Sussex and Yorkshire (01-12 October 2025)

Wednesday 01 October 2025. Lancing Hill/Ring, 07:10-11:15, partly with Megan and Otis: Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker heard, Kestrel, 32 Skylarks, 35 Swallows, 6 House Martins, 22 Chiffchaffs, 18 Blackcaps, Goldcrest, 12 Song Thrushes, 8 Redwings, Stonechat, 90 Meadow Pipits, Bullfinch heard, 8 Linnets, Crossbill E, 40 Goldfinches, 8 Siskins and 3 Corn Buntings.

Thursday 02 October 2025. Sparrowhawk over our garden and 11 Little Grebes at Brooklands.

Robin at Brooklands

Friday 03 October 2025. Widewater seawatch, 09:30-11:00, mod/strong SW. 2 Guillemots east and 3 Sandwich Terns, and 142 Gannets west. Adur at low tide with Otis: Brent Goose, 11 Lapwings, a Grey and 62 Ringed Plover, Sanderling, 12 Dunlin and 2 Mediterranean and 119 Great Black-backed Gulls.

mostly Great Black-backed Gulls roosting on the Adur at low tide

they included 4E2, ringed as chick at Saver-Glass, Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, Normandie, France (50°03'N-01°21'E) on 30 June 2025

Saturday 04 October 2025. Shoreham Fort/Boardwalk with Mean and Otis: 7 Turnstone. Adur at low tide with Otis: Brent Goose, 11 Lapwings, 30 Ringed Plover, 12 Dunlin, 56 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Meadow Pipit.

Sunday 05 October 2025. Dacres Gardens/Coombes with Megan and Otis: Common Sandpiper, the Great and 2 Little Egrets, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Meadow Pipits, 4 Linnets and a Corn Bunting. Adur at low tide: Little Grebe, 17 Lapwings, 30 Ringed Plover, 11 Dunlin, 42 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Kingfishers and a Kestrel.

Great Egret at Coombes, nice not to see it from Mill Hill

male Kestrel at Coombes

Monday 06 October 2025. Mill Hill, 07:45-10:45, Megan and Otis from 09:25. distant Great Egret, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Jay, 7 Skylarks, Swallow, 2 House Martins, Cetti's Warbler heard, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 16 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps, Goldcrest, 155 Meadow Pipits (small flocks flying W) and 8 Goldfinches. Adur at low tide: 17 Lapwing, 32 Ringed Plover, 15 Dunlin, 41 Great Black-backed Gulls, Kestrel and 30 Goldfinches.

Meadow Pipits on Mill Hill

Kingfisher on the Adur

Tuesday 07 October 2025. Steyning Round Hill to No Mans Land and Findon Gallops returning along the Monarchs Way, with Otis, 08:40-12:10, 35 species including a Grey and 8 Red-legged Partridges, Stock Dove, Golden Plover heard, 3 Red Kites, 2 Buzzards, Green Woodpecker, 3 Kestrels, Jay, 2 Ravens, 15 Skylarks, 15 Swallows, 45 House Martins, 13 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests, 11 Stonechats (4 males), 25 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinches, 45 Linnets, 350 Goldfinches (including 2 different flocks of 150-175), 30 Corn Buntings and 5 Yellowhammers. 

Wednesday 08 October 2025. Mill Hill, 07:30-09:00. Sparrowhawk, Great Egret (Coombes), Kestrel, 2 Skylarks, 3 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, Stonechat, Mistle Thrush, 7 Meadow Pipits and 8 Goldfinches. Cuckoos Corner-Adur Saltings with Otis, 09:40-12:20. 3 Teal, 17 Lapwing, Whimbrel, 20+ Common Snipe, 2 Common Sandpipers, 40+ Redshank, Greenshank, 2+ Kingfishers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, Jay, Cetti's Warbler heard, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, 80 Meadow Pipits and 9 Goldfinches. Joined Matt Palmer for a tortuous overnight drive to Bempton Cliffs RSPB, picking up Hugh Price in deepest Surrey en route. Slept in Matt's car.

