Shoreham & Gloucestershire (17-26 July 2026)

Friday 17 July 2026. Mill Hill with Otis: 5 Swifts, Stock Dove, Red Kite, Buzzard, 3 Green Woodpeckers, House Martin, Skylark and Blackcap heard, 3 Whitethoats and 3 Linnets. Middle Road: Sparrowhawk.

Goldfinch on Mill Hill

Painted Lady on Mill Hill

Saturday 18 July 2026. Crown Road: 8 Swifts over the garden at dusk.

Sunday 19 July 2026. Lancing Ring/Steepdown with Otis: 2 Kestrels, 2 Ravens, Skylark, 6 Swallows, Grasshopper Warbler heard, 2 Stonechats (1 carrying food), 2 Meadow Pipits and 7 Corn Buntings. Crown Road: 2 Swifts over the garden at dusk.

Monday 20 July 2026. Crown Road: 6 Swifts over the garden at dusk.

Tuesday 21 July 2026. Beeding Hill Triangle with Otis: 7 Swifts. 4 Stock Doves, Red Kite, Buzzard, 3 Kestrels, 3 Ravens, 3 Skylarks, Swallow, 8 Whitethroats, Whinchat, 3 Stonechats, 5 Meadow Pipits, 3 Linnets, 2 Goldfinches and 12 Corn Buntings. Crown Road: 2 Swifts over the garden at dusk. 

juvenile Whinchat along the Monarch's Way at Warren Bottom (identified as such at the time but self-doubt crept in when looking at this image. Thanks to DC for putting me right)

Meadow Pipit on Beeding Hill

Wednesday 22 July 2026. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Swift, 2 Buzzards, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, 20+ House Martins, Reed Warbler, 7 Whitethroats, 7 Linnets and 6 Goldfinches. Crown Road: 17 Swifts over the garden at dusk.

Thursday 23 July 2026. Dacres Gardens<>Bramber with Megan and Otis: 2 Stock Doves, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, Little Egret, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Red Kite, Buzzard, House Martin heard, Chiffchaff and 3 Whitethroats. Crown Road: 12 Swifts over the garden at dusk.

Friday 24 July 2026. Shoreham Boardwalk/Fort with Nessa, Chris, Seb and Otis: 2 Oystercatchers. Crown Road: 4 Swifts over the garden at dusk.

11 month old Seb (with Gran)

Saturday 25 July 2026. Mill Hill with Otis: Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Swallow, 2 Willow Warblers (my first this year!!), Blackcap, a Lesser and 6 Common Whitethroats and 4 Goldfinches. Crown Road: 2 Swifts over the garden at dusk.

Sunday 26 July 2026. Finally got my act together and went to Gloucestershire for the Long-tailed Shrike. A field avalable for parking (for £5), reduced M25 traffic on a Sunday (still afiarly grim on my return) and not being needed for family/dog stuff just about swung it. Very glad I did go as it was a nice birds and views were better than expected. Shoreham<>Eastleach Turville: 24 Red Kites over M40 (12 going and 12 returning). Eastleach Turville: first-summer male Long-tailed Shrike - very nice indeed. It was my first new bird in Briatain for almost a year and only my second since autumn 2023.

Long-tailed Shrike north of Eastleach Turville

looking a bit bedraggled (I had driven through some light rain on my way there)

digiscoped image, it was a bit distant for my bridge camera

Mostly Shoreham (03-16 July 2026)

Friday 03 July 2026. Knepp 08:50-13:50, with David Buckingham. 4 Stock Doves, Turtle Dove heard briefly twice, 2 Red Kites, 2 Buzzards, Great Spotted and 2 Green Woodpeckers, Swallow, Jay, Chiffchaff several, Reed Warbler heard, Whitethroat, 4 Bullfinches, 3 Linnets and 5 Goldfinches. My fourth visit to Knepp looking for Turtle Doves, current score being two black visits followed by two where briefly heard. In contrast I've seen Turtle Doves at Knepp every year from 2014-2025 although they've become increasingly hard to find in recent years. It is not helped by me being deaf in one ear although with DB's super hearing that wasn't an excuse today. 

unco-operative Purple Emperor at Knepp

replica German Foker DR1 Triplane over Knepp

Sunday 05 July 2026. Lancing Ring with Megan and Otis: Stock Dove, Skylark, 2 Sand Martins and 2 Swallows west, Chiffchaff and Blackcap heard, 2 Whitethroats and 3 Corn Buntings.

Corn Bunting at Lancing Ring

Tuesday 07 July 2026. Mill Hill with Otis: 2 Swifts, 2 Red Kites, 3 Buzzards, Skylark heard, Chiffchaff heard, 4 Blackcaps, 10 Whitethroats, 4 Song Thrushes, 2 Linnets and a Goldfinch. Crown Road: 20 Swifts over the road at dusk.

tatty Red Kite over Knepp

Wednesday 08 July 2026. Brooklands with Megan and Otis: Stock Dove, Little Grebe heard, 4 Reed Warblers heard. Crown Road/St Giles Close: 7+ Swifts at dusk.

Thursday 09 July 2026. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Skylark heard, 8 Swallows west, 2 Long-tailed Tits, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, 2 Linnets and 5 Goldfinches. Crown Road/St Giles Close: 8 Swifts and 2 Stock Doves.

