Cissbury Ring (2 September 2026)

Ten of us had a pleasant day birdwatching around the slopes of Cissbury Ring in West Sussex, which are good for small migratory birds in early September. We saw 35 species of bird, including Spotted and Pied Flycatcher and Whinchat which were stopping to feed up before crossing the English Channel.

We started the day from Cissbury Ring Car Park and once we got up part of the hill we got good views over the valley. We saw a hare nearby in the field. We also saw a Red Kite, a distant Buzzard and heard and saw a Blackcap, Blue Tit and Chiffchaff. Further up the slope we saw lots of Stonechats and Whitethroat, and we also got good views of a juvenile Whinchat.

We then reached the northern slopes where the bushes are good for Flycatchers in the autumn. We expected to see one or two but instead saw between 5-10 Spotted Flycatchers and got good views as they flitted around, as well as a few of us seeing a Pied Flycatcher which, unfortunately, disappeared before the rest of the group could see it! We also saw Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch and, of course, more Stonechats. In the fields below we could see lots of Swallows and House Martins flying.

We then walked to the top of Cissbury Ring and had great views over the south coast. You could just imagine what the landscape was like in the Iron Age, when the fort was originally built.

After lunch we walked along the southern slopes and had good views of a pair of Ravens sitting on the bare branches of a tree.

We did not see so many birds in the afternoon but did see a Kestrel and more Stonechat and also lots of butterflies, including Common Blue, Wall Brown, Comma and Meadow Brown.

We all agreed that it had been a good day. We were very pleased to have seen the migrating small birds and there were some lovely views to enjoy, too. We finished the day with teas and coffees at Fidon Garden Centre.

by Dave Woods

List of birds: Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Feral Pigeon, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Herring Gull, House Martin, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Linnet, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Pheasant, Pied Flycatcher, Raven, Red Kite, Reed Bunting, Robin, Rook, Spotted Flycatcher, Stonechat, Swallow, Whinchat, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.

Butterflies: Comma, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Painted Lady, Small Copper, Small White, Wall Brown.