Seaford Head 25/8/17

A very productive morning with good numbers of grounded and overhead migrants. The first half hour of daylight was dominated by inbound Willow Warblers, but numbers of these soon fizzled down leaving a good variety that included our first decent number of Blackcaps moving in one big wave like they always do creating quite a sight. An immature Spoonbill was found roosting on the west side of the Cuckmere viewed from the headland. By 10am Swallows were moving west in good numbers. A very satisfying morning.

Around 1pm at Newhaven Sainsbury's an Osprey flew NW. This is the third sighting of an Osprey at this sight since last August, obviously a hot spot for them.

This afternoon I kayaked from Southease to Hamsey (just north of Lewes) and saw 2 Hobbies, 8 Common Sandpipers and stacks of Swallows and Yellow Wagtails.

Totals for Seaford Head are:

Tree Pipit - 4
Wheatear - 4
Yellow Wagtail - 110 (mainly moving east with one flock of 40 recorded)
Redstart - 2
Whitethroat - 25
Willow Warbler - 90
Blackcap - 62
Spotted Flycatcher - 3
Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 8
Chiffchaff - 6
Lesser Whitethroat - 5
Garden Warbler - 4
Spoonbill - 1
Sedge Warbler - 1
Swift - 2

 Wheatear at South Hill Barn

 Sedge Warbler at Coastguard Cottages

 Spoonbill in Lower Cuckmere

Swift over South Hill Barn