West Sussex Downs and Heaths (25-30 June)

Wednesday 25 June. Nyman's Woods with Megan and Otis: Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, Blackcap, Nuthatch and Grey Wagtail.

Thursday 26 June. Milll Hill with Megan and Otis: Buzzard, 200 b, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat.

Friday 27 June. Mile Oak-South Downs Way-Truleigh Hill-Thundersbarrow-Southwick Hill-Mile Oak with Otis: 9 Swifts, 3 Red Kites, 3 Buzzards, Kestrel, 3 Ravens, 16 Skylark, 6 Swallows, 13 Whitethroats, male Stonechat, 4 Meadow Pipits, male Chaffinch, 11 Linnets, 9 Goldfinches, 29 Corn Buntings, 2 male Yellowhammers and the male Cirl Bunting.

Cirl Bunting at Mile Oak

Corn Bunting near the South Downs Way

Red Kite at Truleigh Hill

Saturday 28 June. Lancing Ring and Steepdown with Megan and Otis: 14 Swifts, Buzzard, 11 Skylark, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Meadow Pipits and 22 Corn Buntings. Failed to properly record Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts Glastonbury set missing the first half hour although what I saw was very good (especially Like a Hurricane and the Rocking in the Free World/Throw Your Hatred Down encore)

Corn Bunting on Steepdown

Sunday 29 June. Worthing Beach with Megan and Otis: 2 Sandwich Terns. Lavington Common/Plantation mostly with AW (who recognised me from a meeting in Nepal in 1982!!): 4 Nightjars, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers heard, 3 Dartford Warblers heard, 3 Stonechats and 2 Tree Pipits. Heyshott Common: Nightjar. Slept in the car, a bit uncomfortable and glad I had a blanket.

Monday 30 June. Ambersham Common 05:00-07:10:  Nightjar heard, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a heard, 7 Coal Tits, 6 Swallows, 9 Long-tailed Tits, several Chiffchaffs, 6 Dartford Warblers, 4 Stonechats, 2 Tree Pipits and a Yellowhammer. 

Heyshott Common 07:10-09:00: Green Woodpecker, 2 Hobbies, a Marsh and 2 Coal Tits, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Dartford Warblers heard, Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, 3 Stonechats, 2 Tree Pipits, Chaffinch, 4 Linnets and a Yellowhammer. Lavington Common/Plantation 09:15-11:15: Buzzard, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, 2 Dartford Warblers, Whitethroat, Treecreeper, 3 Stonechats and a Tree Pipit. 

early morning Dartford Warbler on Ambersham Common

early morning on Ambersham Common

Yellowhammer on Amblesham Common

Sussex (18-24 June)

Wednesday 18 June. Ashdown Forest with RP. Lama Farm 08:40-11:00: male Honey-Buzzard displaying, Goshawk with prey, Red Kite, 2 Buzzards, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Hobbies, 8 Swallows, Blackcap and Chiffchaff heard. Old Airfield: Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff heard, male Dartford Warbler and male and juvenile Stonechat. Old Lodge: Buzzard, 5 Coal Tits, 3 Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff heard, 4 Redstarts, 2 Chaffinches, male Bullfinch and Siskin.

Honey Buzzard over Ashdown Lama Farm (photo: Richard Phillips)

juvenile Redstart at Old Lodge

Thursday 19 June. Shoreham Harbour: male Eider in partial eclipse. Crown Road: 2 Swifts over our garden at dusk.

Friday 20 June. West Mill and Downslink with Otis: Red Kite, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, 2 Skylarks, 15 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Chiffchaffs, 5 Reed Warblers, Blackcap, 5 Whitethroats, Nuthatch heard, Greenfinch, 2 Goldfinches and 2 male Yellowhammers.

Roe Deer from the Downslink

Yellowhammer singing by West Mill Stream

another Yellowhammer

Saturday 21 June. Lancing Ring and Steepdown with Megan and Otis: 6 Skylarks, 2 Chiffchaffs, 7 Whitethroats, 2 Goldfinches and 13 Corn Buntings.

Corn Bunting at Steepdown

another Corn Bunting

Sunday 22 June. Brooklands with Megan and Otis: Black Swan, Swift, 45 Coot, 5 Little Grebes, Redshank, adult Mediterranean Gull, Grey Heron, Kestrel, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler and Whitethroat.

Mediterranean Gull at Brooklands

Monday 23 June. Adur/Saltings with Megan and Otis:2 Oystercatchers (their 3 chicks hidden in the saltmarsh), 3 Redshank, 2 Little Egrets, Skylark, Cetti's Warbler heard, Whitethroat and 3 Goldfinches. Crown Road: 2 Swifts over our garden at dusk.

