Monday 3rd June 2024
Portslade, Sussex
News came out of a cirl bunting on the South Downs just outside of Portslade so I made the short journey down the A27 to see it, arriving there about 4.30 pm.
Boy was it worth it. The bird was showing very well, and singing away, at the top of a tree barely 30 metres from the group of onlookers.
After 15 minutes or so it made a short flight to another tree and started singing again. Just after 5 pm it took off and was lost to sight, temporarily, before returning.
This is a bird is normally seen in Devon and possibly Cornwall but hasn't been seen in Sussex for over a quarter of a century, when it was a regular breeder - no wonder it caused such a stir.
I never thought that I would see this bird in Sussex - marvellous!
2024 species count=184
