This morning was very enjoyable with plenty of birds on and moving over the headland during the six hours I was present. Yellow Wagtails were very conspicuous all morning and well over 100 were seen, including some stunning adult males still retaining their plumage. Meadow Pipits are now starting to get going, and the first Reed Bunting of the autumn went through. A total of three Marsh Harriers migrated south straight out to sea, but the hoped for HB didn't materialise despite a lengthy raptor watch. Blackcaps are well and truly in with a single flock of 73 counted moving from one bush to the next over a period of ten minutes in Hope Gap.
Totals are:
Meadow Pipit - 69 W
Blackcap - 90
Whitethroat - 22
Reed Bunting - 1 W
Yellow Wagtail - 100+
Wheatear - 15
Whinchat - 7
Tree Pipit - 4
Grey Wagtail - 4 W
Chiffchaff - 21
Reed Warbler - 6
Spotted Flycatcher - 1
'alba' Wagtail - 1 W
Willow Warbler - 1
Marsh Harrier - 3 S (1 juv/fem @ 9.35 & 2 males @ 11.07)
This evening down the Cuckmere very little about with the following seen:
Whinchat - 4
Teal - 3
Kingfisher - 1
Blackcap - 15
Sedge Warbler - 1
Wheatear by Dung Heap
Chiffchaff in Hope Gap
2nd summer male Marsh Harrier south over Seaford Head - the distinct black tips sex this bird as a male, adult female would show little contrast
adult male Marsh Harrier flying alongside the above bird, but not close enough for a group shot
Yellow Wagtails in the sheep field