Thursday 09 October 2025. Bempton Cliffs RSPB: 13 Pink-footed Geese flew N, 100+ impure but smart looking Rock Doves, 600+ Gannets, 20 Shags, 2 Peregrines, 8 Tree Sparrows, a Redpoll heard and a pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins. We left disappointed after 14:00 and had reached Luton on the M1 when news came through that the White-throated Needletail had reappeared at Filey. We stopped discussed the situation and Hugh wasn't keen on returning so we dropped him at Luton Station and Matt drove us back to Yorkshire. We didn't expect to see the bird, but would rather go back and miss it again than not go and it be seen. Another night in Matt's car.

Friday 10 October 2025. Filey: Guillemot and Sparrowhawk. Scarborough Castle, after a very stressful dash: WHITE-THROATED NEEDLETAIL on view for almost an hour over the upper south footpath. Yorkshire: Red Kite, Buzzard and Jay. Back home by 8pm. Matt later drove down to Penzance. It wasn't really politic for me to go to Scilly too, at least not for a Mourning Dove.

White-throated Needletail over Scarborough Castle

aptly described in the Collins Bird Guide as 'powerful, like a small winged Orca'

Saturday 11 October 2025. Pulborough RSPB fungi trail around Wiggonholt Common with Megan and Otis: a Ruff and 2 Common Snipe from Hail's Viewpoint and Coal Tit and Nuthatch heard.

Fly Agiric on Wiggonholt Common, the highlight of the Pulborough Brooks RSPB fungi trail

Sunday 12 October 2025. Mill Hill, 07:20-09:05. Mostly flying E/NE were 7 Skylarks, 2 Swallows, 6 Meadow Pipits, single Chaffinch and Redpoll, 110 Goldfinches and 6 Siskins with 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Goldcrests and 3 Stonechats in the bushes. Worthing: Jay and 18 Goldfinches. 

Mill Hill and the Adur (27-30 September 2025)

Saturday 27 September 2025. Mill Hill, 07:00-10:50, part with Megan and Otis: 8 Stock Doves, Great Egret (at Coombes, viewed distantly from Mill Hill), Red Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Jay, 5 Sky Larks, 200+ hirundines flying S (Swallows outnumbering House Martins about 3:1), Cetti's Warbler heard, Long-tailed Tit, 11 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps, Whitethroat, male Stonechat, single Grey and Pied Wagtails flying E, 3 Meadow Pipits, 4 Linnets, 6 Goldfinches and 6+ Siskins flying E. Ropetackle with Megan and Otis: Arctic Tern.

Herdwicks on Mill Hill

Chiffchaff on Mill Hill

Grey Heron and Great Egret at Coombes, viewed at great distance from Mill Hill

Arctic Tern below the Adur Railway Bridge

Sunday 28 September 2025. Mill Hill, 07:00--09:05: Sparrowhawk, the distant Great Egret, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Jay heard, 5 Sky Larks, 25 Swallows, 3 House Martins, 10 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Linnets, Goldfinch and 7 Siskins (flew E). Adur with Megan and Otis, 09:15-10:50: Teal,13 Ringed Plover, 15 Lapwing, 15 Dunlin, 21 Redshank, 73 Great Black-backed and 800+ Herring Gulls, the Arctic Tern, 2 Kingfishers (Dogs Trust and fly-over), 2 Swallows, Chiffchaff heard, 8 Meadow Pipits and a Goldfinch.

Arctic Tern from the Old Toll Bridge

Monday 29 September 2025. Mill Hill, 07:00-11:40, part with Megan and Otis: the distant Great Egret, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Hobby, Peregrine, Jay, 2 Sky Larks, 40 Swallows and 440 House Martins flying E, Cetti's Warbler heard, Long-tailed Tit, 30 Chiffchaffs, 9 Blackcaps, 7 Goldcrests, Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Stonechats, Wheatear, 5 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinches, 16 Goldfinches and 22 Siskins (flying E).

