Last year, Kev @kev07713 and I enjoyed a visit to a relatively new public watchpoint in Sussex for honey buzzards – my report can be found here. For many years, breeding sites and watchpoints for this scarce raptor were kept under wraps, but the Sussex Ornithological Society has since publicised a small number of approved viewing locations to encourage responsible birdwatching. Woolbeding Common, near Midhurst, has become one of the most reliable public sites in Sussex for observing the species. The best time to visit is from late May through July, particularly on warm days when the birds take advantage of thermals and soar high above the woodland canopy.
This year we were joined by Kev's wife, Karen @karenheath62. On arrival, we found a small group of birders already in position, peering through their scopes and scanning the skies. We joined them and settled in for what would prove to be a patient vigil. The air was filled with the songs of woodlarks and tree pipits, while siskins, linnets and a great spotted woodpecker passed overhead. Before long, common buzzards and red kites began to appear, but despite careful scrutiny we were confident that none of them were the honey buzzards we had come to see.
Distinguishing a honey buzzard from a common buzzard can be difficult, particularly at long range, but a combination of shape, flight style, and plumage features will usually allow an identification.
Shape is often the most useful clue. Honey buzzards have a small, pigeon-like head that projects noticeably beyond the leading edge of the wings, giving them a distinctive cuckoo-like appearance. They also show a longer neck, a slimmer body and a longer tail, which can lend them an almost falcon-like profile in flight.
Their flight style differs from that of common buzzards. Honey buzzards are generally more graceful and buoyant, often gliding on flat wings that can appear slightly pushed forward. During display flights, they may perform characteristic wing-clapping above their back and don't hover.
The tail is one of the most reliable identification features. It is relatively long and typically shows a broad dark terminal band, together with one or two additional dark bands along its length. The wings usually display a dark trailing edge, and the spread primaries often reveal six clearly visible "fingers". The underwing can appear strikingly pale, creating a strong contrast with the darker flight feathers.
We turned as another birder arrived and immediately recognised a familiar face from Oxfordshire - Ewan Urquhart @Stormvogel99. After exchanging greetings, he settled onto the slope beside us and we resumed our skywatching. Before long, two more raptors appeared, though neither was our target species: first a sparrowhawk and then a hobby. The wait for a honey buzzard continued.
As the morning wore on, one of the other birders overheard our conversation and came across to introduce himself. It soon became apparent that we all followed one another on X, and our new acquaintance turned out to be Steve Wilson @stevewilson1706. After a long chat, we returned our attention to the skies and were finally rewarded when our first honey buzzard appeared high to our right. Through the scopes we watched it circle for a couple of minutes before it suddenly dropped away, gliding down the slope and disappearing from view.
As the day progressed, we began to see more raptors, including a couple of additional honey buzzards, although none provided views as good as our first bird. By now, the increasing heat haze was making photography more challenging, resulting in noticeably softer images.
However, we were fortunate to enjoy a couple of encounters with goshawks in front of our vantage point. Although the conditions were now far from ideal, the birds were just close enough for us to salvage some worthwhile photographs from the heat-distorted images.
Having brought our lunch with us, we decided to remain at Woolbeding for the rest of the day rather than search for birding opportunities elsewhere. From time to time we relaxed in our camping chairs, scanning the skies and enjoying the warm conditions.
We continued to watch in the hope that a honey buzzard might drift closer and provide better views, but it was not to be. Nevertheless, we were more than satisfied with the sightings we had enjoyed and were equally content to soak up the atmosphere of the site and the birds around us. Tree pipits regularly parachuted down from behind us to the trees below, while mistle thrushes commuted between their nesting areas and feeding grounds. It was one of those occasions where simply being out was reward enough.
Eventually, we packed up our gear and began the journey home, thoroughly satisfied with an excellent day's birding.
The following afternoon, while going about my usual business, I noticed an update reporting that a spotted sandpiper had been relocated at Earlswood Lakes following an earlier negative report. I contacted Kev to see if he fancied making the trip, but he was tied up for the afternoon and suggested we might try the following day instead. Not wanting to risk the bird disappearing overnight, I decided to head over on my own. With rare birds, you can never be certain how long they will stay.
