Shoreham and a trip to Dungeness (24 August-03 September 2026)

Monday 24 August 2026. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps and 2 Spotted Flycatchers.

Spotted Flycatcher on Mill Hill

Clouded Yellow on Mill Hill

Tuesday 25 August 2026. Beeding Hill triangle with David Buckingham and Otis: 10+ Grey Partridges, Stock Dove, 7 very distant probable Cattle Egrets (N of Smuggler's Lane),  2 Red Kites, 3 Buzzards, 2 Kestels, 3 Ravens, 30+ Swallows, 5 House Martins, 2 Willow Warblers, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Stonechats, 9 Wheatears, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Meadow Pipits and 18 Linnets. DB checked out the egrets on his way home and, as suspected, they were Cattle Egrets.

Smuggler's Lane Cattle Egrets as first seen from Beeding Hill

Wednesday 26 August 2026. Smuggler's Lane, Bramber with Otis: 2 Egyptian Geese, 38 Stock Doves, 4 Lapwings, single Common and Green Sandpipers, Greenshank, Grey Heron, a Little and 7 Cattle Egrets, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, 10 Swallows and 5 House Martins. No photos, not that I missed any decent opportunities. I forgot to replace the memory card in my camera!

Thursday 27 August 2026. An excellent day out with Richard Phllips. Pett Level: 46 Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, 51 Lapwing, 18 Curlew, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, Reed Warbler, 3 Whinchats, 4 Wheatears, 5 Yellow and 20+ Pied Wagtails and 8 Linnets. Scotney: 35+ Egyptian and c500 Greylag Geese, 3 Gadwall, 25+ Pochard, 200+ Tufted Duck, Cuckoo, 50 Lapwing, Ruff, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1-2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows, House Martin, Cettis, Willow, 3 Sedge and 2 Reed Warblers and 2 Yellow Wagtails. Dungeness RSPB (Burrows and ARC): 4 Egyptian Geese, 15 Gadwall, Garganey, 2 Pintail, 10 Shoveler, 2+ Wigeon, 40 Pochard, 20 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 20 Lapwing, 10 Ringed and 2 Little Ringed Plover, Turnstone, 6 Ruff, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 9 Dunlin, 2 Little Stints, 2 Common Snipe, 6 Common Sandpipers, Redshank, 2 Greenshank, a Little, 3 Mediterranean and a colour-ringed Great Black-backed Gull (green 7E7, scheme untraced), 55+ Common and single Black and White-winged Black Terns, Great Egret, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, 7 Sedge and a Reed Warbler and a Yellow Wagtail. Pannel Valley: 60 Gadwall, Avocet, 210 Lapwing, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Ruff, 2 Common Snipe, Cattle Egret, Kingfisher heard and Kestrel.

White-winged Black, Common and Black Terns on Burrows Pit, Dungeness

Dunlin and Little Stint on Burrows Pit

Greenshank and Snipe from Christmas Dell Hide

Great Black-backed Gull 7E7 on the ARC Pit, Dungeness

Garganey on the ARC Pit

Cattle Egret at Pett Level

Friday 28 August 2026. Mill Hill with Otis: Sparrowhawk, 5 Red Kites, 2 Buzzards, Raven, 10 Swallows, single Willow and Reed Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser and 4 Common Whitethroats and single Spotted and Pied Flycatchers.

Raven over Mill Hill

Spotted Flycatcher at Mill Hill

Lesser Whitethroat on Mill Hill

Red Kite at Mill Hill

Pied Flycatcher on Mill Hill (seen briefly then flew north)

Saturday 29 August 2026. Mill Hill: Red Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat.

Sunday 30 August 2026. Adur with Megan and Otis: 17 Ringed Plover and a Whitethroat.

Monday 31 August 2026. Lancing Ring/Steepdown with Megan and Otis: 3 Buzzards, Jay, 20 Swallows, 2 House Martins, Chiffchaff heard and Goldfinch.

Tuesday 01 September 2026. Southwick Hill-Monarch's Way-Downslink-Shoreham: 5 Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, 2 Red Kites, Kestrel, Raven, 60 Swallows, 2 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Whinchats, 17 Wheatears, 19 Linnets and 2 Corn Buntings.

Wheatear on the Monarch's Way at Beeding Hill

Whinchat on the Monarch's Way at Beeding Hill

Wednesday 02 September 2026. Foredown Tower-South Downs Way-Devils Dyke-Foredown Tower with Otis: 2 Stock Doves, Kestrel, 2 Skylarks, 30 Swallows, House Martin, Whitethroat, 8 Wheatears, 25+ House Sparrows, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Goldfinches and 2 Corn Buntings.

Thursday 03 September 2026. Buckingham Park with Megan and Otis: 2 Jays and a Goldcrest.