Sussex Birding

[Ben Rackstraw]

Saw some talk of such a thread being started a few weeks back, but nothing seems to have come of it.

Here's somewhere for everyone to relay their news regarding birding plans and sightings in East and West Sussex.

As well as posting anything of interest here, make sure you forward notable records to the excellent sites dedicated to Sussex birding already - the Sussex Ornithological Society website, "The Birds of Sussex" website and RXWildlife for the Rye/Pett area.

If I've missed any or anyone has any other good sites to recommend, please go ahead and add them.

I don't want to publish their URLs without permission, they can be found easily enough via Google.

[Ben Rackstraw]

I'll kick things off, with a summary of my recent Sussex birding activity.
Have been scouring Horseshoe Plantation occasionally at weekends, hoping for a Yellow-brow or Pallas's Warbler, but best that I've managed are the Firecrests. Anyone with more of an aptitude for photography than I have ought to get down there, as the Firecrests have been showing off at point blank range - one fed unconcerned at a distance of c30cm as I fumbled with the autofocus this weekend!

I've not seen the Ring Ouzels that have been reported from Shooters Bottom, as I'm too tight to pay for the parking there (I use the free NT carpark at Birling Gap), and by the time I've made my way, via Horseshoe Plantation, along there it's generally been too late in the day (or bucketing down with rain, in the case of this past Sunday).

Otherwise, the usual cast of Peregrine, Raven, Blackcap, Chiffs and Wheatear in the Belle Tout/Birling Gap area, as well as a Tawny Owl on each of my past two visits.

Not made any plans for this weekend's activity yet.

[Mark43]

Had a good look round East Head,West Wittering last weekend.

Usual crop of Knot and Dunlin on the sands but distant.Had some great views of Cormorant hunting and catching lots of what looked like small eels.

Flushed a Short Eared Owl which we watched hunting for 10 minutes before it flew off towards Pilsea.

Plenty of Linnets around with a few Twite,Stonechat and Wheatear also.

Went up to Pagham afterwards..........the usual stuff there but got great views of 3 Common Buzzards over the Severals being mobbed by a Kestrel,Magpies and Crows in turn.

[Ben Rackstraw]

Morning spent at Church Norton today, with a quick stop over at the West Fields before heading home for lunch. Nothing out of the ordinary, a few finch flocks overhead first thing being one of the few signs of winter movement.

- Female Marsh Harrier drifted W over severals at about 10am
- Two Peregrines sitting out nicely in the middle of the harbour, before being scared off by some idiot running across the mudflats after his errant dog
- 1 Firecrest in the churchyard
- Only 1 Med Gull seen in/around harbour, several more (8+) in with BHGs over the West Fields, also at least 6 Buzzards there (one very pale bird).

Just seen that a Black Guillemot was reported off Church Norton this afternoon...nothing but GC Grebes offshore when we were looking, perhaps we should have searched a bit more thoroughly!

Hmm...and a vulture species also reported there today. How odd!

[joannec]

Saw some talk of such a thread being started a few weeks back, but nothing seems to have come of it.

Here's somewhere for everyone to relay their news regarding birding plans and sightings in East and West Sussex.

As well as posting anything of interest here, make sure you forward notable records to the excellent sites dedicated to Sussex birding already - the Sussex Ornithological Society website, "The Birds of Sussex" website and RXWildlife for the Rye/Pett area.

If I've missed any or anyone has any other good sites to recommend, please go ahead and add them.

I don't want to publish their URLs without permission, they can be found easily enough via Google.

Hi Ben,

The talk a few weeks ago about starting a Sussex Birding thread was by me and another Sussex BFer but we've both been away so nothing happened. Also as I only recently got back I only saw your thread today so hence no response from me. I will add to it in due course. Good that you started it.

Yesterday we had a BF meeting a Pagham with 10 people. A report will appear in a day or two so watch, the "Your Birding Day" threads.

Joanne

[JohnnyH]

Little Auk close in to the shore at Selsey Bill this morning, cute lil guy!

Cheers,

John.

[deborah4]

Hi Ben

Well done for kicking this off - I had planned to start a Sussex thread and made a few suggestions, but as Joanne said, I was away and we didn't get round to it. I don't think SoS will mind you posting a URL link (I'm a member) and will welcome reports as long as new posters give full name, address etc. (Pags report is on Members Meet forum btw). Shame you didn't join us as you were there at the same time!!!!!! We missed the Griff too, along with the perry and marsh. Apparently there was a blacknecked grebe on the eastside.

Bit concerning that we have black guillies and l.auks though

[JohnnyH]

Bit concerning that we have black guillies and l.auks though

Hi Deborah,

Don't be too concerned about the little auks, they always pass the South coast this time of year albeit in small numbers moving North. Nothing like the numbers they had on the East coast watchpoints last Thursday though!
Forgot to add I also had a Great Northern Diver past at Selsey this morning, my first of this year!

ATB,

John.

[deborah4]

Hi Deborah,

Don't be too concerned about the little auks, they always pass the South coast this time of year albeit in small numbers moving North.
John.

Hi John

I'm aware Little Auk can be see Offshore in the English Channel this time of year, but they are always vagrants to these waters, wintering as they do, in the North Atlantic. In fact, huge numbers can be pushed from their typical wintering areas down to the North Sea and into the English Channel, possibly as a result of bad weather. It is NOT so usual, however, to have Little Auk within the walls of the Brighton Marina or ''floating on the Sea'', or ''very close to the shore'' or ''drifting with the tide'' in the high numbers they are being reported. I have heard of and witnessed first hand, unprecedented starvation casualties amongst Auk species the past few months both on the NE Coast of Scotland (and on the West Coast), as well as seeing them in habitat situations they shouldn't be in. The concern is that many of the ones seen locally, will die of starvation if they don't find their way to their traditional feeding/wintering grounds in the North Atlantic Ocean. Incidently, the ones we are reported off the Sussex Coast are moving EAST, as opposed to flying North (they've come from the North), presumably to try and make their way to the North Sea, where they will, pending health I would think, try to continue on up to the N.Atlantic. However, if they are being pushed from the North as a result of food depletion in the N.Atlantic in the first place, (ie. as opposed to bad weather conditions) the prognosis is not too good, IMO. Ornithologists are interested to know whether it is their search for food or just bad weather that displaces Little Auks - given the food situation this year and the horrendous casualties reported elsewhere, my concern is that it may be a search for food on an unprecedented scale, that may prove to be futile for a large number of the population.

[joannec]

A Morning at Arlington Reservoir

I'd planned a mornings birding at Arlington today and woke up to a very foggy morning. After dropping the teenage children at their different busses (I live in the country and bus stops are two miles away, Sussex can be like that.) I set off for Arlington, wondering a bit if it would be a futile exercise and a waste of time due to the fog. Would I see anything? On arriving it was indeed very foggy, I was almost the first one there and you couldn't see across the reservoir let alone the mallards on the foreshore. But it did look hopeful though, the sun was trying to peak through the high cloud, it was just on the ground that visibility was only about twenty metres. Hmmm.

I decided to walk to the left, along the path and through the woods towards the hide and was immediately rewarded with a large flock of tits, :bounce: including about ten long tailed tits. They kept fluttering along in front of me but could I get a picture? No, I would love to know how people manage to photograph this specie, they never stay still for me and all my pictures of them come out as blurry blobs in the middle of leafy backgrounds. Lots of common birds, including meadow pipits, gold finch, chaffinch, all the way to the hide, it took me an hour to get there through the woods as the long tailed tits were so entertaining. Also I think being the first person along the path in the morning means you see more, nothing has been disturbed. I heard a kerfluffle in the undergrowth and a stoat scuppered out followed a minute later by a very large rabbit. Obviously the stoat didn't get his breakfast and the bunny lives another day.

Arriving at the hide and things were clearing up nicely and the sun was beginning to come out but nothing exciting, heron, cormerant, too many mallards, BH gulls, GBBGs, GC grebes, coot, moorhen, A couple of middle aged birders came in, stayed about five minutes and pronounced, "not much movement today" and left. I'd been there for over an hour watching, how could they be expected to be taken seriously? It was about ten minutes later that I spotted something unusual among the mallards and grebes. Swimming towards me were three unusual ducks which I soon realized were probably juvenile scaup I think, but I might be wrong. These are passage migrants in Sussex and not common so I hope I'm right. It's a first for me. Pictures below so if I'm wrong, apologies. (Comments welcome) They kept comming and swam up to the hide and sort of posed. Posted on the board in the hide was a sighting of 300+ gadwall only two days ago but they'd gone and I didn't see any.

An hour later and I was walking along the dam wall, didn't stay long as there was a cold wind but saw the only raptor of the day, a kestral, more meadowpipits, pied wagtails and one pochard who didn't look particularly happy hanging out with the mallards. This was the only one of the day. Canada geese were sparce today too, only nine, a big contrast to the last time I was here six weeks ago when there were well over a thousand. Through the bushes and behind the farm, more common species including the only one greenfinch of the day. This ties in with what others have been saying about the low numbers of finches, particularly greenfinches, in the South.

Thirty species, seen at Arlington today, not a huge number but an enjoyable day and made a change from my usual patch. :clap:

[Moonshake]

Hi Joanne (and hello thread and fellow Sussex folks too!)

Sounds like a good day to me! Have only been to Arlington a couple of times before, more towards the middle of the winter. Wasn't that much around when I went there IIRC, but wandering off to the northwest, I did come across decent numbers of fieldfare & other thrushes around Raylands Farm, and there were good numbers of siskin performing in the alders between there and Sessingham Farm too. Wonder if they'd be around now?

Am squinting at them there ducks. Can young tufties be ruled out? White bums, squarish heads, just a little bit of white by the bill. I've got funny eyes today though, so could be wrong...

All the best
Nick

[joannec]

I did come across decent numbers of fieldfare & other thrushes around Raylands Farm, and there were good numbers of siskin performing in the alders between there and Sessingham Farm too. Wonder if they'd be around now?

Am squinting at them there ducks. Can young tufties be ruled out? White bums, squarish heads, just a little bit of white by the bill. I've got funny eyes today though, so could be wrong...

All the best
Nick

Hi Nick, I didn't see any fieldfares yesterday, in fact haven't seen any yet this autumn. We usually get them but so far none, I've heard the berry crop is good in Scandinavia this year so maybe they won't come until they run out there.

Re the ducks, I did think tufted too and looked for tufts, even little ones but could see no sign of them. I'm willing to be corrected though.

[Moonshake]

You're right, no tufts at all really are there? Bad hair day??

Had a couple of fieldfare on the hawthorn near Hollingbury golf course on Sunday, down near the allotments. Loads and loads of blackbirds in the same area though though.

[deborah4]

You're right, no tufts at all really are there? Bad hair day??

Had a couple of fieldfare on the hawthorn near Hollingbury golf course on Sunday, down near the allotments. Loads and loads of blackbirds in the same area though though.


Hi Nick

Good to see you on the boards (thanks for your feedback on t'other thread ;) ). Let me know if you want to meet up for spot of birding on Golf Course. Btw, I think Tufties too - tuft not always visible (hardly at all on juvs) but hard to tell the difference from pics though.

:t:

[Moonshake]

Let me know if you want to meet up for spot of birding on Golf Course

Think it might stretch even your creative writing skills to squeeze any excitement out of the usual 16 magpies and a shifty-looking pigeon.

[deborah4]

Think it might stretch even your creative writing skills to squeeze any excitement out of the usual 16 magpies and a shifty-looking pigeon.

You'd be surprised what's up there Nick - found some real crackers over the summer - usually check the woods out too at same time (Wild Park)

... any idea why the pigeon was looking shifty? ;)

[joannec]

I managed a couple of hours at Piltdown Pond, of Piltdown Man notoriety, today. It's a small fishing lake surrounded by woods and a golf course. After braving the tough looking schoolboys truanting to go fishing, sounds like Mark Twain, I found a few good birds. Not much exciting on the water but did see a goldcrest, treecreeper, a pair of bullfinch and a flock of long tailed tits in the woods, nothing remarkable but I was pleased with the goldcrest. |=)|

[JohnnyH]

Another one for the year list today, a gorgeous male Black Redstart on Ferring beach this afternoon, hunting insects around the breakwaters.

Cheers,

John.

[joannec]

I had a really good day at Cuckmere Haven yesterday :bounce: . the highlight being a Short Eared Owl. I've written a full report, see this link;

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=730893#post730893

[deborah4]

Hi Ben, folks

It's been suggested that Pulborough Brooks might be a good location for a Sussex/Hants bash in early January - Everybody welcome to offer suggestions/dates/come etc!!! - see 'Members Meetings'.

Loved your report of CH Joanne btw - hope you're gonna organise a Spring bash for us? ;)

[joannec]

Loved your report of CH Joanne btw - hope you're gonna organise a Spring bash for us? ;)


Yeah, I will.

[Ben Rackstraw]

Hi everybody,

Good to see that this thread is still just about going - I've been away in Madagascar for three weeks, so had to make do with Lemurs and Ground-Rollers instead of the Pagham Harbour gull roost; still, I managed to cope with that ;)

Seems that main things I missed both in county and Nationally while away were from the Auk family - some nice accessible Little Auks along the coast here and that first for Britain in Devon.

Might be able to get some local birding in before Christmas, although this could be hampered by the bashing my optics took on holiday - one broken telescope and bits fallen off/lost from bins and tripod. Will be off down to see Kay Optical at Pagham on 17/12, in the hope that repaired kit will be available early in the New Year!

[joannec]

Saw my first fieldfare of the autumn up on Ashdown Forest, a flock of about 20 on Monday. Also my first redwing of the season today hanging out with the blackbirds feeding on the hawthorn berries on my patch near Uckfield.

[Moonshake]

Dunno if it's the calmer weather, dunno if it's cos half the students have buggered off home for the vacation already, but took a lunchtime potter round the university at Falmer and all of a sudden the place seems to be teeming with birds. Nothing that you'd waste any time writing about on the internet or anything -oh no- but along there by the carparks at the quiet end of campus you'd think to yourself, bloody hell, where did all these blackbirds come from, how come I've never noticed all these wrens before? All these sudden chaffinches ferreting around beneath the alders and maples. A real sense of life about everything, I guess everything is merrily clocking up some overtime before the wind and the rain start again. But white campions flowering in December - is that right? The kestrel gliding past at shoulder height, something birdy clutched in its talons, maybe one of the dunnocks from the dock patch, that was quite good. The grey wagtail waiting on the air-conditioning duct outside my office window -eh what!?- that was good too.

Still no lemurs round my neck of the woods though (sigh). C'mon guys - I got bananas! Anyone up to much this weekend?

[Moonshake]

Mid-morning today we had what appeared to be a common whitethroat poking around on the trellis in the garden by the overgrown nasturtium. We've had the odd one or two here before in the summer, but surely by now they should have all packed their bags and fled the country for the winter? Was only a brief view through the fogged-up kitchen window of a slightly dumpy character with a pointyish head, a good white throat on it and gingery wing patches. 99% confident that it wasn't a blackcap, but this being December and all, I'm still a bit puzzled. Any thoughts?

[deborah4]

Hi Nick, it would be very late:

Most Sussex Whitethroats left the County at the end of August through to second week of September last year. After that, just a handful spotted, mostly at Pags, then a couple in October.

Latest late sighting for Whitethroat in Sussex last year was one individual seen at Arundel WWT on 19th November, which was a month later than the 10 year average. It's possible but more description would be needed for what would be a worthwhile recording.

