back to reality - mid October northerlies in Sussex

Saturday 17 October.  An enjoyable walk around Beachy Head, partly with John and David Cooper, Brenda Kay and Bob Edgar.  I did a 6.5 hour circuit from Birling to Cow Gap beach and Whitbread Hollow seeing female Merlin (Frost Hill), 3 Peregrines, 3 Short-eared Owls (flushed from the side of Cow Gap), 60+ Swallows, 600+ House Martins (mostly along the cliff edge), 24 Stonechats, 2 Wheateas (Frost Hill), 9 Ring Ouzels (Hotel Garden and Cliff Path), 5 Fieldfares, 3 Dartford Warblers (gorse above Belle Tout), 2 Blackcaps, 11 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, Brambling (flying east over Cow Gap), 4 Siskins (with others heard), Redpoll (a couple heard), 2 Reed Buntings and a Clouded Yellow (Whitbread Hollow).

distant House Martins (or dirt on the camera's lens) over Beachy Head Lighthouse

mystery bird

Short-eared Owl off Cow Gap

three were flushed from almost under my feet as I descended into Cow Gap but by the time I had my camera out they were quite distant

Wheatear on Frost Hill

Friday 16 October.  Herring Gull A4AH at the University.

Thursday 15 October.  2 Rock Pipits near Hove Lagoon and a Stonechat on Southwick Beach.  A dull day, I needed lights on my bike both going to work and coming home.

Wednesday 14 October.  Megan had an early dental appointment in Hove and after we walked from the Dyke to Truleigh Hill and back.  A flock of 60 Fieldfares on the escarpment and a Wheatear where the highlights.  Little was seen on low tide visit to the Adur at dusk although a Buzzard over the Old Toll Bridge (now decked out with ribbons rather than a floral tribute) was the first I've seen there.

a rainbow over Mill Hill but no time to check the foot of it for a major rarity

Tuesday 13 October.  Megan and I took an afternoon walk around Cissbury Ring seeing 8 Swallows, 2 Stonechats, 2 Ring Ouzels, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 10 Chiffchaffs and 2 Jays

old tree inside the ring, its shape revealed as the leaves fall