Seaford Head + Cuckmere Haven 24/9/13

All was quiet when the fog was present, but after an hour it soon disappeared to produce a superb morning of overhead migration. The fields held good numbers of Pipits and the wood held good numbers of Warblers as well. A Tawny Owl was heard calling which is my first up here in two years.

A superb evening was then spent in the Cuckmere where the sky was full of thousands of Swallows, a true spectacle. There was also a huge gathering of small Gulls feasting on the recent insect hatch.

Totals for the morning are:

Tawny Owl - 1 heard
Snipe - 1
Siskin - 1 - first of the autumn
Wheatear - 2
Whinchat - 2
Grey Wagtail - 2
Yellow Wagtail - 5
Meadow Pipit - 500+
Spotted Flycatcher- 1
Whitethroat - 12
Lesser Whitethroat - 2
Blackcap - 21
Chiffchaff - 50
Willow Warbler - 5
Reed Warbler - 1
Swallow - 500+
House Martin - 500+
Sand Martin - 20

Cuckmere Haven:
Hobby - 1
Swallow - 5000+
Yellow Wagtail - 50
Mediterranean Gull - 1 adult winter
Common Gull - 1
Bar-tailed Godwit - 3
Greenshank - 3
Pintail - 8 sat on the sea

 Chiffchaff in Harry's Bush

Willow Warbler in Harry's Bush

ad. winter Mediterranean Gull in the Cuckmere