Mid-summer blues (22-31 July)

Saturday 22 July. A Whimbrel was the only bird of note seen on the Adur.

Sunday 23 July. Megan, Nessa, Cookie and I visited Petworth where we saw Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch and some 'Elmers'.

Cookie, Nessa, Megan and Elmer at Petworth

Turner-inspired Elmer

Monet-inspired Elmer

Monday 24 July. Megan and I took Cookie to the Adur where we saw single Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper and 3 Little Egrets.

Little Egret on the Adur

Peacock by the Adur

Tuesday 25 July. Cookie and I visited the Adur seeing 2 Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpipers, 9 Little Egrets and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. Walking up to Cuckoos Corner on the east side of the river, the west side still being closed, added 15 House Martins, 4 Whitethroats and a singing Greenfinch.

Whimbrel on the Adur

juvenile Yellow-legged Gull on the Adur

Greenfinch near Cuckoo's Corner

Wednesday 26 July. We took Cookie to Lancing Ring and walked around Steepdown seeing Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Raven, 5 Skylarks, a flock of at least 8 Whitethroats and 5 Corn Buntings.

Corn Bunting at Steepdown

harvesting underway

Thursday 27 July. Megan and I took Cookie to a wet and windswept Adur where we saw a Whimbrel but little else. It was still there on a dryer visit at low tide with 5 Little Egrets. 

Whimbrel on the Adur

Friday 28 July. I took Cookie to the Adur and between the railway and Cuckoo's Corner we saw 5 Swifts, 2 Whimbrel, 4 Common Sandpipers, an adult/near-adult Yellow-legged Gull, 10 Little Egrets and 6 House Martins.

Yellow-legged Gull on the Adur

Saturday 29 July. A visit to Mill Hill with Megan and Cookie produced 46 Swifts (my highest count this year), Buzzard and a Lesser and 5 Common Whitethroats.

Sunday 30 July. Megan and I took Cookie to Harbour Way and walked our usual circuit along Sussex Wharf to the Adur Ferry Bridge and back along the Boardwalk to the Fort. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull flew west and amongst the gulls on the beach at the Fort was a juvenile Yellow-legged with my first returning Turnstones (3) nearby.

Monday 31 July. At least 12 Swifts over a wet Brooklands as we returned from Worthing.