Curlew Sandpiper and Whinchat at Cuckmere Haven

 

Friday 19^th September 2025

Half-day visit to Cuckmere Haven

Ashdown Bird Group

(7 members present)

 

Trip Report

 

Today’s trip, the latest from our supplementary Friday programme, was a spectacular event.  With a species count of just under 50, great company and some unseasonably fine weather we just about had it all. 

 

Our route took us on the eastern side of the Cuckmere from the car park at Exceat down towards the sea.

 

 

Our focus was on autumn migration and boy we saw that in abundance with a great variety of birds in the air, on the ground and on the water.

 

 

Here are some of our highlights:-

Bird of the day for some was the Whinchat.  We spotted some in the vegetation just after we left the car park and they continued to show up at regular intervals throughout our visit.  For most of us, this was the largest gathering of this species that we had ever witnessed, with over 20 sightings of at least 10 birds.

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

My bird of the day, however, was Curlew Sandpiper.  We saw two, and possibly even three, at the scrape on the southern edge, just before the river meets the sea.  Thanks are due to two local birders, Keith and Tim, who made our task much easier.  The former kept me updated throughout on the presence of the Curlew Sandpiper, and the latter waited for us to arrive before beckoning us to the best viewing position. 

 

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Martin's image below clearly shows the difference in size between the Curlew Sandpiper and the two Dunlin, as well as the longer bill.

Curlew Sandpiper v Dunlin comparison.  Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

These views were by far the best that most of us had ever had of this species.   To be so close to such a rare bird was an absolute delight.

There had been a significant influx of Curlew Sandpipers across Britain and Ireland during September this year, with the arrival considered the most important for many years.  The most likely reason is that the species has enjoyed a productive breeding season in the Arctic this summer and consequently there are large numbers of juveniles on the move this autumn.

 

We saw at least 4 Greenshank, 3 at the scrape …..

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

…. but the one at the meanders in the river proved to be the most photogenic as it moved along the edge of the water.

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

These Little Grebes also caught our eye.

 

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

From the same viewing point, on the opposite bank of the river, we also saw a couple of Common Sandpipers among the Black-headed Gulls.  They proved quite elusive and so we were unable to get photographs.

 

We were more successful photographing 2 Sandwich Terns that flew in but you will have to work hard to see them in Ian’s image shown below!

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson.

 

 

There was a constant presence of hirundines, with good numbers of Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins flying around.

 

These Dunlin also caught the eye as they flew across the scrape at regular intervals.

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

 

There were a few raptors around too, including a Kestrel, a Marsh Harrier and this lovely Sparrowhawk.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

As well as outward migration of birds, there was some inward migration, as seen below with the arrival of these Wigeon for the winter.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

 

In the roped-off area by the beach, we came across a couple of migrating Wheatears, one of which is shown below.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

At the start of the return leg, we had no luck locating the Grasshopper Warbler that Tim had found earlier.

 

Finally, as a tribute to our hard-working photographers, here are some of the other images of the day.

Meadow Pipit – courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Little Egret in the water– courtesy of Ian Hodgson

Little Egret in flight – courtesy of Ian Hodgson

Rock Pipit – courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

Pied Wagtail – courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Moth Caterpillar – courtesy of Ian Hodgson

 

We were also graced by a flyover of Spitfires, Mustangs and Hurricanes.

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

 

 

As usual, Ian caught us all unawares and took the lovely scenic views, catching the ambience of the trip beautifully.

 Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

 

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

 

 

 

Species List

Name:	Count:		Name:	Count:
Black-headed Gull	1		Little Egret	25
Blackbird	2		Little Grebe	26
Blue Tit	3		Magpie	27
Buzzard	4		Marsh Harrier	28
Canada Goose	5		Meadow Pipit	29
Carrion Crow	6		Mute Swan	30
Chiffchaff	7		Pied Wagtail	31
Common Sandpiper	8		Raven	32
Cormorant	9		Redshank	33
Curlew Sandpiper	10		Redstart	34
Dunlin	11		Robin	35
Dunnock	12		Rock Pipit	36
Goldfinch	13		Rook	37
Great Black-backed Gull	14		Sand Martin	38
Great Tit	15		Sandwich Tern	39
Greenshank	16		Skylark	40
Grey Heron	17		Sparrowhawk	41
Greylag Goose	18		Stonechat	42
Herring Gull	19		Swallow	43
House Martin	20		Wheatear	44
Jackdaw	21		Whinchat	45
Kestrel	22		Wigeon	46
Lesser Black-backed Gull	23		Woodpigeon	47
Linnet	24

 Species count =47

 

 

 

A fabulous trip, John and Martin – one of our best.  Thank you!

Thank you, photographers, for some cracking images.

2025 species count = 189

New Species:

189  Curlew Sandpiper