Nuthatch might be a possibility

[Moonshake]

Thanks Deborah, that's all pretty much what I thought. Weird one. Definite warbler, flitted around a bit round dead flower heads and under foliage presumably looking for insects. Got the impression of sandy, ginger and grey colours and a decent-sized non-nuthatch tail on it. Not as mad active as some warbler species I've seen though. Oh noes, what to put on GardernBirdwatch form??

(Perversely I do half wish it were a nuthatch - major garden tick time!)

[Moonshake]

No further sign of my mystery bird since the first sighting, but have read that there was a whitethroat in Bedfordshire slightly earlier this month. Not totally beyond the bounds of possibility then, I guess (though still a bit suspect!). Have also had buff-tailed bumblebees visiting flowering rosemary too, so maybe it's just Mother Nature who has gone bonkers, not me.

[JohnnyH]

Not beyond the realms at all for a Whitethroat especially given the recent spell of mild weather. Lesser Whitethroat & Common Whitethroat have been recorded in the last two weeks around the IBM site in Portsmouth.

John.

[joannec]

Isn't it really dull birding weather this Christmas in Sussex?

Very little showing in this dull gloomy weather except yesterday, from my garden, I heard one of the resident kestrals going bezerk, "keewing " madly and loudly. Catching my attention I followed him, no bins, and soon a tawny owl flew out of the woods chased by the freaked kestral. A rook soon joined in and all three noisily disappeared over and behind the woods. Just thought I would relate this Christmas day drama.

[Moonshake]

A family jaunt round Arundel WWT today. And it was a lot quieter than I thought it might be too, everyone must have been up the shops instead, mugs the lot of them. There wasn't really all that much wild wildfowl around either, at least to my eyes, but I'm never really sure what's in the collection and what's just jumped in over the fence. Anyhow, top moment of the day was standing outside the long-tailed duck and scoter enclosure and catching a burst of motion out of the corner of my eye coming from over the carpark. Whacked my binoculars up to my eyes and see this shape hurtling low across reserve, really bloody fast and accelerating all the time. No way was my finger fast enough on the poxy focus wheel - when I do finally get a decent view, the only damn thing I can see is a streaked coppery brown breast filling up the entire bloomin' view and I realise the bird is only about a dozen yards away from my face. Drop the bins and watch a juvenile peregrine slam low and hard into a flock of feral pigeons that rise too slowly from feeding on the spilt grain by the red-breasted geese. Dunno if the raid was successful - every other bird that could fly was going up all over the place and the whole flock of pigeons, peregrine and all, just went barrelling over the top of the hedge like a sprinter clipping a hurdle at full tilt. Amazing stuff.

Aside from that and all of the gorgeous, pouting beauties in the collection, we had an easy grey wagtail from the cafe at lunch and a kingfisher hanging around by the queue for the vole patrol (apparently it had been fishing off the restaurant roof the day before, right in front of the big window). Also what appeared to be a firecrest by itself in the trees on the boardwalk, just by the bench near the reedbed installation. You do sort of doubt your own eyes when you've been willing a tiny twittering shape in the trees to be something dead good and then after struggling to pin it down you get a definite white streak above an eye smeared with eyeliner. Would love to make a definite ID on this one but my excuse was the blighter wouldn't stop flippin' moving and, more pressingly, I had a tetchy toddler repeatedly trying to headbutt me in the nuts. And I wasn't allowed back for a good look afterwards, harumph! So if anyone's over that way soon eyes peeled because I'd love to know for sure.

Other nice bit - a very trusting robin eating raisins from my hand, also along the boardwalk.

[Moonshake]

An early morning amble round the fields south of Ditchling Beacon brought in the usual slew of festive farmland favourites with corvids galore in Hogtrough Bottom. Lots of yellowhammer spread all around too. Things were a bit more interesting around the area of standing cereal crop to the north of Highpark Corner - the hawthorns here were loaded with assorted finches and buntings, mostly yellowhammer and chaffinch, but also good numbers of linnet, greenfinch and corn bunting, plus at least one each of brambling and reed bunting. A couple of dozen pheasant were wandering about and a kestrel paid a rather brief visit. Return leg flushed a small group of skylark and three partridge - guessing they were red-leggeds.

Another buff-tailed bumblebee in the garden yesterday too, along with a rather sinister harlequin ladybird. Don't they know it's Christmas??

[joannec]

I went to Arlington Reservoir yesterday. Highlights were 160 wigeon, 2 pochard, 6 gadwall, 6 brambling, 8 fieldfare, 20 GC grebe, 3 grey heron, 28 species altogether and not a Canada goose in sight.

[Mark43]

Thought i would go out to Houghton this afternoon to find the Tundra Bean Geese there and perhaps pop into Amberley etc for the Bewicks.

Started out well weather wise until i got to my destination then the heavens opened,the wind blew and the light vanished.

Spent 20 minutes sitting in the car then came home.

Oh well there's always tomorrow i suppose.

[deborah4]

Didn't even bother to venture out today - its HOWLING!!!!

[deborah4]

Really great reporting there of Arundel, Nick - shame you didn't get better views of Firecrest. Wonder if that Robin was the same one that tried to pinch my lunch last time I was there?!

[joannec]

Didn't even bother to venture out today - its HOWLING!!!!

Me neither but did see buzzard, mistle thrush, goldcrest and kestral from the warmth of the house.

[Moonshake]

Spent the day traipsing around Castle Water and Rye Harbour. Started off okay, but yes, the wind picked up during the second half and the rain really started chucking it down, so it finished up as quite a cold wet trudge against the elements. Seemed fairly quiet birdwise, came away with bang on 50 species, all the bog standard usual stuff, but sadly none of the specialities - smew had done a bunk, bitterns got rained off, little owl was tucked up out of sight all cosy in his roost, too wet and wild for barn owls etc. Intriguing glimpse of a buzzardy bird out of the train window at Brede Level though. As we shot past a gap in the hedge, the bird flopped down to the ground in the meadow beyond and sort of went into a crouch, showing off a rusty sand coloured rump and tail. Red kite perhaps? Any suggestions?

[joannec]

The new year has got off to a terriffically auspicious start with raptors putting in a big appearance. The sun really does bring the birds out and God knows we've had little of that in the past few weeks. I saw about 15 species before breakfast. About mid day I had to retreive the teenage children from their various new years parties in different parts of the county. (Don't ask, I didn't.) On my travels I saw my first Sussex hen harrier, a female, I'm pretty sure but possibly a juvenile on the Lewes levels. Great stuff, I was driving but it was slowly and it was conveniently just alongside the road. Then comming back I saw a female merlin near Glyndebourne. When I got home, gazing out of the window a male sparrowhawk missed a house sparrow but obligingly perched on the hedge only about 10 yards away from me giving glorious views.. Then two buzzards found a thermal and put on a show.

By now I was feeling excited by all these raptors so I thought I'd go out on my farmland patch, spent a happy hour in the sunshine and another getting cold. No more raptors but did clock up 25 species on the first day of 2007.

Joanne

[Mark43]

Popped over to East Head today (along with most of the inhabitants of Sussex by the looks of it) to see if i could find the Black Brant but after searching through the 2 flocks of Brent for half an hour i could not find it.Nothing much else around bar the usual suspects.
Traffic was queuing right up Beach road when i left.

Moved on to Pagham.........again nothing much around but had a nice Kestrel hovering right above me by the Ferry Pool hide.

Tried to get by car to Church Norton but again everyone was out and about........i have never seen the car park there so full up.
A nice field full of about 40 feeding Curlew though just before you get there on the right hand side.Couldn't see the Black Brant reported there either.

30 species for the morning though so it's a start.

[deborah4]

Moved on to Pagham.........again nothing much around but had a nice Kestrel hovering right above me by the Ferry Pool hide.

Tried to get by car to Church Norton but again everyone was out and about........i have never seen the car park there so full up.
.

Hey Mark, what do you look like, I must have seen you at Pags today, I talked to just about everyone!

Wasn't it terrible!!! Bank Holiday mayhem

(will post short report on t'other thread but yes, not a lot about)

[Mark43]

Hey Mark, what do you look like, I must have seen you at Pags today, I talked to just about everyone!

Wasn't it terrible!!! Bank Holiday mayhem

(will post short report on t'other thread but yes, not a lot about)

5'10'',specs,wearing grey cargoes and green coat with a large scope on my back with my red haired wife in tow wearing the same sort of coat.

Didn't see you either then again maybe i did and didn't realise.......i think i would recognise you from your posted photo's.

[Ben Rackstraw]

Posting this a bit late, but spent the New Year period visiting relatives in Suffolk (allowing me to start 2007 in a quest for 2 UK lifers in North Norfolk).

Highlights from one day's birding in the twilight gloom prevalent in Sussex after Christmas (27th) included 7 Bewick's between Bury and Houghton and a Raven overhead while we were searching the game cover strips on top of Kithurst Hill.

Yet again failed to catch up with the Short-eared Owls at Shoreham Airport (not helped by still having to use 'reserve' optics), just a distant Barn Owl. And a Rock Pipit, but no Purple Sandpipers or Black Redstarts from our visit to Shoreham Harbour.

[Ben Rackstraw]

Female/immature Ring-necked Duck and immature male Scaup both showing well in the rain at Weir Wood Reservoir this morning (very glad that there's a hide there given the weather conditions today!). Also a nice view of a Water Rail performing in front of the hide.

[Mark43]

Female/immature Ring-necked Duck and immature male Scaup both showing well in the rain at Weir Wood Reservoir this morning (very glad that there's a hide there given the weather conditions today!). Also a nice view of a Water Rail performing in front of the hide.

Both Ring- neck and Scaup still there this morning at around 10ish with Pochard,Tufted Duck,G.C Grebe etc.

Marsh Tit's showing well on the feeders also.

[Ben Rackstraw]

Made the right choice weatherwise in opting for a full day's birding on Sunday, as the rain stayed away, although it was still difficult in the wind, with a number of species lying low.

Managed a respectable 80 in the Shoreham/Amberley areas, highlights including:-
3 Purple Sandpipers at Shoreham Harbour
Raven and Peregrine at the top of Chantry/Kithurst Hill
3 White-fronted Goose (2 add + 1 imm) in with the Greylag at Amberley Wild Brooks (from Rackham), with 2 Bewick's Swans flying in and a last minute ring-tail Hen Harrier as dusk came in

Still owl-less for 2007 though

[joannec]

I spent a few hours at Weir Wood Res today. The ring neck female is still there. Also a male scaup and a female ruddy, all hanging out with the pochard and tufties. I had never been birding there before. It's good from the little you can get too but unfortunately it is 99% inaccessable. Anyone know places other than the hide you can access?

Joanne

[Mark43]

I spent a few hours at Weir Wood Res today. The ring neck female is still there. Also a male scaup and a female ruddy, all hanging out with the pochard and tufties. I had never been birding there before. It's good from the little you can get too but unfortunately it is 99% inaccessable. Anyone know places other than the hide you can access?

Joanne

Hi Joanne

If you come out of the car park and turn right at the main road,go over the bridge and climb back up the hill after about half a mile (approx) there is a little layby with room for about 4 or 5 cars on the right hand side.You can park here,walk through the fence and down the hill where you can walk along to the dam.
It is very very very muddy in winter and not so good in summer either but its a nice walk.
You can't always access the waters edge but there is some nice woodland and fields along the way to do your birding in.

[joannec]

Hi Joanne

If you come out of the car park and turn right at the main road,go over the bridge and climb back up the hill after about half a mile (approx) there is a little layby with room for about 4 or 5 cars on the right hand side.You can park here,walk through the fence and down the hill where you can walk along to the dam.
It is very very very muddy in winter and not so good in summer either but its a nice walk.
You can't always access the waters edge but there is some nice woodland and fields along the way to do your birding in.


Hi Mark

Thanks, I will go there next time.

Joanne

[Ben Rackstraw]

My plan to cover key sites in the west of the county yesterday was a little over-ambitious for the available daylight hours in mid-January, not helped by the tide times this weekend or the elusive nature of some of the target species.

Nevertheless, with the calm, sunny and clear conditions, it was a great day to be out at West Dean Woods, some or all of the following species having been seen by us and/or various people we encountered...

Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Buzzard (11 in bins at one time!)
Woodcock, Firecrest (we saw a min. of 3), Marsh and Willow Tit, Hawfinch, Brambling & Corn Bunting

A brief trip to Church Norton succeeded in plugging a few gaps in the yearlist, but the tide wasn't ideal (too far out). One Slavonian Grebe offshore from the harbour mouth, a flyby Red-throated Diver and a big handful of Med Gulls were the highlights.

[r2didi2]

Hi Folks

Frank and I were at Weir Wood on Saturday and saw the female ring-necked, a lifer for both of us which was cool. Mark that's great info re where else to hang out at Weir Wood :-))

Also, Widewater Lagoon in Shoreham-by-Sea is good at the moment (a local patch for me) - we went on Sunday and saw another lifer for me - 2 male and 3 female Red-breasted Mergansers! If you get Bird Guides News Digest (www.birdguides.com) for the Sussex area, you'll see it reported at 16:15 yesterday - that was me!

There were also more Dabchicks there than I have ever seen anywhere else - must have been approaching 10 of them whizzing and diving around together! Not many waders at the moment though other than one lonely-looking redshank!

And of course, there is the Great Nothern Diver in Southwick, which is just up the road from Shoreham! Haven't had a chance to go and see that yet though...

All the best
Didi

[joannec]

Also, Widewater Lagoon in Shoreham-by-Sea is good at the moment (a local patch for me) - we went on Sunday and saw another lifer for me - 2 male and 3 female Red-breasted Mergansers! If you get Bird Guides News Digest (www.birdguides.com) for the Sussex area, you'll see it reported at 16:15 yesterday - that was me!

There were also more Dabchicks there than I have ever seen anywhere else - must have been approaching 10 of them whizzing and diving around together! Not many waders at the moment though other than one lonely-looking redshank!

And of course, there is the Great Nothern Diver in Southwick, which is just up the road from Shoreham! Haven't had a chance to go and see that yet though...

All the best
Didi

Thanks for that Didi, planning to go to Shoreham on Wed. It's not my patch and Deborah is showing me round so looking forward to it even more with this info. :t:

Joanne

[JohnnyH]

Quick walk along Worthing beach this afternoon whilst visiting my bro produced - 50 Sanderling, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Common Scoter, Shag, & a sorry looking Red Throated Diver which appeared to be oiled.

Cheers,

John.

[Moonshake]

Another trundle round Arundel WWT with the family today brought chiffchaff, kingfisher and sparrowhawk along with all the usual stuff plus lovely views of a peregrine circling fairly low and leisurely over the reserve. A red admiral in the car park too when we arrived. A stop at Greatham Bridge on the journey back gave a hunting barn owl that got rather rudely set upon by a kestrel.

[Ben Rackstraw]

Bit late with my report of weekend birding activities, but never mind...

Had a day off on Friday, so headed back to West Dean Woods to try and pick up the 'specials'. Couldn't find any Brambling in the Chaffinch flock around Staple Ash Farm/the horse paddock, but they are in the area according to other sources.

A nice view of Red Kite quartering the field at the bottom of the hill before the SWT car park - if you don't see anything in the air, scan the copses on the hillside carefully - could well be sitting tight there.

Also managed to catch up with the 'holy grail' of Willow Tit, near the 'daffodil field'. Lots of Marsh Tits in the area as well, very vocal at this time of year.

A female Hawfinch was seen in the vicinity of the normal roost site at 1.30pm. Waited until 2.15 and didn't see any more coming in - but this is before the normal roosting time, so don't know how many there are in the area at the moment. Too cold for me to wait any longer!