I'd never visited Earlswood Lakes before and found the traffic in the area rather busy, but I reached the dedicated car park without too much delay. As I was unloading my camera and binoculars, a passing birder noticed my equipment and kindly confirmed that the bird was still present, favouring the gravel island on the far side of the lake from the car park.
Armed with this encouraging news, I set off along the track. Reaching the causeway, I soon located the spotted sandpiper on the edge of the dam wall, hopping among the rocks as it gradually moved away from me. Other visitors were using the same path and, as they passed by, the bird became increasingly wary and edged further along the shoreline. Eventually it flew to the bank around the corner, but not before I had managed to grab a photograph.
The spotted sandpiper is a scarce but annual visitor to Britain from North America. Although records can occur at any time of year, there is a noticeable spring peak during May and June, when overshooting migrants occasionally appear on both the coast and inland wetlands. As a result, a spotted sandpiper found in late May is not unusual and falls within the species' expected pattern of occurrence in Britain. A review of British records suggests that, between 1950 and 2021, there have been 231 records, with clear peaks in May–June and again in August–October. On average, Britain receives around five records per year.
I noticed another birder standing near the bank where the bird had landed and, as I approached, the spotted sandpiper suddenly flew out and returned to the gravel island that seemed to be its favoured location. We watched it there for a while, but at that distance the photographs were never going to be particularly useful, especially given the worsening heat haze and harsh afternoon light.
Before long, the bird took flight again and headed back towards the dam wall where I had first found it. Conscious that I had already used up much of the time I had available, I began making my way back, hoping the bird would remain settled and offer me one final opportunity for some better photographs.
A couple of other birders joined me as we retraced our steps. Fortunately, I soon relocated the bird tucked in close to the wall, where it appeared remarkably relaxed and rather sleepy. In fact, many of my photographs showed it with its eyes closed. After taking a few more shots, I decided to leave the bird in peace, as it seemed particularly prone to being flushed whenever people passed too closely.
Talking with Kev later, we decided to return to the Wyre Forest the following day after receiving reports from a friend’s blog of sightings of a wood warbler. On the way, we planned a short detour so Kev could see the spotted sandpiper, as it only required a minor diversion.
We arrived at the car park and made our way towards the water, but initially we were unable to locate the bird. However, by the time we reached the far side overlooking the island, I caught sight of the spotted sandpiper flying in and settling down onto the island.
We watched the bird for a while and enjoyed a chat with one of the local birders before our bird flew back to the dam wall, where I had seen it on a couple of occasions the previous day. As this was only intended to be a brief stop, we began making our way back towards the car, once again hoping that the bird would remain in the area long enough to allow some closer photographic opportunities.
The spotted sandpiper appeared far more settled than it had the day before, spending much of its time feeding along the water's edge. By positioning ourselves ahead of its path, we were able to let the bird walk past us without causing any disturbance, avoiding the risk of flushing it. With the softer early morning light and no heat haze to contend with, I felt that my photographs were an improvement on those from the previous day.
Time to head for the Wyre Forest.
After arriving at the car park, we set off along the main track towards an area where a friend's blog had reported wood warblers had recently been heard and subsequently seen. Along the way we encountered several male pied flycatchers, along with one or two females, all busily gathering food before returning to their nesting sites.
In the past, most of my photographs of this species had been of the striking black-and-white males, but on this occasion, I decided to focus my attention on the more subtly coloured female, hoping to capture a different perspective of this attractive woodland bird.
As we searched for the best point to leave the main track, we encountered a couple of roe deer and heard the unmistakable song of a male redstart, which was giving it large. After a short search, we located the bird perched high in a distant tree. Although it remained some way off, it was close enough for a record photograph before we continued on our way.
We climbed the slope and carefully worked our way around the most likely area, eventually picking up the call of a wood warbler a short distance back down the hillside and slightly behind us along the track. As we retraced our steps, the song became increasingly clear, and it wasn't long before Kev managed to pick the bird out in the canopy.
