Cissbury Ring and Thorney Island

A busy ringing session at Cissbury with Val and Pete saw us process 116 birds, including seven Siskins, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Firecrest, 79 Blackcaps, two Bullfinches, a Magpie and 17 Chiffchaffs. A redpoll sp overhead was my first of the autumn and the true Siskin count was hard to estimate as flocks were stopping and moving through but was certainly over 150. A Grass Snake was a surprise along one of the paths. I also noted a Marsh Tit, two Ravens, a Grey Wagtail, 11 Meadow Pipits, a few House Martins and Swallows, a Whitethroat, and a male Tawny Owl hooting just before dawn.

I dipped the Pallid Harrier again at Thorney Island in the late afternoon, noting a Greenshank, five Yellow Wagtails, a Kingfisher, a Sandwich Tern, a Curlew, 15 Lapwings, two Little Grebes, etc.

Thorney Island

After work I finally had an opportunity to head to Thorney Island for the Pallid Harrier, though still couldn't stay long. Infuriatingly, the bird was being watched by the crowd as I walked up to the bank but I couldn't get on it and it didn't reappear within the next hour, when I had to go. A Cattle Egret, a Greenshank, a Sandwich Tern, a Cetti's Warbler and gathering of Wigeon and Redshanks were the best on offer.

Thorney Island

A visit out of curiosity more than expectation, I stuck to the north end of the island and didn't pass through the security gates, so it wasn't a particularly adventurous visit. This defnitely seems like a promising autumn venue though and I will be back ready for a longer walk round. Birds included five Black-tailed Godwits, a showy Common Tern, two Mediterranean Gulls, two singing Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Sand Martins, 72 of both Curlew and Redshank, a Cetti's Warbler, three Great Crested Grebes, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, four Swallows, 10 Skylarks, seven Little Egrets, two Reed Warblers, five Meadow Pipits (a couple performing song-flights), two Kestrels, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Whitethroats including fledglings and two Shelduck chicks with their parent.