30th August 2019 - Goring Gap

I had been out all night surveying bats but when I got home I couldn't sleep. I had a brief and dreary look around the Gap but I probably wasn't at 100% but birds of note included a female Sparrowhawk, an Oystercatcher which flew east along the beach. As well as singles of Green Woodpecker and Kestrel.

26th August 2019 - Beachy Head

A circular walk from Birling Gap to Shooters Bottom along the cliffs and then back via a more inland route produced good numbers of migrants despite the clear skies. Highlights were a Whimbrel on the cliff edge at Belle Tout, Peregrine, Sedge Warbler, a skulking Grasshopper Warbler at Birling Gap, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 19 Whinchats, 17 Wheatears, three Common Redstarts, a Pied Flycatcher and 60 Yellow Wagtails. A stroll from the Old Trapping Area to the Beachy Head Hotel and back added two more Whinchats and a Pied Flycatcher in the hedge behind the hotel.

Pied Flycatcher, Beachy Head, East Sussex

3 of 21 Whinchats at Beachy Head, East Sussex

Whimbrel, Belle Tout, Beachy Head, East Sussex

25 August 2019 - Truleigh Hill

Upon arrival back at home I shot straight out the door and went up to Truleigh Hill where I met Dad, here we obtained good views of the Pied Flycatcher he found earlier in the day as well as a Common Redstart. Walking down the fence line from the crossroads we added a few Wheatear and a Whinchat.

24th August 2019 - Lepe CP, Hampshire

Sophie and I went camping with a couple of friends for a couple of nights in the New Forest near Lepe CP. We spent the day on the beach and I went for a big walk to see what birds I could find. Despite the hoards of people the beach held six Ringed Plover, 10 Oystercatcher and a Mediterranean Gull. Whilst I walk around the bushes produced a Spotted Flycatcher, two Whitethroats, a Blackcap and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. 

I walked back east and much to my surprise I stumbled across a scrape which was part of a private reserve, viewing was limited but I still managed to spot 11 Redshank, a Whimbrel, 56 Black-headed Gulls, three Mediterranean Gulls, nine Canada Goose, a Moorhen, two Lapwing, a Little Egret and 350+ Starlings knocking about the bushes. 

I then came across somewhere called Dark Water, a large body of water located next to the Solent. Here were two Little Egrets, two Lapwing, two Grey Herons, a Moorhen, a Cormorant and a Mute Swan. Whilst the bushes held a Reed Warbler and two Blackcaps and on the beach opposite Dark Water were 68 Turnstones in a variety of plumages. 

Back at the campsite in the evening up to four Tawny Owls were heard. 

18th August 2019 - Thorney Island circular walk

Sophie and I headed down to Thorney Island, it was a nice sunny day with a mild breeze. Upon arrival we parked near the sewage works and here there were a sizeable flock of House Sparrows, we walked through to the seawall and down the western side first towards the security gate. The pools down here added two Little Grebes, two Mute Swans, 15 Lapwing, 25 Redshank and a Greenshank whilst out in the harbour were a lone Great Crested Grebe. Also over the western side of the Great Deep there were a flock of 30 Common Terns actively feeding as well as two Little Egrets and a Buzzard which drifted over headed. Walking towards Marker Point we stumbled into seven Wheatears and a Peregrine which flew over. We had a quick rest on the bench at Marker Point and here a juvenile Little Tern flew overhead. The rest of our walk was pretty quiet but we did see five Kestrels, 30 Ringed Plovers, a Whimbrel and 14 Swallows.

17th August 2019 - Adur Estuary

On my way home from Brighton v West Ham United I called into the Adur Estuary. Birds of note here included 15 Ringed Plover, three Dunlin, five Little Egrets, six Mute Swans and two Oystercatchers.

