The second week of the month began with warm settled weather but ended with another spell of south westerly gales. Excellent numbers of common migrants were recorded on the Downs with the first big pulse of hirundines heading south.
Undoubtedly the weekly highlights were the seven Glossy Ibis seen flying west over Angmering Station mid morning on 8th, whilst an Osprey flew south the same day over East Worthing.
Monday 8th September
Patching Hill : Four Redstarts (including 2 males) and just a single Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcaps (c20) and Whitethroats (c10)
Worthing Golf Course ; Spotted Flycatchers (10+), a single Redstart & Reed Warbler along the northern edge of course from track heading east from Findon Valley.
Cissbury ; Spotted Flycatchers (15+) early morning though they quickly moved through with only 3-4 seen later in day. Also Redstarts (3), Wheatear (3), Blackcaps (20+) and a flyover Tree Pipit and 100+ Swallows moving east over the south side.
Steyning Round Hill ; Redstart (3), Spotted Flycatchers (3) and Whitethroat (2).
Tuesday 9th September
Cissbury: A constant movement of hirundines early morning along the northern escarpment with 700+ House Martins, 100 Swallows and three Swifts! Grounded migrants included Spotted Flycatchers (13), Redstarts (6) though again they quickly moved on, Blackcaps (10), Willow Warblers (6), Whitethroats (10) and Lesser Whitethroat (3).
Findon Gallops : Redstarts (2) and a Lesser Whitethroat.
Monarch’s Way: Yellow Wagtails (40) in fields with cattle, Wheatear (3) and Whinchat (2) in the dip north of Cissbury.
Steyning Round Hill: Redstart (6), Spotted Flycatchers (3) a few Blackcaps, Whitethroat and Chiffchaffs and a constant eastbound stream of Hirundines overhead.
Thursday 11th September
Cissbury: After the morning rain cleared a fall of common migrants included Spotted Flycatchers (15), Redstarts (10), Blackcaps (20) and Chiffchaffs (40).
Friday 12th September
Steyning Round Hill: Only birds of note were singles of Wheatear, Whinchat, and Redstart.
Cissbury: Numbers of migrants continued to impress with Spotted Flycatchers (25), Redstart (8), Tree Pipits (2s), Yellow Wagtail (1s), Marsh Tit, Siskin (10), Blackcaps(15), Whitethroats (5) and Chiffchaffs (50+).
Sunday 14th September
Cissbury: Spotted Flycatchers (10), Redstarts (2), Tree Pipits (3s), Chiffchaffs (80+), Blackcaps (10), and Whitethroats (10) plus a handful of Swallows and House Martins,