No sign of Short-eared Owl at Shoreham Airfield on either Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

For some reason, all woodpeckers were strangely silent at Burton Mill on Sunday morning. Did manage to pick out 7+ Siskin and at least 2 Lesser Redpoll in the alders with Goldfinches and heard a Woodlark singing in the distance. Had a surprise flypast from a Raven too.

[r2didi2]

A nice view of Red Kite quartering the field at the bottom of the hill before the SWT car park - if you don't see anything in the air, scan the copses on the hillside carefully - could well be sitting tight there..

Hi Ben - I didn't know they had Red Kite there - is that West Dean Woods as well?

Also, I still have never seen a Hawfinch - you saying they've got those there - I won't half have to go and look!

Cheers
Didi

[deborah4]

Hi Ben - I didn't know they had Red Kite there - is that West Dean Woods as well?

Also, I still have never seen a Hawfinch - you saying they've got those there - I won't half have to go and look!

Cheers
Didi

Hi Didi

Red Kites can be seen quite regularly at West Dean. Surprised about the Willow Tit though - thought they were all but extinct in the South of England.

[Ben Rackstraw]

Hi Ben - I didn't know they had Red Kite there - is that West Dean Woods as well?

Also, I still have never seen a Hawfinch - you saying they've got those there - I won't half have to go and look!

Cheers
Didi

Hi Didi,

5 Hawfinches were seen at WDW going to roost on Tuesday afternoon (between 1 and 2.30pm), but they didn't show particularly well - blink and you'd miss them as they shot into the roost, apparently. I have had really good views in the Horse paddock near Stapleash farm in previous years though. PM me if you want any more details.

The Sussex Willow Tit is just about hanging on I think, but it's an odd beast compared to birds elsewhere in UK. Damp woodland thickets such as that at Burton Mill, where if one were further N in UK would be expected to hold WT, seems to be exclusively the domain of Marsh Tits; all the WTs I've seen at WDW have been in the larch woods/plantations higher up the hill.

Cheers,

Ben

BTW Tawny Owl on my walk home from the railway station in Haywards Heath tonight - first I've seen here - would seem that a pair have moved in over the past couple of months.

[Moonshake]

Barn owl being mobbed by two magpies late this afternoon, along the A259 east of Newhaven, right by the Ouse Estuary Project.

[joannec]

Yesterday I watched a magpie nestbuilding, thought this a bit early but definately arranging sticks in the top of an oak tree!!!

Also rooks have been taking a lot of interest in old nest sites in the last week or so, not actually flying around with sticks in their beeks yet but frequenting the scots pines where there is a rookery. Last year they first started nesting mid Feb so am watching them closely. Interestingly the site I watch, which is visible from my house, is one of the earliest nest sites in Sussex. I know they are really common but it is a source of entertainment and I have taken an interest in them and grown to like them.

[joannec]

Barn owl being mobbed by two magpies late this afternoon, along the A259 east of Newhaven, right by the Ouse Estuary Project.

Hi Nick

Where is the Ouse Estuary Project? Is it the same as Newhaven Tide Mills? Between Newhaven and Seaford somewhere? I met a birder last week who recommended this as being a good place.

Joanne

[Mark43]

Nice female Red-breasted Merganser off Church Norton spit this afternoon.

Swimming about close to Teal Island then went ashore on the next island to preen and sunbathe.

Had a good look at the Brent in the harbour but no sigh of the 2 Black Brant's reported there.

You would be forgiven for thinking the harbour was a parking area for Lapwings and Golden Plover today.........hundreds of each sitting about.

No Godwits in sight though!!!

[Ben Rackstraw]

Spent the day in the Far East, trying to connect with all the specialities in the Rye area. Fairly successful, but missed key targets Bittern and Tree Sparrow, and didn't come across the hoped for Merlin (or any other raptors bar Kestrel).

New Sussex year birds that we did connect with were...

Kingfisher (a brief flyby)
Cetti's Warbler, one of the many singing birds revealed itself for a short time
Chiffchaff
Smew 4 in total (all redheads) - 1 on Castle Water (also 3 Scaup here) and 3 on the Narrow Pit
Little Owl - 1 peering down on us from its roost on Camber Castle
Long-eared Owl - 2 roosting in their normal spot along the edge of the Narrow Pit (unfortunately a bit too obscured to present much of a photo opportunity)
Black-necked Grebe - the long-stayer on the Long Pit
Common Scoter - a fairly substantial raft in the distance offshore

The biggest surprise though, was while we were searching unsuccessfully for Tree Sparrow near Winchelsea; a small passerine flew up on to the roof of a farmhouse and revealed itself to be a smart male Black Redstart

Must acknowledge those who keep the 'RX wildlife' website up-to-date with the latest sightings, helping us to plan the day's itinerary. Didn't have time to explore Pett or the Pannel Valley - will have to concentrate on this area when we come back later in the year.

[Moonshake]

That Rye area is smashing isn't it? Whole big chunk of land to explore there.

Back at Wakehurst again today - at least 5 brambling around by the main entrance, rooting around in the leaf litter amongst the snowdrops. Always struck at how well camouflaged they are considering the garishness of their garb, but the flying debris easily gives them away. Didn't find much else of note, but heck, what a lovely day. Lots of nuthatches, various tits, green woodpeckers, thrushes, that sort of thing.


Where is the Ouse Estuary Project? Is it the same as Newhaven Tide Mills? Between Newhaven and Seaford somewhere? I met a birder last week who recommended this as being a good place.
Hi Joanne! Yes, it's the whole area of land north of the site of the old tide mills, as shown on this map:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=545485&Y=101150&A=Y&Z=3

I've still not had a proper explore there myself - the little legs in our group only ever seem to want to carry their owner straight to the beach - but from the main road you can clearly see a big birdwatching screen that's been erected overlooking the wetland areas.

[Moonshake]

A bit more info on the project here, if it's of interest:
http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/countryside/coast/ouseestuary/default.htm

[joannec]

That Rye area is smashing isn't it? Whole big chunk of land to explore there.

Back at Wakehurst again today - at least 5 brambling around by the main entrance, rooting around in the leaf litter amongst the snowdrops. Always struck at how well camouflaged they are considering the garishness of their garb, but the flying debris easily gives them away. Didn't find much else of note, but heck, what a lovely day. Lots of nuthatches, various tits, green woodpeckers, thrushes, that sort of thing.



Hi Joanne! Yes, it's the whole area of land north of the site of the old tide mills, as shown on this map:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=545485&Y=101150&A=Y&Z=3

I've still not had a proper explore there myself - the little legs in our group only ever seem to want to carry their owner straight to the beach - but from the main road you can clearly see a big birdwatching screen that's been erected overlooking the wetland areas.


Thanks for those links, Nick, think I'll explore it soon.

Joanne

[JohnnyH]

I too spent the day at Rye, top day it was too, highlights being excellent views of 1 the 2 LEO's roosting at the narrow pit, 3 Smew (1 Drake) at Castle Water, BN Grebe at the Long Pit, & flyover Peregrine & Merlin. Also saw a hunting Barn Owl nr Northiam on the way home.

John.

[Mark43]

6 hours or so at Pulborough Brooks today produced nothing of any major interest apart from very good views of 20 plus Common Snipe from West Mead hide......not a bird you always see to well.

Big plus was the Roast Lamb and Spotted Dick and custard in the tea room after the first circuit was completed. :D :D :D

[joannec]

6 hours or so at Pulborough Brooks today produced nothing of any major interest apart from very good views of 20 plus Common Snipe from West Mead hide......not a bird you always see to well.



I went to Pulborough today. Like you Mark, saw lots of common snipe, really good close views, form the West Mead Hide. Nothing else of major interest, loads of goldcrest and I spent a long time searching for the firecrest to no avail though. Lots of pintail and shoveller still and 4 buzzards.

Joanne

[Mark43]

A nice Red-breasted Goose at East Head today in with all the Brents. |8)|

Still couldn't manage to find the Black Brant amongst the flock though. |})|

Lots of Sanderlings,Curlew and Skylark about.

Possible Slavonian Grebe offshore but wasn't totally sure about it.

[Moonshake]

A trip to Wakehurst today turned up all the usual stuff, plus redwing and fieldfare, a couple of bramblings still knocking about by the entrance, a buzzard flying over at height, and what looked suspiciously like a willow tit in the trees near the rock walk. The bird in question had a fat neck and a wide, scruffy bib. Didn't hear any calls though so wouldn't want to stake my neck on this one. Loads of bumblebees around and a red admiral sat on a bench too.

[Ben Rackstraw]

Going to have another try for Lesser Spot tomorrow morning, and then maybe a full day on Sunday down at the coast (picnic lunch and all), with some combination of Selsey, Pagham and/or Thorney Island. Perhaps there'll be a few Wheatears knocking about.

Anyone else got any plans this w/e?

[Moonshake]

Out of interest, where are you going for LSW Ben?

[deborah4]

I shall be doing the more local patch at Shoreham this weekend. Nick, if you want to meet up to do the Golf Course and Woods at Holingbury over the next few weeks give me a shout - there's a good chance of catching some spring migrants coming in. Posted a short report on my thread yesterday btw re: the Yellow Browed Warbler at Southwick if any of you are interested.

[r2didi2]

If you folks haven't already done it (in a rush so didn't have time to read the rest) then check out Cissbury Ring - great birding patch - not far from Shoreham...

Kind regards
Didi

[Ben Rackstraw]

Out of interest, where are you going for LSW Ben?

No luck with LSW at Rackham Woods this morning, and have also had 3-4 failed attempts at Burton Mill this year. Not an easy bird to catch up with this year in Sussex, as sightings at Pulborough RSPB have been few and far between apparently.

Plenty of GSWs, a couple of Buzzards and a Grey Wagtail is all I have to report from this am.

[Moonshake]

Ooh, bad luck indeed sir! Not having any joy with LSW myself. Worst thing is that my mother-in-law keeps reporting one that visits her back garden (in Hants). Grrrrdamnandblastit!

[joannec]

Ooh, bad luck indeed sir! Not having any joy with LSW myself. Worst thing is that my mother-in-law keeps reporting one that visits her back garden (in Hants). Grrrrdamnandblastit!


I'm not having any luck either Nick. Worst thing for me is that everything is right and they should be in our woods but I can't find them either!!!

(You'll just have to go and visit the mother in law, hope she's not like mine. LOL)

Joanne

[Moonshake]

I'm ashamed to say, she's been living there for a year almost, and I haven't visited her once. Oops.

[Lorna Rusbridge]

Hello everyone,

A kind person (probably one of you guys!) has just shown me an immature Iceland gull on the Adur Estuary, just above the railway bridge.

Lorna

[deborah4]

Hi Lorna

Thanks for the PM re: the Iceland & directions. Unfortunately I didn't see the boards before going out later this afternoon as I was somewhere else earlier. The tide was full in when I arrived so I just went up river rather than down - never any gulls or waders around at full tide where I generally start off. Caught up with a very nice pair of displaying Kingfisher up river though and the fields were alive with Skylark and Yellow Hammer singing.

[paulwfromtheden]

Pulborough was good today.
Heard and saw my first Chiffchaff's of the year and good numbers of Bullfinches and Treecreepers which were life ticks for Mrs W.
There was a lone Yellowhammer which put on a great show for about 10 fellow birders.
Good day.

[Moonshake]

Yellowhammer, skylark, linnet and green woodpecker all singing (or laughing at least!) at Hollingbury Fort this morning. Singing chiffchaff at Nyman's in Handcross this afternoon.

[joannec]

Woodlarks heard but not seen on Ashdown Forest yesterday, Old Lodge area.

Ring necked female duck still at Weir Wood but pochard and tufties mostly gone.
The herony is well seen from the hide with 14 nests and at least one sitting female.

Joanne

[Mark43]

A slow walk round Old Lodge,Ashdown Forest this morning produced one Woodlark which we inadvertently flushed,one GS Woodpecker and several male Stonechats which seemed to be fighting each other........must be a territorial thing.Also heard a Tawny Owl calling fairly close by but couldn't see it anywhere.

The usual assortment of finches and tits around.

Also bumped into Joanne Chattaway....nice to see you again.....hope you found your Woodlark after we left you.

Popped over to Gills Lap after but this area seemed practically birdless.....it's more open here so the wind comes into play and the birds seemed to want to hunker down for the morning.

[joannec]

A slow walk round Old Lodge,Ashdown Forest this morning produced one Woodlark which we inadvertently flushed,one GS Woodpecker and several male Stonechats which seemed to be fighting each other........must be a territorial thing.Also heard a Tawny Owl calling fairly close by but couldn't see it anywhere.

The usual assortment of finches and tits around.

Also bumped into Joanne Chattaway....nice to see you again.....hope you found your Woodlark after we left you.

Popped over to Gills Lap after but this area seemed practically birdless.....it's more open here so the wind comes into play and the birds seemed to want to hunker down for the morning.


Glad you saw the woodlark!

It was a nice surprise to bump into you and Jackie too. I could only stay an hour up there today as I was on my way somewhere else (not birding). I did hear a woodlark but unfortunately didn't see it. Just after we parted a flock of linnets turned up, I kept waving and otherwise quietly trying unsuccessfully to get your attention. Apart from that, only a sparrowhawk and chiffchaff of interest.

Joanne

[Mark43]

Glad you saw the woodlark!

It was a nice surprise to bump into you and Jackie too. I could only stay an hour up there today as I was on my way somewhere else (not birding). I did hear a woodlark but unfortunately didn't see it. Just after we parted a flock of linnets turned up, I kept waving and otherwise quietly trying unsuccessfully to get your attention. Apart from that, only a sparrowhawk and chiffchaff of interest.

Joanne

Oops........oh well it doesn't matter to much.
Should have swopped mobile numbers then you could have just txt'd me ;) ;)

[Last Year's Man]

Hi

I've posted this in the Sussex 'information request' section, but seeing as the last post before mine was November, I thought perhaps I should replicate my request here..

Can anyone recommend a woodland within, say, half and hour's drive or so from Lewes where I might catch up with a few long-overdue finches? (any of Hawfinch, Brambling, Siskin, Redpoll, Crossbill, etc).

Friston is very close, although usually dead at this time of year. Ashdown would be good, but I need someone to give me a pointer on a particular location that might prove fruitful. Failing that, somewhere fairly small and self-contained wuld be ideal.

Many thanks

[Mark43]

Hi

I've posted this in the Sussex 'information request' section, but seeing as the last post before mine was November, I thought perhaps I should replicate my request here..

Can anyone recommend a woodland within, say, half and hour's drive or so from Lewes where I might catch up with a few long-overdue finches? (any of Hawfinch, Brambling, Siskin, Redpoll, Crossbill, etc).

Friston is very close, although usually dead at this time of year. Ashdown would be good, but I need someone to give me a pointer on a particular location that might prove fruitful. Failing that, somewhere fairly small and self-contained wuld be ideal.

Many thanks


For Hawfinch and Brambling i would suggest West Dean Woods near Chichester.Bit more than half an hour away though.
Redpoll and Crossbill.......well it has to be Ashdown Forest.Try Airmans grave or Isle of Thorns for Redpoll and anywhere on the forest for Crossbill although you may not be lucky with these.
Not sure about a good place for Siskin.

I'm sure others may have some ideas as well.

[joannec]

For Hawfinch and Brambling i would suggest West Dean Woods near Chichester.Bit more than half an hour away though.
Redpoll and Crossbill.......well it has to be Ashdown Forest.Try Airmans grave or Isle of Thorns for Redpoll and anywhere on the forest for Crossbill although you may not be lucky with these.
Not sure about a good place for Siskin.

