Mill Hill and the Adur (27-30 September 2025)

Saturday 27 September 2025. Mill Hill, 07:00-10:50, part with Megan and Otis: 8 Stock Doves, Great Egret (at Coombes, viewed distantly from Mill Hill), Red Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Jay, 5 Sky Larks, 200+ hirundines flying S (Swallows outnumbering House Martins about 3:1), Cetti's Warbler heard, Long-tailed Tit, 11 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps, Whitethroat, male Stonechat, single Grey and Pied Wagtails flying E, 3 Meadow Pipits, 4 Linnets, 6 Goldfinches and 6+ Siskins flying E. Ropetackle with Megan and Otis: Arctic Tern.

Herdwicks on Mill Hill

Chiffchaff on Mill Hill

Grey Heron and Great Egret at Coombes, viewed at great distance from Mill Hill

Arctic Tern below the Adur Railway Bridge

Sunday 28 September 2025. Mill Hill, 07:00--09:05: Sparrowhawk, the distant Great Egret, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Jay heard, 5 Sky Larks, 25 Swallows, 3 House Martins, 10 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Linnets, Goldfinch and 7 Siskins (flew E). Adur with Megan and Otis, 09:15-10:50: Teal,13 Ringed Plover, 15 Lapwing, 15 Dunlin, 21 Redshank, 73 Great Black-backed and 800+ Herring Gulls, the Arctic Tern, 2 Kingfishers (Dogs Trust and fly-over), 2 Swallows, Chiffchaff heard, 8 Meadow Pipits and a Goldfinch.

Arctic Tern from the Old Toll Bridge

Monday 29 September 2025. Mill Hill, 07:00-11:40, part with Megan and Otis: the distant Great Egret, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Hobby, Peregrine, Jay, 2 Sky Larks, 40 Swallows and 440 House Martins flying E, Cetti's Warbler heard, Long-tailed Tit, 30 Chiffchaffs, 9 Blackcaps, 7 Goldcrests, Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Stonechats, Wheatear, 5 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinches, 16 Goldfinches and 22 Siskins (flying E).

Tuesday 30 September 2025. Mill Hill, 06:55--08:55: the distant Great Egret, Green Woodpecker heard, Jay heard, 15 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, Goldcrest, 11 Goldfinches and Siskin heard. Adur to the sea with Otis, 09:15-10:50: 63 Ringed Plover, 17 Lapwing, 9 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 22 Redshank, Sparrowhawk, 2 House Martins, Skylark, Cetti's Warbler (seen between Downslink and Old Shoreham Road), Chiffchaff and a Meadow Pipit.

looking NW from Mill Hill as the morning mist clears from the river

Lowestoft (19-26 September 2025)

Megan and I spent a week in Lowestoft with Otis, mostly travelling around by bus. An enjoyable time despite seeing virtually no birds. Places visited included Sutton Hoo, Southwold, Norwich and Great Yarmouth with morning walks along the coast at Pakefield. Birds seen were a 3 Brent and 4 Egyptian Geese, Guillemot (being just offshore three days running didn't bode well), Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, Coal Tit, 8 Swallows and a Wheatear. Not a single warbler despite some reasonable looking but somewhat disturbed habitat and a strong easterly wind.

Sutton Hoo

Lowestoft

Burgh Castle

between Lowestoft and Kessingland

West Sussex (11-18 September 2025)

Thursday 11 September 2025. Widewater, 07:00-09:00, moderate SW, showers: Black-headed Gull 18W, Sandwich Tern 9W, Common Tern 1W, Gannet 19W.  with Megan and Otis: Black Swan with 7 Mutes, 5 Oystercatchers (including the juvenile), 52 Ringed Plover, 14 Dunlin, 10 Turnstone, Common Sandpiper and 22 Redshank.

