West Sussex and my first local Red-backed Shrike (25-31 August)

Friday 25 August. Beeding Hill triangle 08:15-13:15 with David Buckingham and Cookie: Stock Dove 3, Sparrowhawk 1, Buzzard 3, Green Woodpecker 1, Kestrel 2, Hobby 1E (Room Bottom), Raven 1, Skylark 1, Swallow 110, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 3, Garden Warbler 1 (Truleigh Hill), Whitethroat 4, Spotted Flycatcher 3 (Beeding Hill), Redstart 4 (Room Bottom/Beeding Hill), Whinchat 5 (Monarch's Way), Wheatear 22, Yellow Wagtail 3 (others heard), Meadow Pipit 9, Chaffinch 1, Bullfinch 1 (heard), Linnet 11, Goldfinch 29, Yellowhammer 1.

Redstart on Beeding Hill

                              

Saturday 26 August. Mill Hill 06:35-11:20, second half with Megan and Cookie: Sparrowhawk 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Kestrel 1, Peregrine 1 (on chimney), Swallow  4, Long-tailed Tit 3, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 4, Reed Warbler 2, Blackcap 8, Garden Warbler 1, Whitethroat 15, Redstart 2, Tree Pipit 1, Linnet 6, Goldfinch 25.

Garden Warbler on Mill Hill

rain heading our way

Sunday 27 August. Cissbury with Megan and Cookie: Sparrowhawk 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Sand Martin 2W, Long-tailed Tit 3, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 2, Whitethroat 5, Spotted Flycatcher 3, Stonechat 2, Wheatear 2, Goldfinch 40. Mill Hill: Sparrowhawk 1, Marsh Harrier 1 juvenile S, Buzzard 1, Red-backed Shrike 1 juvenile, Swallow 20, Blackcap 1, Whitethroat 3, Redstart 1, Chaffinch 1.

Spotted Flycatcher at Cissbury

juvenile Red-backed Shrike on Mill Hill (found by Andy Ward) 

a new local bird for me

downy feathers on its crown doing little for its image

Chaffinch on Mill Hill

Long-tailed Wood Mouse on Mill Hill

Monday 28 August. Goring Gap with Megan and Cookie: Turnstone 1, Sandwich Tern 4W, Swallow 3W.

Tuesday 29 August. A day out in West Sussex with David Buckingham - Thorney Deeps: Black-tailed Godwit 100+, Knot 2, Common Sandpiper 1, Greenshank 7, Common Tern 3, Cattle Egret 6, Great Egret 1, Osprey 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Marsh Harrier 2, Buzzard 3, Kingfisher 1, Bearded Reedling heard + poor flight view, Sand Martin 6, Swallow 150+, Cetti's Warbler heard, Reed Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Wheatear 1, Yellow Wagtail 10+, Grey Wagtail 1. Sidleshan Ferry: Avocet 2, Black-tailed Godwit 6, Common Sandpiper 1, Spotted Redshank 3, Whinchat 2. Pulborough RSPB: Lapwing 59, Ruff 4, Green Sandpiper 2, Greenshank 1, Sand Martin 2, Redstart 1.

one of 6 Cattle Egrets seen at Thorney

Migrant Hawker at Pulborough

Wednesday 30 August. Mill Hill with Megan and Cookie: Buzzard 1, Swallow 1N, House Martin 30N, Blackcap 1, Whitethroat 3, Whinchat 1, Stonechat 1. No sign for us of the Red-backed Shrike but it was seen later.

Stonechat at Mill Hill

Whinchat at Mill Hill

Thursday 31 August. Widewater 06:50-08:50 in very light W winds: Mute Swan pair with 9 cygnets, Ringed Plover 1W, Bar-tailed Godwit 16E?, Turnstone 2W, Common Sandpiper 1, Sandwich Tern 2E, Gannet 54E:18W, Swallow 3E, Chiffchaff 1, Wheatear 2. Adur 09:10-10: 30 with Megan and Cookie: Ringed Plover 50+, Dunlin 4, Kingfisher 1, Pied Wagtail 19, Meadow Pipit 3.

Wheatear, with grub, on the beach at Widewater