Whooper Swan and probable Daurian Shrike in West Sussex (24-31 October 2025)

Friday 24 October 2025. Adur: Toll Bridge to the sea with Otis, 09:45-12:15. 4 Oystercatchers, 17 Lapwings, the white-headed Grey and a Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 10 Redshank, Greenshank (houseboat channel), 55 Great Black-backed Gulls, Kingfisher, 2 Jays, Cetti's Warbler heard, 7 Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrest, Stonechat, 2 Meadow and a Rock Pipit and 6 Goldfinches.

Saturday 25 October 2025. Crown Road. 6 Long-tailed Tits moving through our garden. Adur circuit with Megan and Otis on a rising tide: The Grey Plover, 35 Great Black-backed Gulls, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest, 2 Stonechats and 6 Goldfinches.

Sunday 26 October 2025. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis. Separate flocks of 40 Stock Doves and 100+ Woodpigeons moving NW, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine overhead, 2 Jays, 5 Skylarks, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Meadow Pipits and 20 Goldfinches. Amberley Wildbrooks from Rackham Viewpoint with Otis (telescope essential): uncounted Canada and Greylag Geese, adult Whooper Swan (most welcome, not having visited Unst this autumn), 100+ Teal, 300+ Lapwing, 13 Black-tailed Godwits, a Glossy Ibis, Marsh Harrier, Red Kite and Buzzard. SE perimeter of Woods Mill, approached from Small Dole as dogs are not allowed on the reserve: 3 Little Egrets, Green Woodpecker, first-winter Daurian Shrike (officially destined to be Daurian/Turkestan), Jay, Song Thrush and 40 Goldfinches.

presumed Daurian Shrike immediately south-east of Woods Mill

the chance of obtaining a DNA sample seems very remote

Monday 27 October 2025. Mill Hill, 07:00-09:300, strong W wind. Red Kite, Jay, 2 superb Ravens overhead, 5 Skylarks, Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Fieldfare heard in wood (frustrating as it was my first locally this year), 2 Song Thrushes, Stonechat, 3 Meadow Pipits, Chaffinch heard, and 15 Goldfinches. Brooklands with Megan and Otis. 10 Little Grebes, Red Kite and Kingfisher. Middle Road Park with Otis: Chiffchaff.

Jay on Mill Hill

one of the 65 Herdwicks helping clear scrub on Mill Hill

Tuesday 28 October 2025. SE perimeter of Woods Mill with Otis, approached from Small Doe. Another session with the probable first-winter Daurian Shrike, hoping to improve on my previous images but only obtaining further poses at a similar range. A Sparrowhawk was the only other species seen although it was nice to catch up with Tony Cook, Nick Gardner, John King, Simon Linington and Josh M-S. Upper Shoreham Road: 2  Ring-necked Parakeets flew over into Buckingham Park. 

most distant images of the probable Daurian Shrike

Wednesday 29 October 2025. A wet day! Buckingham Park with Megan and Otis: 2 Jays.

Thursday 30 October 2025. Mill Hill 07:25-09:25. Stock Dove, 80 Woodpigeons,  Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 2 Jays, 10 Skylarks, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Goldcrests, 2 Stonechats, 7 Meadow Pipits, Redpoll heard, 45 Goldfinches and a Siskin. Adur with Megan and Otis: 21 Lapwings, the Grey and 60 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, Kingfisher, 4 Jays (over Adur Rec), Skylark, 4 Swallows, 5 Meadow Pipits and 2 Goldfinches.

Friday 31 October 2025. Widewater including 09:25-10:25 seawatch, moderate/strong SSW, mod viz, some rain. 26 Mute Swans and a Coot on the lagoon, Brent Goose 7W, Common Scoter 4W, Kittiwake 3W, Sandwich Tern 1W, Guillemot 1E, Razorbill 2E, unidentified auk 5E:5W, unidentified diver 2W (if pressed would say a Red & a Black-throat), Gannet 7E:80W. Adur (E side) with Otis: 58 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 110 Great Black-backed Gulls (including what appeared to be a Norwegian colour-ringed individual J2397 but although the Norwegian CR website brings up data for this bird it is only a sighting from Dungeness three weeks earlier?