12th August 2019 - Church Norton and Midhurst

News broke mid-morning of a Roseate Tern at Pagham Harbour, this was a potential lifer and to give it an extra bit of spice it was in Sussex. The earliest I could leave was 12:45, the journey was smoothish but there was a bit of congestion on the A27 at Chichester and along the Selsey road. Whilst enroute news also broke of an Osprey sitting on one of the shingle bars - fantastic, two potential year ticks! I pulled up in the Church Norton car park and dashed down to the benches, whilst walking down I bumped into another birder who informed me "it was still there" however when I got to the benches where there were several other birders and they informed me otherwise. The Roseate Tern hadn't been seen for a while nor had the Osprey. Whilst scanning around trying to locate either of the two birds, news came through of two Little Stints in the harbour with Dunlin which again would've been another year tick. This was now a potential lifer and two possible year ticks on the cards however my luck was well and truly out today and I failed to see all three.

After 10 minutes or so of scanning David and Ingrid showed up and it was nice to catch up with them. A thorough scan of the harbour produced a nice selection of waders including eight Knot, two Grey Plover, four Black-tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel, a Snipe, a few Turnstone and a scattering of Dunlin, Redshank and Ringed Plover. After David and Ingrid left the Dunlin moved closer but again I failed to locate the two Little Stints, although one of the assembled birders claimed to had seen them but failed to announce them to the other hopeful birders until half an hour later! It got to around 16:30 and it was time for me to head home due to other commitments. Roseate Tern really does appear to be my ultimate bogey bird, this one particularly painful given it was in Sussex - if I'm not mistaken I think this is now my ninth dip of this species and my third this year! Maybe a trip to Coquet Island is in order?

Later tonight near Midhurst a Spotted Flycatcher showed nicely and as the sunset there were up to 6 Tawny Owl and a Little Owl calling as well as a Barn Owl seen hunting over rough grassland and upon arrival back in Washington there was another Tawny Owl calling. 

11th August 2019 - Shoreham Harbour, Widewater, Brooklands, Goring Gap and the Adur Estuary

Shoreham Harbour failed to produce much but there was a Wheatear at the fort as well as two Common Sandpipers which flew across the harbour and headed up the River Adur. There were also two juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls loafing along the beach near the western arm. Around the car park were several House Sparrows, Starlings and a Linnet.

A blustery Shoreham Harbour

Afterwards, I checked the beach opposite the Harbour Club which produced two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Great Black-backed Gulls, four Herring Gulls and seven Black-headed Gulls. There were also a few flowering plants of Childing Pink in the normal area however most were past there best. 

Childing Pink, Shoreham Harbour, West Sussex

Widewater Lagoon produced five Little Egrets on the eastern side and on the western side were an two Mute Swans (one adult and one juvenile) and 57 roosting Black-headed Gulls. Brooklands was a bit more productive with a Cetti's Warbler by the bridge and out on the lake were a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 15 Mallard, four Cormorants, six Mute Swans (two adults and four juveniles) and a Grey Heron.

Last stop was Goring Gap where it was pleasing to see that the crop had been removed by the farmer. In the roost field were 30 Turnstone, 15 Ringed Plover, two Great Black-backed Gulls and eight Black-headed Gulls. A short walk to the pumping station produced a Whitethroat and a Skylark.

Later in the day I met up with Mum and Dad and we went for a circular walk from the Toll Bridge to Norfolk Bridge at the Adur Estuary. We managed to find seven species of waders including 17 Ringed Plover, four Dunlin, five Whimbrel, two Common Sandpipers, eight Turnstone, three Oystercatchers and 20 Redshank. Also 16 Mute Swans, seven Little Egrets, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and five Sandwich Terns.

10th August 2019 - Selsey Peninsula and George V Avenue

The forecast was for gale force south westerlies up to 50mph so Dad and I arrived at Selsey Bill for 05:45 and had a seawatch hoping for a Balearic Shearwater. However despite the strong winds the sea never produced anything other than a steady stream of Gannets. Other than that the highlights were a Curlew W, a Fulmar W and a few Sandwich and Common Terns. There were also around ten Turnstones present on the beach.

