Is it autumn yet?

It's always tricky to get back into the swing of things after any trip away from home, and returning to the later stages of summer in Sussex after a week away in Spain has proved no exception.

Of course, July can be a very exciting time of year, with spring migration well and truly done and dusted and the first subtle hints of return migration beginning to get into gear as the breeding season starts to wrap up for a lot of species. 

Certainly it felt rather longer than a week we had been away, when one sees how things have progressed in the natural world at this time of year. Take the Purple Emperors at Knepp for example, which were just a fortnight into their season when I was last there at the start of July, and are now already burning out fast like a spent firework as I write this in the third week of the month. 

The birds too are rapidly coming to the end of their various breeding cycles, with the cacophony of song that defines April, May and early June now reduced to just a few bursts, and most migrant species now just content to give their various whistles, tacks, croaks and squeaks in the bushes as we pass.

So it is to this backdrop of summer winding down and autumn just beginning to poke its head above the parapet that we ease into this rather brief summary of a somewhat unspectacular ten-day period of local birding. It's still been good, but don't expect any fireworks!

10th July

Our first full day back in the UK and, after dropping B at nursery, I decided to swing by Pulborough for a quick look at the North Brooks (I didn't have time for the full reserve loop today) which produced a tasty selection of waders: 2 each of Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Avocet, 10 Black-tailed Godwits, at least 8 Little Ringed Plovers and a single Common Sandpiper. 

A short walk and skywatch round the local fields at lunchtime produced a light trickle of Sand Martins moving through, roughly south, and my first UK Painted Lady of the year nectaring on bramble flower. 

11th July

A check of local water bodies today proved fairly quiet. A Common Sandpiper was at a private site, while Burton Mill Pond yielded juvenile Grey Wagtails and Reed Warblers from a quick look in passing. An afternoon check of Waltham Brooks yielded just usual fare.

In fact, the resounding highlight of the day was not a bird but a butterfly - a Brown Argus, to be precise - which briefly alighted on a Viola in our garden at lunchtime, just as I had sat down to eat my sandwich! My first record for the garden here.

Brown Argus

12th July

A sweep of local water bodies today either side of a garden safari at Knepp. The afternoon saw some lively showers moving through with one in particular producing a substantial amount of rain. A private site near Petworth produced a Common Sandpiper and two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, while a Common Sandpiper was also found on the pool at Southlands Farm, West Chiltington on my way back from Knepp.

Common Sandpiper

Knepp itself was good too (it always is, to be fair!) with heard only Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling in trees near the Walled Garden and at least one Spotted Flycatcher about too. 

13th July

Another busy non-birding day but I managed to squeeze out for an hour round the local farmland and a brief look at Waltham Brooks at lunchtime. Highlights included the two White-tailed Eagles soaring together north of Greatham Bridge (the first time I've seen both together for quite some time), at least a dozen Sand Martins feeding over the main lake and a few Swifts trickling south-west. 

14th July

A cool, grey and squally day, more akin to October than mid-July. A whizz round Pulborough this morning proved quite productive, especially for waders. Highlights were 28 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Green Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Avocet. A Grey Wagtail flew over Green Lane as I was walking back to the car park, and around 8-10 each of Sand Martin and House Martin were feeding over Uppertons Field, Fattengates and the South Brooks.

North Brooks looking autumnal

15th July

A particularly autumnal day with severe winds (gusting up to almost 50mph), leading to the cancellation of various summer fayres and other events (Goodwood Festival of Speed included). I was also looking after B all day, so no birding today.

16th July

For the first time in a while I got out early for the loop up the river from home to Waltham Brooks and back past the sewage works. The clear highlight of an otherwise relatively uneventful couple of hours was a Grasshopper Warbler reeling intermittently on the north-western side of Amberley Wildbrooks, just across the river east of Thorndale Bridge. It was hard to pinpoint exactly where it was, given the still blustery wind, but it was unmistakable nonetheless. My first record of the year, taking the local year list to 147 and the 1km area list to 117.

Also of note were a female Teal with six juveniles on the main lake at Waltham Brooks and a family group of Nightingales flitting about and calling constantly in the scrub right next to Thorndale Bridge. There was just a hint of some south-westerly movement of Swifts overhead throughout the session, but still nothing spectacular - still waiting for a really big day for these this summer. A pair of Stonechats were by the railway crossing at Waltham Brooks and there were several juvenile Whitethroats about. 

Stonechat

Despite the wind, there were plenty of butterflies out, even at this early time of day, including a couple of box fresh Peacocks sunning themselves on a fence near home. There seem to be so many of these and Red Admirals about at the moment!

Peacock

17th July

A day where I was all over the place but didn't squeeze in a whole lot of birding. Perhaps the most notable bird of the day was at least one flyover Crossbill (heard only) while I was surveying some private land near North Chailey in East Sussex - only my second record of this species anywhere this year!