Tuesday 24 June. Shoreham Harbour (East Arm and Kingston Beach) with Otis: male Eider. Crown Road: Swift over our garden.

Shoreham Harbour Eider now heavily into  eclipse plumage

Shoreham and nearby (07-17 June 2025)

Saturday 07 June. Shoreham Harbour east side with Megan and Otis: 2 Turnstones and a Linnet.

Sunday 08 June 2025. Beeding triangle with Otis: Stock Dove, Grey Heron, Red Kite, 4 Buzzards, Kestrel, 300 Rooks, 2 Ravens, 18 Skylarks, 2 Swallows, 4 Whitethroats, male and juvenile Stonechat, 10 Meadow Pipits, 3 Chaffinches, 8 Linnets, 6 Goldfinches and 4 Corn Buntings.

juvenile Stonechat along the Monarch's Way

Chaffinch at Truleigh Hill

Otis on Beeding Hill

Monday 09 June 2025. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: 3 Swifts, 4 Buzzards, Skylark, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Lesser and 4 Common Whitethroats, Song Thrush and 6 Goldfinches.

Tuesday 10 June 2025. Adur/Saltings with Otis: Greylag Goose, Grey Plover (returning white-headed individual?), 9 Turnstones, 2 Little Egrets and Pied Wagtail.

Turnstones on the Adur

Wednesday 11 June 2025. Marine Gardens seawatch, 07:20-09:00 with RP: Shoveler 8E, Gadwall 1E, Common Scoter 55E:6W, Oystercatcher 2E, Mediterranean Gull 2E, Sandwich Tern 14E:6W, Arctic Skua 1E (dark):1W (pale) and Gannet 18E. Brooklands with Megan and Otis: Black Swan, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Warblers and 2 Whitethroats.

Thursday 12 June 2025. Adur with Megan and Otis: 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings, 5 Turnstones, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Skylarks, Swallow, Cetti's Warbler heard, 2 Whitethroats, Meadow Pipit and 4 Goldfinches. Crown Road: 2 Swifts at dusk and Stock Dove.

Friday 13 June 2025. Adur/Cuckoos Corner with Otis: 3 Oystercatchers, Grey Heron, 5 Little Egrets, Stock Dove, Red Kite, Kestrel, 3 Skylarks, 20+ House Martins (still collecting mud), Cetti's, 2 Reed and a Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, 4 Linnet, 2 Goldfinches and 3 Reed Buntings. Woods Mill: Cuckoo, Turtle Dove, Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Cetti's Warbler heard, 3 Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Warblers, Nightingale heard and 2 Linnets.

Reed Bunting at Cuckoos Corner

Reed Warbler at Cuckoos Corner

Turtle Dove in poor light at Woods Mill

Monday 16 June 2025. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Kestrel, Skylark, 2 Chiffchaffs, Lesser and 5 Common Whitethroats (mostly heard), Song Thrush and 2 Linnets. Crown Road: 3 Swifts at dusk.

Tuesday 17 June 2025. Knepp South Section with Otis: Turtle Dove (flight view), 20+ introduced White Storks 2 Red Kites, 3 Buzzards, 2 juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Jays, 4 Chiffchaffs, female Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat heard, 6 Whitethroats, Nightingale heard croaking, Treecreeper and 2 Linnets.

juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker at Knepp

White Stork nest at Knepp

Garden Warbler at Knepp

St Valery-sur-Somme 01-06 June 2025

The best part of a week away with Megan staying in a mobile home at Drancourt, just outside St. Valery-sur-Somme, was our first visit since 2022, eighth in total but only the second in Spring. It was nice to see some birds that are now decidedly scarce at home but the avian highlight was very frustrating - dreadful views of an almost unnoticed Collared/Oriental Pratincole.

Sunday 01 June. We caught the morning ferry from Newhaven saw very little on the crossing and were at Drancourt by 4pm. As we were arriving a long-winged flappy raptor flew over the nearby wood. Walking around the campsite produced Cuckoo (heard), White Stork, Mistle Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher and Yellowhammer but my hopes of Crested Tit (and Red Squirrel) were dashed as the thick line of pines I'd regularly seen them in had been seriously thinned out. 

no dodgy White Storks here

Monday 02 June. St Valery (Drancourt & Estreboeuf). Birds recorded around Drancourt and on a circular walk through local woods and meadows included Cuckoo (heard), 4 Spoonbills, Great Egret, Honey Buzzard (male over the campsite), Marsh Harrier, Hobby, 3 Jays, 35 House Martins, 2 Melodious Warblers, 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 15 Chaffinches, 2 Hawfinches, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and a male Cirl Bunting.

