West Sussex (23-31 May)

Thursday 23 May. A walk around the Adur with Megan produced 2 Oystercatchers, 5 Tundra Ringed Plovers, Kestrel and Skylark. Sightings during an evening visit to Pulborough Brooks and Heath were Egyptian Goose, Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Nightjars,15+ Swifts, Cuckoo, 8 adult and 3 Avocet chicks, 6 adult and 3 fully-ground young Lapwings, Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Redshank, 2 Hobbies, Jay, 7+ Sand Martins, Cetti's and Garden Warblers and a Nightingale (heard). No Woodcock was a disappointment although one was seen over the heath by others, just not the area of the heath where I was.

Tundra Ringed Plover on the Adur, smaller and darker than those that bred locally and still do on reserves in the East and West of the County. The black band is particularly striking on this individual with its head down

size isn't easy to judge without direct comparison but Tunrda Ringed has been described as a Ringed Plover in a Little Ringed's body which this image sort of suggests

noisy Wren near the Dog's Trust

Friday 24 May. A morning walk down the stream at West Mill failed to produce Turtle Dove despite spending 3 hours in the area although that did include walking out to the Downslink . Birds seen included 2 Cuckoos, 4 Lapwings with a small chick, 2 Buzzards, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Reed Warblers, a distant Nightingale heard, my first Grey Wagtail of the year (!), poor views of 2 Bullfinches and 2 Greenfinches.

Grey Wagtail at Woods Mill

Saturday 25 May. Steepdown with Megan: Buzzard 3, Kestrel, Skylark 22, Whitethroat 2, Stonechat 3 (2 males), Linnet 2 and Corn Bunting 10. Evening return to West Mill: Cuckoo 1, Turtle Dove 3, Hobby 1, Cetti's Warbler 1 glimpsed and 1 heard. Crown Road: Swift 2 over at dusk, my first from home this year.

Corn Bunting on Steepdown

Skylark on Steepdown

Brown Hare near Steepdown

Turtle Dove(s) at West Mill

useful size comparison with Woodpigeon

Sunday 26 May. Shoreham Harbour east side with Megan. Eider 1 immature male, Raven 3, Linnet 3.

Spinney - painted since my last visit - and Gusty. Hopefully making the turbine arms more visible will reduce bird-strikes (a few years ago I found a guillotined Great Black-backed Gull on the beach below Spinney)

Eider supervising young swimmers on Kingston Beach

Wednesday 29 May. Cuckoos Corner, Coombes, Cowbottom and Lancing Hill. Grey Partridge 2, Buzzard 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Peregrine 2 (on Lancing College Chapel and the Cement Works Chimney at the same time), Skylark 7, House Martin 20+, Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 5, Whitethroat 7, Blackbird 22, Chaffinch, Greenfinch 3, Linnet 7, Goldfinch 6, Corn Bunting 2, Reed Bunting 4.

Reed Bunting at Cuckoos Corner

Sedge Warbler near Cuckoos Corner

Common Gull near Cuckoos Corner

Brown Hare

Painted Lady on Lancing Hill

Thursday 30 May. Shoreham Airfield/New Monks Farm road: Kestrel 1, House Martin 3, Cetti's Warbler 1, Reed Warbler.

Cetti's Warbler near Shoreham Airport

Friday 31 May. Beeding Hill triangle, dry but windy: Swift 16 N, Stock Dove 4, Buzzard 2, Peregrine, Raven 2, Skylark 26,Swallow 2, Meadow Pipit 8, Chaffinch, Greenfinch 2, Linnet 6, Goldfinch 5, Corn Bunting 2.

Raven on Beeding Hill

Meadow Pipit on Beeding Hill