Eastbourne: Many thanks to Harvey for turning up this zinger of a Wheatear at Sovereign Harbour today. What a treat and my first EVER in February. Spring is offically here!

Ha… yeah. I had a run down the seafront just now and the beaches are full of onions! I believe they were also wrecked too.

Nice, is that your first decent push?

Beachy Head: A nod to changing seasons, 81 eastbound Brent Geese in a short 40 min seawatch this morning.

Calling all photographers and artists. If you have any photos or artworks you'd like to submit for the 2025 Sussex Bird Report, please follow the three simple steps below. As always, many thanks! @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

So localised nothing on Beachy Head

Some nice, sunny birding around Eastbourne. c130 Russian White-fronted Geese between Cuckmere Valley and Sluice Lane Pevensey, a distant but very much alive and healthy (not poisoned or shot) 2cy White-tailed Eagle, missed 4 Tundra Bean Geese that appeared breifly at West Rise.

Hedgerows. Who needs ‘em? Transpired it was the Environment Agency who massacred the hedgerows local to here.

A review of the more interesting avian happenings on Beachy Head in 2025, a decent year. Thanks to all the birders who've put the time in and shared news this year. #RareBirdsUK beachybirder.wordpress.com/2025/12/30/a...

Beachy Head: The autumn keeps giving, after finding my second Pallas’s Warbler of the year last week, moments with a frustrating “Swift sp” on the 8th and today Bob Edgar found this unseasonal Red-backed Shrike at Birling.

Beachy Head: Pleased to find my second Pallas’s Warbler of the autumn, east of wood this morning (suggestion two birds maybe involved) First confirmed sightings since 3 arrived on the 6th last week. Woodcock near the pub.

GRIM

Beachy Head: Finally saw the lingering Yellow-browed Warbler above Francis Bottom, nice to see a return to form for these over the last few autumns. Also on the move, Crossbill, Siskin, Redpoll, Woodlark and several 100 Starling.

Brown crested 🤣

It’s the enablers (the electorate) that really have me wondering.

Can u believe that road has a 60mph speed limit? Which isn’t enforced by the police, who if called to report the frequent drag racing up there, never arrive in a timely manner but 4/5 squad cars attend immediately to a potential suicide report.

Beachy Head: Pleased to find this Melodious Warbler y'day, unfortunately in a private area with no public access. A decent day all around with good numbers of common migrants.

Madri man

A last minute weekend in Tarifa,Sunday saw thousands of Raptors and took an unexpected turn when @beachyheadbirder.bsky.social and I found a Blue-cheeked bee eater.Initially heard calling,then some disbelief but picked up on wires.Thanks @ingloriousbustards.bsky.social ‘s group lending us a scope!

Beachy Head: Pretty poor over the last few days but Wryneck (RL) and total of 4 Honey Buzzard (3 pictured) on 31st was decent enough #sussexbirding

A fraction of the birds at large in the SE in modern times Andy

most ridiculous name

Beachy Head: A week of NE winds has made it lean pickings, slight improvement this morning, Marsh Harrier, two Hobby, Cetti's Warbler, single Crossbill, slight increase in Willow Warbler.

Not sure… before my time here.

I think last here was 2011! I believe, in the dim distant past, they were more regular here than Melodious, which by modern standards is unbelievable.

Lovely, is it me or does Bluesky low res images a tad?

Why? There’s no concrete evidence they ever bred here.

The Stork thing really is a massive and seemingly irreversible blunder. An account of one polishing off a brood of Lapwing chicks here in Sussex is a sad but perfect embodiment of all that is wrong with it.

Beachy Head: First 2 Wheatear of the autumn for me and a HUGE local rarity, a juvenile Tree Sparrow which disappeared high to the west, 40+ Willow Warbler plus the usuals. Whilst RE. ringed a Pied Flycatcher in the hollow - the autumns first. #sussexbirding

I guess it’s personal experience, although I frequently see images of Swaro’s looking like they’ve lost rubber armour etc. I’ve sent a Leica scope back once via the shop in Mayfair and was very happy with service. As for the 4 pairs of bins, they never faltered.