Beachy and Shoreham (23-26 September)

Saturday 26 September. I woke early and as much for a change of scenery as with any great expectations drove to Birling arriving at 07:00. The NW wind was stronger than expected which didn't bode well. I wandered around until 16:00 visiting Michell Dene, Cliff Path, Frances Bottom, Cow Gap, Whitbread Hollow, the Rides, Hotel Garden, Shooter's Bottom, Bulling Dene and Crowlink. I saw Marsh Harrier, 5 Sparrowhawks, 2 Buzzards, 4 Green Woodpeckers, Peregrine, 45 Swallows, 115 House Martins, 16 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, 56 Stonechats, 16 Wheatears, 14 Pied Wagtails, 450 Meadow Pipits and 62 Siskins.

Wheatear at Birling

Chiffchaff at Birling

Peregrine at Beachy

female Common Darter at Beachy (thanks to DB for ID)

Marsh Harrier at Beachy

Stonechat a Beachy

one of 56 seen today, my highest day count ever

Wheatear at Beachy

Wheatear at Crowlink

Friday 25 September. I took Cookie to various sites around Shoreham seeing 29 Turnstones, 3 Sandwich Terns, a juvenile Shag, 2 Kingfishers and a Rock Pipit around the Fort, Chffchaff, 12 Pied Wagtails and a heard only Siskin by Adur Rec and 34 Ringed Plovers on the river opposite the airport. Small flocks of Meadow Pipits, totalling 16 came in off the sea at the Fort and Widewater.

Kingfisher on the inner jetty at Shoreham Harbour

juvenile Sandwich Tern in Shoreham Harbour, 2 adults were present nearby

juvenile Shag in Shoreham Harbour

Thursday 24 September. After a miserable day a low tide visit to the Adur was all I managed. It produced 17 Ringed Plover and 200 Herring Gulls including G2JT.

North Thames Herring Gull G2JT roosting on the Adur opposite Ricardos

It was ringed in its first calendar year at Pitsea Tip in Essex in November 2014. In 2015 it was recorded at Shoreham Harbour in January, Pitsea again and then Beddingham SF in Surrey in October and on the Adur then Beddingham in November. In 2016 it was seen again at Beddingham in January and Pitsea in February. It was at the Thames Barrier Park in August 2017 and on the Adur in December 2019 and January 2020

Wednesday 23 September. Megan and I took Cookie to Lancing Ring and walked around Steepdown. We saw 30 Sky Larks, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 17 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, a Whitethroat, 3 Swallows, 2 male Stonechats, 19 Meadow Pipits and 45 Corn Buntings.

Corn Bunting at Steepdown