Autumn is coming (01-12July)

Tuesday 01 July 2025. Adur (Saltings-Cuckoos Corner) with Otis: 6 Oystercatchers, 6 Lapwings, 51 mostly adult Mediterranean, 22 Great and 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Little Egrets, 2 Skylarks, 14 House Martins (collecting mud), Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit, 4 Linnets and singing Corn and Reed Buntings.

White-letter Hairstreak from the Norfolk Bridge

mostly Mediterranean Gulls on the Adur

Wednesday 02 July 2025. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: 2 Stock Doves, Skylark, 2 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, 3 Whitethroats, 6 Linnets and 7 Goldfinches. Crown Road: Stock Dove and 3 Swifts.

Thursday 03 July 2025. Boardwalk/Fort/Adur partly with Megan and Otis: 2 Oystercatchers, 22 Great and 8 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and a Linnet.

Grey Mullet at Harbour Way

Friday 04 July 2025. Adur-Cuckoos Corner with Otis: Stock Dove, 3 Oystercatchers, 5 Lapwings,100+ Black-headed, 14 mostly adult Mediterranean and 2 Common Gulls, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker (heard), Skylark (heard), 10+ House Martins, 2 Reed Warblers, Whitethroat, 2 Greenfinches, 3 Linnets and a Goldfinch.

Mediterranean (and Black-headed) Gulls on the Adur

Saturday 05 July 2025. Widewater with Otis, 06:50-08:30, moderate SW, clear. Teal 3W, Whimbrel 2W, Black-headed Gull 70W, Mediterranean Gull 40W (32 adults), Common Gull 1W, Lesser Black-backed Gull 5W (2 juveniles), 10 Great Black-backed and 40 Herring Gulls offshore, Sandwich Tern 4W and Gannet 8W.

juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull off Widewater

Mediterranean Gull off Widewater

Sunday 06 July 2025. Adur (Cuckoos Corner-Shoreham Beach) with Otis: 5 Oystercatchers, Whimbrel, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, Little Egret, 2 Kestrels, Whitethroat and 2 Linnets.

young Oystercatcher off Ship Street

Whimbrel on the Adur

Monday 07 July 2025. Buckingham Park with Otis: 14+ Blue Tits. Crown Road: Stock Dove.

Tuesday 08 July 2025. Beeding Hill triangle (Beeding Hill NT car park-Thundersbarrow-Truleigh Hill-Room Bottom), 08:30-13:00, with Otis: Stock Dove, Red Kite, 2 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, 16 Skylarks, Sand Martin, 5 Swallows, 3 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, 21 Whitethroats, a family of 5 Wrens, 2 Stonechats, 6 Meadow Pipits, Greenfinch, 8 Linnets, 5 Crossbills, 5 Goldfinches and 4 Corn Buntings. The Crossbills were flying low to the north calling over the Monarch’s Way opposite the Beeding Hill car park and included a red male. Virtually the first birds I saw on our walk and really pleasing.

female Stonechat on the Monarch's Way

Meadow Pipit at Truleigh Hill

Wednesday 09 July 2025. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: 2 Swifts, Green Woodpecker, Skylark, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler (always good to see a potential migrant in bushes), Blackcap, 6 Whitethroats and 4 Goldfinches.

Thursday 10 July 2025. Knepp south Section with Otis, 08:30-12:30: 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Red Kites, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, 4 Swallows, 2 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, male Grey Wagtail and 2 Chaffinches. Shoreham Town Centre: At least 3 Swifts over Ship Street early evening.

distant Turtle Dove at Knepp, viewed from the yellow route tree platform

Friday 11 July. Adur with Megan, Nessa and Otis: Black Swan, Teal, 3 Swifts, Oystercatcher, juvenile Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Mediterranean Gulls and Kestrel. Pulborough RSPB with RP: 18 Lapwing, 2 adult and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, Common Snipe, 5 Green Sandpipers, 2 Greenshank, Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker heard, 30 distant Sand Martins, Nightingale heard. Wiggonholt Common with RP: 5 Nightjars, Hobby heard

juvenile Ringed Plover from the Norfolk Bridge

Teal opposite the Shoreham Airport

juvenile Mediterranean Gulls on the Adur

Whimbrel still on the Adur

Saturday 12 July. Shoreham: A Swift over Crown Road and 11 Turnstones opposite Town Quay.