West Sussex - warm, dry and sunny, SW 3 - We spent the weekend based at our Kate`s in Rustington during which time I did three early morning viz migs of an hour each on the beach at West Kingston. The overhead passage comprised a steady trickle of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails heading west along with a few Skylarks, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Grey Wagtails and, this morning, Redwings, about 100 in total and my first of the autumn. Along the foreshore Turnstones and Oystercatchers were common place, plus a flock of 20 Ringed Plovers and two Sanderlings yesterday.
Amberley Wild Brooks - On Sunday I spent the day on the Brooks, a superb wetland area in the Arun flood plain nestled beneath the South Downs, that I last visited in the winter when the Wey South Path between Amberley and Greatham Bridge was flooded and virtually impassable, but not so yesterday. Raptors were much in evidence with six species noted including a superb White-tailed Eagle from the Isle of Wight reintroduction scheme that had two Red Kites in close attendance as the eagle flew between its favoured oak tree perches out in the Brooks. Another two kites were noted elsewhere along with several Common Buzzards and Kestrels and singles of Sparrowhawk and Marsh Harrier. The carr woodland held a flock of 30 Siskins, 20 Goldfinches, several Jays, Treecreepers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Cetti`s Warblers. The open fields were alive with grounded Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Linnets and Reed Buntings, while the drainage ditches held Little Egrets, Grey Herons, at least one Great White Egret and a Water Vole sighting, a critter I haven`t seen for ages. At the other extreme of the mammal spectrum, Fallow Deer were everywhere, I must`ve seen well over hundred animals. Also had distant views of 30 odd White Storks soaring high overhead from the nearby Knepp Estate. In the afternoon I walked the woodlands at Rackham where a range of arboreal birds included Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit and a smart Firecrest. From the various viewpoints I had further views of the eagle out on the Brooks. A cracking days birding, and I only met one other birder all day!
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