Sussex Birding (1 Viewer)

[hollis_f]

Has any one seen any Waxwings in West sussex this winter? Ive heard there are some at the moment down in Goring.Might go and check them out if the berrys keep them there until the weekend.

Woke up this morning feeling a bit fuzzy after celebrating my retirement with my ex-workmates in London. Saw the brilliant sunshine and decided that the Goring Waxwings were going to be my last chance to get some nice pictures of this species for a while.

So we parked in Goring Street, in just about the only free space, having seen a group of birders further down the street. As we were unpacking the cameras etc. Didi realised that there were Waxwings in the tree above our heads.

For the next hour or so they were posing for the cameras quite shamlessly. The pics are downloading now, so I'll post one or two later.

I'd read on SOS somebody complaining about the photographers getting too close and scaring the birds away. I'm not sure how that would be possible. The birders/photographers there didn't get anywhere near as close as the members of the public walking along the street did. Indeed, one guy stopped right under the tree where they were feeeding and pointed them out to his friends. He couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 feet from the closest bird - which totally ignored him.

As we were contemplating lunch a nice birder stopped for a chat and mentioned that he'd been photographing Hawfinches that morning. Following his directions we were soon watching one bird, although a bit too far for photography. After dipping out on Hawfinches a fortnight ago in Norfolk this was a real bonus. If you're reading this, nice person, thanks a lot.

 

[hollis_f]

Waxwing Pic

Wow! Quite a few not-too-bad shots. Here's one of a Waxwing doing a balancing act.

 

[joannec]

Very nice picture Frank!:t: Sounds like you had a great day.

 

[deborah4]

Wow indeed! Absolutely brilliant shot Frank.

I'm sure it would look good in our next Sussex Bird Report (unfortunately we had a Waxwing for the cover shot just a few years ago, otherwise ....)

 

[joannec]

Does anyone ever bird Langley Lakes near Eastbourne? I've passed it so many times in the car and thought it looked good.... old gravel pits, marshy terrain with extensive reed beds, not far from the sea. Access looks difficult sandwiched between the A27 and suburbia. Anyone know it and can comment?

 

[Lapwing2]

Woke up this morning feeling a bit fuzzy after celebrating my retirement with my ex-workmates in London. Saw the brilliant sunshine and decided that the Goring Waxwings were going to be my last chance to get some nice pictures of this species for a while.

So we parked in Goring Street, in just about the only free space, having seen a group of birders further down the street. As we were unpacking the cameras etc. Didi realised that there were Waxwings in the tree above our heads.

For the next hour or so they were posing for the cameras quite shamlessly. The pics are downloading now, so I'll post one or two later.

I'd read on SOS somebody complaining about the photographers getting too close and scaring the birds away. I'm not sure how that would be possible. The birders/photographers there didn't get anywhere near as close as the members of the public walking along the street did. Indeed, one guy stopped right under the tree where they were feeeding and pointed them out to his friends. He couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 feet from the closest bird - which totally ignored him.

As we were contemplating lunch a nice birder stopped for a chat and mentioned that he'd been photographing Hawfinches that morning. Following his directions we were soon watching one bird, although a bit too far for photography. After dipping out on Hawfinches a fortnight ago in Norfolk this was a real bonus. If you're reading this, nice person, thanks a lot.

You really sound like you had a great time.I went down to see them a week ago.I waited for them by the church but got a tip off by two other birders that they were in a garden a few streets down.After getting lost i noticed a guy with a camera who i had spoke to earlyer that morning.So there we were standing under a tree without using any bins just watching them come down and feed on a berry bush in a garden.I couldnt believe that they werent bothed by us or anything else that was going on.I would like to thank the nice guy who let us stand in his garden and watch them come down the other side of the lawn.I hope everyone who has been down to see these birds has enjoyed them as much as i did that morning.

 

[hollis_f]

Wow indeed! Absolutely brilliant shot Frank.

I'm sure it would look good in our next Sussex Bird Report (unfortunately we had a Waxwing for the cover shot just a few years ago, otherwise ....)

Well, if you think it would be useful, feel free. All I'd want is an acknowledgement.

 

[deborah4]

Well, if you think it would be useful, feel free. All I'd want is an acknowledgement.

Hi Frank

Wasn't thinking of downloading it myself but Audrey Wende if you email it to her may be interested in having for the next Annual Report (you can mention my name and I suggested it if you like) since Waxwing have been in good numbers in Sussex this winter. (I'm sure you would receive a byline if it were used!)

She's the Chair. Email address; outings'at'sos.org.uk

 

[Patrick_L]

Does anyone ever bird Langley Lakes near Eastbourne? I've passed it so many times in the car and thought it looked good.... old gravel pits, marshy terrain with extensive reed beds, not far from the sea. Access looks difficult sandwiched between the A27 and suburbia. Anyone know it and can comment?

