-
BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!
Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Sussex Birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ben Rackstraw
- Start date
Mark43
Well-known member
Will be soon.Decided to cut the weight down a bit with a carbon one.
The old back feels it a bit with the manfrotto one.
joannec
Well-known member
Had a nice day down at Pett and the Brede Valley today. Pett was VERY quiet wader wise. At Cliff End we had excellent views of two peregrines, one adult and one juvenile, both perched on the bushes at the top of the cliff. I'm guessing these are the Hastings family. A seal, I think common, was very close inshore at high tide. Lots of common and sandwich terns fishing which is probably what brought him/her in so close to shore. It started to rain heavily so we decided to return via the Brede Valley and what a good decision that was! :t: We saw no less than 8 turtle doves! all at once perched on the wires.....a bit too far away to discern how many juves and how many adults though. Also, and this was the days highlight for me, a baby hobby, still looking fluffy and spaced out. This seems to be a very under-reported area to me. Anyone else go there? Also a large, about 200, post breeding flock of linnet.
On a sadder note: The fourth wind turbine is being erected at Walland Marsh, easily visible from Pett.:C
On a sadder note: The fourth wind turbine is being erected at Walland Marsh, easily visible from Pett.:C
Last edited:
joannec
Well-known member
Hello Sussex Birders
It would be nice to keep this thread going. We've got some good birds in Sussex and some good BF birders. :t:
I'll try and revive this thread with my birding this week. I've been birding the East Sussex coast twice this week and have seen two black redstart at Birling Gap in the Coastguard Cottages gardens, a peregrine and a raven at Crowlink. A couple of blackcaps and chiffchaffs still around in the bushes by the cliffs. Redwing too. Today I visited my old haunt of Cuckmere Haven and found a female ring ouzel on the east side of the river in the bushes by the cliffs. Really pleased with this as it was my target bird for today. Loads of the usuals around too, including a kingfisher and 35 little grebe, the most I've ever seen here at any one time.
Also really pleased to have a newly established peregrine perched on a pylon on my patch in mid Sussex. I watched it in a stoop chasing a blackbird which dived into a hedge. Blackbird lives another day! He comes and goes for days at a time but when he is here he stays for hours. Plenty of winter thrushes moving into Sussex now too (although I've yet to see a fieldfare).
Joanne
It would be nice to keep this thread going. We've got some good birds in Sussex and some good BF birders. :t:
I'll try and revive this thread with my birding this week. I've been birding the East Sussex coast twice this week and have seen two black redstart at Birling Gap in the Coastguard Cottages gardens, a peregrine and a raven at Crowlink. A couple of blackcaps and chiffchaffs still around in the bushes by the cliffs. Redwing too. Today I visited my old haunt of Cuckmere Haven and found a female ring ouzel on the east side of the river in the bushes by the cliffs. Really pleased with this as it was my target bird for today. Loads of the usuals around too, including a kingfisher and 35 little grebe, the most I've ever seen here at any one time.
Also really pleased to have a newly established peregrine perched on a pylon on my patch in mid Sussex. I watched it in a stoop chasing a blackbird which dived into a hedge. Blackbird lives another day! He comes and goes for days at a time but when he is here he stays for hours. Plenty of winter thrushes moving into Sussex now too (although I've yet to see a fieldfare).
Joanne
deborah4
Well-known member
Golly what a coincidence - posted yesterday and day before!
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=126842
''They've been moving through over the past couple of weeks, mainly seen in coastal areas. Was fortunate in so far as my aim on Tuesday was to find both Black Redstart and Ring Ouzel for my year list''
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1328520#post1328520
Last edited:
Mark43
Well-known member
A stroll round Pulborough Brooks this morning in reasonably fine weather produced no less than 3 male Bullfinches together at the bottom of the hill from the Visitors Centre.......only ever seen singletons here.
A couple of Mistle Thrush were on the conifer tops......the only Thrushes about......no Redwings or Fieldfares to be found this morning.