I'm sure others may have some ideas as well.

I agree with what Mark has said about Ashdown Forest for finches. Redpoll were pretty common up there in May/June last year, think it's called Nine Acre Wood, just past Kidds Hill on the Hartfield Road where I saw alot. Crossbill are said to be in the New Lodge area but not seen them personally.

I saw brambling at Arlington Reservoir before Christmas but not when I went two weeks ago. Moonshake will probably be along soon, he seems to see alot of brambling, right Nick?

Of course don't forget Pulborough Brooks, a bit more than 1/2 hour from Lewes though.

Joanne

[Ben Rackstraw]

It's a bit late in the year for the winter finches (although the cold weather may have shaken things up a bit), you'll probably be looking at next winter now.

In the W of the county Coates Common can be good for Siskin, Crossbill and Redpoll, with Burton Mill nearby also good for Siskin, Redpoll (sometimes including Mealy) in the woods (can be 100s of Siskin here). Redpoll also get into the finch flocks in the fields in the area where they can be joined by Brambling. This year has not been a good one at either of these sites, we had a handful of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll at BM at the end of January, but I don't think there's been much of a flock. Crossbill is pretty much a hopeless cause this winter - might be best waiting until next winter to see if numbers are higher. Last winter (2005/2006) there were a few to be seen in the Old Lodge area in Ashdown. The latter can be very good for Redpoll at this time of year, with birds very vocal and active.

Probably too late for the Hawfinch roost at West Dean Woods now (you could get a chance flyover, but unlikely), and there's not been too many Brambling there this year (it's not been cold enough) - so it might not be worth risking the long journey. I've made 3 trips there this year (quite a jaunt from Haywards Heath) with varied success.

I saw a report recently on the RXWildlife website (try Googling if you're not aware of this site) of Hawfinches somewhere in the Pett/Rye area, but not even certain that this was in Sussex or just over the border in Kent. EDIT it was Powdermill Reservoir, and is in Sussex - also Siskin and Redpoll reported; DISCLAIMER - I don't know anything regarding access at this site!

[Last Year's Man]

Thank you for all the responses.

I did think that perhaps I'd left it a bit late for woodland finches, but I may well give Ashdown a go.

On the other hand, Beachy Head is only 20 minutes away (I live half way between Lewes and Eastbourne, and about 5 mins drive from Arlington) - I could always chance a trip there even though it is very early. I managed a quick trip a couple of weeks ago, and was rewarded with a nice Firecrest, so you never know...and of course Cuckmere Haven is on the way home!

I have been 'lurking' around this Sussex thread for a few weeks now, but will begin reporting my outings from now on. Two pre-school kids don't allow much time for birding though |:(|

[joannec]

Arlington) - I could always chance a trip there even though it is very early. I managed a quick trip a couple of weeks ago, and was rewarded with a nice Firecrest, so you never know...and of course Cuckmere Haven is on the way home!

|


Firecrest at Arlington, that's a good sighting :D .

Have you seen this?

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=78558

Joanne

[Moonshake]

Bedgebury Pinetum is supposed to be good for hawfinch and gets crossbill and siskin too. It's Kent, but surely can't be all that far away from you - it's close to Bewl Water. Drawbacks: might be too late in the year and also you have to pay to get in - it's a good place to visit, but I suppose paying might only compound the disappointment if you don't see the bird.

http://www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk/index.htm

Brambling were present at Wakehurst Place near Ardingly all winter. Hawfinch have been seen there too in the past, but really pretty scarce I think.


Two pre-school kids don't allow much time for birding though

You're not wrong about that, that's for sure!

[Last Year's Man]

...from my post above (and I promise not to turn this into a 'request' thread in future!), has anyone birded Combe Haven at this time of the year?

Thanks

[Last Year's Man]

...from my post above (and I promise not to turn this into a 'request' thread in future!), has anyone birded Combe Haven at this time of the year?

Thanks


Needless to say, I'm not thinking of finches!

[Mark43]

A 3 hour stroll round Pulborough today produced a Ruff,Redshank and a Dunlin out on the North Brooks plus a couple of Snipe seen from the Hanger.
Plenty of Chiffchaff about or the same one kept following us.

Had a spot of lunch then over to Greatham for a wander onto Amberley Brooks which was practically birdless unless you like Wrens........never seen so many.....they were everywhere.

[joannec]

A 3 hour stroll round Pulborough today produced a Ruff,Redshank and a Dunlin out on the North Brooks plus a couple of Snipe seen from the Hanger.
Plenty of Chiffchaff about or the same one kept following us.

Had a spot of lunch then over to Greatham for a wander onto Amberley Brooks which was practically birdless unless you like Wrens........never seen so many.....they were everywhere.


Hi Mark, sounds good. Ruff, is that unusual for Pulborough? Chiffchaffs everywhere now in Sussex I think, keep hearing them here anyway. Isn't it great, a terriffic sign of spring!!! :t: :t:

I hope to go down to CH Tues or Wed depending on work and weather. Hope to see some good migrants now that the wind has changed!

Joanne

[Mark43]

Hi Mark, sounds good. Ruff, is that unusual for Pulborough?

Joanne

Hi Joanne

First one i have ever seen there i must admit.I think this one has been there all week although i thought i overheard someone say there had been 4 there at one point.

Have a good time at Cuckmere.

[Last Year's Man]

Hi everyone

I decided after your advice that I'd left it too late for winter finches, so took off early to Combe Haven / Filsham Reedbeds early this morning.

Arrived about 7.15am to a beautiful, sunny morning. The place was alive with birds and birdsong. In a way, its a rather frustrating environment unless you're VERY competent with calls and song, as there are constant LBJ's flitting from bush to reedbed and back, with no time to make ID's.

Chiff Chaffs everywhere, along with Reed Buntings. Walked up the watercourse until I peeled off for the boardwalk and viewing platform in the middle of the reedbed. The first real prize materialised immediately...heard a Water Rail alarm calling and then got a good view of it as it flew into the reeds. There were also a small flock of Shoveler, a pair of Teal and a pair of Wigeon on the pond.

I could hear Cetti's Warblers singing close by (what a wonderful and distinctive song), and hung around for ages but to no avail. I was also rather optimistically hoping for Bearded Tits, but they were not to show themselves all morning.

I continued up the waterway towards the water meadows, when another Cetti's burst into song about 10 feet away from me. My patience paid off, and I was rewarded with a good view of a notoriously (for me at least!) difficult bird to see.

The weather was glorious, and lots of fine views of other nice birds materialised; Stonechat, Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Long Tails, etc.

Its a really lovely, distinctive spot to go birding, and Water Rail and Cetti's are two A class birds in my book. Met a chap who told me they had Marsh Harrier last year, although curiously I didn't spot a single raptor all morning...not even a Kestrel. Also noticeable by their absence were Pipits - of any variety...strange...

Wish I could make it for the group outing coming up, but after getting out this morning, I don't think my commanding officer would countenance leave of absence from official duties for the next few weeks! (read...wife...toddlers..."your turn"...).

Cheers

[joannec]

Hi everyone


I could hear Cetti's Warblers singing close by (what a wonderful and distinctive song), and hung around for ages but to no avail. I was also rather optimistically hoping for Bearded Tits, but they were not to show themselves all morning.

I continued up the waterway towards the water meadows, when another Cetti's burst into song about 10 feet away from me. My patience paid off, and I was rewarded with a good view of a notoriously (for me at least!) difficult bird to see.




I saw my first cettis today too! Not far from you I think, in a private wood between Lewes and Polegate. Flitting in the undergrowth, very elusive but unmistakable with it's song and cocked up tail, even got 2 glimpses of it! Wood also full of chiffchaffs and saw one each of kestral, sparrowhawk and buzzard.

Then when I got home, there was a female blackcap in my garden! A good spring day.

Joanne

[Last Year's Man]

I saw my first cettis today too! Not far from you I think, in a private wood between Lewes and Polegate. Flitting in the undergrowth, very elusive but unmistakable with it's song and cocked up tail, even got 2 glimpses of it! Wood also full of chiffchaffs and saw one each of kestral, sparrowhawk and buzzard.

Then when I got home, there was a female blackcap in my garden! A good spring day.

Joanne


Hi Joanne

That's interesting...when you say 'private' do you mean one with no public access? A nice woodland that close to me would be wonderful with spring coming for those 'stolen moments' of birding! Are you allowed to tell me where it is?

Well done on the Cettis...they are really difficult to pin down. I was chuffed with mine (a first too). They are very attractive for an LBJ, I thought.

By the way...has anyone else been to see the Yellow Browed Warbler in Southwick? Or should I say is there anyone who hasn't! If not, it is worth the trip. Lovely little bird, and you are almost guaranteed to see it. Actually, although its great to add a vagrant to the list, it doesn't feel quite as rewarding as finding something interesting yourself, by chance.

[Last Year's Man]

Sorry, should have added to my last post...

Has anyone seen the Peregrines at Lewes this year?

[joannec]

Hi Joanne

That's interesting...when you say 'private' do you mean one with no public access? A nice woodland that close to me would be wonderful with spring coming for those 'stolen moments' of birding! Are you allowed to tell me where it is?




I'll PM you.

[deborah4]

Hi LYM

Seen Cettis at Ivy Lake and Pagham Harbour this year, also heard at Siddlesham SE Water, also seen Perrys at Pagham, Shoreham, Arundel and Chichester this year too. (oh and the YBW but agree with you, no birding involved there really!! More fun to find your own birds ;) )

[joannec]

Sorry, should have added to my last post...

Has anyone seen the Peregrines at Lewes this year?


Peregrine Webcam in Brighton

This looks good, anyone else seen it? Right on your doorstep, Deborah.

http://www.regencybrighton.com/birds/webcam/

[deborah4]

Peregrine Webcam in Brighton

This looks good, anyone else seen it? Right on your doorstep, Deborah.

http://www.regencybrighton.com/birds/webcam/

Yes there is a breeding pair that have been here for years (as long as I can remember anyway!) - they're often seen over Brighton - particularly over the 'Station and Churchill Square where theres a nice juicy pigeon population. Bizarrely enough, 10 minutes ago, hundreds of Gull went up over towards central Brighton, the noise was phenominal - checked out back window but didn't see anything but was thinking it was one of the Perry's that had sent them up although Heron fly over occasionally too.

[joannec]

Yes there is a breeding pair that have been here for years (as long as I can remember anyway!) - they're often seen over Brighton - particularly over the 'Station and Churchill Square where theres a nice juicy pigeon population. Bizarrely enough, 10 minutes ago, hundreds of Gull went up over towards central Brighton, the noise was phenominal - checked out back window but didn't see anything but was thinking it was one of the Perry's that had sent them up although Heron fly over occasionally too.


Nice to have them so close!! Lucky you. :t:

[Mark43]

By the way...has anyone else been to see the Yellow Browed Warbler in Southwick? Or should I say is there anyone who hasn't! If not, it is worth the trip. Lovely little bird, and you are almost guaranteed to see it. Actually, although its great to add a vagrant to the list, it doesn't feel quite as rewarding as finding something interesting yourself, by chance.

No i can't bring myself to go down there even though i have never seen one.
Somehow peering over someone's back garden wall doesn't feel right as opposed to finding/seeing one in the countryside.
Well..........maybe this weekend if i'm free. ;) ;)

[Ben Rackstraw]

Caught up with the 1st winter Iceland Gull on the Adur between the tollbridge and the railway bridge at Shoreham today, viewed from the airport side, on the falling tide between 2.30pm and 2.45pm, at which time it took off, circled a few times and headed off high to the E, on its own.

Not much else of note to report from today's outing, rather too blustery to spend too much time out looking.

[Mark43]

Common Crane on North Brooks,Pulborough this morning. :t: :t:

[JohnnyH]

Not anymore there isn't, Birdguides reports it flying off SE at 10:00 & then NE near the Washington roundabout on the A24 at 10:45.

John.

[Mark43]

Not anymore there isn't, Birdguides reports it flying off SE at 10:00 & then NE near the Washington roundabout on the A24 at 10:45.

John.

Thats unfortunate.........was going to pop in after dropping my son off in Chichester.

[joannec]

Not anymore there isn't, Birdguides reports it flying off SE at 10:00 & then NE near the Washington roundabout on the A24 at 10:45.

John.

And I was thinking of going tomorrow.....

Joanne

[Ben Rackstraw]

Missed the Crane at Pulborough by 10 min this morning. Didn't have time to hang around to check if it came back, or to investigate whether it had moved over to Coldwaltham or Amberley, as had some emergency tree surgery to do in the garden. So, headed back to Haywards Heath...

...Quite pleased then, when I looked up from the gardening at 12.55 pm to see the Crane making its way N directly over the garden!!! Had time to run into the house and get bins to watch it disappear in the Ardingly direction.

[Mark43]

...Quite pleased then, when I looked up from the gardening at 12.55 pm to see the Crane making its way N directly over the garden!!! Had time to run into the house and get bins to watch it disappear in the Ardingly direction.


Some people have all the luck ;) ;)

[joannec]

...Quite pleased then, when I looked up from the gardening at 12.55 pm to see the Crane making its way N directly over the garden!!! Had time to run into the house and get bins to watch it disappear in the Ardingly direction.

Brilliant!!! :t:

[hollis_f]

Not anymore there isn't, Birdguides reports it flying off SE at 10:00 & then NE near the Washington roundabout on the A24 at 10:45.

John.
Didi and I were so lucky. We were planning on going over to West Dean Woods and decided to stop off at Pulburough on the way. We arrived at Nettley's Hide at around 09:40 and had some great views of the Crane before leaving at around 10:15 - and the Crane was still there. Then we watched a threesome of Nuthatches indulge in some springtime behaviour - fantastic views of them perching on twigs and in flight.

[Moonshake]

That's a hell of a garden tick to have Ben if you include fly-overs! (it was in your airspace after all)

[Ben Rackstraw]

Doesn't quite make it on to the 'seen from' garden list, as I was standing in my next door neighbour's garden holding a tree trunk when I first saw it! Then watched it with bins from the street.

Just seen that it seems to have turned round and returned to Pulborough - reported by Birdguides as being present at 11.49. Presume it was the same bird that I saw, but that's a big loop to fly just because you got annoyed by a few gulls!

[joannec]

Just seen that it seems to have turned round and returned to Pulborough - reported by Birdguides as being present at 11.49. Presume it was the same bird that I saw, but that's a big loop to fly just because you got annoyed by a few gulls!


B*****! I thought I'd go to Pulborough but when I heard it had gone, I went somewhere else instead. :-C

[deborah4]

B*****! I thought I'd go to Pulborough but when I heard it had gone, I went somewhere else instead. :-C

Serves you right for even thinking about becoming a stinky dispicable low-down twitcher! :'D (just kidding ;) ;)) Btw. Did you say you saw Willow Warbler at CH last week? - that would be a good early sighting - don't know whether the Warnham one has been confirmed yet. Anyone else seen WW already?

[joannec]

Serves you right for even thinking . Did you say you saw Willow Warbler at CH last week? - that would be a good early sighting - don't know whether the Warnham one has been confirmed yet. Anyone else seen WW already?

LOL

Yes, but it was at Birling Gap in someones garden on the edge of the path to Crowlink. o:)

Guess I'll have to go tomorrow then.....

[Mark43]

Serves you right for even thinking about becoming a stinky dispicable low-down twitcher! :'D (just kidding ;) ;)) Btw. Did you say you saw Willow Warbler at CH last week? - that would be a good early sighting - don't know whether the Warnham one has been confirmed yet. Anyone else seen WW already?

