Shoreham and beyond: Subalpine, Garganey and Turtle Dove (09-24 May 2026)

Saturday 09 May 2026. Knepp with Otis (08:55-13:40): 2-3 Cuckoos heard, Stock Dove, Turtle Dove brief distant purr, 10+ introduced storks, 6 Red Kites, 3 Buzzards, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Jay, 11 Long-tailed Tits, 7 Chiffchaffs heard, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats heard, 5 Whitethroats, 5 Nightingales heard and 2 Chaffinches.

Sunday 10 May 2026. Woods Mill/West Mill Stream (06:45-08:30): Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Kestrel, Cetti's Warbler heard, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Reed Warblers and a Nightingale + 2 heard. Adur with Megan, Nessa, Seb and Otis: 2 Swifts, Oystercatcher, Whimbrel, 3 Common and 12 Great and 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Skylark and Reed Warbler heard and 2 Goldfinches.

Nightingale at West Mill Stream

Monday 11 May 2026. Brooklands with Megan, Nessa, Seb and Otis: Red Kite, Kestrel, Blackcap seen and Cetti's and Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting heard.

Tuesday 12 May 2026. Old Toll Bridge to Dacre Gardens and back with Otis (8:30-12:00): 2 Greylag and 4 Canada Geese, 4 Stock Doves, 3 Oystercatchers, Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpipers, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Red Kites, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine (on chimney), 3 Skylarks, 3 Swallows, 3 Sedge and 5 Reed Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, Song Thrush and a Corn and 4 Reed Buntings.

Whimbrel by the Old Toll Bridge

Sedge Warbler at Cuckoos Corner

another Sedge Warbler near Cuckoos Corner

Reed Bunting at Cuckoos Corner

a third Sedge Warbler near Cuckoos Corner

Wednesday 13 May 2026. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: 4 Swifts, Stock Dove, 3 Buzzards, Raven, Skylark and Cetti's Warbler heard and 2 Lesser and 3 Common Whitethroats.

Thursday 14 May 2026. Dacre's Gardens to Beeding with Megan and Otis: 2 Swifts, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 5 Swallows, Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Warblers, Blackcap, a Lesser and 3 Common Whitethroats and 2 Goldfinches.

Friday 15 May 2026. Knepp with Otis (08:35-13:35): 2 Cuckoos heard, 7 Stock Doves, Turtle Dove heard briefly, a pair of Great Crested Grebes with 3 young, 10+ introduced storks, 8 Red Kites, 3 Buzzards, Great Spotted Woodpecker heard, Kestrel, 4 Swallows, 4 Long-tailed Tits, several Chiffchaffs heard, Blackcap, 2 Garden Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat + another heard, 5 Whitethroats, 5 Nightingales heard, 2 Chaffinches and 6 Linnets.

Great Crested Grebes on Hammer Pond

Saturday 16 May 2026. I finally shifted myself to go for the Subalpine Warbler at Beachy Head but realised when in Hove that I'd left my camera recharging at home. Too late to go back for it, not that I would have managed anything special while I was there. Cow Gap and Birling: 4 Swallows, Cetti's Warbler heard, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, male Eastern Subalpine Warbler, 7 Linnets, 4 Goldfinches and 3 Corn Buntings. The Subalpine was very reminiscent of a male found by Chris Ball in Shooter's Bottom in May 1997 (see below) and widely considered, at least based on its plumage, to be an Eastern. Hopefully this one gets over the line. Cuckmere meanders (circumnavigation from Chyngton Way): 2 Shelduck (my first this year!!), unseasonal Long-tailed Duck and 6 Little Egrets.

photograph published in Birding World (10:173) of the 24-25 May 1997 Subalpine Warbler seen nest building in Shooter's Bottom 

Sunday 17 May 2026. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: 4 Swifts, Red Kite, 2 Buzzards, Skylark, Kestrel, Cetti's Warbler heard as were Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat with Whitethroat seen.

Red Kite over Mill Hill

Monday 18 May 2026. Woods Mill/Mill Stream (06:40-09:10): 4 Swifts, Cuckoo heard, 4 Swallows, Cetti's and 3 Reed Warblers, 7 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 5 Whitethroats, Nightingale heard, 4 Goldfinches. Adur with Megan and Otis: Oystercatcher, Whimbrel, Little Egret and 4 Linnets.

Whimbrel by the Old Toll Bridge

Tuesday 19 May 2026. Buckingham Park in the rain with Otis: Great Spotted Woodpecker and Chiffchaff heard, single Goldfinch flyover. Crown Road: 3 Stock Doves in our garden.

Wednesday 20 May 2026. Brooklands with Megan and Otis: Mute Swans with 5 cygnets, 4 Swifts and Cetti's and Reed Warblers and Chiffchaffs heard.

Collared Doves at Brooklands

Stock Dove in our garden

Thursday 21 May 2026. Mile Oak-Truleigh Hill-Thundersbarrow circuit with Otis (09:35-12:35): Red-legged Partridge, 7 Stock Doves, 2 Red Kites, Buzzard, Kestrel, 3 Skylarks, 9 Swallows, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Stonechats, 2 Meadow Pipits, male Chaffinch, 6 Linnets, 5 Goldfinches, 6 Corn Buntings and a male Yellowhammer. The latter singing from the bush the Cirl Bunting had back in March. No sign of which on my way out or back. Pulborough Brooks/Wiggonholt Common with DB (19:00-22:00): many Canada and Egyptian Geese/goslings, 6 Shelduck, pairs of Garganey and Shoveler, drake Teal, Cuckoo heard, 4 Avocets with a chick, 20+ Lapwings with many chicks, Little Ringed Plover, Woodcock heard and glimpsed, 6 Redshank with few chicks, brief views of Nightjar and another heard, excellent hunting Barn Owl, Green Woodpecker, 2 Swallows and Cetti's Warbler and Nightingale heard.

Chaffinch at Truleigh Hill

male Stonechat near Truleigh Hill

Yellowhammer at Mile Oak

Friday 22 May 2026. Old Toll Bridge-Cuckoos Corner-Lancing Equestrian Centre and New Monks Park with Otis: Stock Dove, 2 Oystercatchers, Little Egret, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Jay, 2 Skylarks, 2 Swallows, 9+ House Martins (7 collecting mud at low tide), Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap heard, a Sedge and 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, Greenfinch, 8 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches and 3 Reed Buntings.

Reed Bunting at Cuckoos Corner

Saturday 23 May 2026. Woods Mill/West Mill: Cuckoo heard, Stock and Turtle Dove, Hobby, 2 Cetti's Warblers heard, Chiffchaff, 5 Reed Warblers, Blackcap heard, 4 Whitethroats, Nightingale seen and 2 heard. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Swift, Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, Skylark, 2 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, 4 Common and a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Linnets and a Goldfinch.

Turtle Dove against the light from the Mill Stream

presumably the same Turtle Dove half an hour later

further away and more focused on the background

Adonis Blue on Mill Hill

Sunday 24 May 2026. Buckingham Park with Otis: Red Kite flew E, Great Spotted Woodpecker heard, Raven flew SE, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler and Blackcap heard and male Chaffinch.