Cuckmere Haven 20/9/15

A lovely morning before work down the Cuckmere where the Grey Phalarope showed superbly. Also good to see a large flock of Wigeon flying out to sea, as well as another large movement of Hirundines.

Grey Phalarope down the Cuckmere - a real treat to see all three species of Phalarope in Sussex this year.

Seaford Head & Pannel Valley 19/9/15

About six hours walking around with lots to see this morning, especially first thing when Chiffchaffs were exiting Hope Gap at a steady rate. As the morning warmed up the Hirundines poured through heading west. Firstly Swallows, but by mid-morning these were replaced by thousands upon thousands of House Martins again heading west. All impossible to count, but a great spectacle. Good variety as well this morning but numbers remaining low for most species.

Totals are:

Tree Pipit - 1

Meadow Pipit - 75W

Whinchat - 2

Wheatear - 10

Redstart - 1

Reed Bunting - 1W (my first of the autumn)

Whitethroat - 8

Lesser Whitethroat - 2

Chiffchaff - 130

Willow Warbler - 4

Sedge Warbler - 1

Blackcap - 95

Spotted Flycatcher - 6

Yellow Wagtail - 15

Grey Wagtail - 7

'alba' Wagtail - 7W

Goldcrest - 6

Siskin - 40

Hobby - 1 adult

Marsh Harrier - 1 juv at 11.50

House Martin - 1000's W

Swallow - 1000+W

Sand Martin - 10

 Chiffchaff in Harry's Bush

 Willow Warbler in Hope Gap

 Wheatear

 Spotted Flycatcher in Harry's Bush

 male Siskin by South Hill Barn

juv. Marsh Harrier at an extreme height over South Hill Barn

This afternoon whilst watching the rugby I realised I had two missed calls on my phone from Martin Casemore. This only meant one thing and after getting through to Martin it was fair to say I was shocked to hear of the news that a Wilson's Phalarope was at Pannel Valley. The only problem, the time was 2.55pm, and I had to be at my girlfriend's kid's party in Newhaven at 6pm. Was it possible to successfully twitch and get back in time..........there was only one way to find out!! I made it in record time, ran to the hide in less than ten minutes.......saw the bird for ten minutes, ran back to the car and drove back to Newhaven with plenty of time to spare. What an afternoon, just a shame I couldn't spend more time with the Phalarope, but fortunately I have seen three in Britain before. A massive thanks to Martin for the call.

 Wilson's Phalarope at Pannel Valley - a mega for Sussex with the last record being in 1991 (I couldn't twitch this one as I was one year old), whilst the last twitchable bird was in 1987, both at Sidlesham Ferry. This bird represented my fourth in the UK, with birds seen in Kent, Hanpshire and Shetland. Another cracking county tick this year!!

Barn Owl at Pannel Valley

Seaford Head 13/9/15

A little bit of excitement this morning, but not really caused by the birds. When I arrived a couple of police cars were knocking about, and then later on the bomb squad had arrived with the army alongside for good measure. Basically an ancient bomb had been found in one of the fields, and whilst by Harry's Bush, the inevitable happened. Other than this, a Water Rail was a major surprise in Hope Gap, being seen twice on the ground and once in flight. By 10.40am, the rain had arrived and I called it a day, even though I felt something was about.

Totals are:

Water Rail - 1 in Hope Gap
Spotted Flycatcher - 6
Redpoll - 1W
Siskin - 64 incl. a flock of 50
Redstart - 3
Yellow Wagtail - 15
Grey Wagtail - 6
Whitethroat - 11
Lesser Whitethroat - 4
Blackcap - 75
Chiffchaff - 20
Willow Warbler - 4
Goldcrest - 5
Swallow - ca. 400

 army, farmer and copper......the farmer getting the best find of the autumn so far with his bomb,

 Spotted Flycatchers by Harry's Bush 

 Redstart by Harry's Bush - the other two being males

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Seaford Head 11/9/15

A lovely warm morning on the head with a moderate easterly breeze blowing. Just the standard stuff seen today with five Swift probably being the highlight (though an early Redpoll was good to see), and with the weekend looking blustery, these could well be my last of the year.

