What a lovely morning for Roger K, Angela, Rikki, myself and Ezio to do the Ferring Rife walk!  Local birders Clive & David met us at the beach at 9 and we started with Herring & Black-backed Gulls, an Oystercatcher and probably Turnstones (noted by Clive).  Along the Rife several Blackcaps were singing, Cetti’s Warblers heard, Linnets showing off their spring colours, and a male Reed Bunting sat handsomely in a willow.

The local Starling celebrity – a pure white one – was spotted, and two Kestrels came down into a field. As we neared the Ferring Country Centre Clive & David led us slightly to the west to overlook some paddocks, where some newly arrived resplendent Wheatears were feeding.  Were they “Greenland” ones? While watching these a Willow Warbler sang just behind us.

Fortified by a refreshment stop we headed back down the east side of the Rife.  A Little Egret was standing right next to a Herring Gull in a field, but nothing else added to the tally except for a Comma butterfly, which wouldn’t open its wings, but showed its comma well! We had already noted Brimstone, Peacock and Orange Tip.

Val Bentley