Beachy, Pagham and Adur (15-20 August)

Thursday 20 August. I took Cookie up to Beeding Hill and we walked across to Thundersbarrow and back via Truleigh Hill. I saw Buzzard, 3 Kestrels, Peregrine, Raven, 20 Swallows, Chiffchaff, 9 Whitethroats, 6 Whinchats, 39 Wheatears and a Yellowhammer. Later from the Norfolk Bridge during a particularly high tide I saw my first returning Teal, Oystercatcher, 22 Lapwings, 4 Whimbrel, 36 Turnstones, at least 5 Common Sandpipers, 36 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 2 Sandwich Terns, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Kingfishers and 6 Pied Wagtails.

Wheatear on Beeding Hill

another Wheatear

more Wheatears

Whinchat on Beeding Hill

Peregrine over Beeding Hill

with unidentified prey

Adur Saltings at High Tide

Common Sandpiper

Greenshank with Redshank

the other Greenshank

Wednesday 19 August. A wet walk around Mill Hill with Cookie produced a single Whitethroat and an unseen singing Chiffchaff.

Tuesday 18 August. I went with David Buckingham to Pagham where we stayed until mid-afternoon visiting Sidlesham Ferry, Church Norton and the Severals and the North Wall. We saw 2 Grey Plover (one superb in full summer plumage), 3 Whimbrel, 99+ Curlew, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Sandpipers (3 on the Ferry Pool), 125+ Common and a Spotted Redshank (North Wall), 12 Greenshank (10 North Wall), 43 winter adult Mediterranean Gulls, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull (North Wall), 13 Sandwich Terns, at least 38 Cattle and 40 Little Egrets, 12 Grey Herons, 2 Great Spotted and a Green Woodpecker, 3 sightings of Peregrine, 120 Sand and 40 House Martins, a Cetti's and 3 Sedge Warblers, 3 Lesser and 5 Common Whitethroats, Redstart (Severals), 2 Whinchats, 3 Stonechats, 8 Wheatears and a fly-over Yellow Wagtail. Initially 6 Cattle and 32 Little Egrets were roosting on the island east of Owl Point, a disappointing number of the former by recent standards. While watching from a distance two flocks of 10-20 egrets flew in and landed out of sight behind the island. We approached and as they came into view about 30 Cattle Egrets flew out into the harbour, many disappearing into a channel. Five hadn't flown and retracing our steps the original 6 were still present making 11 around the island. In the harbour we could only see 23 egrets, some just heads, so walked around to Owl Point, hoping a raptor might fly over and flush them. No luck there but as the tide dropped the Cattle Egrets started flying back towards Halsey's Farm in ones and twos. We counted 26 (another seen over Owl Copse was possibly different) with 10 still visible on the saltmarsh. Returning to the North Wall 6 then another 6 left the saltmarsh bringing our total to 38 (or 39) including 3 juveniles. Apparently a county record although it is unlikely to stand for very long. We came home via Pulborough where scanning from the Hanger produced 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 36 Black-tailed Godwits, single Ruff and Dunlin, 8 Snipe and 4 Green and 2 Wood Sandpipers. We also heard a Tawny Owl. 

Wheatear on the beach at Church Norton

Monday 17 August. Megan and I took Cookie to Lancing Ring and Steepdown where we saw Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker, Raven, Sky Lark, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, a male Stonechat and 40 Corn Buntings.

Steepdown

Stonechat at Steepdown

Wall at Steepdown

Sunday 16 August. Between 06:10-13:20 I was at Beachy visiting Shooters Bottom, a particularly foggy Old Trapping Area (nearly wiping out a mad skateboarder on the way), Hotel Garden/Cliff Path/Cow Gap/Rides, Birling/Belle Tout and Michel Dean, the latter in pouring rain during a heavy thundery shower. I saw Buzzard, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Peregrine, Raven, 2 Sand Martins, 6 Swallows, 7 Willow and a Reed Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 12 Lesser and 57 Common Whitethroats, 5 Spotted Flycatchers (3 in the rides), Redstart, 22 Stonechats and a Tree Pipit. I also heard a Green Sandpiper (thanks to ADW, I can't rely on my hearing and had forgotten what they sounded like) and the 2 Nightingales in Shooters Bottom. A disappointing visit to be honest, not helped by solid traffic more than half-way back from Exceat Bridge to the Jevington turn-off. It took a record hour and 45 minutes to return home, arriving in still wet clothes to the news of 9 Curlew Sandpipers on the Cuckmere meanders.

Whitethroat in Shooters Bottom

distant sunlight

Wood Pigeon, the most exciting thing on Cow Gap beach

Saturday 15 August. A visit to Mill Hill with Megan and Cookie in damp and very dull conditions produced virtually nothing with just 7 Whitethroats seen.