Willow Warbler at Pulborough and Pagham this week.

[Mark43]

A good day for Common Buzzards today with 2 over the Severals,Church Norton,one over Bury Hill and another over my house in Gossops Green drifting south east pursued by 2 Crows.

Nice group of Red Legged Partridge's in a field by the entrance to Church Norton this morning.First time i have got a close up look at these birds.....very striking.

Group of 8 Ringed Plover on the shingle spit where the Shelduck roost at Church Norton.

Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat at Sidlesham Visitor Centre.......not seen by me........missed them by a few minutes unfortunately.

Great Northern Diver off of Selsey Bill early this morning but not much else in the 30 minutes i was there.

[Ben Rackstraw]

Have been without computer for most of this weekend, as PC World have been playing with it. But back online now and everything seems to be working properly.

Birding highlights of the weekend include:
* Ringtail Hen Harrier hunting in front of West Mead Hide at Pulborough on Saturday afternoon. Also 2 LRPs from Nettley's and 1-2 Willow Warblers, one of which was combining normal Willow Warbler song with a passable impression of the surrounding Chiff Chaffs.

* Female Merlin on the Downs near Sompting on Saturday evening

* 7 Great Northern Divers on the sea off Selsey while we were there on Sunday (between 8 and 10am), a Bonxie past and my first Sandwich Terns, Fulmar and Gannets of the year (not done much seawatching yet!)

:storm: Still no LSW, attempts running into double figures now!

[Mark43]

* 7 Great Northern Divers on the sea off Selsey while we were there on Sunday (between 8 and 10am), a Bonxie past and my first Sandwich Terns, Fulmar and Gannets of the year (not done much seawatching yet!)


Only saw one GND but i didn't stay long.........if you were wearing a camo coat then i might have said hello to you........perhaps we should all wear name tags.

Nice Green Sandpiper at Pulborough today from Westmead Hide........a first for me......... plus a few Redshank scattered about and a resplendent male Bullfinch at the bottom of the hill from the Visitors centre..........lovely to see as its not a bird i seem to see very often.

[joannec]

Hi Everyone

I made an unexpected trip to Newhaven this afternoon and took the opportunity to go to Tide Mills for a couple of hours. There were at least 10 wheatear,most just inland from the beach in the scrubby land near the harbour. Also, many skylark, lost track of how many but about 30, linnet 1 buzzard, 1 willow warbler(?), a pair of rock pipit, 4 curlew flying in and landed near the screen. I didn't have time to do a seawatch and there was no sign of the purple sandpiper, guess they've gone Nick. Could have stayed much longer but there were other (non birding) things I had to do. :-C

Also had a new garden tick today, grey heron raiding the pond!!

Joanne

[Mark43]

Hi Everyone

I made an unexpected trip to Newhaven this afternoon and took the opportunity to go to Tide Mills for a couple of hours. There were at least 10 wheatear,most just inland from the beach in the scrubby land near the harbour. Also, many skylark, lost track of how many but about 30, linnet 1 buzzard, 1 willow warbler(?), a pair of rock pipit, 4 curlew flying in and landed near the screen. I didn't have time to do a seawatch and there was no sign of the purple sandpiper, guess they've gone Nick. Could have stayed much longer but there were other (non birding) things I had to do. :-C

Also had a new garden tick today, grey heron raiding the pond!!

Joanne

Was hoping to see Wheatear down at Pagham on Sunday but none about.
Hopefully we will catch up with them on the 22nd Joanne.

Shame about the Purple Sandpiper......it's certainly seems to be a good spot for them there although saying that i still haven't seen one. |:$| |:$|

[joannec]

Was hoping to see Wheatear down at Pagham on Sunday but none about.
Hopefully we will catch up with them on the 22nd Joanne.

Shame about the Purple Sandpiper......it's certainly seems to be a good spot for them there although saying that i still haven't seen one. |:$| |:$|

Hi Mark

I think there will be some good little birds about on the 22nd, judging by today. Lets hope the weather holds. Thanks for bumping up the other, I thought I'd remind everyone later in the week.

Joanne

[wetlands_wedge]

[QUOTE=Mark43]Was hoping to see Wheatear down at Pagham on Sunday but none about.
Hopefully we will catch up with them on the 22nd Joanne.

Leon, myself and some other freinds were at Pagham on Sunday, sorry we missed you. We missed the Wheatears as well but had some wonderful views of a male Blackcap by the mound at Church Norton.
We look forward to seeing you again on the 22nd :t:

[JohnnyH]

Birdguides reports a Stone Curlew at Pulborough from Winpenny hide this morning guys!

John.

[Ben Rackstraw]

Birdguides reports a Stone Curlew at Pulborough from Winpenny hide this morning guys!

John.

Thanks for the 'heads-up' John, no chance for me to get there by the time I'd got back from work on Fri evening, but could pass on the info to my Dad just down the road from Pulborough, for him to get another 'Sussex bird' up on me. Didn't think it would stay into Saturday, and indeed a lie-in proved better use of time!

A late afternoon jaunt out to Ashdown (Old Lodge) yesterday yielded a couple of very pink Lesser Redpolls, single Tree Pipit and Wood Lark, and I managed to call in a couple of Cuckoos. Willow Warblers and Chiffs in full song.

The sea very quiet at Selsey Bill today... the regulation GND (4), a trickle of Sandwich/Common Tern passage, a couple of Bonxies and a few Little Gulls and Common Scoter past. Highlight was a cracking male Redstart in one of the gardens.

Then moved on to Church Norton, where eventually got good views of the Grasshopper Warbler in the Churchyard plus a couple of Swallows in and Sedge Warblers in full voice. Had to head home at lunchtime, so didn't have time to pop in to the Visitor Centre at Sidlesham where a male Pied Fly was showing off this afternoon.

[joannec]

A late afternoon jaunt out to Ashdown (Old Lodge) yesterday yielded a couple of very pink Lesser Redpolls, single Tree Pipit and Wood Lark, and I managed to call in a couple of Cuckoos. Willow Warblers and Chiffs in full song.
.


Thanks for that Ben, may go up to AF during the week. I don't know about the rest of you Sussex people but I am hearing chiffchaffs all the time, never really known a spring this chiffchaffy.

I heard my first nightingale :hi: :hi: of the year today from my garden comming from the woods next to my house :loveme:

Joanne

[r2didi2]

Thanks for that Ben, may go up to AF during the week. I don't know about the rest of you Sussex people but I am hearing chiffchaffs all the time, never really known a spring this chiffchaffy.

Yes, I also have never heard so many chiffchaffs - and never seen so many either! I wonder why?

I heard my first nightingale :hi: :hi: of the year today from my garden comming from the woods next to my house :loveme:

Fantastic - not yet for me.

Didi

[joannec]

A brief visit to Piddinghoe saw a slow but steady stream of swallows coming up the Ouse valley but little else.

[Mark43]

2 more Common Cranes at Pulborough this evening.

Blast.....can't get down there till Friday evening.....fingers crossed they hang around.

[Mark43]

Selsey Bill this morning had Little Gulls,Sandwich Terns,Avocets,Bar-wits,Whimbrel,Common Scoter,Brent,Great Skua heading East.
Little Terns and Gannets fishing offshore.
Swallows and Ring necked Parakeet in off the sea.

Church Norton and Sidlesham very quiet.

[Last Year's Man]

A cracking pair of Raven over the Cliffe at Lewes yesterday. Being continuously and incessantly mobbed by the resident Jackdaws. You forget quite how massive they are until seen in context with everyday birds. They looked three or even four times the size. Lovely barreling and soaring views - the Ravens were absolutely unfazed by the mobbing, and even seemed to be enjoying the aerial sparring. Watched them both for 10 minutes until they landed in a tree at the top, and started preening eachother.

I've always loved these birds - something regal and primeval about them. Not seen one in the UK for ages, too.

And best of all, I was on a routine trip into the town with a 2 year old in the car seat and only chucked the binos on the front seat as a last-minute 'just in case'...

[Ben Rackstraw]

After giving Selsey Bill a couple of shots in recent weeks, thought I better get an 'insurance visit' in to Splash Point, Seaford - especially as it's closer to me and given some of the recent reports. Weather forecast of a NE wind did not look too promising, but I'd booked the day off so it was too late to change plans now. So alarm set for 4.30 am, saw me getting the deck chair out of the car boot at 6am, the first birder there. I'd forgotten to look out my gloves at home - how glad was I that they were in my fleece pocket from last week - it was cold this morning!

Not a classic seawatch day, with prolonged periods with nothing at all to look at bar the resident Kittiwake and Fulmar. Barely any tern passage - just 5 'Commics' and some commuting Sandwich. Plenty of Bar-t Godwits passing though - may have got into 3 figures by the time we packed up at 10.15am. And overall, quality made up for quantity...

Highlights were:-
Manx Shearwater 1E @ 6.40 am
Great Skua 2E
POMARINE SKUA 4E @ 8 am - 3 light and a single dark phase, fairly close in, all with full 'spoons' - smashing!
At least 6 Yellow Wagtails in
Black-throated Diver 1E
A handful of Razorbills and Guillemots
And, bizarrely 2 Barnacle Geese flying high E (Cat A, C or E - what do you reckon?!)

As we'd made a start in an easterly direction, we carried on to Pett/Pannel Valley area and connected with the breeding plumage Spotted Redshank and a fine drake Garganey. Stunned by the sheer nos. of Avocets and Med Gulls here this spring. Finished off with a Stoat bounding towards us along the footpath to a distance of c5 m when he suddenly realised something was up and disappeared into the reeds.

Not a bad day overall!

[Last Year's Man]

For me, one of the things that makes birding such an addictive past-time is its unpredictability.

You can make the grandest plans for brutally early starts at prime hotspots (i.e. me this morning - 6.00 a.m. at Horseshoe Plantation and various other Beachy sites), and see nothing but Blue Tits, Jackdaws and Chaffinches. Or you can go on a whim to a local wood and get a long desired lifer (i.e. me yesterday, -------- Woods, 3.00 p.m. - Goshawk!)

I have spent ages studying bird guides in preparation for this moment...but it was all uneccessary...as the adage is true - when you see a Goshawk, you know its a Goshawk. I heard a haunting, drawn out, deep raptor wail, quite unlike any noise I've ever heard a sparrowhawk or falcon make. Then a huge powerful hawk flew across my path about 50 feet in front of me. Breathtaking birding moment!

For anyone who's interested, PM me and I'll let you know roughly where. The wail might have been a begging call, and I guess its just possible that they're breeding there...

[joannec]

For me, one of the things that makes birding such an addictive past-time is its unpredictability.

Or you can go on a whim to a local wood and get a long desired lifer (i.e. me yesterday, -------- Woods, 3.00 p.m. - Goshawk!)

e...

Brilliant, hope it's not too far away.;)

[Mark43]

Well done on the Goshawl LYM:clap:

A morning stroll round Pulborough Brooks found Common Sandpiper,Ringed Plover,Dunlin and a male Mandarin from Jupps View.

Great view of a Nightingale in full song sitting in a tree on the zig-zags.

At least 4 Garden Warblers showing and singing well towards the end of the zig-zags.

[deborah4]

Well done on the Goshawl LYM:clap:

A morning stroll round Pulborough Brooks found Common Sandpiper,Ringed Plover,Dunlin and a male Mandarin from Jupps View.

Great view of a Nightingale in full song sitting in a tree on the zig-zags.

At least 4 Garden Warblers showing and singing well towards the end of the zig-zags.


Did you catch up with the Cranes, Mark?

Well done on the Nightingale btw - great when their so obliging!

BTW: RE Gos:

Sure everyone's aware there are breeding pairs in Sussex, so if you do have any sightings this time of year and you think they might be breeding in locality, please be very careful a) about revealing info to third parties - even via PM. b)Trying to (re)locate them and b) causing any disturbances cos you're all hungry low life scummy Sussex twitch bags and want photos and ticks :'D :'D (just kidding about that last part, and I'm sure majority here don't need reminding of need for extra caution this time of year)

[Mark43]

Did you catch up with the Cranes, Mark?

Well done on the Nightingale btw - great when their so obliging!

BTW: RE Gos:

Sure everyone's aware there are breeding pairs in Sussex, so if you do have any sightings this time of year and you think they might be breeding in locality, please be very careful a) about revealing info to third parties - even via PM. b)Trying to (re)locate them and b) causing any disturbances cos you're all hungry low life scummy Sussex twitch bags and want photos and ticks :'D :'D (just kidding about that last part, and I'm sure majority here don't need reminding of need for extra caution this time of year)

No sign of the Crane Deborah but off to Norfolk in 2 weeks so hope to catch up with them at Stubbs Mill/Hickling .

[joannec]

For me, one of the things that makes birding such an addictive past-time is its unpredictability.

You can make the grandest plans for brutally early starts at prime hotspots (i.e. me this morning - 6.00 a.m. at Horseshoe Plantation and various other Beachy sites), and see nothing but Blue Tits, Jackdaws and Chaffinches. Or you can go on a whim to a local wood and get a long desired lifer (i.e. me yesterday, -------- Woods, 3.00 p.m. - Goshawk!)

I have spent ages studying bird guides in preparation for this moment...but it was all uneccessary...as the adage is true - when you see a Goshawk, you know its a Goshawk. I heard a haunting, drawn out, deep raptor wail, quite unlike any noise I've ever heard a sparrowhawk or falcon make. Then a huge powerful hawk flew across my path about 50 feet in front of me. Breathtaking birding moment!

For anyone who's interested, PM me and I'll let you know roughly where. The wail might have been a begging call, and I guess its just possible that they're breeding there...

Hi LYM

I found these woods today, less than 10 minutes drive from my house! No sign of the gos. The woods are very dense aren't they?...hardly saw anything but did hear 2 singing nightingales, many chiffchaffs, a green woodpecker and possibly a turtle dove, not sure on that one though. What else did you see there?

Joanne

[nuttybulldog]

anybody seen the mating pair of Peregrines that nest at the top of chichester cathedral?

ive lived here for 15 years and only just got into birding. i know the Peregrines are there as ive caught glimpses of them but ive never had enough time to watch the nest site for more than 5 mins.

heres the webcam (only updates every 30 seconds) but its just not the same as seeing them in the flesh http://www.rspb.org.uk/webcams/birdsofprey/chichester.asp

[deborah4]

anybody seen the mating pair of Peregrines that nest at the top of chichester cathedral?

ive lived here for 15 years and only just got into birding. i know the Peregrines are there as ive caught glimpses of them but ive never had enough time to watch the nest site for more than 5 mins.

heres the webcam (only updates every 30 seconds) but its just not the same as seeing them in the flesh http://www.rspb.org.uk/webcams/birdsofprey/chichester.asp

Hi nuttybulldog (what a name!)

Welcome to BF and big welcome to our Sussex thread.

I see the Chi Perry's regularly as I've worked over the years at Chichester and also go to Uni there. The best time to see them is about 3.30-4.30 in the afternoon.


BTW. If any of you are interested (other than Joanne who's already commented - thanks!) I saw a Glossy Ibis at Siddlesham Ferry yesterday. It was relocated at the North Wall later in the day by several other observers, so might still be around (more on my thread in Birding Day)

It's our first one in Sussex for 20years or so!

[nuttybulldog]

cheers deborah4 i shall try and skive of work for an hour tomorrow then (only work up north street). make it sound like i gotta do something important at the post office, when actualluy i'll be led on the cathedral green with a pair of bins around my neck

[Last Year's Man]

Hi LYM

I found these woods today, less than 10 minutes drive from my house! No sign of the gos. The woods are very dense aren't they?...hardly saw anything but did hear 2 singing nightingales, many chiffchaffs, a green woodpecker and possibly a turtle dove, not sure on that one though. What else did you see there?

