Mid-week SOS walk, Cuckmere Haven 11.11.08

Sixteen people joined me on the best morning for weather we have had for a bit, although there still was some strength in the south-westerly wind to say the least. This would keep most birds heads down for the whole morning but it was not quite as bad as I had expected 24 hours earlier.
It [...]

Hawfinch at Exceat, 9 Nov

A Hawfinch was a nice surprise for Alan Kitson at Exceat on Sunday (via SOS sightings).
There are no reliable local spots for this species, as far as I’m aware, and generally the only records are of odd ones passing through, usually on the coast. It would be great to have a wintering party – somewhere [...]

Merlin, Peregrine, Ring Ouzel + poss Goshawk

Report for Sunday 9 November from Peter Davies:
A large, buzzard-sized raptor disappeared elegantly off the edge of Lullington Heath into Friston Forest, suggesting female Goshawk.
Previously a Merlin failed to take a skylark north of the heath, and a male Peregrine gave two close sightings near Littlington.
A Ring Ouzel was present in Charleston Bottom feeding on [...]

Black Reds, Ouzel and Dartford + Cetti’s

Lots of late autumn migration this weekend. In our area, a couple of Black Redstarts at Newhaven Tidemills this morning (Jon Curson), a Ring Ouzel and a Dartford Warbler at Hope Gap (Mack Burnside).
Meanwhile, a count of 3-4 Cetti’s Warblers between Southease and Rodmell was notable, as was an upstream Rock Pipit (Liam and Jon Curson).
(both via SOS [...]