Staying local (16-30 August)

Friday 16 August. Beeding Hill triangle with Otis, 08:45-12:45: 6 Buzzards, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrels, 2 Ravens, 20 Swallows, 5 Whitethroats, Redstart, 10 Wheatears, 12 Meadow Pipits, 60 Linnets, 17 Goldfinches and 4 Corn Buntings. Town Quay mid afternoon: Redshank, juvenile Sandwich Tern and first-summer Great Norther Diver. Megan and I took Otis to the Adur early evening: 2 Whimbrel.

Raven above Room Bottom

Great Northern Diver at Town Quay

my first anywhere in August, no longer the only month I'd not seen one

under the Norfolk Bridge but light still unhelpful

a restored ex-Luftwaffe North American Rockwell OV-18 Bronco

designed as a light attack and observation aircraft the Bronco served from Vietnam to Desert Storm

Saturday 17 August. Lancing Ring with Megan and Otis: Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Swallow, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, Chaffinch, 40 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches and 15 House Sparrows. Megan and I took Otis to the Adur early evening to see if any more Eastbourne Airbourne planes were overnighting: Whimbrel and Black-tailed Godwit.

Black-tailed Godwit on the Adur

photo reconnaissance Supermarine Spitfire XI PL963 saw action in 1945

two-seater Supermarine Spitfire IX PV202 started life in 1944 as a single seater but was converted to a two-seat trainer and served in Irish Airforce from 1951-60

Bristol Blenheim YPQ (L6739) entered service in September 1939 as a night-fighter for a year before being scrapped. After an eleven year restoration involving 25,000 man hours work it flew again in 2014. It is the only Blenheim out of 1089 made that still flies.

Sunday 18 August. Beeding Hill triangle with Otis, 08:50-12:30: 2 Stock Doves, Red Kite, 3 Buzzards, 4 Kestrels, Peregrine, 2 Ravens, Skylark, 35 Swallows, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Lesser and 5 Common Whitethroats, 4 Wheatears, 40 Linnets, 6 Goldfinches and 4 Corn Buntings. New Monks Park early evening: Water Rail (heard), 2 Barn Owls, Kestrel and Swift. 

Wheatear along the Monarch's Way

sunset from New Monks Park

Barn Owl at New Monks Park

Monday 19 August. Mill Hill 06:25-11:00 (with Megan and Otis from 09:30): Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzards, 2 Green Woodpeckers, Kestrel, adult Hobby, 8 Swallows, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers, Blackcap, 12 Whitethroats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, Tree Pipit, 2 Linnets and 4 Goldfinches.

Spotted Flycatcher on Mill Hill

Wednesday 21 August. Mile Oak-Perching Hill-Truleigh Hill-Southwick Hill: Red Kite, 2 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, 15 Swallows, 4 House Martins, Whitethroat, 3 Stonechats, 2 Wheatears, 70 Linnets and 2 Goldfinches. No sign of the Cirl Bunting but I only gave it 15 minutes.

Wheatear at Perching Hill

Friday 23 August. Beeding Hill triangle with Otis, 09:30-13:05: 3 Stock Doves, 2 Buzzards, 5 Kestrels, Chiffchaff, Redstart (heard), 3 Wheatears, 40 Meadow Pipits, Yellow Wagtail, 20 Linnets, 65 Goldfinches and a Corn Bunting. 

Wiston Wildfires festival from Beeding Hill

Saturday 24 August. Adur with Meegan and Otis: 42 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, 20 Redshank and a Greenshank (Town Quay).

Monday 26 August. Mill Hill: Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Chiffchaffs, 5 Willow Warblers, Blackcap, 5 Whitethroats and 8 Goldfinches.

Long-tailed Tits on Mill Hill

Tuesday 27 August. Beeding Hill triangle with David Buckingham and Otis, 08:00-12:15: 2 Sparrowhawks, Red Kite, 3 Buzzards, 2 Kestrel, Skylark, 11 Swallows, 11 Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, 3 Whitethroats, 17 Whinchats, Stonechat, 3 Wheatears, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Meadow Pipits, 30 Goldfinches and 2 Corn Buntings.

Wheatear along the Monarch's Way

Brown Argus near Truleigh Hill

Sparrowhawk near Truleigh Hill

Whinchat near Room Bottom

Wednesday 28 August. Mile Oak/Southwick Hill/Thundersbarrow/Monarch's Way Valley with Otis, 09:00-12:45: 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, 50 Swallows, 3 House Martins, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, 20 Whitethroats, 6 Whinchats, 2 Stonechats, Wheatear, Chaffinch, 40 Linnets, 14 Goldfinches and a Corn Bunting.

Thursday 29 August. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: 4 Buzzards, Kestrel, 8 Swallows, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers, Blackcap, 2 Whitethroats, Linnet and 4 Goldfinches.

Friday 30 August. Mill Hill with Otis, 08:30-11:20: 2 Buzzards, Kestrel, Jay heard, 20+ Swallows, 4 House Martins, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Chiffchaffs, 10+ Willow Warblers, 10+ Blackcaps, 2 Lesser and 18 Common Whitethroats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, Wheatear, Greenfinch and 5 Goldfinches.

Spotted Flycatcher on Mill Hill

Willow Warblers on Mill Hill