07/09/2026

I'm hoping the sea watching will pick up this week, there are already many Sandwich Terns off shore with attendant Arctic Skuas moving in and out of the bay, looking at the some of the numbers of Skuas reported I'm sure some of them are being double counted as follow the Terns in and out of the bay with the tide, anyway they are still good to see.

Yellow Wagtail Jurys Gap

I've been spending a bit of time around The Midrips and Jurys Gap recently, as I usually have it to myself,  I'm hoping to re-locate the American Golden Plover to no avail so far, lots of Yellow Wagtails, Wheatears and Hirundines, a few waders and the first Black-necked Grebe of the autumn.

Whimbrel Jurys Gap

Wood Sandpiper from Firth

Firth today was much quieter than of late, 3 Little Stints, Wood and Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Ruff, Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Unfortunately the WWBT seems to have left us but 3 Black Terns remain.

Spotted Flycatchers and Lesser Whitethroat at the top of Long Pits Yesterday

A Wheatear that visited my garden this lunchtime

Wheatear

Wheatear

04/09/2026

First thing this morning another visit to Jurys Gap wasn't the best choice, I located the Golden Plover flock easily enough, but due to the very strong wind they were all hunkered down in ruts or behind the sparse vegetation and quite distant, despite multiple scans of the flock I was unable to pick out anything different.

After a late breakfast I visited the ARC Hanson hide arriving just before a fast moving rain storm started. As the rain cleareda message came through that Tom had spotted a Grey Phalarope feeding off the fishing boats, I was soon there and after short wait I spotted it albeit quite distantly making a short a flight, which it another 6 times before it disappeared, not the most satisfying of views but i'll take it. While I was there a Balearic Shearwater made a fairly close flyby and 2 Caspian Gulls were on the beach. Another visit to the fishing boats early-mid afternoon saw very little of note.

Juvenile/1w Caspian Gulls at the fishing boats late morning

Mid afternoon at Burrowes saw at least 8 Black Terns and the White-winged Black Tern, a juvenile Little Gull, a Little Stint, 4 Ruff, 2 Greenshank, a Wood Sandpiper and several Common Sandpipers.

Over the road at the southern end of the ARC another juvenile Little Gull was showing quite well among at least 4 Black Terns.

Juvenile Little Gull at the ARC late afternoon

Juvenile Little Gull at the ARC late afternoon

Adult Black tern at the ARC late afternoon

Juvenile White-winged Black Tern in front of Firth mid afternoon

01/09/2026

Short-eared Owl over the old sandpit

No sign of yesterdays Red-necked Phalarope at the Jurys Gap Sandpit this morning, but compensation in the form of a Short-eared Owl that flew over towards Camber. The few bushes there held lots of Willow Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats and a couple of Blackcaps.

Red-backed Shrike

I found a Red-backed Shrike just north of the trapping area late morning. Late afternoon Jacob found a Wryneck in the same place, both birds were still present at dusk. Also there today Many Sylvia Warblers and Willow Warblers.

At the ARC 3+ Garganey, 2 Black Terns, a Little Gull, 2 Wood Sandpipers, several each of Ruff and Common Sandpiper along with usual wildfowl.

From Firth, the White-winged Black Tern still present today with 4 Black Terns, 3 Greenshank, 4+ Ruff, 2 Little Stints, a Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpipers.

Willow Warbler

Common Whitethroat

30/31/08/2026

A few of the many images I took of the confiding Red-necked Phalarope I came across on my early afternoon visit to the Jurys Gap Sandpit, East Sussex today. Also Wood Sandpiper, Ruffs, Common Sandpipers and a juvenile Black Tern.

1 of 2 Whinchats along the fence line of Flat Pit, East Sussex, also 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 5 Ruff.

Definitely just a record image of a Storm Petrel passing the sea watch hide yesterday  morning

Balearic Shearwater passing the fishing boats yesterday

The Images below were taken yesterday, the Terns were still present today plus a nice suite of waders. At the ARC nothing much has changed, Garganeys still present and good suite of waders present

34 Knot, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a Dunlin and a Juvenile Black Tern at Firth yesterday

Juvenile Black Tern from Firth

Juvenile White-winged Black Tern from Firth

Whimbrel from Firth

29/08/2026

Excellent day totals from todays sea watching, Well done to the guys and girls who put in a long shift, I have to admit that I was only present for a couple of hours this afternoon but still saw most of the species listed despite the absolute deluge.

Juvenile Caspian Gull at the fishing boats

Juvenile Caspian Gull at the fishing boats

Black Tern passing the fishing boats

3 Greenshank dropped into a large puddle at Boulderwall for a bath late afternoon

Snipe and Black-tailed Godwit from Firth

Once again lots of waders were reported coming and going from Firth throughout the day, there was also 3 Black Terns and the White-winged Black Tern there. Its a shame the lookout doesn't offer the same amount of protection from the weather that the hide did.

Pintail from Hanson

28/08/2026

A morning and afternoon sea watch produced my first 2 Balearic Shearwaters of the year, c8 Arctic Skuas are loitering for unwary Terns and a couple of Fulmars were present but little else. 

Osprey over the Jurys Gap sand pit late morning

Osprey over the Jurys Gap sand pit late morning

Osprey over the Jurys Gap sand pit late morning

Around the reserve an impressive flock of 17 Garganey (albeit mainly asleep) at Dengemarsh found by

Richard. On Burrowes 4 Little Stints, 30 Knot, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Dunlin. Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Common Sandpipers and Black-tailed Godwits.

At the ARC numerous Common Snipe, Wood Sandpiper Common and Green Sandpipers, Ruffs, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers and 3 Garganey.

Opposite Kerton Road junction 2 Whinchat, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcap and Willow Warblers.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull playing with is food at the fishing boats this afternoon

A couple of Fulmars past the fishing boats this afternoon

27/08/2026

The White-winged Black Tern was still present today and still showing in the gloomy conditions this morning. A bit of a wader fest with 19 species today on the reserve with Spotted Redshank, Common Redshanks, Greenshanks, Curlew,Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers, Little Stints, Black-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Knots, Ruff, Turnstone, Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers, Lapwings, Common Snipes and Dunlin. 

Another Honey Buzzard was over the peninsula today making 5 in the last 2 days, I have managed to miss every one so far.🙄

A sea watch this afternoon was a rather slow affair, with 280+ Sandwich Terns, 5 Arctic Skuas and a Marsh Harrier.
 

White-winged Black Tern from Firth

Ruff

Little Stints

Great White Egret

Great White Egret takes a Jack Pike in front of Hanson

One of 4 Garganey seen from Hanson today