More birds around East Sussex

Just a few more photos taken around Gallop's Farm and Cissbury Ring. The pair of Red Kites were pushed off their perch by a Buzzard, which surprised me, given that they are larger birds.

220 species before the end of September.

I finally connected with Rock Pipit for the year list - two at Shoreham Fort. Surprisingly hard to pin down among the gravel and flotsam, but quite confiding once located!

Findon: our cottage and surrounding area

This has been our third stay at Gallop's Farm in East Sussex, spending a few days with Linda's Mum: as previously, the cottage was delightful: clean, warm, modern and comfortable, with Red Kites and Buzzards virtually ever-present. Nearby are some terrific wildlife habitats: Cissbury Ring, Pulborough Brooks and the various seafronts at Shoreham, Worthing and Climping.

The farm has resident Barn and Little Owls, as well as some charming pigs that are more than happy to dispose of kitchen scraps!

Long-tailed Blue and Clouded Yellow butterflies.

A visit to Worthing seafront was instantly rewarded with good, close views of both of these rare species: at least one of the CLs was of the helice race: visibly paler on the upper wing (of which I didn't manage a photo!)

A really friendly bunch of butterfly-enthusiasts, who were ever-ready to call out when a butterfly was located.

Cissbury Rings and Findon

A brief walk to  the top of the Iron Age hill fort at Cissbury Rings was disappointing, with absolutely no birds (apart from corvids) on offer: the views were spectacular, though.

The driveway up to Gallop's Farm was much more productive, with Stonechat, Whinchat and Wheatear, while Kites and Buzzards were everywhere!

Sussex birding

A visit to Findon in East Sussex provided a few opportunities to connect with the local wildlife, with Worthing Beach, Pulborough Brooks and Knepp not far away. (Unfortunately the 100 or so White Storks at the latter had just departed south when we dropped in!)

Pulborough was productive as usual, although since many of the pools had dried up, most birds were fairly distant: our cottage at Findon had views over the Downs and Red Kites and Buzzards were ever-present.