At Knepp in the afternoon, the remarkable Turtle Dove summer there continued with a single bird low over the heads of my safari group in the Southern Block - a pleasing Knepp first for one of the staff members present. Also of note here was my first Willow Emerald of the year. 

On the way home a quick look at Southlands Farm in West Chiltington produced a Green Sandpiper, while a family group of 5 Peregrines were noisily flying around over Amberley Station as the female brought back prey. 

Green Sandpiper

18th July

No birding today. 

19th July

An early walk from home out to Waltham Brooks and back proved fairly quiet, aside from the usual fare at the main lake (7 Shoveler, Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail) and 25 Swallows perched on the telegraph wires near home. 

Later in the morning I headed out to the private site near Petworth which produced a single Common Sandpiper and 25 Egyptian Geese, including two striking leucistic individuals. 

Egyptian Geese

On the way home from Knepp in the afternoon I stopped at Southlands Farm to check the pool there, which again held a Green Sandpiper, presumably the same bird from a couple of days ago.  

Fool's Spring

Many of you reading this will have seen that great meme listing the many seasons we experience in the UK among the officially recognised four seasons - Fool's Spring, Second Winter, Spring of Deception, etc.

I think it's fair to say we're hovering somewhere between the latter two right now. When the sun is out it can feel almost spring-like, but when it's been cold in the past couple of weeks, it's felt really cold - not helped by the dominance of north and north-easterly winds. That said, the daylight hours are getting longer by the day now, with birds still singing at 6PM on sunny days, and much evidence of resident species' breeding cycles really getting into gear. As I write this, the first arriving hirundines have been reported on the south coast and we're just days away from the first Wheatears. We're nearly there!

16th February

A grey and drizzly day for the most part, with a strengthening south-westerly wind, didn't exactly fill me with enthusiasm to get out birding today. Nonetheless, I took a stroll over to Waltham Brooks at lunchtime for a brief session there. The number of wildfowl on the main lake had reduced overall since my last visit, but the diversity of species had improved with at least ten Pintail and six Shelduck among the usual Shoveler, Mallard, Wigeon and Teal. A Little Grebe called several times, out of view, while a flock of around 60 Redwings were in the bushes. 

17th February

As I was due to be away up in Yorkshire at the weekend, I headed out early to do my WeBS count at the usual private farm reservoir site. Nothing particularly unusual here although always nice to see and hear a few Yellowhammers which were in fine voice. Most unusual among the Coots and Tufted Ducks on the reservoir was a lone drake Wigeon which was, remarkably, a site tick! It's pretty crazy to think I've had Long-tailed Duck, Grey Plover and Spotted Redshank here in the past twelve months but not Wigeon!

An out of context Wigeon

Egyptian Goose

A quick check of Burton Mill Pond in passing on the way home produced the first Great Crested Grebe I've seen here this year (at last!) along with the usual scattering of Gadwall, Coots and Tufted Ducks.

18th February

The first of two days away visiting family in Yorkshire and I decided to get up early and head up to the Dales to try and find Black Grouse at what I understand to be their most southerly site in England. I got there before first light, in a howling wind (gusting force 8!), not holding out much hope. A scan of likely fields as the sun came up didn't produce much so I started walking down to a public footpath which took me out towards some fine habitat. Several Red Grouse were strutting about on and near the road, and two Dippers flew down the beck by the road. A little while later I stopped to scan some small trees further down the beck and, sure enough, picked up two female Black Grouse perched in one of them. Only my second British record of this iconic species.

Black Grouse

As I walked a bit closer, a third female flew up from the heather ahead of me and disappeared across the moor. No males seen but still a successful visit - especially as I'd never actually seen a female before! Other highlights here included two Curlew, Peregrine, at least six Ravens and at least two Golden Plover calling loudly but not seen.

Red Grouse

19th February

Day two in Yorkshire and a walk up on the fields above Burley in Wharfedale produced a singing Goldcrest, several Siskins, two Red Kites and a flyover Skylark - the latter a West Yorkshire tick for me, according to eBird!

Not much else to report here really apart from a Curlew flying up from fields by the road as we drove towards Otley on the way home.

20th February

Back in Sussex and, after dropping my daughter at nursery, I decided to drop in at Amberley Wildbrooks, entering from near the castle. A large flock of gulls were wheeling about over the castle and I was pleased to pick out at least two adult Mediterranean Gulls among them, my second local record of the year. Out on the wet grassland in front of the castle were at least 200 Lapwing and 120 Wigeon. Further along past the Swamp, a scan to the east of the path produced a female Merlin perched on a bramble clump, quite near the old building out that way. At least 30 Redwings were in the patch of woodland north of the Swamp, with one or two heard softly singing.