Melodious Warbler at Drancourt

male Honey-Buzzard over the campsite

could have done with a faster shutter speed

but still my best every images of the species by a long way

presumed Scarce Chaser at Estreboeuf

Tuesday 03 June. St Valery and Marquenterre: 10 Pochard, Cuckoo (heard), 10 Black-necked Grebes, 14 Black-winged Stilts, 80 Avocets, 20 Lapwing, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Mediterranean Gulls, 25 White Storks, 90 Spoonbills, 5 Great and 15 Cattle Egrets, Hobby, Crested Tit (Marquenterre car park pines while waiting for the reserve to open - not until 10am), Willow, 3 Sedge, 4 Melodious and 3 Garden Warblers, Spotted Flycatcher, 2-3 Nightingales (heard), and 2 'Channel' and 4 White Wagtails.

Melodious Warbler at Drancourt

'Channel' Wagtail at Drancourt

Cattle Egret at Marquenterre

Black-tailed Godwits at Marquenterre

Bee Orchid at Marquenterre

Black-necked Grebe at Marquenterre

Tree Frog at Marquenterre

breeding White Storks at Marquenterre

Wednesday 04 June. St Valery & Brighton/Le Hourdel circuit: 45 Swifts, 2 Turtle Doves (one seen and another heard), 4 Sanderling, 12 Sandwich Terns, 12 Spoonbills, Great Egret, Green Woodpecker, a Sand Martin, 3 Melodious Warblers, 4 Nightingales (2 seen and 2 heard), Black Redstart, male and female Stonechat, 4 'Channel' Wagtails, 2 Corn and the male Cirl Bunting.

Hare at Drancourt

Melodious Warbler at Drancourt

Cirl Bunting at Drancourt

Le Hourdel's famous WW2 Bunker

Spoonbills near Le Hourdel

'Channel' Wagtail at Drancourt

Thursday 05 June. St Valery, Le Treport & Hable d'Ault. With an unsettled forecast we decided to visit Le Treport. We parked above the town, took the funicular and walked along to Mers-les-Bains. Returning to the car the weather deteriorated and rather than walking west along the coast we decided return via Cayeux-sur-Mer and have a short walk there. I persuaded Megan to visit Hable d'Ault so I could look at the roadside pools but the road was worse than we remembered and we stopped at the monument and walked the km to the largest pool. It started spitting on the way and Megan decided to return to the car. I continued, on a bit of a fools errand as I'd left my travel telescope in the mobile home. Through binoculars I could see Avocets, 5 Little Gulls and what appeared to be smaller waders on the pool's opposite bank. I took some photos of the first 'wader' which zooming in on the image was actually a rock! I fairly randomly took photos of the shoreline and some appeared to have birds in them. By now it was raining and a quick review of the images included a thin horizontal bird with its head turned away that looked quite interesting. I took a couple more photos of it before hurrying back to the car. Back in the mobile home I checked images on a laptop. The last two with head turned showed it was definitely a pratincole but were too poor to show any red on the bill or whether the wings or tail were longest. Other birds recorded included Common Quail (heard in fields at Drancourt), 10 Lapwings, 3 Fulmars, Cattle Egret, Honey-Buzzard (at Drancourt, likely the same as on 2nd), 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Melodious Warbler, Black Redstart and Cirl Bunting (heard at Drancourt).

Funicular heading down

approaching Le Treport

Mers-les-Bains seafront

Little Gulls and a dark looking Redshank on the roadside pool at Hable d'Ault

Ringed Plovers in the background too

pratincole at Hable d'Ault

back home checking all my Hable d'Ault images carefully I found the pratincole wasn't in an earlier shot of shore where it was photographed. I then noticed what looked like a bird in one of the images in between (middle left above) ... 

zooming in showed it to be the pratincole with red/orange on the underwing. Pratincole sp. became Collared/Oriental but I couldn't stretch it any further. I submitted the record to eBird but subsequent checking revealed it wasn't on an eBird list for there on 8th. I've since learned that a Collared Pratincole was later seen at this site and checking back with eBird there are photos of it taken here on 10th June with comment that it had been seen there on the 9th by 'a local birder'

Friday 06 June. Drancourt & Dieppe. A last look around the campsite at Drancourt before returning to Dieppe and a very uneventful crossing to Newhaven. Birds seen included 2 of the Melodious Warblers, Spotted Flycatcher, Black Redstart and the male Cirl Bunting.

one of the Melodious Warbler still singing at Drancourt

Seven Sisters and Beachy Head

Birling to Beachy Head