SOUTH EAST

Highlights

Rarities this month in the

South East included a Long-billed Dowitcher at Cliffe Pools RSPB, and Bonaparte’s Gull at Oare Marshes NR, both Kent; and a Tawny Pipit over Beachy Head, East Sussex.

BEDFORDSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS:

Pectoral Sandpipers were at Grovebury SP (17th-18th) and at Brogborough landfill pools (18th-20th). Also at Grovebury SP was a Black Tern (6th) and Little Stints (13th and 17th). Pied Flycatchers were near Langford (11th), and at Brogborough Hill (12th-17th and 19th). A Garganey was at Marston Vale Millennium CP (24th).

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.uk twitter.com/BirdlineEAnglia facebook.com/robinchittenden7

BERKSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS:

A Hen Harrier was at Compton Downs (1st-6th), with a Honey Buzzard (5th). Red-backed Shrikes were at Eldridge Park (5th) and Crookham Common (12th). Nine Black Terns were at Theale GP (9th). Lower Farm had a Caspian Gull (17th-28th), two Yellow-legged Gulls (28th) and two White Wagtails (17th). A Wryneck was at Greenham Common (3rd-12th). Ruff were at Sulhampstead Abbots (7th) and Theale GP (13th-20th).

Ospreys were at Fleethill Farm (8th and 19th-20th). Great White Egrets were at Lower Farm and Fleethill Farm throughout. A Barn Owl was at Swallowfield (26th). Theale GP had a Ruddy Shelduck, Sandwich Tern, Shag and three Pintails. Lea Farm and Lavell’s Lake had a Knot (25th), eight Whinchats, a Black-tailed Godwit, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Hobby and Wheatear.

Moor Green Lakes/Fleethill Farm had a Water Rail, three Hobbies, a Garganey and Pintail. Greenham and Crookham Commons

held four Redstarts, two Whinchats, two Lesser Whitethroats, seven Wheatears, two Yellow Wagtails, two Tree Pipits, five Wood Larks and a Short-eared Owl. Fobney Meadows had two Redstarts, a Spotted Flycatcher, two Water Rails and a Hobby.

Elaine Charlson

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS:

Glossy Ibises were at Little Marlow GP (9th) and Floodplain Forest (from 22nd). A Garganey was at Calvert (20th). A Marsh Harrier flew over Rowsham (20th). Ospreys were at Great Brickhill (5th-8th), Waddesdon (5th) and Willen Lakes (13th). A Woodlark flew over Tattenhoe (22nd).

CALVERT JUBILEE:

There was a Little Gull (10th) and Bittern (20th).

DORNEY COMMON:

Suitable flooding attracted a Black-tailed Godwit (6th-10th), Ringed Plover (14th) and Ruff (21st-26th).

FLOODPLAIN FOREST:

There was a Great White Egret throughout, a Ruddy Shelduck, and a Ruff (25th).

LITTLE MARLOW GP:

There was a Greenshank (1st-4th), a Caspian Gull (4th), up to three Pintails (24th-29th), a Knot (9th-10th) and a Dunlin (14th).

OTHER SITES:

Two Caspian Gulls were at Bletchley. A Mediterranean Gull was at Foxcote Reservoir (3rd). A Pintail was at Gayhurst Quarry (5th), when a Greenshank was at Gallows Bridge (5th). A Wood Sandpiper flew over Rowsham (8th). Willen Lake had two Black Terns (10th-11th). Two Sandwich Terns were at Watermead Lake (15th). A Great White Egret was at Caldecotte Lake (22nd). Merlins were at Chalfont St Giles (22nd) and Drayton Beauchamp (30th). Tree Pipits were at three sites (4th-16th). A Redwing was at Wapseys Wood (9th), with two other sightings later in the month. There were good numbers of Common and Green Sandpipers, Whinchats, Wheatears, Redstarts, Spotted Flycatchers and Yellow Wagtails. Swifts and Common Terns departed. Jim Rose (www.bucksbirdclub.co.uk)

HERTFORDSHIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: A Wryneck was behind the Old Chequers (5th). Two Pied Flycatchers were at Pishiobury Park, Sawbridgeworth (2nd), with others at Amwell (4th) and Potters Bar (7th). Fifteen Black Terns were at Boxmoor (6th). Two were at Wilstone Reservoir (4th) and another (5th). Two Black-necked Grebes were there (5th).

A Gannet flew over Sawbridgeworth (25th), with presumably the same bird at Hilfield Park Reservoir (26th). A Garganey was at Rye Meads on and off (7th-17th). An Osprey flew over St Albans (24th).

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.uk twitter.com/BirdlineEAnglia facebook.com/robinchittenden7

KENT HIGHLIGHTS:

Cliffe Pools had a Long-billed Dowitcher, two Curlew Sandpipers, a Little Stint and Cattle Egret (1st). Oare Marshes had a Bonaparte’s Gull (from 3rd), three Garganeys (3rd-10th), two Ospreys (10th-11th), and two Curlew Sandpipers plus a Little Stint (11th). A Red-throated Pipit flew over Worth Marsh (18th). Dungeness NNR had a Wryneck (1st-3rd), Leach’s Petrel, two Balearic Shearwaters and three Sooty Shearwaters (27th). An Icterine Warbler was at Leysdown-on-Sea (4th).