Joanne

Hi Joanne

There are many different pockets to these woods...some much more open than others. There are the 'miserable arboreal slums' of rows of conifers in places, but also some much more promising areas. There are quite a few footpaths and unofficial tracks around the perimeters on both sides of the road. Make a few more visits and wander around. Tend to be most rewarding if you sit at a firebreak crossroads and wait to see what pops up. I got Whitethroats, Garden Warblers, Blackcaps and a lovely Marsh Tit as well as what you saw, plus a possible Hobby over a cleared area with gorse, although didn't get a long enough view to be sure.

Cheers...LYM

[Last Year's Man]

Joanne...

Do you by any chance drive a little red/maroon car? Might have seen you parked this p.m....any luck yet?

[deborah4]

Joanne...

Do you by any chance drive a little red/maroon car? Might have seen you parked this p.m....any luck yet?

Last Year's Man (or whatever your real name is!)

I've sent you a PM in reference to my above post re: breeding Goshawk

cheers

[deborah4]

Hi all

Sorry to be a pain, yet again!, but I'm aware J's suggested a meet up with a group to look for Nightjar at the beginning of June in an area where they are believed to be breeding - I'd strongly suggest we leave this until after the nesting season is over - groundnesters, and nightjar particularly, are very vulnerable to disturbance from walkers and often nest in exposed ground near paths. Can we perhaps excercise a little responsibility here and make the date for the end of August some time when the nesting/fledging season is over please? Just a thought. Thanks.

I refer you to this article for more info about disturbance and breeding habits:

www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2007.00643


(in response to the rather offensive/attacking emails Ive been receiving, this is not directed at anyone nor is there any attempt to make anyone look 'irresponsible' or an 'idiot'. Nightjar is a Schedule 1 listed bird and we should not be going anywhere near nesting sites at this time. That's not an opinion, that's the Law - I sincerely apologise if offence was caused, it certainly wasn't meant!)

link might not work, its a Pdf so google search for ''What effects do walkers and dogs have on nesting nightjar' - it should take you to the Blackwell article

[Mark43]

Red Necked Phalarope Sidlesham Ferry Pool 18.00 29/5/07

[Last Year's Man]

Just returned from a nice evening walk down Cuckmere Haven, and to my surprise saw a Brent Goose (bernicla) on the 'wader scrape' at the shore-end. It was on its own & did not appear to be ringed.

Ever heard of a wild goose summering here?

[J Moss]

Down here, theres always a few remaining Brents that stay the summer at Farlington. They're just not up to migrating, due to being either injured or maybe old birds.

Jason

[Last Year's Man]

Thanks for the info re the Brents. Never come across one in summer before.

By the way...just to say in case anyone else was thinking of going...I got the Cattle Egrets at Lewes Brooks this afternoon...
(http://www.birdguides.com/home/default.asp). This was about 2 hours after they were initially posted, so looks like they might be staying put or a while?

If you're not a member of said site, PM me and I'll tell you where to go.

Good luck

[deborah4]

No reason why location of Cattle Egret can't be made publicly available to every one without the need for pming - (been a few regular summer visitors now at Southease/Piddinghoe). Also saw one which I saw a few years back in a field nr. Ford.

(A few Brent summer over in Sussex)

[deborah4]

Details for CATTLE EGRET on SOS if anyone hasn't seen any yet

''Three CATTLE EGRETS in a sheep field at the north end of Lewes Brooks at TQ 414090, 150m south of the A27 underpass at the end of Cockshut Road, viewed from the public footpath or from the verge of the A27.''

No need to keep it ''private'' or for the 'select few' ;)

[J Moss]

Got down to see the Phalarope this evening with Deborah (expertly twitched by her!) Long way off, but I'm sure there can be no doubt regarding its ID from this photo ;). Also saw Little Ringed Plover, which was another lifer for me, And other bits and bobs to boulster the Sussex list (gonna have to do one now, with all these rarities!)

Jason

[Mark43]

Got down to see the Phalarope this evening with Deborah (expertly twitched by her!) Long way off, but I'm sure there can be no doubt regarding its ID from this photo ;). Also saw Little Ringed Plover, which was another lifer for me, And other bits and bobs to boulster the Sussex list (gonna have to do one now, with all these rarities!)

Jason

Well done you 2 for getting it.

Me......well i got stuck at work till 5.45 and by the time i had done my other bits and pieces that evening it would have been 9.30 ish when i got down there.:-@ :-@ :-@

Hasn't been reported today has it as i can only do Saturday morning now.

[hollis_f]

Time to try and revive this thread:

Didi and I decided to try out a couple of new places on Saturday - using 'Best Birdwatching Sites in Sussex' as a guide.

The first place we tried was Ambersham Common. From the start this looked like a good place - mixed heath and woodland. And within a few minutes we encountered a lifer for the two of us - Crossbills - high in the conifers. I only had a fleeting glimpse but Didi saw enough to identify them. They were followed by a small flock of Goldcrests. As we walked through the wood, and the ride leading to the heath, we were taunted by the sounds of birds - without getting clear views.

The path led us to the heath - with a fantastic view over the valley. I would imagine it would be a great place for raptors, but none put in an appearance while we were there - just a group of young Robins - who seemed very curious. Walking across the heath (sticking to the paths - sure there must be Nightjars out there) I casually mentioned what a great site it must be for Dartford Warbler. 30 seconds later we were treated to fantastic views of a male and a female - with the male only a few metres away on an exposed perch. Walking back to the car park we saw a family of Nuthatch feeding along the edge of the wood.

This looks like a great site for a springtime visit - and I'm keen to return one evening to see if Nightjar are there. It was a shame we couldn't stay longer, but we had other places to go.

First stop was 'The Fox Goes Free' in Charlton. A nice pub with a good selection of food, nice beers and some good birding. Swallows, House Martin, House Sparrow, Buzzard and a Blackbird that was nicking chips from people's plates were just part of the avian entertainment.

After lunch we headed off to East Head, near West Wittering. Ah! BBSIS didn't really make it plain that this site is jam-packed with people flying kites, having barbies and just generally swarming over the place. The book had said it was good for Little Terns - but we saw no terns at all. The dunes were packed with Meadow Pipits and Skylarks and we saw a pair of Ringed Plover and a group of Curlew flying over. But that was it. It looks as if it might be worth a visit in the winter - but I don't think we'll be returning during the summer. We'd have been much better off visiting nearby Pagham.

If anybody else has visited Ambersham Common and has some comments I'd love to hear them.

[deborah4]

We'd have been much better off visiting nearby Pagham.



Pags will be much better in August as pass.mig arrive. Are you and Didi coming the Sussex bash, Frank? We're trying to decide on a date, at the moment, it's the 18th or 25th - you hadn't replied to the thread on the Sussex & Hants thread in 'meetings' so perhaps you haven't seen it yet? Be lovely to see you both again!

nice report btw!

[Joe Ray]

On the way to a funeral in Sussex on Monday, had half an hour to spare so stopped off at Pagham Harbour. 4 Common Sandpipers, 30+ Common Terns, a few Black-tailed Godwits, 10+ Pintail, and large numbers of Teal.
Fortunately, I didn't meet any other birders - I was wearing a black suit lol!
Jyothi

[deborah4]

On the way to a funeral in Sussex on Monday, had half an hour to spare so stopped off at Pagham Harbour. 4 Common Sandpipers, 30+ Common Terns, a few Black-tailed Godwits, 10+ Pintail, and large numbers of Teal.
Fortunately, I didn't meet any other birders - I was wearing a black suit lol!
Jyothi

Apologies Jyothi! Only just seen your post - sounds like the Pags regulars ;) Hope the funeral wasn't too stressful

Ps Hope you didn't have any juvey Oyster Catchers following you home ;)

[JohnnyH]

Nice views of a juv Osprey off the South of Thorney Island today, with a supporting cast of Whinchat, Stonechat, & Wheatear.

John.

P.S - what's happened to you Sussex guys, no posts since Sept!

[Mark43]

Nice views of a juv Osprey off the South of Thorney Island today, with a supporting cast of Whinchat, Stonechat, & Wheatear.

John.

P.S - what's happened to you Sussex guys, no posts since Sept!

I know........what a bunch of slackers we are:-O:-O

Was meant to be going to Thorney today as well but a very late return from a very cold Saturday night Autumnal BBQ meanT i couldn't get out of bed this AM.:eek!::eek!:

Any sign of the Great White Egret today?

[JohnnyH]

Hi Mark, thought that would provoke a reaction;) no sign of the GWE I'm afraid, enjoyed the walk around Thorney though a place with a lot of potential.

Cheers,

John.

[Mark43]

Great Grey Shrike still present this afternoon (13.00 hours) at Lavington Common favouring the Silver Birch trees at the north east corner of the common.

Other birds seen included Dartford Warbler,Meadow Pipits,Stonechats,Common Buzzard,Coal Tit,Green Woodpeckers plus flyover Fieldfares.

[dbradnum]

Hi everyone

I'm thinking of going down to Selsey tomorrow for the White-billed Diver which has been reported again in the last couple of days. Are there any tips for seeing this bird, any particular direction to look from the Bill (apart from out to sea ;) ), or any favoured state of the tide? Anything much else about in the area to look for?

Cheers

David

[dbradnum]

To answer my own questions, having seen the bird late morning:
- it apparently shows better in general on a low tide, though it doesn't make that much difference
- as you look south off the main carpark, there's a sand bar offshore - it's been seen here a few times, or if not, then it's probably further east (i.e round past Bill House towards the lifeboat station). It's not gone round the west side of the bill much during its stay.
- it's still showing quite a lot of summer plumage, and is consequently very dark. In strong sunlight, you could briefly take it for a Cormorant when the bill isn't in profile, since the bird generally appears uniformly black. On better views, it's still got the pale barred patches on the sides of the lower neck, and that bill is 100% distinctive, especially the constantly upward-pointed angle!

[Matt Silk]

Thought i'd try and bump this thread up the list again -us Sussex birders are terrible!

Little about on the patch this morning (nr Wivelsfield) but had fair numbers of Redwings, and the lone Pochard which turned up out of the blue in the autumn is still hanging around on St. Georges Retreat (first record for the area).

Was going to head down to Hove/Shoreham are tomrorrow as stuff there today incl. a Long Tailed Duck, Little Auk and Glaucous Gull.

Matthew

[Matt Silk]

Had fantastic view of the Long Tailed Duck at Hove Lagoon this morning, down to four or five metres. (didn't really look for the other stuff as in a hurry and no where to stop the car overlooking the harbour)

Loads of Redwings south of Wivelsfield this morning. Also had a fantastic encounter with a young Sparrowhawk - reached a stage where it was sitting just on the other side of the hedge at eye level (probably only 5 or 6 feet!!)

Matthew

[Mark43]

Steady Matt you are putting us all to shame:-O:-O

Keep the reports coming though......i'm sure some of us other Sussex birders will get out and do some birding eventually........some decent weather would help though.

[Matt Silk]

Had a Stonechat at St. Gerorges this afternoon (a patch tick), also there were the drake Pochard and a Cormorant, whilst two Stock Doves flew over. Yesterday in the same area there was a Reed Bunting, 2 adult Common Gulls, 4 Cormorants and my first Grey Wag of the winter locally.

[joannec]

Had a Stonechat at St. Gerorges this afternoon (a patch tick), also there were the drake Pochard and a Cormorant, whilst two Stock Doves flew over. Yesterday in the same area there was a Reed Bunting, 2 adult Common Gulls, 4 Cormorants and my first Grey Wag of the winter locally.


Hi Matt, is that St Georges, Chailey? Not so far from me.

I saw a grey wag, the first for ages, from my garden yesterday, mid Sussex.

Joanne

[Matt Silk]

St. Georges retreat is between Wivelsfield and Ditchling. There is a lake there which in my couple of years watching has produced White Fronted Goose, Lesser Canada Goose, Garganey, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Green and Common Sands, Kingfisher, Med. Gull as well as flyovers including Red Kite, Water Pipit, Yellow Wagtail and even a poss. Cattle Egret in the spring (not reported). Breeding species include Little Grebe, Coot, Reed and Sedge Warblers and Spotted Flycatcher, and there is a large flock of Greylags and Canadas. In the fields around it i have seen wheatears in the spring, nominate race Jackdaws and large flocks of winter thrushes in the winter (sometimes)

see this link for a map
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=533500&y=119500&z=3&sv=533500,119500&st=4&ar=N&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=534183&ay=120497

Matt

[Matt Silk]

Two buzzards over the north edge of West Wood this morning (my first multiple sighting for a while). There were 3+ Common Gulls around the area including a dodgy looking one, possibly ssp. heinei on the village green (heavy streaking on head/neck, long primary projection, long parallel edged bill, black on p4 - however back colour was not noticeably dark, and barepart colouration was fairly dull)

[Matt Silk]

A wander round the patch this morning produced over 40 species in just an hour and a half. A 1cy Med Gull (second patch record) was with ca. 200 BHG's and a Common Gull at St. Georges. There were also 2 Mistle Thrushes and 3 Siskins there amongst other things. Redwing numbers were well down but they had been joined by a small party of ca. 15 Fieldfare. Loads of Bullfinches around including 5 in one hedgerow. Overhead movement of gulls included 5 herring, 1 LBBG and 1 imm. GBBG (second patch record).
Near st. georges farm there was a nominate monedula Jackdaw and three Meadow Pipits with the normal stuff.

Matthew

[Mark43]

Thought Jackie and i would go look for the Glaucous Gull this morning despite the foggy conditions.
Found the Long-tailed duck still on Hove Lagoon then drove down to the Power Station for a wander.No sign of any Peregrines on the chimney.
A few Turnstones on the beach by the east arm of the harbour mouth but that was all.

Drove back down to the Hove enterprise centre and parked up.
Found the Little Auk immediately very close in amongst the moored boats....lovely bird and well worth the early rise to see it.

Other birders we spoke to had not seen the Glaucous gull so far and we didn't catch up with all morning either.

Drove over to Widewater Lagoon just in case the Jack Snipe decided to pop out again but no luck there either.

On to the Old Fort where 3 Purple Sandpipers were feeding off one of the Jetty's along with a couple more Turnstones.Got home to find a Black Redstart had been reported there in the morning.......another one missed.

Another trip down there this week i think.

[joannec]

Sounds like a good day Mark. I went down there too but didn't have that much time, no sight of the long tailed duck on Hove Lagoon but we had excellent views of the little auk, a lifer for me, first by the fishing boats where he was diving (don't they stay down for a long time?) and later by the Hove Enterprise Centre. We watched him preening and puffing himself up for a good while in front of the wood yard opposite. :t: Good stuff! He looked happy and content and like he is going to stay around for awhile. A few large gulls around in flight but I couldn't be sure any of them were the glaucous.

Another good thing about today is that we met BFers Didi and Frank ( R2didi2 and hollis_f) at both places and shared the LA experience.

Gonna try and get down there again after Christmas.

