Sunday 23 June 2019

Cissbury Ring and Medmerry RSPB

During a morning's ringing at Cissbury, singles of Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat were in song and flyovers included two Ravens, 15 Swifts, three Swallows and a Grey Heron. We also noted two Bullfinches and two Whitethroats. The best catch was a juvenile Treecreeper.

juvenile Treecreeper at Cissbury Ring

I planned on heading to Cliffe Pools for the Marsh Sandpiper but ended up helping Ingrid on the allotment for a few hours before heading to Medmerry to listen to (and maybe see) the Quail. I didn't manage to lay eyes on it but there was no problem hearing the bird! This quest became rather secondary when Mike Booker pointed out a distant 'Marsh Harrier' which turned out to be a 2cy female Montagu's Harrier! After a relatively short initial view, the bird pitched down and an anxious wait followed as locals arrived. Thankfully, it went on to show very nicely for much of the following hour.

The evening held a third Sussex year-tick, with a mobile and vocal Green Sandpiper. A Spoonbill was a nice bonus and 11 Black-tailed Godwits, a distant singing Cuckoo, a few Mediterranean Gulls, a Cetti's Warbler, three Yellowhammers, two Reed Warblers and a Reed Bunting were among the other species logged.







2cy female Montagu's Harrier at Medmerry RSPB