Mostly Shoreham (01-12 June 2026)

Monday 01 June 2026. Old Toll Bridge-Widewater, 09:10-11:10, with Otis: 22 Mute and a Black Swan, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Skylarks, 2 Cetti's Warblers heard, Whitethroat, 2 Pied Wagtails and 2 Goldfinches.

juvenile Pied Wagtail on Adur Rec

Little Egret on the Adur catching a very small fish

Tuesday 02 June 2026. New Monks Park with Otis: 2 Grey Herons, Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, 2 Skylarks, single Swallow and House Martin, 3 Cetti's Warblers heard, 3 Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaff, Sedge and 3+ Reed Warblers, Pied Wagtail, 3 Linnets and 4 Goldfinches. Crown Road: 2 Swifts over the house at dusk.

Wednesday 03 June 2026. Widewater seawatch, 08:20-09:20, strong SW & showers, with Otis: Sandwich Tern 5E:2W, Fulmar 1E, Gannet 4 offshore.

Friday 05 June 2026. 72 today. Old Toll Bridge-Cuckoos Corner-Applesham with Otis: 10 Stock Doves, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Herons, 5 Little Egrets, Buzzard, 2 Skylarks, Blackcap, 2 Sedge and 5 Reed Warblers, Song Thrush, 2 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches and 4 Reed Buntings. 

Mullet from the Old Toll Bridge

Gyrocopter heading for Shoreham Airfield

Reed Bunting at Cuckoos Corner

Reed Warbler at Cuckoos Corner

Monday 08 June 2026. Adur with Megan and Otis: 3 Oystercatchers, Little Egret, 3 Skylarks, Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit and 3 Linnets. Crown Road: 5 Swifts over the house at dusk.

Black-headed Gulls on the Adur

Tuesday 09 June 2026. Buckingham Park with Otis: Chiffchaff heard.

Wednesday 10 June 2026. Woolbeding Viewpoint and Common, SDOS Honey Buzzard Workshop, 08:45-13:00, breezy and at times overcast: 3 Stock Doves, Nightjar heard brefly, 6 Swifts (& 3 over Petworth on the way), Sparrowhawk, 3 Red Kites, 5 Buzzards, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Hobbies, 2 Swallows, House Martin, Chiffchaff and Garden Warbler heard, Mistle Thrush, Stonechat, 3 Tree Pipits, 4 Linnets and a Yellowhammer. It was somewhere I'd not been before and I was grateful to have the opportunity to be taken there. It became a bit of a cross country route finishing at the end of a long narrow road. Not a drive I would have enjoyed even if I hadn't got lost! It is a decent viewpoint although as with other Honey Buzzard sites I've visited birds could appear close, even overhead, or distant. Or in this instance not at all. This year BFF who organised it had been successful on all three previous visits but this time the weather probably wasn't ideal and females would likely be tucked away on their nests. Disappointing but I'm pleased I went to see the place and the Hobbies were nice. I'm not sure it would be my first choice Honey Buzzard destination but I might think differently on a better day. Thanks to BFF and those who went for making it an enjoyable day.

Thursday 11 June 2026. Buckingham Park with Megan and Otis: 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Chiffchaff heard.

Friday 12 June 2026. Cowbottom with Otis, 09:30-11:40. 2 Grey Partridges, Buzzard, Kestrel, 3 Skylarks, Chiffchaff heard, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Stonechats, 8 Linnets and 2 Goldfinches.

Stonechat at Cowbottom

Grey Partridges at Cowbottom