Little Egret 1 non-br seen twice in flight
Grey Heron c.3
Mute Swan c.25
Greylag Goose c.12 flew over heading towards Glynde
Canada Goose c.5 flew north
Teal 5 on river before moving to a nearby ditch
Mallard 4 flew north
Hen Harrier 1 male flew north at 4.30pm. Broad black wingtips formed by all-dark outer primaries contrasting with pale grey upperparts and large white rump. Underparts whiter with grey trailing edge. Ex.
Buzzard 2 (pair). Male noticeably smaller than female. Male a very dark individual with dark underwing-coverts, greyish flight feathers contrasting with dark trailing edge and primaries. Upperparts all-dark with a few pale shafts to the basal two-thirds of the outer primaries. Female considerably larger with palish underwing-coverts contrasting with dark carpal patches and dark belly. Upperside of primaries had a few pale shafts to the basal two-thrids of the outer primaries Appeared quite pale-headed. Upper side of tail had a few whitish shafts to the outer tail feathers and a slightly rufous tinge. Almost resembled a juv. Long-legged Buzzard in many respects! Clearly interacting with male and a short presumed display flight seen by one of the birds - wings closed and undulating flight.
Rough-legged Buzzard 1 juv. prolonged views seen to fly from Firle to Mt. Caburn at c.2pm where it spent 30 minutes often hanging in the upwind (only hovered once) before flying across river to area of the small hill north of Rodmell where hovered continuously and was present for next hour being seen preening (including its tail) whilst sat on the ground, perched atop hawthorn bushes etc. Very pale headed appearing creamy. Pale breast contrasted with large black belly-patch. Pale trousers. Upperparts brown. In flight had a very pale leading edge to the arm and almost white ‘headlights’ at the carpals and very pale buffy-headed. Upperwings with large pale area comprised of the pale primary bases contrastinting with the black primary tiops. Coverts paler with dark carpal patches. Basal two-thirds of tail white with some darker shafts contrasting with broad dark terminal band. Undersides of wings gave very clean white impression with obvious black carpal patches. Coverts slightly buff. Black tips to primaries and diffuse trailing edge. A very impressive bird.
Kestrel c.5
Peregrine 1-2
Pheasant 1
Water Rail 2h
Moorhen c.10
Coot 1
Lapwing c.500
Woodcock 1 probable whilst driving over Ditchling Beacon at dawn - glimpsed as flew across road.
Redshank 2
Black-headed Gull c.10
Common Gull c.5
Herring Gull c.5
Woodpigeon c.5
Green Woodpecker h
Meadow Pipit c.35
Pied Wagtail c.5
Stonechat c.3
Fieldfare c.100
Redwing 12
Magpie 2
Rook 1
Starling c.50
Greenfinch c.3
Goldfinch c.8
Reed Bunting c.8
