Whilst out and about today managed a few stops along the way: first at Ferry Pond where a young Peregrine unsuccessfully attacked the Lapwings a couple of times and then side-slipped after a Blackwit which it forced into the water but, again, was ultimately unsuccessful - but 10/10 for effort!! Not much else in the way of waders again on there...is something wrong with the water again?? A Hobby dashed across the road as I left Sidlesham and then late afternoon I popped over to Thorney where the Osprey was perched up near the Deeps. An imm Marsh Harrier was quartering the harbour and Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard were also seen. On the fence infront of the landing lights, 1 male and 4 imm Whinchats were present and joined by a male Redstart for a while and at least a dozen Yellow Wagtails were in the same field. Not a bad day!

Bernie's fall had fizzled out a bit by early afternoon although still at least 10 Spotted Flycatchers, a handful of Redstarts, single Whinchat, 8+ Wheatears, 35 Chiffchaffs and 200+ hirundines. Earlier at Pulborough Marsh Harrier, Curlew Sandpiper and six Snipe. On the 1st a Honey Buzzard joining in a thermal of 5-6 Common Buzzards, also at Pulborough.

A huge fall of common migrants around Cissbury Ring this morning, nearly every clump of bushes held birds. It proved very difficult to count many species as all birds were busy feeding up in the sunshine: Spotted Flycatcher - 50, Chiffchaff - 50, Common Whitethroat - 30, Blackcap - 20, Common Redstart - 15, Lesser Whitethroat - 6, Wheatear - 12, Whinchat - 2, Nuthatch and Hobby 2. Thousands of Swallows, House and Sand Martins.

A good selection of migrants this morning with highlights being 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 12 Wheatears, 3 Whinchats, 64 Yellow Wagtails, singles of Redstart, Grey Wagtail, Tree Pipit and Reed Warbler, 31 Whitethroats, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 62 Blackcaps, 2 Garden Warblers, 9 Chiffchaffs and 4 Willow Warblers. (Matt Eade & Bob Self)

A pair of Hobbies sharing the same airspace south of Herstmonceux Castle with three Kestrels over the ditch and water meadow there. My first Hobbies near that spot since my sixteen year old younger daughter and I saw three back in June. And - wait for it - she was with me again today to see them all over again.

An adult Mediterranean Gull flew E along the beach this evening.

Two Wheatears and 2 Whinchats plus a few Knot, 2 of them in nice plumage, and an Osprey flying down the Pagham side as we were almost back to the car park.

This posting is a little late but yesterday morning, about 10.30 we had fabulous views of the Short-eared Owl from the top of Hope Gap. First picked it up at distance to the west, it was being harassed by two rooks. It soared and glided coming quite close at times. We watched it for 15 minutes before it went down below the cliffs. Other birds in the area were yellow wagtails, a spotted flycatcher, blackcap and two likely black terns. (Joanne Chattaway & Sue Walsh).

A scattering of migrants at Lullington Heath/Friston Forest again today including a Hobby, five Spotted Flycatchers, three Redstarts and a Grasshopper Warbler flushed from long grass beside the gallops along the eastern edge of the forest.

Twenty-four members joined me on a lovely sunny morning at Birling Gap this morning for a three hour walk around Belle Tout and the Seventh Sister. Highlights included a distant Honey Buzzard, Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Whinchats, Wheatears, Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Whimbrel and families of Stonechats. Also of interest, Autumn Ladies Tresses (orchids) were in flower and some Adonis Blue butterflies were also seen. Before the walk had started I walked up to the pine plantation above Birling Gap and found a 'Continental' Coal Tit but it was not seen by the group. Thanks to everyone who turned up and hope you enjoyed the walk.

What a brilliant birding day with wall to wall sunshine, a pleasant breeze and plenty of quality birds. Our first birding stop was at Pagham Beach where we found a couple of Wheatears and 10 Yellow Wagtails moving W. Out in the harbour were Whimbrel, 3 Greenshanks, 15 Knot, a single Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls. At Pagham North Wall a Water Rail was calling from the Breech Pool, 6 Yellow Wagtails flew west, single Wheatear, Snipe, Shoveler and Wigeon. On Sidlesham Ferry a single Ruff and Common Sandpiper and at Church Norton Peregrine out on the island and a juvenile Marsh Harrier that flew E over the harbour. Off the inner beach at Norton a lone Curlew Sandpiper with the Dunlin flock, 8 Knot and 35 Grey Plover. Fishbourne Creek: Spotted Flycatcher, Treecreeper, 9 Curlew Sandpipers, 7 Greenshank, 7 Whimbrel, 4 Knot, 1 Ruff, 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 150 Curlew, single Bar-tailed Godwit, 60 Dunlin, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and a lone Med Gull. A female Merlin flew through putting up all the waders, ending a cracking day. (Bernie Forbes & Dave Smith).

Highlights this morning included a Wood Sandpiper, two Common Sandpiper and Bearded Tit at Castle Water, Greenshank on the Quarry and Spotted Redshank on the pools next to Lime Kiln Cottage. In addition a juvenile Arctic Tern was feeding among the Common Terns on Long Pit and at least 50 Yellow Wagtail were foraging along the fence line near the old life-boat house.

A single Honey Buzzard slowly spiralled high above the Visitor Centre then drifted out to the east at 11.00.

Just a couple of hours at Climping (Atherington) this morning, but the clear skies meant migrant numbers were as anticipated fairly low. Plenty of Swallows and some Sand Martins were on the move, and 20 Yellow Wagtails plus 100 Linnets were in the fields, with 4 Spotted Flycatchers nearby. The rest was all standard fare really; about 15 Common Whitethroats, the odd Lesser Whitethroat and a handful of Blackcaps etc, with a couple of Sandwich Terns offshore. Much searching of likely spots failed to produce the hoped-for rarity, but after several days of easterly airflow, perhaps it is only a matter of time before something more exciting makes an appearance?

Two Spotted Flycatchers on the same branch in Birdham this morning.

Two very juvenile - what I believe were Grey Partridge - in the field just down from the top car park late this afternoon.

At lunchtime today, dozens of Wheatear and Yellow Wagtails in the sheep field near the car park joined occasionally by a pair of cronking Ravens. Just a few warblers in the scrub but the day was livened up by the appearance of an Osprey circling over the Cuckmere.

At the Ferry Pool this morning a Kingfisher flew E to W down the length of the pool, and this afternoon at the North Wall, a Hobby flew E and a Spotted Flycatcher was active in the garden S of the horses field, very nice.

Whilst surveying butterflies today 2 Spotted Flycatchers were seen near the Alfriston Road. Then near High and Over 2 Wheatears, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Common Redstart were an added bonus to the Adonis Blues.

Round Hill, No Man's Land and South Downs Way - young buzzards up crying like golden plover, a peregrine standing preening on pasture until forced off by encircling crows, a hobby, five lapwings and bright autumn passerines: redstart (3), whinchat (10), wheatear (18), spotted flycatcher (one) and yellow wagtail (two) besides a host of linnets and goldfinches queuing to drink at a trough.