Tuesday 30 September 2025. Mill Hill, 06:55--08:55: the distant Great Egret, Green Woodpecker heard, Jay heard, 15 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, Goldcrest, 11 Goldfinches and Siskin heard. Adur to the sea with Otis, 09:15-10:50: 63 Ringed Plover, 17 Lapwing, 9 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 22 Redshank, Sparrowhawk, 2 House Martins, Skylark, Cetti's Warbler (seen between Downslink and Old Shoreham Road), Chiffchaff and a Meadow Pipit.

looking NW from Mill Hill as the morning mist clears from the river

Lowestoft (19-26 September 2025)

Megan and I spent a week in Lowestoft with Otis, mostly travelling around by bus. An enjoyable time despite seeing virtually no birds. Places visited included Sutton Hoo, Southwold, Norwich and Great Yarmouth with morning walks along the coast at Pakefield. Birds seen were a 3 Brent and 4 Egyptian Geese, Guillemot (being just offshore three days running didn't bode well), Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, Coal Tit, 8 Swallows and a Wheatear. Not a single warbler despite some reasonable looking but somewhat disturbed habitat and a strong easterly wind.

Sutton Hoo

Lowestoft

Burgh Castle

between Lowestoft and Kessingland

West Sussex (11-18 September 2025)

Thursday 11 September 2025. Widewater, 07:00-09:00, moderate SW, showers: Black-headed Gull 18W, Sandwich Tern 9W, Common Tern 1W, Gannet 19W.  with Megan and Otis: Black Swan with 7 Mutes, 5 Oystercatchers (including the juvenile), 52 Ringed Plover, 14 Dunlin, 10 Turnstone, Common Sandpiper and 22 Redshank.

Black and Mute Swans on the Adur

Friday 12 September 2025. Mill Hill, 09:25-11:25, with Otis: Red Kite, 2 Buzzards, Kestrel, Jay, Raven, 3 Swallows, Cetti's Warbler heard, 4 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap and 2 Whitethroats. 

Saturday 13 September 2025. Buckingham Park with Megan and Otis: Jay.

Sunday 14 September 2025. Mill Hill, 07:40-11:00, last hour or so with Megan, Nessa, Seb and Otis: 6 Stock Doves, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard heard, Peregrine, Jay, Raven, 180 Swallows (east), Cetti's Warbler heard, 13 Chiffchaffs, 17 Blackcap and 6 Whitethroats, 5 Spotted Flycatchers and 13 Meadow Pipits (east). Crown Road: 2 Jays.

Whitethroat on Mill Hill

Spotted Flycatcher on Mill Hill

a small part of the Adur River Run at Cuckoos Corner

Monday 15 September 2025. Widewater 07:00-09:00, very strong WSW, with RP: Sandwich Tern 3E, Gannet 7W. Brooklands with Megan, Nessa, Seb and Otis: 2 Mute Swans, 3 Little Grebes, 80 Coot, a pale-headed 1CY Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

quite a striking Lesser Black-backed Gull at Brooklands

Tuesday 16 September 2025. Beeding Hill triangle with Otis, 09:00-11:40, just 22 species recorded: 2 Red Kites, Buzzard, 4 Kestrels, 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Stonechats, 12 Wheatears, 5 Meadow Pipits, 4 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches and 2 Yellowhammers.

Red Kite over Beeding Hill

Stonechat at Beeding Hill

Wheatear at Beeding Hill

Wheatear at Truleigh Hill

Wednesday 17 September 2025. Widewater 06:50-08:50, strong WSW, mod/poor viz: Common Scoter 1W, Sandwich Tern 1E, shearwater sp. ?? 2W, Gannet 71W, Sand Martin 2W.

Thursday 18 September 2025. Widewater 07:05-08:30, mod/strong WSW, mod/poor viz: Gannet 2W. Crown Road: 2 Jays from our front garden.