Walking to Nettleys hide we encountered all the usual woodland species including 2 very obliging Treecreepers and a small flock of LT Tits.
Out on the Brooks waders present were a Redshank,a Dunlin,2 Ruff,a few Black Tailed Godwits and a Little Stint.Lots of Pintail present....more than i ever recall seeing before.
Three Black Swans and a pair of Stonechats were also seen from Jupps View.
From West Mead hide a single Meadow Pipit drinking from a small pool and 2 White Fronted Geese associating with Greylags were also seen.I believe there are 5 WFG here at the moment.
Reported in the visitors book and not seen by us was a Redpoll and 2 Peregrines.
45 species rounded off by Beef Casserole in the cafe.....what other way is there to spend a Sunday morning.
A couple of Mistle Thrush were on the conifer tops......the only Thrushes about......no Redwings or Fieldfares to be found this morning.
Walking to Nettleys hide we encountered all the usual woodland species including 2 very obliging Treecreepers and a small flock of LT Tits.
Out on the Brooks waders present were a Redshank,a Dunlin,2 Ruff,a few Black Tailed Godwits and a Little Stint.Lots of Pintail present....more than i ever recall seeing before.
Three Black Swans and a pair of Stonechats were also seen from Jupps View.
From West Mead hide a single Meadow Pipit drinking from a small pool and 2 White Fronted Geese associating with Greylags were also seen.I believe there are 5 WFG here at the moment.
Reported in the visitors book and not seen by us was a Redpoll and 2 Peregrines.
45 species rounded off by Beef Casserole in the cafe.....what other way is there to spend a Sunday morning.
joannec
Well-known member
Sounds a nice morning Mark. I haven't been to Pulborough since the pec sand was around.
The only birding I did last week was my atlas survey which includes Bentley Wildfowl of all places. I stayed in the woods for that part but didn't count any of the weird ducks I heard!
Lots of common birds including redwings and mistle thrushes.
The only birding I did last week was my atlas survey which includes Bentley Wildfowl of all places. I stayed in the woods for that part but didn't count any of the weird ducks I heard!
Lots of common birds including redwings and mistle thrushes.
joannec
Well-known member
Weekly birding this week took me SE. Highlight was 2 Great Northern Divers at Long Pit, Rye. Cool birds! Don't know if many of you know the story but one was picked up on a road somewhere in Kent, having almost been run over! The very with it driver took the stunned GND to Mallydams where it duly recovered quickly and was released on Long Pit. Big surprise was it was soon joined by another ! They seem to be hanging around and I got great views of the two of them today, fantastic birds! Other highlights at Rye were 20+ sanderling on the east shore....great birds, I love them but they were distant and a HUGE flock of golden plover , the usual waders but it was so cold with a biting NE wind we didn't hang around to properly go through them, regretably. A stop off at Pett on the return journey saw a peregrine on a distant hawthorn , a marsh harrier perched in a ditch and just before dusk a barn owl quartering the marsh. ....another good day in East Sussex.:t:
Last edited:
Mark43
Well-known member
A crisp but beautiful day saw Jackie and i head for Burton Mill Pond hoping to catch up with Redpolls.Our first woodland birds were a very obliging party of Long Tailed Tits which allowed us in very close while they were feeding.
A dozen Redwings were disturbed as they fed round the base of an old oak.
By Chingford Pond 5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers seemed to be playing a game of chase my tail although i guess it was a territory thing.
Moving further round the trail we encountered Marsh Tit,Reed Buntings.Linnets,several Jays but alas no Redpolls or Siskins anywhere.
A Little Egret buzzed the pond and a Kestrel hovered over the car park as we left.
Next stop Pulborough Brooks although this was really just an excuse for Roast Beef followed by Apple Pie from the cafe.The usual wildfowl out on the brooks although Winpenny Hide allowed very very close views of Common Snipe and
Meadow Pipits.
From here up to the Burgh.Very cold and windy up here this afternoon.Our first birds were 5 Buzzards with 2 birds displaying fairly lowdown in the sky.
A gronking from the East heralded the passing of 2 Ravens which slowly drifted off to the North West.