Dungeness RSPB had a Glossy Ibis, three Garganeys (1st-9th), seven Great White Egrets, Honey Buzzards (3rd and 21st), three Spoonbills (9th), a White-winged Black Tern and Black Tern (20th) and four Cattle Egrets (22nd). Wrynecks were at Abbot’s Cliffe (one or two, 3rd-5th), North Foreland (2nd-5th), Langdon Cliffs (3rd), Leysdown-on-Sea (4th), Elmley (5th), Pegwell Bay (6th-7th) and Seasalter (8th). A Grey Phalarope was at Faversham Creek (4th).

Barred Warblers were at Foreness Point (7th) and Worth Marsh (7th-10th). Honey Buzzards flew over South Foreland, Dover, Ash, Tilmanstone (5th), St Margaret’s at Cliffe (7th), Dungeness NNR (16th), Langdon Cliffs (18th), Bapchild (21st), Elmley (23rd) and Sandwich Bay (25th). Worth Marsh had a Purple Heron (8th), White Stork (12th), two Pectoral Sandpipers (17th-20th) and a Spotted Redshank (21st). There were 45 White Storks over Greatstone-onSea (12th). A Black Kite flew over Lydd (13th). A Glossy Ibis was at Stodmarsh (23rd-30th). A Rose-coloured Starling was at Hythe (28th-29th). A Glossy Ibis was at Cooling Marshes (16th). A CornCrake flew over Folkestone (11th).

LONDON HIGHLIGHTS:

The Ruddy Shelduck remained at Brent, as did the Black-necked Grebe at Wanstead and Garganey at Barnes. Garganeys were also at Hackbridge, King Georges Reservoir and Brent. A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Barnes (12th-30th). Wood Sandpipers were at Hackbridge (2nd-12th) and Dagenham (21st). Little Stints were at King George’s Reservoir, Lockwood Reservoir, Barnes and Brent. An Iceland Gull was at Becton (19th). A Gannet was at Wanstead (26th).

Pied Flycatchers were at Highbury, Alexandra Palace, Wanstead, Dagenham, Camberwell, Primrose Hill, Regents Park, Wandsworth, Stoke Newington, Harold Hill and Totteridge. Whinchats were at Hayes and Alexandra Palace (1st), Lockwood Reservoir (2nd), Wanstead (3rd), Richmond (5th), Hackbridge (9th) and Woolwich (12th). Honey Buzzards were at Hackbridge and Greenford (5th), and Southall (18th). Hobbies were at Regents Park (1st) and Barnes (21st). An Osprey flew over Chessington (1st). A Peregrine was over Streatham (16th). A Short-eared Owl was at Wanstead (21st). Arctic Terns were at Lockwood (2nd) and Crossness (5th-6th). A Bittern was at Crossness (2nd). Black Terns were at Walthamstow (1st) and King Georges (5th). A Common Scoter was at Lockwood (2nd). Wrynecks were at Wanstead (4th-6th) and Harold Hill (5th).

There was a Guillemot at Becton (19th) and Puffin at Barnes (22nd). A Spoonbill was at Bedfordshire Park (20th). A Spotted Crake was at Hackbridge (5th-7th). Rowell

Matthew SURREY HIGHLIGHTS:

Tice’s Meadow had a Garganey (1st-11th), Great White Egret (4th-8th), two Spotted Redshanks (4th), a Curlew Sandpiper (4th), three Arctic Terns (5th), Ospreys (10th and 12th), a Black Tern (10th) and a Little Stint (15th). A Wryneck was at Ewell (5th). A White Stork flew over Bisley (10th). A Pied Flycatcher was at Capel (5th), with an Osprey there (11th). Ospreys were also at Banstead Heath and Bramley (13th) and Chilworth (27th). Six Hawfinches flew over Leith Hill (1st), with one over Reigate (23rd). A Ring Ouzel and Tree Pipit flew over Leith Hill (16th).

SUSSEX EAST SUSSEX:

A Tawny Pipit flew over Beachy Head (19th). Wrynecks were at Cuckmere Haven (two, 1st-3rd), Beachy Head (3rd-4th), Sheepcote Valley (5th), West Rise Marsh (13th) and Hastings CP (13th). Honey Buzzards were at High and Over (3rd), Beachy Head (4th-5th, 18th, 21st and 25th), Brighton (two on 6th and 18th, and one on 8th), Heathfield (7th) and Hove (21st). A Hoopoe flew west at Seaford Head (15th). Rye Harbour had a Pectoral Sandpiper (15th-29th), plus a Black-necked Grebe and Garganey (16th).

At least 40 White Storks flew over Hove (16th), with 24 at Crowborough (18th), 20 at Wadhurst Park Lake (27th), two at Seaford (21st), three at Bexhill (22nd), and singles at Pevensey Levels (17th), Norman’s Bay (17th-18th) and Beachy Head (20th). A Rose-coloured Starling was at Brighton (21st).

WEST SUSSEX:

A Greater Short-toed Lark was at Climping (16th). Pagham Harbour and Sidlesham Ferry had a Red-backed Shrike (5th-12th), Osprey (13th) and Purple Heron (12th and 24th-26th). A Red-backed Shrike was at Thorney Island (22nd). Wrynecks were at Climping (2nd-5th), Findon (8th), Pulborough (14th) and Lancing (19th). Pulborough Brooks had a Pectoral Sandpiper (12th-21st), two Garganeys (13th) and a White-tailed Eagle (18th). A Honey Buzzard flew over Arundel (12th). Two White Storks went over Sidlesham Ferry (16th), with an apparent Hen Harrier/Pallid Harrier hybrid there (28th). A White-tailed Eagle was at Amberley Wild Brooks (18th, 23rd and 27th). A Red-rumped Swallow was at Littlehampton (5th).