Sussex doldrums (11-27 July)

Saturday 27 July. A visit to the Adur in poor weather produced 3 Little Egrets, 4 Oystercatchers, a Whimbrel and 2 returning Turnstones. At home the now almost fully grown young Great Black-backed Gull was on its roof, as it had been all week, always with one parent in attendance, sometimes with both.

young Great Black-backed Gull learning that sticks are not good to eat

Friday 26 July. Megan and I took Cookie to Mill Hill where I saw 2 Reed Warblers, my first 'returning' warblers of the autumn. Also 17 Whitethroats (more than usual), 2 Blackcaps, a Green Woodpecker and a juvenile Bullfinch.

Reed Warbler at Mill Hill, always nice to see acros in bushes

Whitethroat at Mill Hill

Thursday 25 July. I cycled over to Worthing calling in at Brooklands on the way where a juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull was my first of the season. On the way back 3 Redshanks were visible in the creek by the Adur Houseboats. Later Megan and I took Cookie around Buckingham Park where a Mistle Thrush was the only bird of note.

Widewater car park completely full, although some cars could have closer. Unfortunately due to the warmest day of the year rather than a new bird for Britain 

juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull at Brooklands

hot on the roof

Wednesday 24 July. I took Cookie to Brooklands seeing 2 Grey Herons, Stock Dove, 2 Common Sandpipers, 5 Swifts, Green Woodpecker, single House Martin, Reed Warbler (and others heard) and a distant probable juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. On the way home was called in at the Adur seeing 4 Stock Doves, 4 Oystercatchers, 6 Mediterranean and another distant probable juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. Three of the Mediterranean Gulls were juveniles which was nice, they are also easy to identify!

three Mediterranean and a Black-headed Gull on the Adur

zooming in on the adults

the other three Mediterranean Gulls with another Black-headed

juvenile Great Black-backed Gull

Tuesday 23 July. I took Cookie to West Mill where a vocal Turtle Dove was the highlight (at least for me). We also saw Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, 2 Whitethroats, a Greenfinch, 2 Bullfinches, 2 Yellowhammers and 2 Reed Buntings. 

Turtle Dove at West Mill

Yellowhammer on the levels

juvenile Great Black-backed Gull starting to look mean

Monday 22 July. Megan and I took Cookie along the beach to Lancing but didn't quite make it to Brooklands. As expected we saw very little, single Sandwich Tern east and adult Mediterranean Gull SW. Later a Sparrowhawk flew over th eOld Shoreham Road in Southwick.

juvenile Great Black-backed Gull resting

Sunday 21 July. I took Cookie to the Adur and up to Cuckoo's Corner. We saw 2 Little Egrets, 2 Oystercatchers, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull flying south down the river, 3 Swifts and 20 House Martins over Lancing College and a Whitethroat. Reed Warblers and Buntings seem to have stopped singing now.

Great Black-backed Gull family

Saturday 20 July. Megan and I took Cookie up to Mill Hill where we saw Buzzard, 5 Swifts, Peregrine, 2 Whitethoats, male Bullfinch and Yellowhammer. We heard a Sky Lark singing for most of the time we were there but failed to see it as is often the case there.

Yellowhammer on Mill Hill

juvenile Great Black-backed Gull resting

Friday 19 July. A walk along Worthing seafront in poor weather produced the first fledged juvenile Great Black-back Gull I've seen this year and a lot of young Herring Gulls but nothing that stood out amongst them.

juvenile Great Black-backed Gull off Worthing seafront

ours still has a long way to go