We were joined by another birder who had seen a Hen Harrier off to the East and no sooner had he said that when a Ringtail appeared from the West and was hunting below us for a while when yet another appeared from the same direction.These both vanished off to the North so we made ready to go when the birder called us back as a male had appeared.We couldn't get onto this one unfortunately as it got lost in the undulations of the valley.
No signs yet of Short Eared Owls up here though.
Fantastic day out with a return visit needed to Burton Mill for those Redpolls asap
A dozen Redwings were disturbed as they fed round the base of an old oak.
By Chingford Pond 5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers seemed to be playing a game of chase my tail although i guess it was a territory thing.
Moving further round the trail we encountered Marsh Tit,Reed Buntings.Linnets,several Jays but alas no Redpolls or Siskins anywhere.
A Little Egret buzzed the pond and a Kestrel hovered over the car park as we left.
Next stop Pulborough Brooks although this was really just an excuse for Roast Beef followed by Apple Pie from the cafe.The usual wildfowl out on the brooks although Winpenny Hide allowed very very close views of Common Snipe and
Meadow Pipits.
From here up to the Burgh.Very cold and windy up here this afternoon.Our first birds were 5 Buzzards with 2 birds displaying fairly lowdown in the sky.
A gronking from the East heralded the passing of 2 Ravens which slowly drifted off to the North West.
We were joined by another birder who had seen a Hen Harrier off to the East and no sooner had he said that when a Ringtail appeared from the West and was hunting below us for a while when yet another appeared from the same direction.These both vanished off to the North so we made ready to go when the birder called us back as a male had appeared.We couldn't get onto this one unfortunately as it got lost in the undulations of the valley.
No signs yet of Short Eared Owls up here though.
Fantastic day out with a return visit needed to Burton Mill for those Redpolls asap
joannec
Well-known member
Hi Mark
Sounds like a great winters day birding.
I don't think those great nomadic wonderers, SEOs, are back at The Burgh this year but nice to have the hen harrier.
I went to Bough Beech yesterday. I know it's in Kent but only just. There were at least six goosander, a GND which I glimpsed between dives and the bushes and a couple of of brambling at the centre.
Gonna do my patch on AF tomorrow if I can get up early enough.....also getting in training for next months bird race which I've been persuaded to do again!:t::gh:
Did you see the thread for BF meet at Dunge on 17th Jan?
Joanne
Sounds like a great winters day birding.
I don't think those great nomadic wonderers, SEOs, are back at The Burgh this year but nice to have the hen harrier.
I went to Bough Beech yesterday. I know it's in Kent but only just. There were at least six goosander, a GND which I glimpsed between dives and the bushes and a couple of of brambling at the centre.
Gonna do my patch on AF tomorrow if I can get up early enough.....also getting in training for next months bird race which I've been persuaded to do again!:t::gh:
Did you see the thread for BF meet at Dunge on 17th Jan?
Joanne
Mark43
Well-known member
Yes shame about the SEO's but maybe they might appear Jan/Feb time which is roughly when they were about this year......who knows.
Bough Beech.....not been there........might have to take a look this week then........still not got Goosander :eek!::eek!:
Yes i saw the Dunge trip......not sure if i can make that but be nice to get Smew on the list for the year.If we can then i can pick Paul up from 3 Bridges station.
Let me know if you need sponsoring for the Bird Race:t::t:
joannec
Well-known member
Bough Beech is not all that far from you but is very difficult to find due to poorly signposted country lanes....worth making the effort to find it though.
Won't say no to a bit of sponsorship....the money is going to swift nest boxes this year.
Hope to see you and Jackie at Dunge.
J
Last edited:
Liam:
Well-known member
Managed to get down to Pagham this morning, I saw and got some photos of a Hen Harrier hunting on ferry field. It was there from about 9:30 till around 10ish as it got bored of the crows mobbing it.
Pics: http://sussexbirdphotography.blogspot.com/
Pics: http://sussexbirdphotography.blogspot.com/