Merlin

Working from home later in the day was enlivened by the sight of five Golden Plover flying fast southwest over the house - my second winter record of this species from home, but my first anywhere locally so far in this calendar year.

21st February

A grey and drizzly morning. I happened to be passing Waltham Brooks so dropped in and walked from Greatham Bridge to the main lake and back. Generally pretty quiet here with even fewer ducks on the lake than my previous visit. 8 Pintail were the highlight along with a heard-only Little Grebe.

In the afternoon I took a short walk up to some local high ground I was hoping might be a good spot for future skywatching, and I wasn't disappointed! Although it's only around 50m above sea level, that's quite high enough in this low-lying area to provide a great vantage point over the trees and houses. I could see as far as The Mens to the north, the South Downs to the south and RSPB Pulborough visitor centre to the north-east. I'm excited to head back there when the weather improves!

The view from the new skywatching spot near home

22nd February

Another grey morning with rain at times. I almost didn't go out first thing but decided to head over to Burton Mill Pond for my first proper walk round there for a couple of weeks. In the end, the rain didn't come to much and it was a largely dry session. It was good to see Great Crested Grebes back on both the ponds along with still quite a few Pochard (~15) on Chingford Pond. Wildfowl numbers are steadily ebbing away locally though, with noticeably fewer Gadwall and Tufted Duck here today. The now usual Woodlark was singing over the vineyard on the western side, moving closer to the main Mill Pond as I was leaving, while three Grey Wagtails were chasing each other about near the boat launch jetty. No Great White Egret today although a Little Egret did fly into the trees at the southern end of Chingford Pond. 

Pochards

I didn't manage to get out again later in the day but did note ~180 Lapwings flying southeast towards Amberley Wildbrooks late afternoon, viewed from home.

23rd February

An early morning walk round Pulborough Brooks proved to be quite lively, with a decent selection of waders on the North Brooks (15 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Dunlin and 3 Ruff), a Water Pipit in flight near the dipping area (behind Adder Alley) and a Peregrine and one of the White-tailed Eagles on the South Brooks.

Mid-morning I headed over to Knepp for a bit of work. In addition to the lively activity of the resident White Storks scrapping over their various nests I also noted nine Teal flying up from the ditches and the pond in the stork enclosure, as well as a Knepp tick Lapwing flying over heading east.

24th February

After dropping B off at nursery I dropped in at Waltham Brooks. Again, reduced numbers of wildfowl on the main lake but still ~30 each of Shoveler and Teal, 4 Shelduck and 10 Pintail. Round at the sewage works at least 3 Chiffchaffs were singing, though workmen in the compoud likely disturbed more birds from congregating here. As I was leaving, two Mute Swans flew north. 

Mute Swans

A lunchtime walk around the local farmland was largely quiet except for a lone Snipe flying around over the open fields south of River Lane and Rooks nest building.

25th February

The weather forecast promised a bright but cold start to the day so I headed out for some more local woodland birding. In the event, there wasn't much sunshine at all, so birdsong and woodpecker activity was a little muted. I did find a flock of at least 30 Siskin though and two Woodcock flushed from bracken cover in an area of woodland near Fittleworth.

Later on, Kate, B and I headed to Pulborough for lunch and a walk around. A bit of sunshine early afternoon sadly didn't last and by the time we headed out on the trail, some really menacing dark clouds had rolled in on the baltic northerly wind and delivered some unwelcome sleety rain. The best I could find here in less-than-ideal conditions were 17 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Dunlin and a single Ruff on the North Brooks. 

Today was also notable for being the day I hit 1,000 days on my eBird unbroken checklist streak. Quite a milestone!

26th February

A rather late start this morning saw me heading over to Waltham Brooks in glorious sunshine to meet Ed for some local birding ahead of a few hours working on the book.

We had a decent haul of 50 species in the hour and a half or so we were here, including at least 20 Chiffchaffs at the sewage works, a female Marsh Harrier in flight to the north, and 8 Pintail, 3 Shelduck and a single Little Grebe on the main lake.

Shovelers

The best was saved until last though as, just shy of the gate exiting the reserve on the river bank, Ed picked up a Water Pipit on call, taking flight from the north-western side of Amberley Wildbrooks. In fact, there were three birds together which may have all been Water Pipits, but we unfortunately didn't get enough plumage detail to confirm this. Certainly, the lead bird seemed a little larger, so perhaps just the one with two Meadow Pipits? This was swiftly followed by a male Marsh Harrier quartering in the same airspace as the two immature White-tailed Eagles. As Ed said: 'incredible 1km scenes!' Incidentally, Water Pipit was my 90th species within my 1km from home area so far this year.

On the walk back to mine we tried a likely looking bit of wet woodland for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker but no joy. Perhaps another day!

Lesser Celandine