After almost getting blown away at Selsey Bill we headed for Church Norton to look at the terns in the harbour. Again nothing particularly of note other than the usual Sandwich and Common Terns and a single Dunlin and Knot. We did also pick up the aberrant Common Tern which caused some excitement amongst the locals the other day.

Next stop was Sidlesham Ferry and surprisingly there was a nice selection of waders. These included a Wood Sandpiper (only my 2nd in Sussex this year), three Spotted Redshanks, six Dunlin, c30 Black-tailed Godwits and a Common Sandpiper.

Three Spotted Redshanks, Sidelsham Ferry, West Sussex

We then had a quick look around Halsey's Farm for the Squacco Heron. Upon arrival there was no sign in the usual field however we did find one of the long-staying Cattle Egrets. We had a look along the rife from the North Wall but again there was no sign of the Squacco. On the mud there were three Dunlin, two Redshank and a Common Sandpiper. Walking back towards Halsey's Farm, Dad and I had a split second flight view of what we thought was probably the Squacco Heron. We had a search but couldn't locate it. We then bumped into Matt Phelps who was also looking for it but he hadn't seen it either, whilst chatting a Peregrine passed through. Given the conditions we knocked our search on the head but around 10-15 minutes later, I had a text from Matt to say he had just had the Squacco Heron in flight. We didn't bother to go back and look but news throughout the day suggests that it returned sporadically to its usual field. 

Cattle Egret, Halsey's Farm, West Sussex

Feeling rather windswept our last stop was Ivy Lake. Not much doing here other than a few Common Terns, a few Pochard and several Great Crested Grebe families. 

Later in the evening I had another seawatch this time off George V Avenue in Worthing. Not to surprisingly it wasn't particularly fruitful. The highlight was a Bonxie which was messing around offshore and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull loafing along the shoreline. 

9th August 2019 - Goring-by-Sea

No birding today but on my car windscreen outside the flat was a Forest Shieldbug.

Forest Shieldbug, Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex

8th August 2019 - Shoreham Harbour and Brooklands

A early evening visit to Shoreham Harbour and Brooklands was reasonably productive. The highlights at the harbour included three Wheatears and also a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flying around the harbour mouth. Also a couple of Gannets feeding offshore.

Moving onto Brooklands, Dad and I added three more juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls on the main lake as well as two Common Sandpipers. Also present were 18 Mallard, seven Moorhens, two Grey Herons, a Cormorant and the adult Mute Swan with four juveniles. On our way back to the car, along the stream to the sewage works were a Little Grebe with a chick and 30 Goldfinches and a Green Woodpecker around the bushes.

5th August 2019 - Widewater Lagoon, Shoreham Harbour and Iford Brooks

Mid-morning at Widewater Lagoon in Shoreham produced two Little Egrets, three Mute Swans (2 adults and a juvenile) and 13 Mallards. Afterwards, I moved to Shoreham Harbour where the pick of bunch was another Little Egret, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls.

The first of two walks on Iford Brooks today (early afternoon) where the clear highlight was my first returning Whinchat of the autumn which was showing nicely on a thin strip of set aside. On this particular walk I also noted a Kestrel, four Reed Buntings, two Reed Warblers, two adult Mute Swans, three Sedge Warblers, four Linnets, three Stock Doves and two Buzzards.

My second walk (early evening) failed to produce the Whinchat which I presume had moved on given a clearing in the weather but I did manage to add a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Cetti's warblers, 12 Greylag Geese, 20 Goldfinches, a Grey Heron, a Little Egret, another Buzzard, two Chiffchaff, 20 Starlings, a squealing Water Rail, a Sand Martin and a Green Woodpecker.

Later in the evening I was out bat surveying which produced a surprise fly-over Green Sandpiper and a Tawny Owl heard calling. On return to Iford there were two Barn Owls showing nicely.

