Seaford Head 2/8/15

Lovely conditions this morning but migrant totals were dismal. A few windy days ahead now so hopefully the next calm day will see a stark contrast from this morning.

Totals are:

Green Sandpiper - 1 over west
Nightingale - 2
Whitethroat - 25
Lesser Whitethroat - 11
Willow Warbler - 6
Reed Warbler - 6
Blackcap - 8
Chiffchaff - 3
Hobby - 1 over west
Swift - 2
Swallow - 3
Sand Martin - 2

Reed Warbler in Hope Gap

Seaford Head 31/7/15

Again fairly routine but slightly more variety then yesterday including my first Garden and Sedge Warbler of the autumn. Nine species of Warbler today which is very nice for the last day of July. Very little moving overhead despite a light SE breeze picking up as the morning went on.

Totals are:

Nightingale - 2
Whitethroat - 45
Lesser Whitethroat - 3
Grasshopper Warbler - 2 (incl. 1 same bird as yesterday)
Reed Warbler - 5
Sedge Warbler - 1
Willow Warbler - 23
Garden Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 16
Sand Martin - 20
Swallow - 2

This afternoon on a bike ride up Greenway Valley the Quail was again calling from the barley field.

 Grasshopper Warbler in Hope Gap - different bird from yesterday

 Willow Warbler in Hope Gap

the s/p Sanderling from last night down the Cuckmere

Seaford Head & Cuckmere Haven 30/7/15

At long last a morning free from work. Despite a constant NW breeze there were a few migrants to see, best being a very early Redstart which is probably my earliest ever returner for this species.

Totals are:

Redstart - 1 juv male
Nightingale - 3
Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Willow Warbler - 9
Whitethroat - 24
Lesser Whitethroat - 4
Blackcap - 6 (local birds)
Reed Warbler - 5
Sand Martin - 50+ moving NW
Swift - 180+ moving NW

This evening down the Cuckmere produced the following:

Sanderling - 1 s/p along the river - a great local record and I think is my first Sanderling in the Cuckmere itself. 

Dunlin - 11

Greenshank - 1

Common Sandpiper - 2

Yellow Wagtail - 1 still present

 Reed Warbler in Hope Gap

 Lesser Whitethroat in Hope Gap

 Grasshopper Warbler in Hope Gap

 Willow Warbler by Harry's Bush

 young Fox by Harry's Bush

a very young male Redstart at South Hill Barn

Faro 26/7/15

Greater Flamingo - ca. 25. These birds are easily seen on the final approach to Faro airport on the small salt lagoons. 

Cuckmere Haven 24/7/15

Got completely soaked this evening but as expected a few more Waders had dropped in. Totals are:

Yellow Wagtail - 1 juv was my first of the autumn and quite an early record in general. 

Dunlin - 25 - a tight flock of 19 feeding birds was great to see

Redshank - 2
Also lots of Sand Martins & Swallows feeding over the meanders brought down by the rain.

juv. Yellow Wagtail in the Cuckmere

A slight hint of yellow coming through so possibly a male

Seaford Head 23/7/15

The first morning here of the autumn and it wasn't too bad. Although grounded migrants were thin on the ground, overhead was rather productive with the highlight being four Crossbills. Totals for the morning are:

Crossbill - 4 (3 juvs included) over E
Grey Wagtail - 1W
Nightingale - 1 'croaking' and showed briefly in Hope Gap
Whitethroat - 29 (almost certainly local birds)
Lesser Whitethroat - 4
Blackcap - 5
Willow Warbler - 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Swift - ca. 120W
Sand Martin - 52W

 Willow Warbler in Hope Gap

7

3 of the 4 Crossbills over Seaford Head

Cuckmere Haven 21/7/15

A slight increase in Waders but the highlight was a Grasshopper Warbler in the meadow just north of the scrape, which only means its time to hit the start of the autumn migration on Seaford Head later this week.

Totals are:
Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Common Sandpiper - 4
Dunlin - 7
Whimbrel - 4

 Grasshopper Warbler by the scrape

five Dunlin along the river