Shoreham, South Downs and New Forest (30 May-06 June)

Sunday 06 June. I took Cookie to Cuckoos Corner and we walked up towards Dacre Gardens. I saw 3 Grey Herons, 3 Sky Larks (including one singing in and over a bean field) House Martin, 4 each of Sedge and Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroats and 3 Reed Buntings. It seemed a reasonable return as one is no longer being able to walk due north all the way along the reedy ditch. After lunch I left for Redcar to stay with Nick Preston for a few days.

Sedge Warbler at Cuckoos Corner

Reed Bunting at Cuckoos Corner

Saturday 05 June. Megan and I took Cookie to Lancing Ring and Steepdown where we saw 13 Sly Larks, 10 Whitethroats, Stonechat, 5 Meadow Pipits, 6 Linnets and 5 Corn Buntings. In the evening 7 Swifts were seen over the garden.

Stonechat on Steepdown

Meadow Pipit on Steepdown

Corn Bunting on Steepdown

birthday reading from Nessa and Josh

Friday 04 June. A damp morning visit to the Adur with Cookie produced 2 Oystercatchers, a single Ringed Plover and 18 Turnstones.

Turnstone on the Adur

 

Thursday 03 June. An enjoyable day in the New Forest with great company (David Buckingham and John King). Highlights for me were Cuckoo, displaying Honey Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 2 Hobbys, Raven, 4 Firecrests, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, Tree Pipit, 3 Bullfinches, 4 Crossbills and 6 Siskin. Looking but failing to find a Wood Warbler in the New Forest for the first time was a major disappointment.

male Crossbill in the New Forest

Wednesday 02 June. Megan and I took Cookie to Buckingham Park where we saw a female Great Spotted Woodpecker visiting a nest hole and heard a Blackcap.

Tuesday 01 June. My second South Downs Farmland Monitioring visit, west of the Burgh, produced 3 Red-legged and 8 Grey Partridges, Cuckoo (heard only), 2 Stock Doves, 3 Lapwings, a southwards flying Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Red Kites, 3 Buzzards, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 8 Sky Larks, 6 Chffchaffs, 15 Whitethroats, 42 Blackbirds, Mistle Thrush, 23 Dunnocks, 5 Linnets, 24 Goldfinches and 3 Yellowhammers. I continued on to Amberley Wildbrooks which was disappointing (as usual). I encountered 2 Swifts, a Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, 6 Sky Larks, 2 Swallows, 3 House Martins, 5 Willow Warblers (a song I've missed locally), 3 Whitethroats, 6 Sedge and 2 Reed Warblers., 5 Stonechats, Meadow Pipit, 5 Linnets and 6 Reed Buntings. In the evening 2 Swifts were seen over the garden.

Hare and Sky Lark on the Downs

Red Kite

agitated Lapwing

it presumably had chicks in a field mostly hidden from me by a thick hedge

still not happy

time for me to leave

Broad-bodied Chaser on Amberley Wildbrooks

male Stonechat on Amberley Wildbrooks, three pairs were seen along the main track

Sedge Warbler on Amberley Wildbrooks

House Martins were collecting mud along the main track at Amberley Wildbrooks

Monday 31 May. Megan, Nessa, Cookie and I walked around Mill Hill. We saw 2 Red Kites, 2 Buzzards, Lesser and Common Whitethroats, 2 Linnets and 2-3 Yellowhammers and heard Chiffchaff and Blackcap. In the evening I visited Lavington for my second of three annual Woodcock surveys. I saw what was probably the same Woodcock, nice views but a poor showing for what seemed an ideal evening, although the midges were something else. In the 90 minutes before the survey and during it I saw 2 Nightjars (1-2 more heard), 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Coal Tits, Chiffchaff, Dartford Warbler, Treecreeper, 3 Stonechats, 3 Linnets and a Yellowhammer. Cuckoo and Tawny Owl were heard.

Adonis Blue on Mill Hill

distant Red Kites from Mill Hill

Yellowhammer at Mill Hill

autofocus distracted by midges

Sunday 30 May. A circuit of the Adur with Megan and Cookie produced 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Lesser and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, Grey Heron, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Sparrowhawks, Sky Lark, Swallow, 2 House Martins, 2 Reed Warblers, Whitethroat and 7 Goldfinches. In the evening a Swift was seen over the garden.

Sparrowhawk over the Adur