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.