Totals are:

Tree Pipit - 2
Grey Wagtail - 3
Yellow Wagtail - 65
Redstart - 3
Whinchat - 2
Spotted Flycatcher - 2
Redpoll - 1W
Siskin - 27
Whitethroat - 7
Blackcap - 70
Chiffchaff - 13
Willow Warbler - 2
Reed Warbler - 2
Goldcrest - 1
Firecrest - 2
Swift - 5
Sand Martin - 5
House Martin - ca. 1000
Swallow - ca. 750

Also photos from yesterdays morning excursion in Madrid are found below, with a re-identification on the Large Grizzled Skipper, now very much thought to be a Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper.

 Swift over Hope Gap

 Blackcap by Harry's Bush - this bird was with a flock of 32 Blackcaps in the bushes by Harry's Bush, whilst the other two flocks were in Hope Gap.

Yellow Wagtail

Madrid 10/9/15

Another stay-over in Madrid only a few miles from the airport. I visited the same wasteground area I visited in the spring. Not much change other than lots of migrating Pied Flycatchers. Another new butterfly species for me here as well.

Totals are:

Zitting Cisticola - 6 

Southern Grey Shrike - 1

Crested Lark - 1

Spotless Starling - a few groups around

Short-toed Treecreeper - 4

Serin - 1

'Continental Coal Tit - 7

Black Redstart - 1 male

Pied Flycatcher - 15

Swallowtail - 1

Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper - 4

 Zitting Cisticola - taken with my phone through my broken bins hence the very poor quality

Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper(?) - narrowed it down to four species with the markings on the upperwing resembling this species rather than Large Grizzled, Sage or Safflower Skipper. Again, taken with my iPhone so yet more poor quality.

Seaford Head 5/9/15

A very calm morning and it started off sunny with was a great relief, but sure enough the thick cloud rolled over and the place became cold and miserable with the odd shower thrown in for good measure. The area was generally quiet but there were a few highlights to mention, best being a Shag just off Hope Gap.

Totals are:

Cuckoo - 1 juv
Wheatear - 5
Whinchat - 1
Yellow Wagtail - 10
Grey Wagtail - 2
Whitethroat - 50
Lesser Whitethroat - 3
Blackcap - ca. 60
Garden Warbler - 1
Willow Warbler - 7
Chiffchaff - 6
Reed Warbler - 2
Redstart - 3
Spotted Flycatcher - 2
Siskin - 16W
Goldcrest - 2
Hobby - 1
Swift - 2
House Martin - ca. 750
Meadow Pipit - 6E
Shag - 1 offshore from Hope Gap

Yesterday a short morning visit produced the first Goldcrest of the autumn here, and a good count of 125 Blackcaps individually counted moving north up Hope Gap, Also a Firecrest present and the usual bits.

 juv. Cuckoo by Harry's Bush

 imm. Shag off Hope Gap

 juv. Siskin by Harry's Bush

Spotted Flycatcher by Harry's Bush

Seaford Head 1/9/15

Felt very autumnal this morning, early on it felt more like Yellow-browed conditions than anything else. Plenty of variety this morning with the highlight by far being a patch tick in the form of a juvenile Turtle Dove found late morning in Hope Gap. The Wryneck was also still present, this time at the bottom of Hope Gap showing reasonably. Other than this, much of the same from the past few days.

Totals are:

Turtle Dove - 1 juv
Wheatear - 16
Whinchat - 10
Grey Wagtail - 5
Yellow Wagtail - 58
Wryneck - 1 still present
Whitethroat - 64
Lesser Whitethroat - 10
Blackcap - 45
Willow Warbler - 14
Chiffchaff - 5
Reed Warbler - 3
Sedge Warbler - 3
Pied Flycatcher - 1
Spotted Flycatcher - 5
Redstart - 3
Siskin - 12 flew west in one flock
Hobby - 1
Firecrest - 1
Green Sandpiper - 1 over west

 Wheatear in Hope Gap

 Wryneck in Hope Gap - still without a tail!!

 Whinchat in Hope Gap

Turtle Dove in Hope Gap - a long awaited patch tick