28th June 2015 Rodmell

Lapwing c.30
Green Sandpiper h

Lapwings at Rodmell



22nd June 2015 Church Norton & Littledene

Hudsonian Whimbrel 1 distant
Whimbrel 2
Terek Sandpiper 1 adult ex.
Mediterranean Gull 1 first-summer
Cuckoo 2

Littledene
Bee-eater 3

 

 

 Adult Terek Sandpiper at Church Norton

First-summer Mediterranean Gull at Church Norton

Bee-eater roosting at Littledene

20th June 2015 Bardsey Island

Manx Shearwater c.100
Red Kite 2 in Wales
Puffin 2
CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING 1 male ex. BOURC/IRBC 527
Chough 5-8

Bardsey Island Lighthouse

Our first visit to Bardsey with the lighthouse compound providing an atmospheric setting to see a major rarity

 

Male Cretzschmar's Bunting on Bardsey Island (top three JFC)

Bardsey Bird Observatory and the gorse-covered hillside (JFC)

Bardsey Lighthouse from the Bird Observatory (JFC)

Farewell to Bardsey Island
A big thank you to the wardens of Bardsey Bird Observatory, Colin the boatman and last but not least to Lee Evans for all his efforts in arranging and running an efficient and effective booking system to enable so many observers to enjoy this superb bird in an orderly manner.

Colin's boat that has ferried nearly 500 birders back and forth to Bardey Island over the last week

Being greeted like this we half-wondered if we were really back at Porth Meudwy!!

14th June 2015 Beachy

Hobby 1

Bee Orchid at Beachy Head Hotel



9th June 2015 Church Norton

Whimbrel 4
Hudsonian Whimbrel 1 Sussex 352
Cuckoo 1

overall buff-brown plumage

fine streaking on the neck and breast

Aquatic Warbler head pattern!

striking boldly-marked head pattern

less coarse patterning on the upperparts

rufous-tinged flank barring

very long-billed with an extensive pink basal area to lower mandible

all dark uppertail-coverts and rump

beautiful cinnamon-barred underwing-coverts and axillaries

 Hudsonian Whimbrel at Church Norton (all fight shots J.F. Cooper)

A truly outstanding find by George Kinnard being not only the first for Sussex but also only the 14th for Britain and Ireland. Many thanks also to Matt Eade for letting us know of it so quickly.
 

Whimbrel at Church Norton

3rd June 2015 Widewater, Shoreham

Red-necked Phalarope 1 female

 

Female Red-necked Phalarope at Widewater

1st June 2015 Barcombe Mills

Red-footed Falcon 1 adult female
Hobby 1
Swift c.100

  

Adult female Red-footed Falcon at Barcombe Mills
Its tail pattern and uniform plain buff underwing coverts age it as an adult