Black and Mute Swans on the Adur

Friday 12 September 2025. Mill Hill, 09:25-11:25, with Otis: Red Kite, 2 Buzzards, Kestrel, Jay, Raven, 3 Swallows, Cetti's Warbler heard, 4 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap and 2 Whitethroats. 

Saturday 13 September 2025. Buckingham Park with Megan and Otis: Jay.

Sunday 14 September 2025. Mill Hill, 07:40-11:00, last hour or so with Megan, Nessa, Seb and Otis: 6 Stock Doves, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard heard, Peregrine, Jay, Raven, 180 Swallows (east), Cetti's Warbler heard, 13 Chiffchaffs, 17 Blackcap and 6 Whitethroats, 5 Spotted Flycatchers and 13 Meadow Pipits (east). Crown Road: 2 Jays.

Whitethroat on Mill Hill

Spotted Flycatcher on Mill Hill

a small part of the Adur River Run at Cuckoos Corner

Monday 15 September 2025. Widewater 07:00-09:00, very strong WSW, with RP: Sandwich Tern 3E, Gannet 7W. Brooklands with Megan, Nessa, Seb and Otis: 2 Mute Swans, 3 Little Grebes, 80 Coot, a pale-headed 1CY Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

quite a striking Lesser Black-backed Gull at Brooklands

Tuesday 16 September 2025. Beeding Hill triangle with Otis, 09:00-11:40, just 22 species recorded: 2 Red Kites, Buzzard, 4 Kestrels, 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Stonechats, 12 Wheatears, 5 Meadow Pipits, 4 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches and 2 Yellowhammers.

Red Kite over Beeding Hill

Stonechat at Beeding Hill

Wheatear at Beeding Hill

Wheatear at Truleigh Hill

Wednesday 17 September 2025. Widewater 06:50-08:50, strong WSW, mod/poor viz: Common Scoter 1W, Sandwich Tern 1E, shearwater sp. ?? 2W, Gannet 71W, Sand Martin 2W.

Thursday 18 September 2025. Widewater 07:05-08:30, mod/strong WSW, mod/poor viz: Gannet 2W. Crown Road: 2 Jays from our front garden.

West Sussex (01-10 September 2025)

Monday 01 September 2025. Widewater 06:40-08:40, strong WSW, clear. Turnstone 4, Little Gull 1 juvenile W, Common Tern 1W, Gannet 19E and 1 Wheatear on the beach.

juvenile Little Gull passing Widewater

     

Galeon Andalucia in Southwick Canal

Tuesday 02 September 2025. Mill Hill, 06:30-07:40. Stock Dove, 3 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps and a Whitethroat. Buckingham Park with Otis: Lord Derby's Parakeet heard.

Wednesday 03 September 2025: Widewater, 09:00-11:00, strong WSW, clear: Mediterranean Gull 1W, Fulmar 1E, Gannet 11W. In hindsight I should have gone to Seaford or Brighton Marina to look for Sabine's Gulls that were feeding offshore. Even a couple of years ago I would have been off like a shot. Lack of motivation, difficulty in making decisions and preferring to see birds locally have eroded my confidence.

first-winter Mediterranean Gull west off Widewater

Thursday 04 September 2025. A very frustrating day. Seawatched at Widewater from 06:45-09:00, most with RP, seeing just 7 Turnstones on the beach and 2 Gannets flying west. News that yesterday's Sabine's Gull was still at Brighton Marina had us heading there although it had disappeared by the time we arrived. We spent the best part of two hours looking with no success with a first-winter Mediterranean Gull and a brief Arctic Tern little compensation. Returning to Shoreham we received news that the Sabine's Gull had been seen again at Brighton Marina. Fortunately I resisted the temptation to return as it disappeared before we would have arrived and did not reappear for several hours. We called in at Shoreham Fort where a Wheatear was the only bird of note.

