Sunday 19th April 2026: Seaford Head and Hope Gap

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Thirteen SDOS members met at the car park at Seaford Head where we were leading a walk, and we enjoyed an abundance of summer migrants.

Bird of the day was the Common Whitethroat - they were everywhere! Singing cheerily, pirouetting skywards in display flight, then floating gently down to perch atop a bush. Everyone enjoyed great views, and it was good to refamiliarise ourselves with their song and key identification features.

Common Whitethroat (Andrew Farquharson)

As we progressed slowly with ears alert through Hope Gap, we found singing Willow Wablers, Chiffchaffs and both male and female Blackcaps. A few Lesser Whitethroats were heard but sadly not seen. The explosive song of the Cetti’s Warbler burst forth at several points, but unsurprisingly it too refused to show itself.

Blackcap, f (Lance Bellers)

On the open grassland at the bottom of the Gap we found several Meadow Pipits, a pair of Linnets, and on the low scrubby vegetation a pair of Stonechats.

Meadow Pipits ( Andrew Farquharson)

Scanning the rocks below the Gap we found around nine Whimbrel and an Oystercatcher. Just a single Fulmar was spotted nesting in the sandstone cliff.

Whimbrel (Jo Parsons)

Descending towards the river, a Garden Warbler burbled its continuous melodic song, and I managed a brief but clear view. It was very quiet on the river, but a Grey Heron flew into the trees and a couple of Little Egrets were seen feeding in the channels. 

Disappointingly there were no migrants at Harry’s Bush, but we did catch the distinctive sound of… bagpipes!?! Sure enough, a male, sporting white plumage wandered into view, with pipes under his arm. We speculated that his wife may have banned him from the house, but apparently he is a regular at the site!

Most of the group then continued on to Splashpoint where a group of around thirty Kittiwakes bobbed on the sea, with many more huddled on the cliff edges. Snatches of their distinctive call could sometimes be heard over the crashing waves of the high tide. We sat on the bench to eat our lunch, and were very pleased when a Rock Pipit landed nearby, offering an excellent comparison to the Meadow Pipits seen earlier.

Finally, we ended the day with a delicious ice cream on the sea front. Happy days!

Kittiwakes (Lance Bellers)

Rock Pipit

Seaford Head to the Seven Sisters


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