Visiting West Rise Marsh and Horse Eye Level in East Sussex

Today's focus was on visiting some of the lesser-known sites in the area. John suggested West Rise Marsh at Eastbourne because he had heard good reports about it but had never been there.   The only other suggestion was Scotney Gravel Pits on the Sussex-Kent border, but the feeling was that this was too far for a morning trip and better suited to a time when we were in the Rye/Dungeness area. 

Friday 14^th February 2025

West Rise Marsh, East Sussex 09.00 to 10.30

Ashdown Bird Group

(6 members present)

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

West Rise Marsh is a "hotspot" for Water Pipit and Bearded Tit at this time of year.  As the year progresses, you can expect to pick up a rarity or two.  Martin and I saw Alpine Swifts here in March 2023 and Penduline Tits in November 2022.  I twitched a Turkestan Shrike in May 2023, a Savi's warbler in April 2018 and a Bluethroat in February 2018.

We parked in the car park off Sevenoaks Road (map 1) and followed a clockwise route as shown below (map 2).

Map 1

Map 2

Wellies were the order of the day as it was very wet underfoot.

 

Trip Report

We managed to see at least 32 bird species this morning; nothing special, nevertheless a very creditable total.  Despite our best efforts, we were unable to locate any water pipits or bearded tits.

• On the lake, we saw the usual birds including Shoveler, Great-crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard and a Pochard.

Shoveler - courtesy of Alison Playle

Great-crested Grebe - courtesy of Alison Playle

• There were lots of noisy Canada Geese around.
• The gulls included black-headed, herring and great black-backed.
• Our best observation was of Snipe with over 10 seen flying from the reedbed in the southeast corner of the reserve.
• The usual Cetti's Warbler was heard and we saw a Meadow Pipit.

We all enjoyed a pleasant circuit of the reserve.

Species list:

Name:	Count		Name:	Count
Black-headed Gull	1		Meadow Pipit	17
Blackbird	2		Moorhen	18
Canada Goose	3		Mute Swan	19
Carrion Crow	4		Pied Wagtail	20
Cetti's Warbler	5		Pochard	21
Coot	6		Robin	22
Cormorant	7		Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon	23
Gadwall	8		Rook	24
Great Black-backed Gull	9		Shoveler	25
Great Crested Grebe	10		Snipe	26
Grey Heron	11		Starling	27
Herring Gull	12		Stonechat	28
House Sparrow	13		Teal	29
Jackdaw	14		Tufted Duck	30
Magpie	15		Wigeon	31
Mallard	16		Wren	32

Species count = 32 

By now, it was just after 10.30 - too early to go home so we decided to try a second site nearby Horse Eye Level, part of the Pevensey Levels

Friday 14^th February 2025

Horse Eye Level, Pevensey levels East Sussex 11.00 to 13.00

Ashdown Bird Group

(6 members present)

This site has been a hotspot for Short-eared Owls and Hen Harriers in the past. Obviously, these were seen around sunset.

We parked by the road adjacent to New Bridge Farm and walked south on the road for a few hundred metres before returning and then heading east on the public footpath.

 We saw at least 22 species, but no owls or harriers.

• The trip's highlight was seeing at least ten Ravens - most of us had never seen such a gathering.
• A distant Great White Egret was seen in flight.

Courtesy of Alison Playle

• There were vast numbers of Lapwing flying around even surpassing the Starling numbers.
• The Skylark made a pleasant appearance.

Courtesy of Alison Playle

Another very pleasant site, one which was new to all except Mark and me.

Species list:

Name:	Count		Name:	Count
Blackbird	1		Magpie	12
Blue Tit	2		Mallard	13
Buzzard	3		Meadow Pipit	14
Carrion Crow	4		Mute Swan	15
Cormorant	5		Raven	16
Dunnock	6		Robin	17
Goldfinch	7		Skylark	18
Great Tit	8		Song Thrush	19
Great White Egret	9		Starling	20
Kestrel	10		Woodpigeon	21
Lapwing	11		Wren	22

Species count = 22