26th August 2019

ADUR ESTUARY: I thought the tide might be at a level warranting a visit to the Adur first thing this morning, but it was too high for any waders. I did note a Willow Warbler, four Little Egrets, eight Mute Swans, a Green Woodpecker and a Pied Wagtail (DKC). This evening a remarkable gathering of all three hirundines on and above the broad bean field near Lancing. Must have been well in excess of 500 mainly Swallows but both martins well represented. What was extraordinary was that the bulk of the flock kept settling on the crops giving the appearance of a locust infestation. Four Swift also (Graeme Charles via SOS).

BROOKLANDS PLEASURE PARK: A juvenile Yellow-legged Gull - I think one of the regular birds, a juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull and two Teal were the best on offer (DKC).

CHANCTONBURY RING (area boundary):
Minimum numbers were 83 Spotted Flycatcher (including 10 in one tree together), 5 Pied Flycatcher, 29 Redstart, 3 Tree Pipit, 6 Whinchat and 11 Wheatear. Other migrants included single Blackcap and Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and numerous phyllosc warblers.
It was notable that all but a handful of the birds were seen from the 1.2km of the South Downs Way from Chalkpit Wood to the Chanctonbury Hill dewpond. The rest of our long walk was virtually devoid of migrant birds.  (SOS)


CISSBURY RING: Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher were trapped and ringed, with other captures including 53 Blackcaps, a Bullfinch, a Chiffchaff, a Garden Warbler, a Treecreeper, four Whitethroats and nine Willow Warblers. Two Wheatears were by the car park, and other sightings included two Kestrels and at least one extra Spotted Flycatcher (VB/PD).

MILL HILL: Curious after a report of a good mix of migrants the other day, I checked out Mill Hill and earmarked it as another local site to try to check on every now and then. The best migrants were a Redstart, a Whinchat and a Willow Warbler. I heard House Martin overhead, three Swallows flew through and a Lesser Black-backed Gull went over. Several Whitethroats and Blackcaps were in the bushes. While packing my stuff up, 10 Painted Ladies exploded from a buddleia in the car park - an impressive sight! (DKC). A Pied Flycatcher was reported off the gravel path.

STEYNING: This morning, before it got too hot, around Steyning Roundhill/Monarch's Way area. At least 7 Redstarts, a minimum of 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Whinchats (pic attached), and 2 Wheatears but no Willow Warblers and just a handful of Chiffchaffs. A few Blackcaps gorging elderberries and still many Whitethroats. Also large mixed flocks of Linnets & Goldfinches in the wonderful conservation strips alongside the Monarch's Way (well done to the farmers - a real asset to the birds ). A female Marsh Harrier quartering the recently harvested stubble fields was a pleasant surprise (Colin and Janet Holter via SOS).

TRULEIGH HILL: A Honey-buzzard reported, plus 'Yellow Wagtails and a flycatcher sp.