Joanne

Do you mean Shinewater Lake? That's the large pit sandwiched between the "new" dual carriageway and the school, just to the north-west of Langley. Certainly 15-20 years ago it was regularly watched (it was on the route between Beachy Head and Pevensey Levels when the latter still had the decent scrape on the Norman's Bay road) and I recall reports of Kentish Plover and Spoonbill there. I think I missed the latter by an hour or so.

It was certainly worth watching regularly, particularly before the site got disturbed later in the day with dog walkers. It's not that far from the old Crumbles, and that used to be outstanding.

We used to park by the road that runs along the south side and take the paths from that point that run along the eastern side.

 

[joannec]

Hi Patrick. I think that is where I mean by the new bit of dual carriageway. I didn't know it was called Shinewater Lake. There is a school on the other side of the lakes. You probably wouldn't know it now as so many houses have been built in the past few years. It does look a good birding area but may have become degraded from what you used to know. I think it probably is underwatched now as I rarely see sightings reported for there......either that or it's not very good anymore.

Anyway I think I'll probably check it out soon, in the morning as you recommend. Thanks for information.

Joanne

 

[nickyb]

Hi, just wanted to mention that the Goring Waxwings put on an amazing fly-catching display yesterday afternoon, only briefly coming down to the berries, they were just constantly launching themselves from the high trees flycatching...a quality birding experience...there is not so many berries left here now so perhaps they were supplementing their diet!!
Regards
Nick
www.freewebs.com/widerscoped

 

[joannec]

Not as good as Franks picture but here's another waxwing. There are 16 near me in Uckfield this week. I've been to see them a few times...beats going to town to do the shopping!

 

[Mark43]

Nothing much to report on my AFBG patch at Press Ridge Warren on Ashdown Forest today but it was nice to see 7 Meadow Pipits feeding in amongst the Horses.

A quick look at Old Lodge found............zilch.:-C

 

[joannec]

Nothing much to report on my AFBG patch at Press Ridge Warren on Ashdown Forest today but it was nice to see 7 Meadow Pipits feeding in amongst the Horses.

A quick look at Old Lodge found............zilch.:-C

I did my AF patch, Garden of Eden, today. Ascending singing skylarks, displaying mipits, pleased to see 4 stonechat but sadly no Dartford warblers. I'm concerned that they have suffered badly in the cold winter. I nearly always see them on G of E but not today.||

 

[Liam:]

Just noticed a sighting of a LEO near Brighton on sos, living nearby and desperate to see one, does anyone know where I can find it? Link (http://www.sos.org.uk/recent-sightings/index.php)


Thanks for any information
http://sussexbirdphotography.blogspot.com/

 

[hollis_f]

Just noticed a sighting of a LEO near Brighton on sos, living nearby and desperate to see one, does anyone know where I can find it? Link (http://www.sos.org.uk/recent-sightings/index.php)

I, too, would be most intersted.

 

[Mark43]

An early morning start on Sunday down to the Bill (Jackie was not impressed).

Got there at around 7.15am........got onto a Great Northern Diver immediately.Was thinking i might have left it to late for one of these having not tried to hard with sea watching this year so far.

Over the next hour and a bit managed a Red Throated Diver going east,a Meadow Pipit and a House Martin in off the sea,a Sandwich Tern going east and several Gannets offshore.A few ducks and a flock of Turnstones were added extras.

Moved round to Church Norton and wandered round to the Severals, passing a large basking Adder on the way, hoping for a passing Whinchat or something similar but fairly quiet.Lots of Linnets in the scrub/gorse area that is marked "private" looking very nice in there emerging summer plumage.

My first Blackcap of the year in the car park.

Over at the Ferry pool 3 Buzzards being vigorously mobbed by assorted Corvids and on the path towards Church Norton 2 very yellowish and skittish Willow Warblers which i tried so hard to turn into anything but WW's but eventually they sang and spoiled the fun.

A quick look at Coldwaltham sewage farm on the way home found a very lively Chiffchaff and a hunting pair of Kestrels but nothing on the sewage which was strange as my last visit here produced loads of birds feeding.

 

[joannec]

Nice Mark!:t: I'm hoping to get down to Splash Point early on Wednesday....hope the rain holds off. I saw my first blackcap of the year too today; in my garden!

 

[Patrick_L]

Had a very nice small fall of migrants at Beachy Head in the fog that rolled in late on Saturday morning, with a decent scatter of Willow Warblers around the Belle Tout and Chat Vale (Shooters Bottom) areas and male Redstart and Blackcap to add variety. Nice to catch up with DC and JFC up there as well, who had had Whitethroat an a decent seawatch as well before the fog arrived.

At least 5 Blackcaps already on territory at Streat.

 

[Stoggler]

New to BF, so working my around finding different forums.

Down in the home county this weekend of Easter. Hope to get to Lancing Ring where there are more LBJs than you can shake a stick at, as well as possibly the RSPC place at Pulborough with the old man.

Lancing Ring (or The Clump as the locals call it) used to be a great place for summer visitors when I was a wee nipper - one of the few places I've seen yellowhammers, along with plenty of warblers, and the one and only nightingale I've ever seen and heard.