Otis

Friday 10 July 2026. Old Toll Bridge to Lancing Hill and back with Otis: 2 Grey Partridges, 5 Stock Doves, 4 Swifts, 2 Oystercatchers, 9 Lapwing, Redshank, adult Mediterranean Gull, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Buzzards, Green Woodpecker, Skylark, 6+ Sand Martins, 25+ Swallows, 20+ House Martins, Reed Warbler and Blackcap heard, 4 Linnets, 10 Goldfinches and a Corn and 2 Reed Buntings. While walking back, just south of Lancing Equestrian Centre hundreds of Rooks and Jackdaws starting flying around in a big panic over Lancing Hill. It was several minutes before they dispersed and I could only think that a large raptor had gone over. Scan as hard as I could failed to pick up anything. Buzzards and Red kites are fairly frequent in this area and I'd suspect it was something bigger (Osprey/White-tailed Eagle)?

Song Thrush on Lancing Hill

big fish from the Old Toll Bridge

Saturday 11 July 2026. Shoreham Boardwalk/Fort with Megan and Otis: 2 Swifts and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Crown Road: 3 Swifts at dusk.

Sunday 12 July 2026. Worthing Prom with Megan and Otis: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls and a Sandwich Tern offshore. Crown Road: 5 Swifts at dusk.

Monday 13 July 2026. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Swift, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Skylark heard, 4 Swallows, Whitethroat, 4 Linnets and Goldfinch heard. Crown Road: 5 Swifts at dusk.

Tuesday 14 July 2026. Old Toll Bridge to Adur Saltings (on a rising tide) with Otis: 5 Oystercatchers, 4 Lapwings, 5 Whimbrel, Curlew, 2 Common Sandpipers, 10 Redshank, Greenshank, 4 adults and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 5 Little Egrets, Blackcap, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtails, 4 Linnets and 2 Goldfinches. Crown Road: 6 Swifts at dusk.

Little Egret from the Old toll Bridge

Whimbrel on the Adur

adult and juvenile Mediteranean Gull by the houseboats

juvenile Mediteranean Gull by the houseboats

Wednesday 15 July 2026. Brooklands with Megan and Otis:2 Sparrowhawks, Buzzard, Kestrel, Chiffchaff and Blackcap heard. Adur saltings from bus (very high tide): 11 Little Egrets. Coombes Field 4 Dogs with Megan and Otis:  A Jay and 9 Goldfinches. Crown Road: 3 Swifts at dusk.

Thursday 16 July 2026. Adur with Megan and Otis: Oystercatcher, 4 Lapwing, 2 Whimbrel, Reed Warbler, Linnet and 3 Goldfinches. Crown Road: 6 Swifts at dusk.

Jersey Tiger in Old Shoreham

Shoreham 21 June-02July 2026

Sunday 21 June 2026. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Cuckoo, Chiffchaff and Lesser Whitethroat heard, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Song Thrushes and 3 Goldfinches. Crown Road: 2 Swifts over the garen at dusk.

Monday 22 June 2026. Brooklands with Megan and Otis: Swift, Stock Dove, 30+ Coot, 3 Swallows, 2 Reed and a Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Reed Bunting heard. Crown Road: 4 Swifts over the garen at dusk.

Sedge Warbler singing its heart out at Brooklands

Tuesday 23 June 2026. Adur with Otis: 3 Swifts, 4 Oystercatchers, 9 Lapwing, Whimbrel heard, 52 Black-headed and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Skylark heard, Whitethroat, 4 Pied Wagtails and 3 Linnets. Crown Road: 7 Swifts over the garen at dusk.

Lapwings on the Adur

Whitethroat on the Adur

Wednesday 24 June 2026. Hugging the shade in Buckingham Park with Megan and Otis: Single Swift and Mistle Thrush. Crown Road: A Swift over the garen at dusk.

Thursday 25 June 2026. Crown Road: 6 Swifts over the garen at dusk.

Friday 26 June 2026. Mill Hill with Otis: Cuckoo (same as on 21st?), Stock Dove, male Kestrel, 3 Skylarks, Swallow, 3 Chiffchaffs, Reed Warbler and Blackcap heard, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Linnets and a Goldfinch. Crown Road: 17 or 18 Swifts over the garen at dusk.

Saturday 27 June 2026. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Skylark, Chiffchaffs, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat heard, 4 Whitethroats, adult and juvenile Song Thrush, Chaffinch and 2 Linnets. Crown Road: A Swift over the garen at dusk.

Sunday 28 June 2026. Cowbottom then Lancing Ring with Megan and Otis: 3 Stock Doves, Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzards, Green Woodpecker, male Kestrel, 11 Skylarks, 14 Swallows, Chiffchaff heard, 3 Whitethroats, 6 Linnets and 6 Corn Buntings.

Skylark on Lancing Hill

Linnet on Lancing Hill

Monday 29 June 2026. Shoreham Fort/Boardwalk: 5 Pied Wagtails. Crown Road: 2 Swifts over the garen at dusk.

Tuesday 30 June 2026. Adur/Saltings/Cuckoos Corner with Otis: 3 Stock Doves, 4 Oystercatchers, 7 Lapwings, 2 Redshank, Greenshank, 50+ Black-headed and 3 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls,7 Little Egrets, Buzzard, Skylark, Reed Warbler heard, 8 Pied Wagtails, 5 Meadow Pipits, 15 Linnets, 2 Goldfinches and male Reed Bunting. Crown Road: 2 Swifts over the garen at dusk.

Greenshank on the Adur

    

Wednesday 01 July 2026. Crown Road: 2 Swifts over the garen at dusk.

Thursday 02 July 2026. Adur with Megan and Otis: 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Little Egrets, male Kestrel, Meadow Pipit and 2 Linnets. Crown Road: 2 Swifts over the garen at dusk.