Back in Sussex, lacking enthusiasm (12-21 June)

Monday 21 June. We took Cookie to Brooklands for a change of scenery and to provide some shelter from the rain. A loose flock of 30 Swifts flew east soon after we arrived with 15-20 drifting west later. Young waterfowl were in evidence with 7 Mute Swan cygnets, many fully grown Mallard, 4 juvenile Moorhens and 5 juvenile Coot seen. Cetti's and Reed Warblers were heard with one of the latter glimpsed. Driving home 10-15 Swifts were seen over the Norfolk Bridge, they appeared to be flying NE.

juvenile Moorhen at Brooklands

Sunday 20 June. We walked around Shoreham Beach from Harbour Way back along the Adur to the Ferry Bridge then across to the boardwalk and back by the Fort. I saw Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstones, 4 adult and 2 baby Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 5 Goldfinches. In/over our garden were a Stock Dove and 5 Swifts.

Ringed Plover by Harbour Way

Turnstones from the Adur Ferry Bridge

Saturday 19 June. Megan and I took Cookie to Mill Hill seeing a Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, 9 Common Whitethroats, Mistle Thrush, 11 Goldfinches and Yellowhammer. Cetti's Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat were heard.

Yellowhammer at Mill Hill

Knapweed Broomrape on Mill Hill

thanks to Simon Linington for identifying it

Pyramidal Orchid on Mill Hill

Spotted Orchid near Mill Hill

Friday 18 June. I walked around Mill Hill with Cookie for an hour or so not quite managing to be in the wood during a couple of heavy showers. Twenty-five Swifts in 3 flocks flew NE and I saw a Lesser and 5 Common Whitethoats and 7 Linnets.  A singing Chiffchaff remained hidden although I only made a half-hearted attempt to see it..

singing Lesser Whitethroat on Mill Hill

Thursday 17 June. Megan and I took Cookie to the Adur. On our usual circuit we recorded Little Grebe, 3 Oystercatchers, Grey Heron, 4 Little Egrets, Cetti's and Reed Warblers and 4 Linnets. A Stock Dove visited the garden and 4 Swifts were seen in the evening.

Stock Dove in the garden

Wednesday 16 June. I took Cookie to West Mill and we walked out to the Downslink and back. I briefly heard a moderately close Turtle Dove on the way out and back but failed to see it, the path at this point was rather enclosed with few viewpoints. Four Nightingales were heard (more croaking than singing) and I saw two. Also seen were 2 Lapwings, Red Kite, 2 Buzzards, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Sky Larks, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Chiffchaffs, 4 Reed Warblers, Blackcap, 2 Lesser and 3 Common Whitethroats, 2 Meadow Pipits, 6 Linnets, Yelllowhammer and Reed Bunting.

Reed Bunting at West Mill

Reed Warbler at West Mill

Tuesday 15 June. Megan and I took Cookie to Wolstenbury. Superb views in lovely weather and a few expected orchids but little in the way of birds with Buzzard, Sky Lark and Meadow Pipit about it. 

orchid meadow at Wolstenbury

Greater Butterfly Orchid at Wolstenbury

Spotted Orchid

Twayblade

White Helleborine

same again?

Monday 14 June. I took Cookie to Knepp for a Turtle Dove fix and saw 2. They were probably different from the two I'd seen in May but neither was close to public paths dashing my hopes of taking reasonable photos. I heard a Cuckoo and 2 Nightingales. In three hours wandering around I also saw 3 Stock Doves, Buzzard, 4 Great Spotted and 2 Green Woodpeckers, 7 Jays, 4 Chiffchaffs, Garden Warbler, 2 Whitethroats, Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush and male Bullfinch. Eight Swifts were over our garden in the evening.

Jay at Knepp

Mistle Thrush at Knepp

Cookie meets a friend

distant Turtle Dove at Knepp

White Storks at Knepp

Sunday 13 June. I dropped Megan off at the Brighton Centre, where she was volunteering as a Covid Vaccination Steward, and took Cookie up to Devil's Dyke. We wandered around for an hour or so seeing 17 Sky Larks, 2 Whitethroats, Mistle Thrush, 12 Meadow Pipits, 9 Linnets and a Corn Bunting. I also heard a distant Quail singing intermittently. In the evening 5 Swifts flew over our garden.

SW from Devil's Dyke

Saturday 12 June. I took Cookie down to the Adur, walking a circuit down to the Norfolk Brdge, across Adur Rec and back by the airport and Old Toll Bridge. I saw an Oystercatcher, 2 Turnstones, a second-summer Mediterranean Gull, Grey Heron, 3 Little Egrets, 2 House Martins and single Reed Warbler and Whitethroat. In the evening 4 Swifts flew over our garden.

Mediterranean Gull on the Adur

Little Egret on the Adur

Cookie by the airport

Purple Poppies 

and White-tailed Bumblebee or something similar