Friday 05 September 2025. Beeding Hill triangle with Otis, 08:45-12:30. 32 species including Stock Dove, 4 Buzzards, Great Spotted Woodpecker heard, 8 Kestrels, a close Hobby, 2 Ravens, Swallow, Willow Warbler, 7 Chifchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 9 Whitethroats, 2 Redstarts, 3 Whinchats, a male Stonechat, 33 Wheatears, 5 Meadow Pipits, 38 Linnets, Goldfinch and Corn Bunting.

Saturday 06 September 2025. Mill Hill 06:30-11:20. 2 Stock Doves, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, 3 Buzzards, Peregrine, Jay, Raven, 8 Sand Martins, 175 Swallows, 12 House Martins, Cetti's Warbler heard, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff heard, 5 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Goldfinches.

Raven on Mill Hill

Sunday 07 September. Pagham Harbour (North Wall, White's Creek, Sidlesham Ferry & Church Norton) with DB & RP, 07:50-17:00. A nice day out, birds I don't often see, good company and a welcome change from Mill Hill and nearby Downland: 30 Gadwall, 2 Pintail, 20 Teal, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Avocets, 30 Grey and 91 Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, 12 Curlew, 15 Black-tailed Godwits, 28 Knot and a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper (off Whites Creek), Sanderling, 35 Dunlin, Grey Phalarope (Church Norton), Common and Green Sandpipers (Sidlesham Ferry), 145 Common and a Spotted Redshank (Whites Creek), 8 Greenshank, 8 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 44 Sandwich Terns, 3 juvenile Spoonbills (Whites Creek), 2 Cattle and 8 Little Egrets, Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzards, Kingfisher, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Kestrel, Jay, 20+ Blue Tits, 100+ Sand Martins, 1000+ Swallows, 10+ House Martins, Cetti's Warbler heard, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Blackcaps, a Lesser and 3 Common Whitethroats, Redstart, 3 Wheatears, Yellow Wagtail (North Wall), Chaffinch and 3 Greenfinches.

Spoonbills in Whites Creek

Spotted Redshank at Whites Creek

Monday 08 September 2025. Mill Hill 07:15-09:20. Stock Monday 08 September 2025. Dove, Sparrowhawk, 2 Jays, 40 Swallows, 35 House Martins, 6 Chiffchaffs, 30 Blackcaps, 10 Whitethroats, Spotted Flycatcher and Redstart. Adur with Megan and Otis, 09:30-11:00. Black Swan, 6 Lapwing, Knot, 9 Redshank and a Kestrel.

Spotted Flycatcher on Mill Hill

Knot on the Adur

flat rainbow from Adur Rec

Tuesday 09 September. Steyning Round Hill (with RP)/Monarch's Way/South Downs Way, 07:50-12:30. 4 Stock Doves, 2 Red Kites, Buzzard, a Great Spotted and 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, 2 Ravens, 2 Sand Martins, 1500 Swallows, 200 House Martins, 5 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Redstarts, 3 Whinchats, Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Linnets, 70 Goldfinches, Corn Bunting and 4 Yellowhammers. Dacre Gardens: Dunlin, juvenile Little Stint and 7-8 Common Sandpipers. Smuggler's Lane: Kingfisher.

Raven on Steyning Round Hill

 Spotted Flycatcher on Steyning Round Hill

Whinchat on Monarch's Way

Yellowhammer on South Downs Way

views from Steyning Round Hill

Dunlin and Little Stint near Dacre Gardens

four of the seven Common Sandpipers near the old cement works, they may have included one that had been on the pool with the Little Stint

Wednesday 10 September. Mill Hill (partly with RP), 06:45-08:45. Swift, 8 Stock Doves, Buzzard, Kestrel, Raven, 2 Swallows, 25 House Martin, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps and a Whitethroat. Adur with Otis: Black Swan, 9 Lapwing, 41 Ringed Plover, 11 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 8 Redshank, 67 Great and 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. New Monks Park: Green Sandpiper, Green Woodpecker, 2 Swallows, 10 House Martins, Meadow Pipit and 8 Goldfinches.

sheep pecker