Sussex Birding (1 Viewer)

[birdboybowley]

A quick jaunt up to Black Down this afternoon after having a good day yday in Kent/Sussex (Ibe Chiff, Whiskered Tern, Purple Heron, Red-rump Swallow). After finding the carpark (haven't been up there for 8yrs...!) had 3 Wood Warblers, a surprise Willow Tit, quite a few Xbills in the pines, Tripit on the heath, displaying Siskin and lots of other nice birds like Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Cuckoo, Woodlark....cool place, must visit it more often!

 

[gropperwinch]

is Black Down on Ashdown Forest? If so I think I know where it is, if not I should definitely find out and go, sounds like a great place, especially with Willow Tit/Wood Warbler (surely now on the brink in these places?)

And if you saw the red-rump, I presume you changed you've changed your mind recently about Arlington Ads

 

[birdboybowley]

Saw the Red-rump...it was a small recompense for having to traverse your nightmare county roads...average mph 30....!
Black Down is just south of Haslemere (so in the proper Sussex )and the highest point in the county apparently...

 

[Tri-Counties Birder]

Thanks for the info re Black Down Ads. I popped in there on the way back from Selsey and had great views of a Wood Warbler. Also a Redstart singing and some Crossbill flew over.


Certainly a place worth exploring a little more.

 

[I Barnard]

Wood Warblers are that common in Sussex that we should give exact breeding locations. I think not!!!
How about a bit of common sense for the welfare of the birds and remove the details.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Tri-Counties Birder]

Wood Warblers are that common in Sussex that we should give exact breeding locations. I think not!!!
How about a bit of common sense for the welfare of the birds and remove the details.

Cheers

Ian

I did think of that, but the bird I was talking about is singing right next to a public footpath, so I really don't think disturbance would be an issue. Anyway, I have removed the exact details, but I am sure anyone could see them at the site already mentioned, they are not difficult to find.

 

[I Barnard]

I have to say that mention of the site should be removed as well. A simple check of the Sussex bird report for 2008 shows how rare they are and does not give away locality.

 

[birdboybowley]

The Long-tailed Skua past Hurst Castle at 1820 unfortunately didn't materialize at the Bill by 2050 anyways (hopefully it's sat down in the Solent somewhere ready for the morrow!) but, as recompense, we had 4 excellent Poms (including a dark-phase) - a single at 1930 and 3 at 2015 - 3 Arctics (which were apparently logged with the LT earlier), 12 Manxies at 1927 and c3 Black Terns loafing offshore with the other terns. Great stuff!

 

[PeeJay]

Ian makes a valid point here. As well as Wood Warbler, a quick trawl through the messages reveals mention of a pair of Marsh Harriers and also a couple of reeling Grasshopper Warbler at one of their few regular sites in the county. The 'Egg collector needs info' thread elsewhere on this website is worth a read.

 

[Tri-Counties Birder]

I had nothing to do this afternoon, so thought I would pop to Selsey, not expecting much. I was partly right, as passage was non-existant. But, I did manage to pick out a Roseate among the Tern flock. Only my second ever, so well chuffed with that!

We also had an odd Gull. On the face of it, it seemed to be an immature Iceland Gull. But, it did have a single darkish primary on each wing, which may signify a leucistic Herring. Keep your eye out for it if your down that way.

 

[joannec]

But, I did manage to pick out a Roseate among the Tern flock. Only my second ever, so well chuffed with that!

.

Excellent Sean.

I went to Pulborough today, spent the morning in the woods/heathland area. A lesser spot was drumming all morning, first here, then there, then over there; eventually caught up with it high in some oak trees. What a fantastic little bird, worth the wait and perseverance. Also at least three competing garden warblers we heard and saw one. In the afternoon got terrific views of a singing nightingale , heard a few others. Loads of birds on the reserve including a fine perched hobby.

 

[birdboybowley]

Had better views of the gull Sean from West St.....def not a leucistic Herring, smaler and more delicate (rounded head, slighter bill etc), perfect for Iceland but for the brownish wedge on the primaries (looked like 2 or 3 of them). Tail faintly barred, faint markings on the mantle but evenly 'blotchy' if you get my meaning whereas leucism seems to be more erratic. Gonna do some Kumlien's research! Flew out and landed on the sea with the other gulls so hopefully be around tomorrow morning if anyone's around. Black Tern and Rosy also seen offshore and a Common Sand on the breakwaters there.

 

[gropperwinch]

this is one for Ads. Temminck's Stint at Arlington Res today!:-O why, with, that, the swallows and a Bonie Gull, I think our crappy little reservoir has had more rare birds than anywhere else in sussex this spring!! I'll put a few photos of the wonderfully close showing Stint, which even my little Penatx Bridge camera got some decent photos of, once I crop them a bit! But aside from gloating, it was a beautiful little bird (surprised some people think they look dull), with a lovely speckled biscuity back, and was also a UK tick. However, the RR Swallow reappearing for the first time in 11 hours an hour after we left has left me in a sligtly bad mood. Even worse was that I saw a distant Swallow with a pale-neck collar (couldn't make out any rufousy colour at that distance if there was any), but it disappeared in among a big group of Swallows and House Martins, we were in a rush to leave and I had to let it go! That bliddy thing better hang around a bit longer!:C

 

[birdboybowley]

I'll take Red-rump over Temminck's Liam!! :-O Arf arf arf - and the reservoir's ok, it's just where it is!!

 

[Clive Watson]

Inspired by the excellent shots of the Red-rumped on Birdguides, I thought I'd have a go myself yesterday. I did eventually see the swallow but it wasn't very co-operative, spending most of its time over the fields. The stint was cracking however, well worth a look. Still there today according to Birdguides.

 

[hollis_f]

The stint was cracking however, well worth a look. Still there today according to Birdguides.

Damn, damn, damn, damn! And here's me with no car for two days.

 

[Tri-Counties Birder]

Apparently the Roseate, the Iceland, and the Hants Black Gulliemot seen at Selsey this morning! And, with the forecast for tomorrow, things are looking up!

 

[birdboybowley]

Still not sure on the Iceland - can't find any ref on Iceland that shows such a dark wedge in the primaries....points at Kumlien's. Also the bill is adult-like too, pale yelllowish with a red spot.....f**king Black Guillemot - b****cks

 

[Clive Watson]

Damn, damn, damn, damn! And here's me with no car for two days.

There's a railway station nearby, Berwick I think it's called. No idea how frequent trains are though.

 

[gropperwinch]

that hampshire Long-tailed Skua was seen past Birling Gap today. Sorry anyone who was looking at Selsey!