Horseshoe Plantation & Combe Valley - 22nd October

Another warm late October day encouraged a Comma to bask in the sunshine at Horseshoe Plantation. Several Corn Buntings singing on the west side of Belle Tout Wood together with a male and female Stonechat. At Shooters Bottom there were several Chiffchaffs and Goldfinches.

Comma

Corn Bunting

female Stonechat

male Stonechat

Early afternoon I drove to Crowhurst and walked into Combe Haven where I found two Clouded Yellows and a Small White near the lake where there is a small meadow with flowers including Hemp Agrimony. On the lake were several Shoveler and Wigeon.

Clouded Yellow

Small White

Galley Hill, Bexhill - 14th to 19th October

Considerable visible migration during the week with pulses of goldfinches flying east in groups of ca. 25 every 15 minutes or so, occasionally interspersed with small groups of Redpolls. Also hundreds of Swallows, with some House Martins, gathering around the house and hotels on the seafront preparing to depart. The highlight at Galley Hill was a Northern Wheatear which first appeared on the 14th October and then stayed around until the 19th. It proved to be extremely approachable as it fed on worms and crabs in the sand at the foot of Galley Hill. A very smart Stonechat was present on the 15th with a few Meadow Pipits and six Turnstones.

Northern Wheatear

Northern Wheatear

Northern Wheatear

Northern Wheatear

Northern Wheatear

male Stonechat

Turnstone

Combe Valley - 17th October

My first trip of the autumn to Combe Valley was rewarded with a splendid Great White Egret together with a Marsh Harrier and some singing Cetti's Warblers. Plenty of Swallows feeding on the small pools.

Great White Egret

Horseshoe Plantation & Beachy Head - 11th October

On the sunny east side of Belle Tout Wood there were two Wall Browns (male and female) flying around and basking in the late autumn sun. The cooler temperature at this time of the year made it far easier to photograph them compared to earlier in the year when they are difficult to approach down to less than a metre. Also seen were a Common Blue and Speckler Wood. Whilst chasing late butterflies I met a local birdwatcher who gave me excellent directions to see the Lapland Bunting which had been present for the past week near the Beachy Head hotel. Sure enough the bird was exactly where he described and curiously allowed people to approach fairly close to take photographs. 

Lapland Bunting

Lapland Bunting

Lapland Bunting

female Wall Brown

male Wall Brown

male Wall Brown