late August in Sussex

Wednesday 31 August. I arrived at Birling at 06:10 and was soon joined by John and Doreen Cooper. We birded to Shooter's Bottom where a film crew were present, allegedly with Jeremy Clarkson, seeing RKH, RK, GG and others there or on the way. I continued on to the rides above Whitbread Hollow and back to Birling with a detouring towards Bullock Hill. I also looked at Crowlink village which was very quiet. Birds seen were Wryneck (Shooter's Bottom), 12 Sand Martins, 600 Swallows, 25 House Martins, 33 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Redstarts, 6 Whinchats, 8 Wheatears, a Grasshopper, 2 Reed and 2 Sedge Warblers, 3 Lesser and 34 Common Whitethroats, 22 Willow Warblers 2 Pied (Birling and Hotel garden) and 5 Spotted Flycatchers and 2 Corn Buntings. A very enjoyable 9 hours before visiting my dad who was in good spirits.

Seaford Head, Belle Tout Wood and filming helicopter

Willow Warbler at Beachy

Reed Warbler in Shooter's Bottom

Pied Flycatcher in the Hotel Garden hedge

Wryneck in Shooter's Bottom

seen on my return visit

Tuesday 30 August. Six Swallows flew over Southwick Beach as I was cycling to work.

Monday 29 August. A morning walk at Wolstenbury with Megan and Vanessa. Superb views but few birds with two noisy Ravens best. Late afternoon I visited Pulborough seeing 120 Teal, Little Stint, Greenshank and 3 Green Sandpipers but not the Wood Sandpiper seen in the morning.

view from Wolstenbury west along the downs to and beyond Chanctonbury Ring

waders from West Mead hide at Pulborough, later afternoon not a good time to visit. Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank and most of a Little Stint

Sunday 28 August. A morning on the eastern side of Pagham Harbour were 5 Little Stints, 9 Spotted Redshank, 12 Greenshank and a Yellow Wagtail were on the Breech Pool. Three Curlew Sandpipers were in White's Creek on the falling tide and a walk to the sea to see the 'new' harbour entrance was interesting. A Wheatear on the beach was the only migrant seen all morning.

Curlew Sandpiper in Whyte's Creek

shanks on the Breech Pool

Black Swan on Pagham Lagoon