Sussex and Yorkshire (01-12 October 2025)

Wednesday 01 October 2025. Lancing Hill/Ring, 07:10-11:15, partly with Megan and Otis: Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker heard, Kestrel, 32 Skylarks, 35 Swallows, 6 House Martins, 22 Chiffchaffs, 18 Blackcaps, Goldcrest, 12 Song Thrushes, 8 Redwings, Stonechat, 90 Meadow Pipits, Bullfinch heard, 8 Linnets, Crossbill E, 40 Goldfinches, 8 Siskins and 3 Corn Buntings.

Thursday 02 October 2025. Sparrowhawk over our garden and 11 Little Grebes at Brooklands.

Robin at Brooklands

Friday 03 October 2025. Widewater seawatch, 09:30-11:00, mod/strong SW. 2 Guillemots east and 3 Sandwich Terns, and 142 Gannets west. Adur at low tide with Otis: Brent Goose, 11 Lapwings, a Grey and 62 Ringed Plover, Sanderling, 12 Dunlin and 2 Mediterranean and 119 Great Black-backed Gulls.

mostly Great Black-backed Gulls roosting on the Adur at low tide

they included 4E2, ringed as chick at Saver-Glass, Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, Normandie, France (50°03'N-01°21'E) on 30 June 2025

Saturday 04 October 2025. Shoreham Fort/Boardwalk with Mean and Otis: 7 Turnstone. Adur at low tide with Otis: Brent Goose, 11 Lapwings, 30 Ringed Plover, 12 Dunlin, 56 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Meadow Pipit.

Sunday 05 October 2025. Dacres Gardens/Coombes with Megan and Otis: Common Sandpiper, the Great and 2 Little Egrets, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Meadow Pipits, 4 Linnets and a Corn Bunting. Adur at low tide: Little Grebe, 17 Lapwings, 30 Ringed Plover, 11 Dunlin, 42 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Kingfishers and a Kestrel.

Great Egret at Coombes, nice not to see it from Mill Hill

male Kestrel at Coombes

Monday 06 October 2025. Mill Hill, 07:45-10:45, Megan and Otis from 09:25. distant Great Egret, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Jay, 7 Skylarks, Swallow, 2 House Martins, Cetti's Warbler heard, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 16 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps, Goldcrest, 155 Meadow Pipits (small flocks flying W) and 8 Goldfinches. Adur at low tide: 17 Lapwing, 32 Ringed Plover, 15 Dunlin, 41 Great Black-backed Gulls, Kestrel and 30 Goldfinches.

Meadow Pipits on Mill Hill

Kingfisher on the Adur

Tuesday 07 October 2025. Steyning Round Hill to No Mans Land and Findon Gallops returning along the Monarchs Way, with Otis, 08:40-12:10, 35 species including a Grey and 8 Red-legged Partridges, Stock Dove, Golden Plover heard, 3 Red Kites, 2 Buzzards, Green Woodpecker, 3 Kestrels, Jay, 2 Ravens, 15 Skylarks, 15 Swallows, 45 House Martins, 13 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests, 11 Stonechats (4 males), 25 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinches, 45 Linnets, 350 Goldfinches (including 2 different flocks of 150-175), 30 Corn Buntings and 5 Yellowhammers. 

Wednesday 08 October 2025. Mill Hill, 07:30-09:00. Sparrowhawk, Great Egret (Coombes), Kestrel, 2 Skylarks, 3 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, Stonechat, Mistle Thrush, 7 Meadow Pipits and 8 Goldfinches. Cuckoos Corner-Adur Saltings with Otis, 09:40-12:20. 3 Teal, 17 Lapwing, Whimbrel, 20+ Common Snipe, 2 Common Sandpipers, 40+ Redshank, Greenshank, 2+ Kingfishers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, Jay, Cetti's Warbler heard, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, 80 Meadow Pipits and 9 Goldfinches. Joined Matt Palmer for a tortuous overnight drive to Bempton Cliffs RSPB, picking up Hugh Price in deepest Surrey en route. Slept in Matt's car.

Thursday 09 October 2025. Bempton Cliffs RSPB: 13 Pink-footed Geese flew N, 100+ impure but smart looking Rock Doves, 600+ Gannets, 20 Shags, 2 Peregrines, 8 Tree Sparrows, a Redpoll heard and a pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins. We left disappointed after 14:00 and had reached Luton on the M1 when news came through that the White-throated Needletail had reappeared at Filey. We stopped discussed the situation and Hugh wasn't keen on returning so we dropped him at Luton Station and Matt drove us back to Yorkshire. We didn't expect to see the bird, but would rather go back and miss it again than not go and it be seen. Another night in Matt's car.

Friday 10 October 2025. Filey: Guillemot and Sparrowhawk. Scarborough Castle, after a very stressful dash: WHITE-THROATED NEEDLETAIL on view for almost an hour over the upper south footpath. Yorkshire: Red Kite, Buzzard and Jay. Back home by 8pm. Matt later drove down to Penzance. It wasn't really politic for me to go to Scilly too, at least not for a Mourning Dove.

White-throated Needletail over Scarborough Castle

aptly described in the Collins Bird Guide as 'powerful, like a small winged Orca'

Saturday 11 October 2025. Pulborough RSPB fungi trail around Wiggonholt Common with Megan and Otis: a Ruff and 2 Common Snipe from Hail's Viewpoint and Coal Tit and Nuthatch heard.

Fly Agiric on Wiggonholt Common, the highlight of the Pulborough Brooks RSPB fungi trail

Sunday 12 October 2025. Mill Hill, 07:20-09:05. Mostly flying E/NE were 7 Skylarks, 2 Swallows, 6 Meadow Pipits, single Chaffinch and Redpoll, 110 Goldfinches and 6 Siskins with 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Goldcrests and 3 Stonechats in the bushes. Worthing: Jay and 18 Goldfinches.