Sussex Birding (1 Viewer)

[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]

Bird race day!

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]

This weekend

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]

Weirwood

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