Wednesday 9 September 2020

Worthing, Beachy Head and Ferring Rife

While I had a quick cup of coffee in the garden first thing, before heading out, I had seven Siskins, a Yellow Wagtail, three Grey Wagtails and a Meadow Pipit fly over.

Phil and I then spent the morning at Beachy Head, which was relatively quiet but made for a nice change of scenery and a satisfying walk. Most migrants were overhead, with a Tree Pipit, 24 Siskins, 15 Yellow Wagtails, 180 Meadow Pipits, 285 Swallows, seven Sand Martins and 40 House Martins. However, a female Redstart, a Lesser Whitethroat and 13 Whitethroats were among the birds in the bushes. A Peregrine, two Ravens, 16 Stonechats, three Fulmars, seven Kestrels, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard and 21 Oystercatchers were also seen.

We later followed up news from Clive Hope of a Wryneck at Ferring Rife but the bird had clearly either moved on or gone to ground. Gareth joined the search too. Five Mediterranean Gulls flew by, along with three Little Egrets, and two Turnstones were on the beach. A Sandwich Tern flew past offshore, six Swallows flew over and a couple of Chiffchaffs were in the bushes.