Around Shoreham and a visit to Knepp (06-12 July)

Monday 12 July. Megan, Cookie and I walked our usual circuit around the Adur seeing 5 Oystercatchers, Lapwing, Whimbrel (north of the railway), 4 Turnstones, 2 Redshank, Greenshank (in the houseboat channel), 11 Great and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 7 Little Egrets and 2 Meadow Pipits. 

juvenile Black-headed Gull on the Adur

Whimbrel on the Adur

Sunday 11 July. I took Cookie to Knepp where we spent 3.5 hours in the south section. It was rather quiet although I did see a single Turtle Dove, my first Little Owl since early 2019 and a Purple Emperor. Three Buzzards, 3 Green Woodpeckers, a Chiffchaff and 4 Whitethroats were also seen with others and several Blackcaps heard.

Turtle Dove at Knepp

I've had the impression on this and previous visits that there are fewer Turtle Doves at Knepp this year. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Little Owl at Knepp

one of the few UK introductions that I am always pleased to see

camera shy

free-flying White Stork at Knepp

another White Stork

camera fodder

one of several active nests at Knepp

Comma at Knepp

Saturday 10 July. Megan, Cookie and I walked our usual circuit around the Adur noting 5 Oystercatchers, 27 Turnstones, Common Sandpiper, 40 Black-headed Gulls, Cetti's (heard) and Reed Warblers and 2 Whitethroats.

Turnstone on the Adur

this was the only one (out of 27) to be in good plumage

Friday 09 July. Cookie and I walked up the River Adur from Cuckoo's Corner to Dacre Gardens and back. Recent no entry signs along the best section of Ladywell Stream make it a less enjoyable and productive walk than it used to be, being restricted to walking along the river bank for much of it. Despite this I recorded 41 species in just over 2.5 hours. Highlights were 6 Swifts, 13 Little Egrets, Buzzard, 5 Kestrels, Peregrine, 2 Ravens, 5 Sky Larks, 2 Sand Martins (my first locally this year), single Swallow and House Martin, 2 Sedge and 5 Reed Warblers, 8 Whitethroat, 2 Stonechats and 10 Reed Buntings. As we were walking back a seal swam/drifted upriver as the tide came in.

Kestrel near Cuckoo's Corner

juvenile Little Egret near Cuckoo's Corner

Ravens near Dacre Gardens

Reed Bunting near Cuckoo's Corner

Lancing Ring and Steepdown from Mill Hill

Thursday 08 July. Megan and I took Cookie to Mill Hill where we saw 4 Swifts, Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, Sky Lark, Lesser and Common Whitethroats and 6 Goldfinches while the Yellowhammer was heard.

Buzzard over Mill Hill

Wednesday 07 July. Cookie and I spend 3.5 hours walking from the Lancing Ring car park across to Coombes and back via Steepdown. Highlights were a Hobby flying south just after Cow Bottom and a Quail calling between Coombe Head and Steepdown. Also of note were 7 Swifts, 5 Stock Doves, 4 Buzzards, 33 Sky Larks, 9 Swallows, 13 Whitethroats, 2 Stonechat families, 45 Linnets and 11 Corn Buntings.

Corn Bunting at Cow Bottom

difficult to tell if what it had in its mouth was part of the caterpillar trying to escape over its head?

juvenile Stonechat at Cow Bottom

Swallow and Goldfinch at Cow Bottom nursery

distant Hare near Coombe Head

Linnet on Steepdown

Stonechat at Steepdown

Meadow Pipit at Steepdown

SE from Steepdown

Coombe Head from Steepdown

Tuesday 06 July. In strong SW winds I seawatched at Widewater from 07:15-09:00. A Black-headed Gull, 4 Sandwich Terns and 3 Gannets flew east while 8 Gannets went west. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was on the sea with 8 Great Black-backs and 10 Herring Gulls offshore. I met Megan and Cookie at Harbour Way where there were 3 Sandwich Terns and we walked back to the Adur Ferry Bridge from which 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Little Egrets were visible at high tide. A Rock Pipit was seen at the Fort with 4 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and at least one juvenile with the Herring Gulls on the roof opposite Harbour Way.

rough seas at Shoreham Harbour

Rock Pipit on Shoreham Harbour