Finches and Autumn Lady Tresses, Seaford Head

The winter bird-feeding field at Seaford Head was full of Goldfinches and some Linnets.

Linnet

Most excitingly, my long search for Autumn Lady Tresses finally ended. There must have been over fifty flower spikes across the managed grassland in the nature reserve.

Also intersting to see was the tiny Autumn Gentian, a new species for me.

 

Firle Beacon and Heighton Hill

A lovely, if rather windy, 5.5 mile loop from the car park above Firle.

Dozens of Yellow Wagtails among the sheep and cattle. They were scarred off by a hunting Hobby.

The Hobby (top) was itself then chased off by a group of corvids.

Hummingbird Hawkmoths

Common Darters

Common Blue

A splendid pair of Wheatear skipped along a fence, just infront of us as we walked over Heighton Hill.

One of two Red Kites

Strumpet Bottom

One of several Devil's Coach Horses we saw on the paths

 

Common Blues, Birling Gap

 

Red-necked Phalarope, West Rise Marsh

Species number 126 at West Rise Marsh was worth a second try!
 

Grey Seals, Beachy Head

 

Black-necked Grebe, West Rise Marsh

My second of the year at West Rise Marsh. No luck finding the reported Red-necked Phalarope, which was, of course, refound after I had left.
 

Rye Harbour

Sanderling

Oystercatchers

An early Autumn visit on a gloriously sunny day. The lagoons were quiet, but held some interesting birds. The highlight has to be watching different waders feed along the edge of the incoming tide.

More Oystercatchers, with some other waders.

Curlew Sandpipers

Ringed Plover

Dunlin

Turnstone

Sanderling

Sanderling and Ringed Plover

Dunlin

Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover and Dunlin

Little Egret

Cormorant, with a Herring Gull

Little Grebe, in alarmingly green water.

Redshank

Great Crested Grebe

House Sparrow

Some record shots:

Two distant Knott

Spotted Redshank

A Grey Heron, which looks like it has just eaten an Eel