[Matt Silk]

I went down for the Little Auk late this morning - was going to waint until '08 but it seemed to be getting increasingly less seaworthy so i decided i couldn't put it off any longer - was there late morning 11.30 onwards with my dad - it took some persuading to get a lift down! No sign of the glauc in the short amount of time i was there but am confident that will stick around into the New Year

Matt

[birder of the south]

I also saw the Little Auk this morning showing well in between the boats but I really wanted to get some good shots but as you will know the light was good but it was behind the bird which just gave a silohette most of the time. Then we had the Long Tailed Duck showing very well on Hove Lagoon but sadly the light was poor and it then flew off after being harrased by Gulls. Looks like another visit will happen very soon hopefully when the the sun isn't out unless some of you locals know when the sun is behind you and not the bird. Also if the Long Tailed Duck is seen again could you please PM me asap.
All the very Best,
Lee

[joannec]

Also if the Long Tailed Duck is seen again could you please PM me asap.
All the very Best,
Lee


Lee, the SOS website sightings are updated about twice a day, you could check that.

www.sos.org.uk

[Matt Silk]

Lee,
I saw the LTD last week in the afternoon and the light was still pretty poor - my pics using a D80 + 70-300 were OK but not great - so i guess photography is difficult anytime there unless you are lucky. Bit concerning to here it flew off as since it arrived on the 2nd its been present all but one evening. That said there were some mergs with it earlier in its stay which commuted back and forth to the harbour.

Matt

[dwallace]

Lee:After we had left the Little Auk this morning my mate Dan mentioned that you had been with us at the same time, so apologies for not introducing myself as a fellow Hampshire birder.
Matt: It's well worth scrounging another lift to Southwick.While we were watching the Little Auk the Glaucous Gull flew west overhead at about 12.45 and dropped into the canal near the King's Head giving brief but excellent views before flying east again.
Regards
Dave Wallace

[Mark43]

Sounds like a good day Mark. I went down there too but didn't have that much time, no sight of the long tailed duck on Hove Lagoon but we had excellent views of the little auk, a lifer for me, first by the fishing boats where he was diving (don't they stay down for a long time?) and later by the Hove Enterprise Centre. We watched him preening and puffing himself up for a good while in front of the wood yard opposite. :t: Good stuff! He looked happy and content and like he is going to stay around for awhile. A few large gulls around in flight but I couldn't be sure any of them were the glaucous.

Another good thing about today is that we met BFers Didi and Frank ( R2didi2 and hollis_f) at both places and shared the LA experience.

Gonna try and get down there again after Christmas.

Glad you made it down there Joanne.........was indeed a lovely bird.
Hopefully the LT duck will return soon.

Haven't seen Didi and Frank since our Pulborough trip.....hope they are well.

Merry Christmas and great birding in 2008 to all the Sussex Birders.

[Mark43]

A walk round Pulborough Brooks this morning found it very quiet with most of the wildfowl pushed out to the further reaches of the North Brooks as the water closest in was frozen.

Highlights were a Peregrine on the ground watched for about 20 minutes plus a really tame flock of Long Tailed tits that came in really close.

[Matt Silk]

LTD back at hove lagoon btw Lee (off birdguides) as well as Little Auk at Southwick.
I'm off to herts. for a few days now so won't be posting for a while.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS
Matt

[birder of the south]

LTD back at hove lagoon btw Lee (off birdguides) as well as Little Auk at Southwick.
I'm off to herts. for a few days now so won't be posting for a while.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS
Matt

Thanks Matt and Happy Christmas to you and all on BF.

[deborah4]

LTD at the bottom of my road! (Hove Lagoon) Pushes immediate local patch list upto a grand 27 LOL - (If SIG was reading this, he'd know what I meant!) Bout time a nice duck turned up for Christmas, now where's the orange sauce ... hmm?


HAPPY CHRISTMAS ALL OF YOU

[birder of the south]

Anybody been and seen the LTD, Little Auk or Glauc gull today.
Thanks
Lee

[Mark43]

Anybody been and seen the LTD, Little Auk or Glauc gull today.
Thanks
Lee

Not me Lee and haven't seen any reports anywhere for any of those birds today either.

[birder of the south]

Not me Lee and haven't seen any reports anywhere for any of those birds today either.

Thanks I supsect that they are still there it is just that no one has been down or if they have they haven't reported them. Merry Christmas to all.

[Mark43]

LT Duck reported there today Lee along with some RB Mergansers.......just seen it has come up on SOS website.

[birder of the south]

LT Duck reported there today Lee along with some RB Mergansers.......just seen it has come up on SOS website.

Thanks once again,
Lee

[Mark43]

The Bewick Swans still at Burpham this afternoon although i could only find 11 of them in company with 5 Mute's.

[birder of the south]

I made my second trip down to Southwick within a few days and had stunning views of the LTD down to about 30ft. I also had great views of the Little Auk albeit brief and the light was again poor but I got some great shots of the LTD which was the main focus. I will post them on here soon!
Thanks again,
Lee

[hollis_f]

Haven't seen Didi and Frank since our Pulborough trip.....hope they are well.


Hi Mark,

Yes, we're having a good Xmas (although a bit too much to drink last night). We went back on Monday for a flying visit between some last-minute shopping and got good views of the L-T Duck along with some reasonable pics. The Little Auk was, however, on the wrong side of the canal again.

Hope you all had a pleasant couple of days.

[joannec]

Went down to Shoreham Fort, three really nice purple sands among the turnstones. Also rockpipits but didn't find the black redstart that had been reported. It's the first time I've been there, seems like quite a good spot.

[joannec]

got good views of the L-T Duck along with some reasonable pics.

Gonna put some up, Frank?:t:

[hollis_f]

I was down at the Fort on Saturday and two of the Sandpipers were feeding on the breakwater, just a few yards from me at times. So I managed to get some nice pics of them. The Black Redstart flew over my head and out of sight just as I arrived.

Went back on Sunday but they were staying well away on the pier.

[Last Year's Man]

Hi all...

I've noticed several reports of Ravens from around the county recently, and was stunned to spot a pair flying over my village (Ripe - half way between Lewes and Eastbourne) this afternoon. A tick for my local patch, after 5 years of daily dog walking with bins.

Having said that, a seemingly uniform patch of standard wealden farmland has turned up some really unexpected species over the years....Ring Necked Parakeet, Merlin, Kingfisher, White Fronted Goose, Short Eared Owl, and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Black Kite (2002) being the best. Just goes to show what regular, daily birding can produce...

Just out of interest, had a superb days' birding on 21st at Rye Harbour and Dungeness (OK...Dunge not Sussex, but pretty damn close)...Rye (at -8 C!) turned up Long Tailed and Ruddy Duck, as well as Gadwall, Shoveler, Pintail, and various other commoner species. Scotney Court produced Bean and White Fronted Goose, along with the (apparently) feral Barnacle flock complete with Snow Geese and Emporer Geese. Also, a Merlin just missing a blackbird right over our heads after dashing across the water, and good long views of a Marsh Harrier quartering the banks.

Then on to the new ARC hide just next to (but not a part of) the Dunge RSPB reserve, where crippling views of a Bittern just 100 yards from the hide were magical. The reserve itself rewarded us at the end of a very cold day with Smew, Goosanders, and hundred's strong flocks of most of the more regular duck species.

All the best...

[birder of the south]

Here are a few pics as promised.

[joannec]

Hi all...


Having said that, a seemingly uniform patch of standard wealden farmland has turned up some really unexpected species over the years....Ring Necked Parakeet, Merlin, Kingfisher, White Fronted Goose, Short Eared Owl, and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Black Kite (2002) being the best. Just goes to show what regular, daily birding can produce...

, and good long views of a Marsh Harrier quartering the banks.

.

Nice to see you back LYM. Some good birds around Ripe, I drive through on my way to work. My farmland patch, not too far away is pretty good too at times although I can't claim black kite or raven. I think the small field bisected by hedges, mixed farming landscape of this part of Sussex makes for diverse habitat. Over the years I have recorded 80 species on my patch.

There are some white fronts among the greylags at Piddinghoe but I think they may be ferels.

Re marsh harriers: in the south east of the county and into south west Kent marshies seem to be on the increase. I had a day down there not so long ago where we had 15 or 16 different sightings of them. Some were the same birds but as we were in several locations, many wern't. We became quite blaise about seeing them.

Lee: Nice pictures.

Joanne

Edit: for more on the marsh harriers see: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=71815&page=11 posts 274 and 321

[Mark43]

Very nice pics Lee......thanks for posting.

LYM:Went to Dunge yesterday......how cold is it down there.......managed to find Smew which was a lifer but missed the Red Necked Grebe on Long Pit and a Shag somewhere out on the pools.
Went down predominantly for Goosander.....a bird i cannot seem to catch up with and although they were reported on the sightings board i didn't see any although i did see one Merganser which i am 100% sure was a Merganser.......my id skills arent that bad honest.........thats the fun of it though.........just have to keep looking:-O

[deborah4]

Very nice pics Lee......thanks for posting.

LYM:Went to Dunge yesterday......how cold is it down there.......managed to find Smew which was a lifer but missed the Red Necked Grebe on Long Pit and a Shag somewhere out on the pools.
Went down predominantly for Goosander.....a bird i cannot seem to catch up with and although they were reported on the sightings board i didn't see any although i did see one Merganser which i am 100% sure was a Merganser.......my id skills arent that bad honest.........thats the fun of it though.........just have to keep looking:-O


Nice pics Lee and good to hear from you Mark!

LT Duck still on Hove Lagoon this afternoon

Also I found a 1cy GLAUCOUS GULL but have since been informed there was already one reported in the area by Birdguides as recently as yesterday and also on SOS nearly a week ago which I didn't know about. I was wondering why they posted my sighting this afternoon as ''The'' Glaucous Gull :smoke:

check RBA thread for exact location if any of you want to twitch it

[Mark43]

Also I found a 1cy GLAUCOUS GULL but have since been informed there was already one reported in the area by Birdguides as recently as yesterday and also on SOS nearly a week ago which I didn't know about. I was wondering why they posted my sighting this afternoon as ''The'' Glaucous Gull :smoke:

check RBA thread for exact location if any of you want to twitch it

Went down for it last week Deborah but dammed if i could find it.

Might have another go for it on Sunday.......weather is looking good for birding.

[deborah4]

Went down for it last week Deborah but dammed if i could find it.

Might have another go for it on Sunday.......weather is looking good for birding.

Why is it the whole world knew there was a Glaucous in the area except ME :C I haven't been checking web sites several months or been birding for a while, this was my first time out and was thrilled I'd found a good bird on my local patch - gutted really - it wasn't until I posted it on BF that Drycopus put me in the picture.

(don't twitch birds lol but you're welcome to it - best view if it's still in same area is from beach side, walk up upper Basin Rd, then peep through fence on your right before you get on the footbridge)

[joannec]

Why is it the whole world knew there was a Glaucous in the area except ME :C I haven't been checking web sites several months or been birding for a while, this was my first time out and was thrilled I'd found a good bird on my local patch - gutted really - it wasn't until I posted it on BF that Drycopus put me in the picture.



Three good birds on your patch......I just assumed you knew about them.

At least you've seen them now.:t:

[Matt Silk]

Popped down to Shoreham this afternoon.
2+ Purple Sands with Turnstones at Shoreham Fort although they were on the wooden pier so quite a way away, also a couple of Rock Pipits - and i see a black redstart was seen this morning. Nothing of note at Widewater, highlight being a couple of Little Grebes.
Matt

[Mark43]

A bit of a tour round West Sussex today encountered the following

Church Norton - Very quiet apart from a Peregrine in the harbour and great views of c20+ Siskin flock round the carpark and down the track to the harbour.

East Lavant - No sign of the Cattle Egret here at midday.A small party of Little Egrets were still here feeding amongst the dung but these were soon flushed when dog walkers appeared.

Littlehampton - No sign of the Tundra Bean Geese here either at approx 13.00.Plenty of Mute Swans still in the field though.

Widewater Lagoon - A solitary male Stonechat on the Tamarisk island,4 Little Grebes and 1 Red-Breated Merganser was the total for here this afternoon.

Old Fort,Shoreham - A Kingfisher here giving great views on the inner arm of the entrance plus the Black Redstart (a lifer for me) still hanging around the coastguard station and surrounding walls.

Also tried to have a look at Sidlesham Sewage Farm.......the gate was open and we drove up there but couldn't figure out where best to park or where to walk to see the settling tanks.........if anyone has any idea could they let me know please........many thanks.

[JohnnyH]

Spent the day down South, eventually found 1 Purple Sand in Shoreham Harbour which gave great views until flushed by an angler, also located the Black Redstart which also showed superbly until flushed by the same guy :C
Then on to Hove Lagoon for the Long Tailed Duck which was a surreal experience, plenty of puzzled looks in my direction from the bread chuckers!
Ended the day at Waltham Brooks whre I was rewarded with excellent views of a hunting Barn Owl, nice!

John.

[Matt Silk]

Mark i think Sidlesham sewage farm is best viewed from the footpath that runs alongside it, although apparently the views are pretty poor and patience is required. I don't think you are meant to drive up the entrance track (although i guess its fine if you get away with it ;)) but just park at the visitors centre and walk the half mile or so.

Can someone tell me where the black redstart is at shoreham - went down there to see the purple sands but missed out not knowing where to look.

Anyone going for the Hume's at Horsehoe plantation, am hoping to get across on the 2nd if it is still there.

Matt

[joannec]

Can someone tell me where the black redstart is at shoreham - went down there to see the purple sands but missed out not knowing where to look.

Matt

The BR was seen around Shoreham Fort on Boxing day. The purple sands were on the beach in front of the fort and on the wooden structure, (remains of an old pier?) with the turnstones when the tide is in.

[JohnnyH]

Can someone tell me where the black redstart is at shoreham - went down there to see the purple sands but missed out not knowing where to look.

Matt,

I found the Black Redstart today on the fenced off pier adajcent to the beach. The Purple Sand was on the rocks in the harbour mouth.

Cheers,

John.

[Mark43]

Mark i think Sidlesham sewage farm is best viewed from the footpath that runs alongside it, although apparently the views are pretty poor and patience is required. I don't think you are meant to drive up the entrance track (although i guess its fine if you get away with it ;)) but just park at the visitors centre and walk the half mile or so.

Can someone tell me where the black redstart is at shoreham - went down there to see the purple sands but missed out not knowing where to look.

Anyone going for the Hume's at Horsehoe plantation, am hoping to get across on the 2nd if it is still there.

Matt

Thanks Matt although i'm still not 100% sure where the footpath is.

Black Redstart - as you drive into the carpark where the Old Fort is the old coastguard building is on your right.......we walked round the back of the building and from here on the top left hand side is a window and below this is a ledge running along the length of the building.The Redstart was on the window and on the ledge and below this is a wall it also likes to frequent.
There was also quite a lot of Pied Wags in the same area today and it seemed to like hanging out with them.

Will be going for the Hume's on Tuesday hopefully.

Good luck.

[Mark43]

A good start to the year with a visit to Horseshoe plantation/Belle Tout woods at Beachy Head for the Hume's leaf warbler.

The bird was very mobile and was hanging out with some Bluetits and Chaffinches between the plantation then out into the surrounding scrub.

I only got it in my scope for a good view for about 10 seconds before it was off again.

I have no experience of this bird or YB Warbler but the only call i heard was similar to YBW but consensus says its a Hume's so i will go with that until i hear different.

A quick walk up the path from the Golden Galleon pub afterwards found only the usual farmland birds and wildfowl lurking about but it got the yearlist up to
about 30.

[Matt Silk]

Found 43 species around wivelsfield this morning in somewhat of a hurry + what was i consider was a calling yellow browed (tho' didn't see it) with a tit flock in purchase wood - if anyone local wants to check this out ask and i'll pu exact details where i saw it. Walking from Seaford to Eastbourne tomorrow so should get some decent birds.

