Week 3 15th - 21st January 2025 Long-eared Owl, Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser

 This week, I visited various places in the county, including a group visit.  This greatly affected my year list, boosting the count to a respectable 97 species.

Newhaven Tide Mills  15th January 2025

This was my third attempt to see Purple Sandpipers at this site, and I failed again.  By way of a consolation, I saw a drake Eider at the mouth of Newhaven Harbour.  The Fulmars (2) turned up on cue.

81 Stonechat

82 Eider

83 Fulmar

Fishbourne Creek, 19th January 2025  (a.m.)

I joined 12 friends for this East Grinstead RSPB visit to the Chichester area.  

• The highlight of the morning session was the 2 Red-breasted Mergansers that flew past us as we watched from the pier.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• These Brent Geese were a welcome sight.

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

84 Gadwall

85 Pintail

86 Red-breasted Merganser

87 Teal

88 Common Gull

89 Oystercatcher

90 Collared Dove

91 Ringed Plover

92 Greenshank

Pagham Harbour North Wall  19th January 2025 (p.m.)

For the afternoon session, we relocated to the North Wall area of Pagham Harbour to twitch the Long-eared Owls that had been reported there recently.  We were not disappointed with 3 present.  

• Phil used his new thermal imaging camera to pick out the owls in the bushes/reeds just below our raised position.  

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• We then worked hard to find them using telescopes - it was not as easy as you might think.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

As a bonus, these Lapwings and Golden Plover turned up in large numbers and gave good views as they flew around and when they landed in the mud.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

93 Jay

94 Long-eared Owl

95 Golden Plover

Warnham NR, Horsham 22nd January 2025

I made a short visit to Warnham NR today to look for Siskins and Redpolls. I saw lots of the latter at the feeders, but I didn't see any Siskins.  

96  Sparrowhawk

97 Redpoll

2025 Bird Species Count = 97