Sussex in July – little in the way of birds or enthusiasm

It always takes me a while to get back into birding locally after I’ve been away and coming back in July, often the quietest month, doesn't help. This year has been no exception.

Swifts over our house/road most evenings have been the highlight with up to 20 mid-month and still 4 or 5 at the month's end while a pair of Stock Doves have been occasional visitors to our garden. Buzzard, Whitethroats and Yellowhammer at Mill Hill on 16th were pretty much as expected. A Black-tailed Godwit on the Adur was nice but the only other birds of note seen there have been a couple of North Thames colour-ringed Herring Gulls.  13 Collared Doves in our road were notable on 18th and on 20th a walk around woodland at Nymans with Megan and Ruth (over from NZ) produced Grey Wagtail, Marsh Tit and 2 Nuthatches. Pulborough on 27^th was more exciting with 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Greenshank and 7 Green and a Common Sandpiper although most were distant. Also there were 13 Mandarin, 25 Sand Martins and 2 Bullfinches while Greatham had no waders at all and very little else. A walk from Bines Bridge to the Lock Estate and back on 28^th was quiet with 9 Buzzards, a smart Grey Wagtail, Garden Warbler and 16 Yellowhammers (most singing males) best. Walking around Cissbury with Megan on 31^st continued the quiet theme with 4 Whitethroats the only migrant seen and they appeared to be local breeders, Buzzard and Yellowhammer. Earlier, at high tide, 4 Ringed Plover, a Dunlin and 24 Turnstones were on the beach at Goring Gap.

Shovel-billed Kingfisher at Nymans

Sooty Owls at Nymans (sadly not in New Guinea)

Green Sandpiper at Pulborough

Black-tailed Godwit on the Adur

North Thames Herring Gull on the Adur

Turnstones at Goring

Dunlin and Ringed Plover at Goring

it appeared to be flying normally despite the drooping wing.

Ringed Plover at Goring

Jay at Cissbury

Gatekeeper at Cissbury

Small White