Shoreham and Worthing (07-13 August)

Tuesday 13 August. As soon as the rain stopped I took Cookie up to Mill Hill. The calmest day for a while and my best visit this autumn although there had been a big clearout of Willow Warblers with just 4 seen. We also saw 6 Reed Warblers (possibly a site record for me), 2 Lesser and  23 Common Whitethroats, 9 Blackcaps and single Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, Peregrine, Buzzard, Long-tailed Tit and Swift. Back home one of the adult Great Black-backed Gulls was briefly on the roof opposite calling, it had not completely given up on its youngster yet.

one of the Reed Warblers on Mill Hill

a more showy individual

Lesser Whitethroat at Mill Hill

Magpie showing its iridescent blue feathers

Painted Lady on Mill Hill

I've not seen many this autumn but those I have are the brightest I can remember ever seeing, superb.

Monday 12 August. One of the adult Great Black-backed Gulls was on the roof opposite calling when Megan and I took Cookie up to Mill Hill. It was still there when we returned but had moved on by lunchtime. There had been a decent fall of Willow Warblers at Mill Hill, we saw 31 and also 21 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps and a Swift. At low tide we visited the Adur between heavy downpours seeing another 2 Willow Warblers, the Whimbrel (the only wader) and 110 House Sparrows.

high tide from Mill Hill

still not quite given up on their youngster, a sad end to over three months of effort

threatening skies over Lancing College

part of a large sparrow flock

Sunday 11 August. The two adult Great Black-backed Gulls were on the roof opposite calling throughout the day and often looking down into the garden below. There was no sign of the youngster and I can only assume it was blown from the roof in the gales during the night and perished. Very sad. Megan and I took Cookie to Brooklands where our most interesting sighting was a highly mobile tit flock (6+ Long-tailed, 10+ Great and 8+ Blue). 

adult Great Black-backed Gulls calling for their youngster

to no avail

Saturday 10 August. I seawatched at Widewater from 06:30-08:00 and was rewarded with a rather distant Balearic Shearwater flying west. Otherwise just 5 Gannets, 2 Kittiwakes, a Sandwich Tern and a Swift were seen. Later Megan and I took Cookie to Rackham in the hope of finding some shelter. Sheltered it mainly was but hardly any birds were seen with 3 Kestrels best (by far). The young Great Black-backed Gull with at least one adult remained on the roof.

our not so young Great Black-backed Gull sheltering from 50mph winds

its come a long way in 45 days, since 26 June!

rough seas and gusts of over 50mph at Widewater

if anything it looked worse further east

Friday 09 August. Megan and I took Cookie to Mill Hill. It was quite breezy which kept small birds out of the way with 4 Whitethroats and single Blackcap and Willow Warbler seen. A Swift flew south and at one stage a Peregrine was having a punch-up with 2 Ravens before breaking off to continue flying lessons for its two youngsters. The young Great Black-backed Gull with at least one adult remained on the roof.

resting after yesterday's exertions?

juvenile Peregrine, my only decent shot out of about 50 taken. Bridge Cameras seem to struggle, at least when I'm using them

Thursday 08 August. Megan and I took Cookie to Brooklands but it was very quiet with a Common Sandpiper and Reed Warbler best and disappointingly no interesting gulls. Megan went on to see her dad in hospital while I took Cookie home via the Adur. This was even quieter with just 2 Little Egrets, and Oystercatcher and 2 Redshank. Scoping across to Lancing college added 6 Swifts, a Swallow and 5+ House Martins. The young Great Black-backed Gull remained on the roof, flapping vigorously for several minutes at dusk.

our young Great Black-backed Gull was a bit more energetic when I saw it today

Wednesday 07 August. I took Cookie up to Mill Hill where we saw 3 Peregrines engaged in acrobatics, 2 Kestrels, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard. On one occasion all were in the air at the same time which was impressive. Also 2 Swifts and a Jay but no small birds at all. We came home via the Adur where we saw single Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, a couple of  juvenile gulls and 4 House Martins over Lancing College. The young Great Black-backed Gull was still on the roof.

looking west from Mill Hill

one of three Peregrines over Mill Hill

not more juvenile gulls!

our young Great Black-backed Gull