4th August 2019 - Goring Gap and Brooklands

Feeling exhausted from yesterday's events I had a quick look at Goring Gap and Brooklands this morning. Goring Gap was extremely quiet, noted were: two Blackcaps, a pair of Kestrels hunting over the fields and a Willow Warbler.

Moving onto Brooklands this produced: a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, a pair of Little Grebes, a Mute Swan with four cygnets, a Green Woodpecker and a Grey Heron.

3rd August 2019 - Oare Marshes and Pagham Harbour North Wall

Dad, Simon and I set off for Oare Marshes early morning arriving around 10:30 where we met several others. Whilst enroute news came through that the Squacco Heron at Pagham seen the day before had been re-found at Halsey's Farm and was showing well. This being a Sussex tick for myself I wasn't best pleased but there wasn't a lot I could do until later when I was back from Oare Marshes.

First port of call at Oare Marshes were to check the mudflats either side of the slipway for the Bonaparte's Gull. After 10 minutes of searching either side of the slipway I was pleased to pick it out on the eastern side of the slipway it gave nice views. After a short while it took to flight and appeared to land on the eastern flood. More scanning of the mudflats produced four Mediterranean Gulls and two Whimbrel.

Bonaparte's Gull, Oare Marshes, Kent

We walked up to the hide and whilst walking we had lots of Black-tailed Godwits flying over head going to roost on the east flood. It was quiet from the hide (un-surprisingly) but looking down Faversham Creek there were several hundred Redshank which later joined the eastern flood. Now walking south along the path this produced a brief view of a Bearded Tit in the reedbed as well as a couple of Yellow Wagtails commuting between the salt marsh and the bank. A scan of the eastern flood from the far eastern side produced a Spotted Redshank mixed in with large numbers of Redshank and Dunlin however there were no sign of any Curlew Sandpipers (six reported the previous day). Also of note from here were a few Avocet and a Marsh Harrier seen in the far distance. We continued our circular walk and found a pair of Peregrines on one of the electricity pylons. However, walking back west didn't produce much other than another Bearded Tit although this time heard and not seen. We got back to the road and had another scan of the eastern flood, from this end we added Golden Plovers as well as a couple of Wigeon but now the flood was packed with well in excess of 1500+ Black-tailed Godwits.

With there being a report of 17 Southern Migrant Hawkers at Oare the other day, we went for a walk over onto the western side and found two. Both showing very well, perching on reeds, my first good views of this species. Afterwards, another scan from the far side of the eastern flood, again failed to add any Curlew Sandpipers but a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flew over Faversham Creek near the hide and a final look from the road added an eclipse Garganey.

Southern Migrant Hawker, Oare Marshes, Kent

Throughout the day I had been tracking news of the Squacco Heron at Pagham, as we were leaving the report was it was still showing well in the field where it had been for the most of the day despite going missing on a few occasions normally flying off west towards Sidlesham. Around 15:30 a new report came through saying it had again flown west but for the entire journey home to Brighton it had not returned. A few texts and phone calls later around 18:00 (thanks to Michael Booker), it had once again returned to its favoured field where once again it was happily feeding. Mum and I set off from Southwick and arrived at Halsey's Farm however much to our disappointment it had flown off again two minutes before we arrived, feeling slightly anxious we stood around for a while and added the two long-staying Cattle Egrets but there was still no sign of the Squacco Heron. We walked up onto the North Wall and I scanned back towards Halsey's Farm and picked up the Squacco Heron in flight over the treeline running adjacent to Halsey's Farm and luckily it dropped down back into its favoured field. It showed very well in the middle of the field where it was happily feeding on what appeared to be grasshoppers. Having missed the Southease bird in 2015 it was particularly pleasing to have connected with this one!

Squacco Heron, Pagham Harbour, West Sussex

We had a brief walk down towards the Breach Pool afterwards (which is now looking more like a duck pond). There were however two Green Sandpipers in the channel at the back and in White's Creek there were two Greenshank also noted nearby were two Green Woodpeckers, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk.