26th June 2019 - Southwick

A quick call in at Mum and Dads produced an Elephant hawk-moth. 

Elephant hawk-moth, Southwick, West Sussex

A quick walk on the downs behind the house produced Red Star-thistle Centaurea calcitrapa growing in abundance. 

Red Star-thistle, Southwick, West Sussex

23rd June 2019 - Pagham Harbour and RSPB Medmerry

Mum and I headed over to the North Wall at Pagham Harbour mid-afternoon. The adult summer-plumage Spotted Redshank showed nicely and was actively feeding in the channel on the Breech Pool and more hidden near the back of the channel was a Green Sandpiper. Other birds of note included the usual Black-tailed Godwit flock and also a Common Tern which flew over.

Spotted Redshank, Pagham Harbour, West Sussex

Later in the day around 18:30 a message came through on my phone alerting me to the fact there was a Montagu's Harrier at RSPB Medmerry. Having already spoken to David earlier in the day and him asking for directions to Marsh Barn, I knew he was there so I gave him a call and he informed me that the bird had "dropped down into long grass in the middle of the reserve and to get down here ASAP".  Panicked soon ensued as I had arrangements to go for dinner at Sophie's auntie and uncles. Upon arrival at dinner I explained the situation and they were very good and let me leave as soon as I had finished my main course. Throughout dinner I was constantly checking my phone and there were updates saying it was still there. I got in the car as soon as I could and a very quick journey to RSPB Medmerry had me arrive around 20:40. Then it was a mad dash down to the viewing ramp near the Stilt Pool where I bumped into Andy Wilkes who told me the bird was "still here but had dropped into the long grass". I felt like I had potentially lost my chance as the light was going and I thought it may have gone to roost but then luckily it made an appearance and went for a 5 minute fly around and had an aerial tangle with a Barn Owl before heading back to exactly where Andy saw it drop in. On the way back to the car the Quail was still singing near Marsh Barn.

Montagu's Harrier, RSPB Medmerry, West Sussex (Courtesy of Selsey Blog)

 I certainly wasn't expecting two trips to the Selsey Peninsula in one day!

22nd June 2019 - Seaford Head and RSPB Lodmoor

A lovely walk around Seaford Head and the Cuckmere produced a couple of good birds in the form of a pair of eider on the rocks at Hope Gap and a very unseasonal and mobile black redstart in the scrub below Harry’s Bush. A pub lunch at the Giant’s Rest was followed by stops at Charleston Reedbed and then on the downs behind Seaford where a number of plants of the late flowering form of burnt orchid were in full bloom plus at least two plants of round-headed rampion.

Eider, Hope Gap, East Sussex

Burnt Orchid, Seaford, East Sussex

During the day, news had been coming out at a regular intervals of a marsh warbler (link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQMcdr8SDqI) along Beachdown Way at Lodmoor which was reported to be ‘showing well’. A potential new bird for me and one that Dad had not seen in the UK for many years resulted in much ‘umming and arring’ by Dad and a late afternoon twitch to Dorset in my car which was running on empty by the time we reached Lodmoor. Fortunately the bird was still where Dave Chown had seen it earlier, obligingly bursting into song with a minute or two of us arriving at 19:00 and then sitting out in full view in a reedy ditch about 30 metres from where we were standing. It repeated the same behaviour a couple more times though the views were more obscured than the ones we’d had earlier. A marsh harrier here too but with nothing else to see at Lodmoor we limped to the nearest garage for fuel and food before heading back home.

Marsh Warbler, RSPB Lodmoor, Weymouth, Dorset

16th June 2019 - Filsham Reedbed and Rye Harbour

My first visit to Filsham reedbed where a very late nightingale and a cuckoo were heard singing. A circuit of Rye Harbour taking in The Quarry, Ternery Pool and Flat Beach was hard work in the blustery conditions with not a lot to show for our efforts bar a grey plover, a greenshank and a couple of little terns plus the tail end of stinking hawksbeard Crepis foetida in flower in the fenced enclosure near the beach. The afternoon was spent looking for more rare plants with spiked rampion in abundance on a verge near Blackboys but no sign of any musk orchids on the downs near Lewes.

Spiked Rampion, Blackboys, East Sussex

13th June 2019 - RSPB Pulborough Brooks

I was lucky enough to have the afternoon work so a leisurely cruise up to Pulborough Brooks to see the Red-necked Phalarope proved very enjoyable. Upon arrival at The Hanger it was distant (as I expected) but actively feeding on the second big pool of water on the North Brooks. I was reasonably happy with the views but wanted better so stuck it out for a while. Whilst waiting to see if it would show any better a very heavy rain shower passed through and shortly after it had passed, the phalarope flew a short distance to the pool of water to the right in front of Jupps View. Here it showed better after a short wait. An enjoyable afternoon and my 206th species in the county this year. 

Red-necked Phalarope, RSPB Pulborough Brooks, West Sussex

2nd June 2019 - The Downs and Park Corner Heath

A single man orchid on the The Downs was my first in Sussex, a real treat to see. Also an Adonis blue.

Man orchid, The Downs, Sussex

Mid-afternoon was probably not the best time to visit Park Corner Heath where the only butterflies seen were common blue, small heath and a painted lady. Highlight of a brief visit was a cream-spotted tiger.

Cream-spotted tiger, Park Corner Heath, East Sussex