Bunting Search

 I headed down to Seaford today in search of the Ortolan Bunting that had been reported yesterday evening, it was a hiding to nothing really, they are notorious for rarely staying more than one day!! Add in the fact that when I arrived the head was enveloped in thick fog and I didn't fancy me chances, a bit like looking for a needle in a Haystack except it's not a needle it's another piece of hay and it flew away 4 hours before i started looking for it!!😗😏😲 I'll take away any jeopardy, I couldn't find it and if I have to look at another Linnet in the next 3 months I will probably throttle it!!!  Pretty quiet all round really highlight, was a Lesser Whitethroat in full song at the bottom of Hope Gap and a female Redstart which dived into the bushes before I could get a picture. Notable increase in Common Whitethroats and Blackcaps singing as well! A few pics below 

Misty Gull

Whitethroat in the fog

The first of many, many Linnets, closely examined!

Think you maybe getting the Linnet vibe!

Stonechat 

Starling with lunch,on the cliff

Loved up Linnets

Meadow Pipit, maybe it was the fog but they were a lot less flighty than usual

Shelducks, About 6 flying around the clifftops all  morning

Sparrowhawk

Lesser Whitethroat

Still plenty of Linnets about

Fog slowly lifting but no Belle Tout shot today

Whimbrel, coming out of the Cuckmere, getting me hopes up there might be a few waders about, There wasn't😢

Grey Heron

Little Egret

Oystercatchers

Mullet perhaps!

Stonechat

Greenfinch

Chaffinch

Common Whitethroat several about the Head

Not a bad stroll around, though would have been more fun if the Bunting had hung around!!

Woods Mill

 Having abandoned a planned visit to Pulborough Brooks due to rain, we diverted to Woods Mill as the rain stopped. Bit quiet this late in the morning but we did hear a couple of bursts from a Nightingale a Redstart was calling in the woods but evaded us in the treetops, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Common Whitethroats were also present as was the ever elusive Cetti's Warbler, who we did get eyes on, but was too sneaky for the camera. Stars of a somewhat dull show were the Reed Warblers one of which did show ok! Pair of Sparrowhawks soared above and there were a couple of Jays flying about but a fairly slow visit! Although once again I demonstrated incredible bravery in the face of the ferocious beasts in the back field!  Few of mine and Margie's pics below!

Jay

The path ahead

Margie likes a tree

Common Whitethroat

Beast on the path ahead

Reed Bunting

A Buzzard being escorted from the premises

More beasts!!

The Reed Warbler started off a bit elusive and frankly didn't get much more cooperative, but I winkled a couple of ok shots on manual focus, my eyes appear to be better than I thought!

Pair of Sparrowhawk

Cowslip