and 3 Little Terns. Belle Tout was very quiet with just a few Swifts and hirundines flying east and breeding Stonechats (7 including a pair with 3 young), Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethoats. Arlington was very quiet, the Osprey not making an appearance in the 90 minutes we were there. After tea I went to Pulborough where Gordon Beck pointed out the Temminck's Stint to me (unfortunately at the 'usual' range). A Nightingale performed very well as did a male Nightjar by the mound at dusk.
Sunday 27 May. With the promise of a southeasterly and a few birds moving off Beachy yesterday John King and I seawatched at Seaford from 6-10. A distant small skua caused some excitement but never came close enough to ascertain any detail and in all probability was just an Arctic, but one can dream ... We also failed to get onto the Roseate Tern later seen off Birling. We did see a nice first-summer Little Gull, 11 Knot, 8 Sanderling, 31 Common Scoter, 38 Sandwich Terns, 35 Common Terns, 4 Razorbills, 1 Guillemot and 78 Gannets. 11 Swifts over the road this evening.
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