My final Woodcock survey at Lavington this year (all in decent weather) produced just one bird and 3 Nightjars. Maybe I was unlucky but my three survey visits this year totalled just 3 Woodcock encounters. In previous years when I was able to make 3 visits total encounters were 19 (2013), 24 (2014) and 21 (2017). If it is a real decline and reflected elsewhere then it is seriously worrying.
June 21-27. A
very quiet week prior to going away, the Great
Black-backed Gull family were seen each day, the two chicks growing quite
quickly. They will be gone when I return. Hopefully the Swifts will still be around. Up to 10 were seen and heard most evenings, some low over our
garden which is always brilliant to see. Otherwise a bit further afield for a concerning Woodcock survey (see below) and a couple of dog walks.
Sunday 24 June. A
walk around Mill Hill with Megan and Cookie produced single Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat and 20+ Marbled Whites. Later I took Cookie to
the Adur for a low tide visit seeing 2 Little
Egrets, 2 Oystercatchers and a
first-summer Mediterranean Gull.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOoNhUSp1TmvfFJ44gamlFnbnWGdBv-hqI4mqUyHOjsVaGfCrF7b0IMLkyp7AGJXMXnEWn3KQ1_zAtttvwK3Em8PeAju-A47kcvdCnrGNLTTD3cUVm0wdIOJGSKENc2M1vnHfdNDy/s400/19CR+front+lawn+24Jun18+IMG_4059.JPG) |
our front lawn |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5P4dDJjW7rynVVV_dtLOTFPpgIjbBw2HoXQwph7DBnDY5esryBql6Ob3A4F0pUhn3ilcmCO6zlbPjGsJDvu2817AdvhsZdANFhm8CeOuEtmpr-sGaFVXCmTnWJc2cU-s02a4n8_BC/s400/Great+Black-backed+Gull+Glebe+24Jun18+IMG_4050.JPG) |
Great Black-backed youngster, hardly a chick anymore |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCn6pcZJsEtmQHo2tCD1cLx2Hoe96xA3t_tK0B7urKEkddwv2pvpcnQMR39gssjHJDu8VCbGL5Xrd6YLNRO-qcbLD9TD_sf1xYFzltQRHsaRIRC6d9H5U0EQH1ifJqQZl_AevTOlf/s400/Mediterranean+Gull+Adur+24Jun18+IMG_5827.JPG) |
first-summer Mediterranean Gull on the Adur |
Friday 22 June. Megan
and I took Cookie for a walk along the South Downs Way from Ditchling Beacon towards
Blackcap. Lovely clear views and a nice bank of Pyrimidal Orchids. Birds were
about all one could expect – 3 Buzzards,
2 Sky Larks, 7 Meadow Pipits and 4 Yellowhammers.
Early evening I called in at Greatham seeing a silent Cuckoo, a single Lapwing (on a small amount of exposed mud), a Gadwall
family with 5 ducklings and 4 Reed
and a Sedge Warbler. A Cetti’s Warbler remained heard only as
did a Dartford Warbler and Tawny Owl at Lavington.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhzorx3IM8pvPr4O28qvjx8rYRbIz_7d2gw90NQYUs9FPjGLqHRptufi3dtf34z6zuDF8PLhSOjzZWJFo0xeu0iPzGfKMiWuPSJ52FAGVpIODbGZHyr1OsTtOP0zgCyzm5q3hcFfv/s640/Ditchling+Beacon-Blackcap+22Jun18+IMG_4027-30.jpg) |
South Downs Way |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBostnIbXp0q-Y1EgJpYUR9xnLNQV2ivq1ydSld_WZC6YeZa_uz6ICMAdVMGnlVGtcbfl3_BMXi8hCqGRkJztNbZdrlDwQDIT3luSQLVUDP4QPj32RhyphenhyphenyQ5MtbUkhTOeGlwtCJRLXc/s400/Great+Black-backed+Gull+Glebe+22Jun18+IMG_4037.JPG) |
growing Great Blck-backed Gulls |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbhTO9Pbxz6dX1TyawOQGmerbKuzAIEc37uMFpGso8mxSLJgPwQZV92zyOO4iGzsfAvsGAZ2M9WyYSoWsw-QBa7ahOLUNQkPuGEMunzFfjwuDilEw4YYD_ercFiPoiF2_N2mZO3ba/s400/Nightjar+Lavington+22Jun18+IMG_4039.JPG) |
Nightjar at Lavington |
Thursday 21 June.
Mistle Thrush on Southwick Green.