Matt

[Matt Silk]

Just got back from an epic twitch for the Hume's Warbler - got the train to eastbourne station and walked it from there! It showed brilliantly, definitely a hume's IMO, call almost a flat chirruping, v. greyish and indistinct top wingbar. Had a Black Throated Diver fly east at Birling Gap + Gannet, Kittiwake and Fulmar and a very obliging Rock Pipit in the car park. Also seen around Beachy Head were Redwing, Skylark, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Linnet etc. but no ravens.

Matt

[joannec]

Birdrace

Well, I've been roped into being part of a birdrace team for the SOS. We're a ladies only team.....probably going to be called the Hen Harriers. One of my fellow birdracers is determined to beat the local male team and probably all the men in the county too.;) We're starting off at my rural abode in mid Sussex at 7:30 am and heading east towards Pett and Rye and wherever else seems good, trying to take in as many different habitats as possible. Friday is the day so think of us, three middle aged women:gh::gh::gh: hoping for in excess of 80 species but having fun as well. It'll be all day until dark and longer if we want owls.

We're a bit low on the sponsorship front so if anyone wants to contribute PM me. Money will go to the SOS for improving habitat for redstarts in Sussex.:t:

Joanne

[Matt Silk]

Will be doing the bird race on Sunday - hoping to reach 100 species for the third year in a row (101,102,?). Doing west sussex so hoping to pick up the red breasted goose and cattle egret on the way round too.

[joannec]

Will be doing the bird race on Sunday - hoping to reach 100 species for the third year in a row (101,102,?)..


Aah Matt, I did read that one team got over 100 last year....guess that was yours!!:t: This will be my first time doing a birdrace. There has been a shorelark at Rye for the past few days and with luck, we hope to get that.

[Matt Silk]

Us and one other i think. Mine is less of a team effort, more me dragging my dad round from dawn until dusk :-O. Anyways weather looks good for sunday so its all going to be down down to good planning and a large slice of luck.

[joannec]

Us and one other i think. Mine is less of a team effort, more me dragging my dad round from dawn until dusk :-O. Anyways weather looks good for sunday so its all going to be down down to good planning and a large slice of luck.


Good luck with yours Matt. My report of ours is:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=104625

[Matt Silk]

Sounds like a great first effort :t:, i only got 82 on the first one i did properly; leaving the house just after 6am tomorrow - and will probably try and tick a couple of owls in wivelsfield before then - really hoping it all goes to plan.

[Matt Silk]

Right Here goes

Thorney (7.30 - 8.30)
Highlights were a Hen Harrier that overflew the central part of the island, 2 singing Cetti's Warblers, and ca. 10 Greenshanks and 2 Spotted Redshanks roosting on the great deep. Othere useful stuff included Reed Bunting, Snipe and Water Rail.

Selsey
A fairly quiet seawatch (Mergs, Gannets and Kittiwakes) was enlivened by the fantastic performance put in by the local divers with 2 Red Throats, 1 Black Throat, 1 Great Northern and 2 Diver spp.

Church Norton
Again relatively quiet. 1 or 2 distant Slav Grebes, a female type Goldeneye in the harbour + some Med Gulls were the highlights.

East Head
Large numbers of Golden Plover, a Black Brant and Skylark (but no red breasted goose :C)

Picked up my 83rd species (Mistle Thrush) just outside Arundel at 11.45.;)

Arundel area
Higlights were a flock of 4 Buzzard, Bewick's Swan and Marsh Tit + other common woodland birds picked up.

Coldwaltham area
Jay, Kestrel, Siskin, Shoveler, Grey Wag, Water Pipit, Chiffchaff and Greylag Goose added to the list

Coates Common
nothing

Lavington Common
Stonechat (+ another snipe)

Ambersham Common
Dartford Warbler (+ more siskins)

West Dean Woods
Yellowhammer, Brambling and Redpoll added

East Lavant
CATTLE EGRET in field on fordwater road

Dell Quay
Barwit

Chichester GP's
Great crested Grebe

Sidlesham Ferry
Short Eared Owl and Kingfisher

In the end a fantastic day out with 109 species seen (by far my pb) - although only 108 by race rules.

Could have been even higher tho' - people had both scoters + eider off pagham spit and dipped avocet, mandarin, Sparrowhawk which should have been seen.

[Mark43]

Great day Matt by the looks of it........well done. :t:

I managed just a Jay on the way home from work :eek!:

[joannec]

In the end a fantastic day out with 109 species seen (by far my pb) - although only 108 by race rules.

.

Well done Matt!!:t: You put us to shame Wonderboy.;) You'll get the prize for sure!

[Matt Silk]

Other teams yesterday (the two other competitive ones) managed 108 and 119 - which is a Sussex record by miles! - see SOS website. so looks like it was a good day to be out and about.

[joannec]

Another good days Sussex Birding. The Hume's Leaf Warbler was showing really well at Horseshoe Plantation around 11:30 this morning. We watched it flitting about happily for about half an hour. Another birder there told us there are only 4 records for Hume's Leaf Warbler in Sussex EVER so a real rarity and a pleasure to see! Also a peregrine and two displaying ravens over Lewes today.

[joannec]

An impromptu visit to Weir Wood Reservoir midday today....quickly located the red-necked grebe, very easy to watch as it seems to favour the area just in front of the sailing club.

[Matt Silk]

Saturday - a big flock of gulls on the green in the morning includes 17! Common Gulls (over four times the patch record). Popped up to weirwood and had both the Red-necked and Slavonian Grebes at great distance - thanks to guy who put me on to the red necked otherwise i would have left empty handed. no shrike at millbrook.

Sunday - an even bigger gull flock on the green not only contains 44!! Common Gulls (7 of which showing characteristics of l. c. heinei) but also a SECOND WINTER RING-BILLED GULL!!!!!!!!! they were flushed fairly swiftly and i failed to refind it. Down towards St. Georges had 3 Mistle Thrushes, ca. 70 Redwings and 4 Cormorants amongst other things.

[Alan227]

Popped up to weirwood and had both the Red-necked and Slavonian Grebes at great distance - thanks to guy who put me on to the red necked otherwise i would have left empty handed. no shrike at millbrook.

Similar score for me yesterday Matt, except conditions didn't favour Slav watching. Picked the worst time of the morning for weather as it turned out. Was about to leave in disgust, but decided to add an extra layer and have a last look. Glad I did. R-n Grebe (thanks also to the gentleman), but still no Slav. Much nicer later on though. Would've been a better time to see the Shrike (assumng it's still there), as it likes it when the sun is out. Don't know what it's been finding lately as there can't be too many wasps about now...

Al

[Mark43]

Finally managed to dodge work and get out today.

First stop North Mundham for the 2 Cattle Egrets which luckily were still in the field this morning along with a skulking Green Sandpiper.Only other bird of note was a flyby Kingfisher.

Moved on to East Head..........several Great Crested Grebes and at least 4 Red-Breasted Mergansers offshore and managed to miss a Red-necked Grebe which was apparently off to our right round a corner and just out of sight.Oh well i should have gone right instead of turning left. :-O
Checked out the cafe and found the Red-breasted Goose fairly quickly.......presumably the same bird as last year.Had a good scan of the Brents but could not locate a Brant amongst them.

Waves were quite high at the Bill so didn't hang around there to long so popped into Sidlesham in the vain hope the SEO's were out and about flying in the set aside field but no luck.........may have been to windy for them.

Very quiet at Church Norton with only the Summer plumaged BarWit of any note.

A couple of Common Buzzards very low over the road just outside Billingshurst on the way home finished off a pleasant few hours.

Was just nice to get out and about really.

Edit : just noticed another RN Grebe off the Bill this AM on BirdGuides......that will teach me to check .

[Matt Silk]

Stuck on the patch this weekend - and it was dreadful :C

Best i could manage was a flyover Redpoll, and the wintering stonechat at st. georges.

Still, exams will be over soon, so will have much more spare time at the weekends.

[joannec]

Finally managed to dodge work and get out today.

First stop North Mundham for the 2 Cattle Egrets which luckily were still in the field this morning along with a skulking Green Sandpiper.Only other bird of note was a flyby Kingfisher.

Moved on to East Head..........several Great Crested Grebes and at least 4 Red-Breasted Mergansers offshore and managed to miss a Red-necked Grebe which was apparently off to our right round a corner and just out of sight.Oh well i should have gone right instead of turning left. :-O
Checked out the cafe and found the Red-breasted Goose fairly quickly.......presumably the same bird as last year.Had a good scan of the Brents but could not locate a Brant amongst them.

Waves were quite high at the Bill so didn't hang around there to long so popped into Sidlesham in the vain hope the SEO's were out and about flying in the set aside field but no luck.........may have been to windy for them.

Very quiet at Church Norton with only the Summer plumaged BarWit of any note.

A couple of Common Buzzards very low over the road just outside Billingshurst on the way home finished off a pleasant few hours.

Was just nice to get out and about really.

Edit : just noticed another RN Grebe off the Bill this AM on BirdGuides......that will teach me to check .

Sounds like a good day Mark....much better than mine. I dipped on the hen harriers late this afternoon....none around.|:(| Got a free day on Wednesday and the weather forecast looks hopeful so where to go?:h?:

[Alan227]

I dipped on the hen harriers late this afternoon....none around.

Similar last Friday Jo. I have seen a Male now though, so musn't complain :>)

Al

[Matt Silk]

Had a Little Owl (120 for the year) calling in the fields behind the village early a.m. and fantastic views of one of five tawny owls (only the second i've ever seen) but still couldn't find the local Barn Owl. Managed Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit and a ringtail Hen Harrier on Ashdown Forest this afternoon.

Matt

[joannec]

Hi Everyone

I spent the day at Pulborough....glorious sunshine but too many people, I will avoid Sundays in future. The ducks; pintail, teal, wigeon etc looked absolutely splendid in the sun. It really was a most magnificent spring day. A peregrine chasing lapwing was the only raptor apart from kestrels. Spent considerable time searching for reported firecrest but only found goldcrest. Other highlights were 2 black tailed godwits, 9 bullfinch in a flock eating buds, marsh tits and nuthatch.

Joanne

[deborah4]

I will avoid Sundays in future.
Joanne

It could have been worse, you could have been working like me! Shame you couldn't find the Firecrest - it's amazing how many Goldcrest one sees while trying though!

[joannec]

I spent the day at Pett Level.....nothing out of the ordinary...a peregrine chasing lappies really fast! Cool. About 4 auks some distance offshore, probably guillemots. We then went down to Cliff End and watched the courting fulmars. It was really nice down there today in the sun and out of the wind. Got a few behaviour shots.

[Matt Silk]

Walked down to the marina after school today (lessons ended at lunch) and spent much of the time grilling the gulls, eventually finding a/the 2cy CASPIAN GULL on the end of the west arm. Also about were 3 Yellow Legged Gulls, a heinei Common Gull and a very dark 2cy Herring Gull (although it didn't really look right for a smicker). There was a Rock Pipit, Oystercatcher and Little Egret on the beach to the east of the marina and a Razorbill offshore with 2 diver spp. east. Yearlist on 122 now

[joannec]

Walked down to the marina after school today (lessons ended at lunch) and spent much of the time grilling the gulls, eventually finding a/the 2cy CASPIAN GULL on the end of the west arm. Also about were 3 Yellow Legged Gulls, a heinei Common Gull and a very dark 2cy Herring Gull (although it didn't really look right for a smicker). There was a Rock Pipit, Oystercatcher and Little Egret on the beach to the east of the marina and a Razorbill offshore with 2 diver spp. east. Yearlist on 122 now


Which marina is this Matt, Brighton, Eastbourne???

[Mark43]

Which marina is this Matt, Brighton, Eastbourne???


Brighton Joanne.

[Mark43]

A beautiful day (arguably the best day of the year so far) and i managed to get my 3rd day of birding in since 2008 began........yes i know its a rubbish effort but some of us have to work you know.:-O

Joined up with Bernie Forbes and Dave Smith and about 20 others for a Sussex Ornithological Society outing round East Head ,Snowhill Marsh and Ellanore and most enjoyable it was to.

Only just pulled up in the car park and someone called the Black Brant which luckily had decided to wander away from the main flock of Brents and so was easily identifiable........so much easier than searching through a flock of 700 odd geese..........a lifer for me also.A large flock of Golden Plover were put up by something before they returned to feed on the fields behind the cafe.

A quick look on the sea before we left also found a single Black Throated Diver........lifer number 2..........was this going to be a good day.........could i possibly crack Slavonian Grebe also........a nemesis bird i cannot seem to find.

Anyway on to Ellanore with a few Curlew,RL Partridges,single Mistle Thrush and a Green Woody enroute.Arriving at Ellanore we found 57 RB Mergansers just offshore..........the largest amount i have ever seen in one go.........very nice indeed.A few Turnstones and Ringed Plover on the beach and a couple of Dunlin feeding on the sand and half a dozen GC Grebes offshore was about it for here.A Peregrine was spotted in the distance sat on a concrete pipe.

A walk back along Snowhill Marsh produced 4 Common Buzzards,Stonechat,GS Woody and a Black Wit etc.

We took lunch then proceeded out to East Head.........the enormous amount of dog walkers and sun worshippers made birding on the Head very difficult so we opted to go round the shoreline finding Dunlin,Knot,Skylark,Mipit and Reed Bunting on the way.

A check offshore found several Common Scoter,a Guillemot (unusual for here),another Black Throated Diver then Bernie called a Slav Grebe.
Trust me this story doesn't end well..........i got my scope on the spot and.......thats right.......no bloody grebe there :C..........it had dived and for all i know it had dived and drowned itself because i don't think anyone saw it again.

That was about the end of the trip.......some went off to find the RB Goose.

A good trip with about 50 species logged.

[Matt Silk]

Brighton, there was a report of a caspo, glauc and iceland there earlier in the week, so i headed down to check it out. The caspo (although the rarest in sussex) was the only one that wouldn't have been a lifer!

Long tailed duck at widewater this afternoon. Nothing of note at the fort amongst huge numbers of people and very very quiet on the patch this morning.

[Mark43]

Advice needed.

Fancy a trip out tomorrow to Amberley Wildbrooks.I know how to walk onto it from Greatham but want to do it from the other end.Is the Sportsman Pub a good place to park and if so which direction do i then head.........sorry don't know the area very well.

Also where can you park in North Stoke and how do i get out to the Burgh.......looking for SEO's hopefully.

Any help appreciated.

Cheers.

[joannec]

]then Bernie called a Slav Grebe.
Trust me this story doesn't end well..........i got my scope on the spot and.......thats right.......no bloody grebe there :C..........it had dived and for all i know it had dived and drowned itself because i don't think anyone saw it again.

.


Aaaah Mark.....bad luck:-C. And it was your birthday yesterday.

Otherwise sounds like a great day. BF is brilliant...met him last year and those SOS walks are good but ya know, I've lost my programme for this year:egghead:. Gonna have to ask for a new one.

I spent the morning on Ashdown Forest doing my count....lots of birds; highlight was two redpoll. Then this afternoon my other half fancied an afternoon out so it was Splash Point. I was too tired to do much walking on my old crock knees after this morning so didn't go far but pleased to see the kittiwake are back, also two rock pipit.

Matt: huge numbers of people at Splash Point too today...... but it was the first springlike day of the year!

Joanne

[Matt Silk]

Mark - am heading to the burgh area tomorrow afternoon, don't know where to go but was just going to head up the road from North Stoke and find somewhere to pull over.

As for the wildbrooks, i've always stopped in the car park south of rackham woods. if you walk towards rackham mill you get good views over the area. don't know about accessing the wey south path from amberley but have heard it can be incredibly wet/muddy at this time of year.