Sussex (22/04/2012)

I dropped into the tenative Iberian Chiffchaff at Apuldram.  It was singing immediately on arrival and occasionally sand like a true Iberian Chiffchaff but a few times through in some nearly Common Chiffchaff like phrases although never actually called "chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff".  The bird appeared to have slightly paler legs than dark and a paler bill but the bird didn't really appear particular bright.  I will leave it to the experts to make a judgment call on the bird but my feeling it may not have been a true Iberian Chiffchaff.

Next onto Selsey Bill where there were plenty of terns including a couple of Little Terns, 3 flypast Whmbrels, a couple of Fulmars and then I picked up a pair of falcons chasing something over the sea.  They hit their prey 2 or 3 times before actually catching it and then looked to fly off.  However, instead of disappearing they flew into the bill and then deposited the unfortunate victim on the beach in front of us.  For the next 30 minutes or so they have fantastic views as they flew around the bill and were harassed by the local gulls and even an Oystercatcher that had a go.  The female eventually went back to its prey and then sat stripping it of its feathers.

I dropped into Church Norton on the way to Pulborough Brooks but only managed another Whimbrel.

At Pulborough it was very quiet with a couple of Whitethroats, a White-fronted Goose and a couple of Nightingales.  I left before the rain.