Birling and the Adur (29 June 2014)

Sunday 29 June.  Megan and I walked from Crowlink to Belle Tout and back.  lovely views and lots of common flowers and butterflies but birds were few and far between with a loose flock of 77 Swifts heading west along the cliff the most notable sighting.  Later 11 were chasing each other low over our road.  Evening low tide on the Adur was better than recent visits with an adult Mediterranean Gull flying up the river before heading west over the airfield and two presumed limosa Black-tailed Godwits on the river by Ricardos.  

my favourite view at Beachy - looking over Birling to Hope Gap

Birling Gap and Belle Tout from the west

Dark Green Fritillary, about 10 were seen between Birling and Belle Tout lighthouse along with 25 Marbled Whites

Pyramidal Orchids on the Seven Sisters near Crowlink

presumed limosa Black-tailed Godwit on the Adur 

the long bill and unbarred white belly of the second bird suggest limosa too although the fading light make it look darker than it was

Saturday 28 June.  Morning and evening low tide visits to the Adur were unproductive although 2 juvenile Black-headed Gulls were the first I've seen this year.  35 Swifts were huntinng over the airfield and later 15 were over our road.  An afternoon walk around Rackham with Megan was expectedly quiet with a family of 5 Mistle Thrushes in Parham Park best.

juvenile Black-headed Gull on the Adur

looking quite smart with a dark chocolate mantle

Stock Dove in our garden

Monday 23 -Friday 27 June.  Up to 12 Swifts were screaming over our road each evening.  The first-summer Black Redstart was singing and seen briefly by Southwick Power Station on Monday morning but not since.  Likewise a Peregrine on the chimney while a single Ringed Plover was on the beach on three mornings.