Photo as a thank you to Mark (and company) for todays sequel, the Sparrowhawks duel; very much at the limit of my 400mm zoom, first time I've seen this amazing site. I also got for the first time an amazing Clouded Yellows duel.

Ten joined me for today's outing (the result of a date typo on the website) at Whitbread Hollow and although sadly yesterday's Grasshopper Warbler was AWOL we found a few that were absent the previous day. A Jay screeched not long after we set off (with another at the Hollow later). From the cliff top we heard an Oystercatcher and saw Herring Gull and a Woodpigeon (first of about a half-dozen). Off-shore a Grey Seal "bottled" for a long while. The walk past the playing field (at least 10 Jackdaw) added singles or doubles of Whitethroat and Blackcap but was not obviously bird busy. A couple of Robin were added and some, with much persistence, found a bright Willow Warbler. Returning to the cliff path we found a male Stonechat and then a Blackbird whilst on the falling tide a Little Egret investigated a rock pool. Further towards Cow Gap a Cetti's Warbler surprised us and Herring Gull (around 100) streamed west (and a Spitfire did several victory rolls). As we crossed to the return path we disturbed a couple of Dunnock and returned to the Hollow. This time we had two Sparrowhawk interacting at length ignoring a Raven that flew by. A bush held a 2 Chiffchaff and a bright yellow Willow Warbler with the yellow echoed in a couple of Clouded Yellow interacting. Here we also added Green Woodpecker and as we made our way back a Kestrel and 2 Goldfinch. My walk list had 24 bird, 7 butterfly and 1 mammal taxa. Once again thanks to everyone for good company and birding.

3 Greenshank, 3 Knot, 9 Whinchat, 5 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 6 Redshank, and a Peregrine around the Cuckmere with Tim S and Barney W.

Wryneck between Beachy Head and Shooters Bottom (refound at 1pm after last being spotted at 10:30), 5 more Whinchat and a possibly Hobby.

Last year 23 joined me for this walk so I was surprised when I couldn't see anybody as I approached the meeting point though 3 others reached there as I did. We waited for a little longer, starting our list with Feral Pigeon, Jackdaw and a Herring Gull before setting off. Occasionally windy (WSW) by the time we reached the playing fields and we had only added a single Whitethroat to the list (but a lot more Jackdaw) and a first 2025 (I think for all) Clouded Yellow. A chat to the ringers who were packing up and I learned they had been expecting us on the 31st but weren't ringing - it was then we discovered the website listed that date for the walk. I am not sure how that occurred (correct date in the Newsletter) and I will go again on the 31st should other members be planning to go on that date! A Sparrowhawk showed close by as we chatted and a little further in the Hollow a Buzzard showed. Continuing our walk along the edge of the hollow a Chiffchaff and a Green Woodpecker called, briefly a 'craking' that proved a mystery, a few more Woodpigeon. Heading toward Cow Gap we were struck by the number of Herring Gull streaming west below the cliff edge (estimating around 300) plus a few Great Black-backed Gull and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull. Also heading west: Grey Heron; Little Egret; Oystercatcher (3) and occasionally a Grey Seal popped up offshore. Looping back to the Hollow I added Blackcap to the list (2 heard constantly 'tikking'), the craking very briefly and the Buzzard flew. A Warbler was well spotted in a bush where it remained partly hidden and preening before eventually diving into the vegetation not to reappear. That is the first time I have had Grasshopper Warbler on the walk's list! (I think good numbers had been ringed a few days earlier.). My walk list finished with 20 plus various butterfly species and Migrant Hawkers. Thanks again to my companions for good company and spotting the best bird of the day.

A wild start to the day prompted a couple of hours seawatching [when windows rain free,] resulting in c40 Gannets and 2 Manx Shearwaters W-these just about annual here. In the afternoon :20 Sandwich Terns W and 10 Gannets in a variety of immature plumages fishing close in.

Evening stop-off at Cockshut wetland on my way home from work, between 19.15 and 20.00. Single Garden Warbler by the underpass; the Green Sandpiper remained, now joined by a Greenshank, alongside at least 3 Little Egret and c. 6 Grey Herons; a showy Reed Warbler in the far reeds and close views of a Cetti's Warbler next to the eastern path, where there were also 2 Linnet. 1 Swift hunting by the line of trees next to the pitches.

Yesterday afternoon I flushed a Grasshopper Warbler up from beside the path in Whillet’s, fortunately it landed briefly in a bush before diving deep inside not to be seen again.
Another was seen behind the dam in Long grass this morning by another observer.

Driving down The Ridings, Poundhill in Crawley this afternoon around 20 Starlings took flight from a front garden,one of which was pure white.

A good morning at Beachy Head - the highlights were 10 Wheatears at Birling Gap, a White Stork over Shooters Bottom and a Spotted Flycatcher there as well.

My wife and I went to Arlington Reservoir on Sunday morning, and were surprised by what appeared to be a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper wading along the edge of the water in the reservoir, amongst the vast swathes of Canada Geese and Greylag Geese. It was feeding alone and was certainly very calm and not frantic like other small to medium sized waders. The bird was cream to pale buff on its breast and underparts, and dark brown and black patterned on its back and wings, with a light eye stripe. It also had pale legs. It was much smaller than the nearby Jackdaw and Black-headed Gull, and I'd say a little larger than a Dunlin. I appreciate that it is now four days on, but if anyone else is able to view this bird, I'll happily be corrected as to what species it is, as we always welcome a second opinion from those with more experience. (I did originally try and submit the sighting on Sunday afternoon, but am posting again.) We saw it from halfway along the dam wall, just on the edge of the exposed ground below the concrete dam slope, at around 11:00.