Tuesday 11 February 2014

11/02/2014 4 New Birds and an Albion Win!

Tuesday 11th February 2014
West Sussex Trip with PJ

We decided to start late due to yet another overnight storm.  Picked up Paul at 11.00 then tried Widewater and Goreham Beach before heading off to Littlehampton when, as predicted, things got better; the sun began to shine and the birds came out to play.

At Littlehampton, West Beach, thanks to Paul, we soon located 1 of 4 LITTLE GULLS to provide me with a welcome year tick and some excellent on-the-spot training.  Paul was really after the KUMLIEN'S GULL and the GLAUCOUS GULL both of which duly turned up, much to the delight of myself and a couple of fellow birders.

After priding myself on ID'ing a couple of Med Gulls we decided to relocate to West Dean to try our luck with the LITTLE OWL.  Despite the awkward drive through flooded country roads we were rewarded with superb views - is this the same owl I saw 3 years ago with Bernie Forbes and the SOS?  If so it was equally beneficent.


Our final destination was Greatham Bridge to seek the Great Grey Shrike.  Yet again we were doomed to fail - 5th time for his majesty but only my fourth.  To ease the pain Paul directed Sandra and myself to a fly-over BULLFINCH to clinch my 4th new 2014 Bird of the Day.

We packed up early to allow Sandra, Paul and myself to prepare for and enjoy the Albion beat Leeds United 1 - 0 later on at the Amex.

Additions to 2014 UK Bird List:
Little Gull   (151)
Kumlien's Gull   re Iceland Gull  (152)
Little Owl   (153)
Bullfinch   (154)


Addition to UK Life List of Birds:
Kumlien's Gull    (244)

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