The calm sunny weather today encouraged the migrants to show themselves. The bird of the day was a superb Wryneck which showed very well during the late afternoon. Other birds of note included 3 Redstarts, 6 Whinchats, 4 Spotted Flycatchers and 1 Pied Flycatcher. Then at 14.45 the Osprey brought back a large mullet it had caught out in the harbour and landed on its usual fence post on the Great Deeps. (Barry & Margaret Collins).

A walk around the entire island produced two Ospreys with one consuming a fish on a post at The Deeps in the afternoon. Eight Wheatears were frequenting the rocks on the west side of the Island and a Curlew Sandpiper was with four Dunlin near the memorial benches along with flocks of Golden Plover and Grey Plover still resplendent in their summer plumage.

Hobby seen above the church today, with 2 swallows in close attendance. Three spotted flycatchers, several chiffchaffs and a redstart all seen in the hedges and trees around the graveyard.

Whilst on a walk near Weir Wood we saw an osprey sitting in a tree at approx 1pm, it was sitting there for a good 5 mins but we did not see it fly in so unsure how long it had been there. Other birds of seen were blue tits, chaffinches, nuthatch, buzzard and sparrowhawk.

A juvenile Montagu's Harrier hunting over long grass near The Bostle between Woodingdean and Rottingdean. Viewed for over half an hour. Thanks to the chap who identified it instantly while we procrastinated. It had more angular wings than a Hen Harrier, with a lighter frame. A quick google search of the two left me in little doubt. It was joined by up to six Kestrels on the same hillside.

Really good walk over Blackcap, Mt. Harry, Lewes Old Racecourse and Ashcombe this morning. Started with a pair of Bullfinches, not a common sight these days, then 5 Buzzards together over the N scarp below Blackcap, they drifted off NW. Lots of Swallows hawking over the grassland on top of the Downs, with smaller numbers of House Martins. Not too many other migrants but did find 8-10 Chiffchaffs, a couple of Blackcaps, several Whitethroats and a single Spotted Flycatcher. Three Wheatears on fence posts by rough pasture. But perhaps best of all, a single Red Kite was languidly quartering near the stables and gallops at Lewes old racecourse, definitely no wing tags, this is the first time I've come across one in this area. Terrific views for several minutes. Yesterday (29th), at the County Ground in Hove, whilst waiting for play to resume after rain, ca. 17.45, a rather splendid flypast from a Peregrine enlivened proceedings!

The HOOPOE was showing well again at Climping this morning, though a little patience was sometimes required. (Many thanks indeed to the charming occupiers of Atherington cottage, who allowed a group of us in to see the bird on their lawn, and even provided coffee while we waited!). My walk around the circuit produced a nice fem/imm Merlin, 70 Yellow Wagtails, 20 Whitethroats, 20 Willow Warblers and 90 Linnets, plus small numbers of other regular migrants.

The Eastbourne & District RSPB Local Group's indoor meetings resume on Wednesday 1st September at St. Wilfrid's Church Hall, Eastbourne Road, Pevensey Bay, with an illustrated talk by the Regional Director, Chris Corrigan, entitled 'The RSPB in the South-East'. Light refreshments are served during the interval. Starts 2.15pm, then repeated at 7.30pm. Please ring Ian Muldoon (01273 476852) for directions and further details.

The HOOPOE still at Atherington early morning today. (www.birdguides.com).

Cold and windy up on the escarpment early this morning, and few birds were showing themselves. But a second go at scrub west of the Beacon car park revealed a Firecrest, plus a couple of Wheatears. In the same area, a (presumed) family group of four Buzzards, a few Red-legged Partridges still chuntering and a single hare lying in the sun. Yesterday, at least 30 Yellow Wagtails, half going over, the rest disturbed from a field of cattle. (via Firle Birds).

Fewer migrants present even accounting for the strong W/NW wind which made them harder to find. Hobby 1, Sand Martin 15, Swallow 600, House Martin 15, Yellow Wagtail 47W, Redstart 2, Whinchat 3, Wheatear 7, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 13, Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 3, Willow Warbler 6, Chiffchaff 4, Spotted Flycatcher 1 and Raven 2. (John King & Richard Fairbank).

Twenty-one members joined Margaret and I for a walk around Thorney Island today. Migrants were keeping their heads down in the strong NW winds and were hard to find but despite this we still found some good birds. Five species of raptor were noted and included 8 Common Buzzards, 2 Peregrines, 4 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk and bird of the day for all of us were 2 Ospreys which showed very well. We also record 16 species of wader and the highlight of these was an impressive flock of 70 Greenshank and 300 Curlew roosting at Thorney Deeps during the high tide period. Other birds of note included 5 Wheatears, 3 Whinchats, 2 Cetti's Warblers calling from the reed bed, 1 juvenile Black Tern, 12 summering Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 Spotted Flycatcher plus 17 Common Seals hauled up on the mudflats near Marker Point. (Barry & Margaret Collins).

A visit to Church Norton this morning produced the usual migrants including 3 Spotted Flycatchers and a Garden Warbler around the church and hide. We walked from The Severals just after 10am in the vague hope of a Wryneck when an unusual wader flew over our heads into the muddy pools by the paddock field. We relocated it with a scope and discovered we had found a PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Having paged it, many birders enjoyed our find. A digiscoped record shot is attached.

Fifteen Brent Geese first of the autumn for me (but see above - Ed) seen this morning at 11.30 from Chidham looking towards Thorney. Also ca. 100 Ringed Plover on mud. Yesterday ca. 150 Grey Plover between Itchenor and West Wittering beach.

The Greenshank still on the Adur at Shoreham this morning north of the toll bridge.

Hobby low over Ardingly School around 3pm this afternoon heading towards the reservoir dodging the heavy showers.

Image of the PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Church Norton this morning.

At east end of Arlington Res this morning lots of lovely migrants, notably two wheatears, five whinchats, four redstarts (photo attached of one believed to be adult male) and eight spotted flycatchers, all splendid to behold, and a kingfisher too and a hobby having a go at a sand martin; two ringed plovers and four common sandpipers were along the shore.

At Whitbread Hollow today: 2 Sand Martins, 200 Swallows, 75 House Martins, 1 Redstart, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 5+ Reed Warblers, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 50 Whitethroats, 9+ Garden Warblers, 100 Blackcaps, 20 Chiffchaffs and 15 Willow Warblers.

Went looking for the HOOPOE late afternoon (5.00 - 7.45pm) and after two and a half hours prowling around the horse's field (drew a blank there) and the bungalows, it flew across the road over the left hand bungalow lawn and disappeared into the shrubs. Fifteen mins or so later it flew back and landed on the right hand property's lawn where I sneaked a look between the trees and bushes getting a very blurred photo. Rang my hubby who came hot-foot over. After a short wait the Hoopoe did a fly round for us! Whilst searching, I spotted a Flycatcher (Spotted) at the back of the field next to the left hand bungalow. Pic attached.