Cuckmere Haven West with the Ashdown Bird Group - Friday 18th October 2024

 

Friday 18^th October 2024

Half-day visit to Cuckmere Haven (West)

Ashdown Bird Group

(4 members present)

 

Trip Report

Two weeks ago to the day, we walked down the eastern side of the River Cuckmere and enjoyed a really good days birding.  So it was a ‘no-brainer’ that we subsequently decided to return to explore the western aspects. 

 Today’s trip, the third of our Friday morning outings, was equally good.  This time we had a species count of just over 50 and some brilliant weather, with lots of sunshine and very little wind.

 Our route started at the car park at South Hill Barn, took us down to Hope Gap where we turned east and headed to the cottages.  Then we set off out along the western edge of the River Cuckmere, heading north almost to Exceat Bridge.  For the return leg we followed the southerly path at the bottom of the hill as far as Outbrook Bank where we ascended the hill back to the car park, passing Harry’s Bush on the way.

  

·      Star bird today was undoubtedly ring ouzel.  We saw at least 2 (and probably 3) soon after we left the car park and headed down the hill towards Hope Gap.  The birds showed up at regular intervals so we hung around to enjoy the occasion.   Alison and Martin captured the moment brilliantly on camera when the bird appeared at the top of the trees just uphill from our position.

 

Courtesy of Alison Playle

 

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

Here are some of our other highlights:-

·         There was an abundance of chiffchaffs today – clear evidence of autumn migration.

Courtesy of Alison Playle

 

·         Several blackcaps were seen including this cracking male …

Courtesy of Alison Playle

·         Likewise, there were several dunnocks on the scene …

Courtesy of Alison Playle

 

·         As we approached Cuckmere Haven, by the cottages, our attention was drawn to the little egrets that were lined up in the fields ahead of us.  When we viewed them in the telescope we could see that there were also lots of curlew close by.  Later on Alison captured this flight view of one of the little egrets.

Courtesy of Alison Playle

·         Inevitably we saw rock pipits …

Courtesy of Alison Playle

 

·         Once again we were graced by several kingfisher sightings …

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

 

·         We heard skylarks and then subsequently caught sight of them, including this lovely pair …

 

Courtesy of Alison Playle

 

Courtesy of Alison Playle

·         The greenshank was still around …

Courtesy of Alison Playle

 

Finally, this picture reminds us of the great privilege we enjoy in being able to go birding in one of the most scenic areas of the UK.

Courtesy of Alison Playle

 

Species list: 

Black-headed Gull	1		Lesser Black-backed Gull	27
Blackbird	2		Linnet	28
Blackcap	3		Little Egret	29
Blue Tit	4		Long-tailed Tit	30
Buzzard	5		Magpie	31
Canada Goose	6		Meadow Pipit	32
Carrion Crow	7		Mistle Thrush	33
Cetti's Warbler	8		Moorhen	34
Chiffchaff	9		Mute Swan	35
Cormorant	10		Pied Wagtail	36
Curlew	11		Raven	37
Dunnock	12		Redshank	38
Goldfinch	13		Ring Ouzel	39
Great Black-backed Gull	14		Robin	40
Great Spotted Woodpecker	15		Rock Pipit	41
Great Tit	16		Rook	42
Green Woodpecker	17		Skylark	43
Greenfinch	18		Song Thrush	44
Greenshank	19		Starling	45
Grey Heron	20		Stock Dove	46
Herring Gull	21		Stonechat	47
House Sparrow	22		Teal	48
Jackdaw	23		Wigeon	49
Jay	24		Woodpigeon	50
Kingfisher	25		Wren	51
Lapwing	26

 

Species count = 51                                                                                            

  

 

Thanks again John for suggesting this venue.

Thanks Alison for the fabulous photographs. 

Thanks Martin for leading the group and for your fabulous photographs.

 

 

 

2024 species count=202