We repositioned ourselves to circle the singing bird and reached a section of the slope where it was often roughly at eye level, allowing for far better views through the leaves. From there we were able to settle in and simply enjoy the experience of being in the presence of this restless woodland sprite, as it moved and sang high above us in the treetops.
There isn't any published national analysis yet showing that wood warblers have been reported in lower numbers this spring, so it's difficult to say with confidence that there are fewer birds this year. However, several birders have commented that they seem scarcer or more localised than expected in some traditional sites.
The species is on the UK Red List, with the breeding population estimated to have fallen by around 81% since the mid-1990s, and its breeding range has contracted significantly. Given the species' long-term decline in Britain, any encounter with a singing wood warbler remains a special experience and one not to be taken for granted.
We decided to give the bird some peace, as it had been calling almost continuously both before and during our visit, and we didn't want to contribute to any unnecessary expenditure of energy. With that in mind, we left it to its own devices and began making our way back along the track towards the car.
Along the way, we stopped to examine a curious larva crossing the path. At first, we weren't sure what it was, but after a little investigation we discovered that it was a glow-worm larva. With its flattened, segmented body and armoured appearance, it was an intriguing find and an unexpected wildlife bonus to add to our walk.
Unlike the familiar glowing adults, the larvae are elongated, segmented creatures with a somewhat armoured appearance, typically dark brown or black with pale markings along the body. At first glance they can resemble miniature woodlice or beetle larvae, but a closer look reveals their distinctive flattened shape and powerful jaws, which they use to prey on snails and slugs. Remarkably, the larvae are also capable of producing a faint greenish glow, a feature thought to deter potential predators. They spend up to two years in this stage before eventually pupating and emerging as adult glow-worms.
As we made our way back, we passed the sunny banks that are favoured by butterflies, particularly pearl-bordered fritillaries. A few were actively nectaring among the flowers, providing another opportunity for photographs. Although we had already photographed the species on our previous two visits, we couldn't resist taking a few more shots of these attractive butterflies in the warm sunshine.
Not far from there, we came across a chap who was waiting for the butterflies to settle on the ferns in the hope of getting some photographs. We stopped for a chat and, while talking, noticed a pair of common redstarts busily provisioning a nearby nest.
The birds were making frequent visits with food for their hungry young, giving us excellent views of their activity. It was a real pleasure to watch the pair at work, constantly on the move as they shuttled back and forth between feeding areas and the nest site.
Having returned to the car, we decided that the day was still young and that there was enough time to make a detour back into Oxfordshire to one of our regular sites for spotted flycatchers. On arrival, we bumped into a workman whom we had met on a couple of previous visits. He confirmed that the flycatchers were still present and that he had recently seen them perched in the surrounding trees and on the overhead wires. Almost on cue, we picked up a pair high in a nearby tree before they dropped down and disappeared.
We spent some time working the site and eventually located at least one pair actively using the area. They regularly perched in the trees, while the male occasionally chose the wires as a lookout point between feeding sorties. It was a particularly welcome sighting, as I had somehow managed not to seek out spotted flycatchers at all the previous year, making this an enjoyable reunion with a favourite summer visitor.
We located the female perched quietly in a tree, partially obscured by the foliage. She remained largely motionless while the male made repeated foraging sorties from nearby perches, sallying out to catch insects before returning to her. On several occasions we watched him fly directly to the female and pass food to her, a behaviour often associated with pair bonding and courtship, although males may continue feeding females during the early stages of nesting.
It was fascinating to watch this interaction unfold. The male appeared tireless, regularly departing in search of prey before returning a few moments later with another offering. Meanwhile, the female remained concealed within the cover of the tree, accepting the food before settling back onto her perch. The repeated exchanges provided a wonderful insight into the pair's breeding behaviour and suggested that nesting activity was likely underway.
Eventually we decided that we'd better head for home and prepare for our next outing.
Year list: 255.
