Lesser Florican - August 2023

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Monday 8 April 2019

Seaford Head 8/4/19

A slight northerly breeze coinciding with low cloud across the headland was a perfect recipe in early April for the first smattering of summer migrants to be found. Before I had even seen my first migrant this morning, whilst walking, my mind went back to the 8th April 2008 where I had a good number of migrants including a 'reeling' Grasshopper Warbler, and whilst recollecting this, on the SW corner of Hope Bottom a Grasshopper Warbler started 'reeling'. I eventually obtained reasonable views. It then became apparent that there was an overnight arrival and over the course of the morning a nice number of common migrants were found.

Totals are as follows:

Fieldfare - 16 (two groups dropped in then continued north)
Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 15
Redstart - 2 males (Bob also had a female by Harry's Bush)
Willow Warbler - 30
Redwing - 5
Swallow - 8 N
Sand Martin - 13 N

Afterwards me and Bob walked the Cuckmere and found a showy male Black Redstart, a singing Sedge Warbler, Wheatear and a couple more Willow Warblers whilst a male White Wagtail was along the river.

The lovely rear end of a 
Grasshopper Warbler
(Sadly the video isn't downloading)
Redstart at Hope Bottom
Black Redstart at Foxhole
White Wagtail along the river
Yesterday I had a lazy day and only ventured down the Ouse Valley walking from Southease to Piddinghoe but could only come across a Wheatear and 90 Corn Bunting that flew south presumably to roost.

On Saturday a short seawatch produced the following:
06.00 - 10.30 - Wind NE 2:

Brent Geese - 3
Common Scoter - 283
Gannet - 50
Pintail - 2
Sandwich Tern - 82
Commic Tern - 14
Teal - 19
Red-throated Diver - 20
Whimbrel - 1
Dunlin - 7
Razorbill - 1
Red-breasted Merganser - 10
Shoveler - 9
Canada Geese - 2
Arctic Skua - 1
Velvet Scoter - 3
Greylag Goose - 1