SOUTH EAST
Highlights
A couple of Kentish Plovers at Capel Fleet, Sheppey (Kent; 8th) were notable, now that species is so scarce in the country. Another ( juvenile) was at Black Point, Hampshire and at Thorney Island, West Sussex (28th-29th), where a juvenile Pallid Harrier was patrolling for a few weeks. An Aquatic Warbler was at Hook-with-Warsash LNR, Hampshire on 11th.
BEDFORDSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Putnoe Wood (29th). Dartford Warblers were at Sandy (19th) and Blows Down (24th-30th). Garganeys were at Broom GP (8th-15th), Priory CP (to 16th) and Marston Vale Millennium CP (18th-22nd). A Little Gull was at Grovebury SP (17th). A White-tailed Eagle flew over Brogborough Hill (6th). An Osprey flew over Sandy Heath (13th).
Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone company access charge. Service provided by Birdline East Anglia. For enquiries please call 0330 333 6946 or 07941 333 970. www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uktwitter.com/BirdlineEAngliafacebook.com/robinchittenden7
BERKSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: A Manx Shearwater was at Theale GP (5th). Cattle Egrets were at Theale GP (21st) and Lower Farm GP (25th-30th). A Wryneck as at Greenham Common (15th).
DINTON PASTURES CP: Highlights included three Great White Egrets (11th), a Pintail (10th), two Water Rails (12th), a Whimbrel (20th), Greenshank (7th) and Redstart (5th).
LOWER FARM GP: There was a Caspian Gull (6th) and White Wagtail (20th-27th). MOOR GREEN LAKES: There was a Shelduck (6th-29th) and White Wagtail (25th).
THEALE GP: Highlights included a Garganey (20th), two Pintails, a Red-crested Pochard (4th-14th) and two Arctic Terns (2nd).
OTHER SITES: A Garganey was at Eton Wick (13th). A Merlin was at Cow Down, West Ilsley (20th). A Greenshank was at Wraysbury GP (2nd). One or two Redstarts were at Crookham Common (1st-13th), Swinley Forest (2nd), Englefield (5th-6th), Greenham Common (4th-15th) and Fobney Meadow, Reading (27th). A Firecrest was at Clayfield Copse, Caversham (27th). Marek Walford (www.berksbirds.co.uk)
HAMPSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: As expected for September, a good variety of rarities and scarcities were seen. An American Golden Plover was at Farlington Marshes (21st-30th), while a Kentish Plover was at Black Point (25th) before settling over the border in Sussex. Also involved in some cross-border movement was a Pallid Harrier that spent most its time on Thorney Island but was seen to fly west into Hampshire (1st). Nearby, a Glossy Ibis was at Sparkes Marina on Hayling Island (20th). An Aquatic Warbler was at Hook-with-Warsash (11th-12th). An Icterine Warbler was at Barton-on-Sea (1st-2nd), followed by another at Farlington Marshes (15th), while a Barred Warbler was at Portsdown Hill (15th) and a Wryneck was at Lower Test (4th). A Sabine’s Gull off Hill Head (29th) was the only notable seawatching report. Scarce waders included a Temminck’s Stint at Bunny Meadows (25th), Pectoral Sandpipers at Farlington Marshes (6th & 10th) and Pennington Marshes (19th) and a Grey Phalarope at Farlington (25th-30th).
Juvenile Curlew Sandpipers were seen in good numbers with maxima of 11 at Farlington and six at Pennington, with others seen at Titchfield Haven, Bunny Meadows and Hayling Oysterbeds. The Pennington area also had up to four Little Stints, with single birds seen at Farlington and Titchfield on several dates each. Cattle Egret sightings decreased, with six over Langstone Harbour (7th) and one at Itchen Abbas (29th) the only reports, while Great White Egrets were at Fishlake Meadows (max. three), Tundry Pond, Lepe, Dogmersfield Lake and Farlington Marshes. Spoonbills were at Pennington (6th) and Titchfield Haven (20th).
A few scarcer winter visitors were seen late in the month, with a Whooper Swan at Fleet Pond (26th-27th) and a Pink-footed Goose at Pennington Marsh (25th). Garganey were seen at Fishlake Meadows, Fleet Pond, Titchfield Haven and Farlington Marshes. Migrant raptors included Honey Buzzards over Four Marks (4th) and North Baddesley (13th), Ospreys at 13 sites and Merlin at four sites, while Short-eared Owls were seen at five sites. Passerines included a Lapland Bunting over Barton-on-Sea (28th), Black Redstarts at Hill Head (7th & 9th) and Hook-with-Warsash (27th), Pied Flycatchers at six sites and Ring Ouzels at four sites Tom Jordan
HERTFORDSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: Two Cranes flew over Tyttenhanger GP (27th). A Gannet flew over there and Wormley West End (27th). An Osprey was at Panshanger Park (1st-8th). Wilstone Reservoir had an Osprey (18th), eight Sandwich Terns (4th) and a Cattle Egret intermittently. A Hen Harrier was at Normansland Common (9th). A Dartford Warbler was at North Mymms Park (28th).
Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone company access charge. Service provided by Birdline East Anglia. For enquiries please call 0330 333 6946 or 07941 333 970. www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uktwitter.com/BirdlineEAngliafacebook.com/robinchittenden7
KENT
HIGHLIGHTS: The Bonaparte’s Gull remained at Oare Marshes until mid-month. Also there was an American Golden Plover (to 9th), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (7th), Curlew Sandpipers, a Sabine’s Gull (19th) and Long-tailed Skua (27th). Dungeness RSPB had a Glossy Ibis, Garganey, Great White Egret, Whinchat, 27 Cattle Egrets, a Little Stint, Black-necked Grebe, Honey Buzzard, Bittern and Little Gull. A Wryneck was at Swalecliffe (4th-9th). A Bee-eater was at St Margaret’s-atCliffe (7th). American Golden Plovers were at Shellness/Swale (3rd-16th) and Sandwich Bay.
Red-backed Shrikes were at Abbot’s Cliff (2nd) and Capel le Ferne (7th). Worth Marsh had two Pectoral Sandpipers (7th-13th), a Barred Warbler (9th-10th), Wood Sandpiper (9th), and Honey Buzzards (9th, 13th & 19th). Two Kentish Plovers were at Capel Fleet (8th). Honey Buzzards were at Langdon Cliffs (9th), Fowlmead CP (11th), Staple (20th), Foreness Point (22nd) and Chillenden (30th). White Storks were at Chartham (10th), Lydden (14th) and Lenham (15th). Long-tailed Skuas passed Foreness Point (17th), Reculver (25th), Shellness/Swale (three on 25th and two on 26th), Oare Marshes (25th) and Herne Bay (26th). Leach’s Petrels passed Tankerton (17th), Foreness Point (four on 26th) and Minnis Bay (27th). Elmley had a Pectoral Sandpiper (18th). A Wryneck was at Broadstairs (19th). A Sabine’s Gull passed Tankerton (26th). An Arctic Warbler was at Pegwell Bay (20th-22nd). A Grey Phalarope passed Reculver (27th), with three at Minnis Bay (28th).
SURREY
HIGHLIGHTS: Wrynecks were at Shackleford (2nd) and Winterfold Heath (21st). An Olive-backed Pipit was at Chobham Common (29th). A White Stork was at Ewell (3rd). A Hoopoe was in a garden at Reigate (4th-8th). A Glossy Ibis was at Tice’s Meadow (17th). A Honey Buzzard flew over Chipstead (17th). A Short-toed Lark was at Shackleford (19th-21st).
SUSSEX
EAST SUSSEX: Two Wrynecks were at Hope Gap, Seaford (2nd), with up to two at Tide Mills (5th-8th), one at Beachy Head (12th-14th), and one at Castle Hill NR (18th). Honey Buzzards went over Brighton (2nd & 20th), one was at Pevensey Levels (13th), and one was over Eastbourne (15th). Cattle Egrets were at Pevensey Levels (up to three). White Storks were seen over Beachy Head and Cuckmere Haven. A Red-footed Falcon was at Ditchling Beacon (11th), with one at Pett Level (14th). An Ortolan Bunting was at Birling Gap (16th). A first-winter Common Rosefinch was at Beachy Head (29th). A juvenile Sabine’s Gull was at Pett Level (29th). A Crane flew past Telscombe Cliffs (30th).
WEST SUSSEX: The juvenile Pallid Harrier remained around Thorney Island (1st-18th), with Cattle Egrets and Ospreys there, a Glossy Ibis (23rd), and a juvenile Kentish Plover (26th-29th). There were up to 39 Cattle Egrets at Pagham Harbour LNR, with a few seen at Arundel WWT. Honey Buzzards were over Pulborough Brooks RSPB (2nd) and Chichester (12th). A first-winter Red-backed Shrike was at Pagham Harbour LNR (5th), with one at Thorney Island (14th-15th). Wrynecks were at Walderton (4th), Church Norton (5th), Middleton-on-Sea (6th), Elmer (7th), Ferring (9th) and Climping (9th).