Twitching in West Sussex - Again!

Thursday 14th September 2023

Pagham Harbour, North Wall

There has been a glut of curlew sandpipers on the east side of Pagham Harbour lately so I decided to go down there rather than twitch a single bird on the nearer River Adur at Shoreham.  With my domestic duties completed I had all of the late afternoon and evening at my disposal and boy did I use it well.

• As I travelled down to Chichester, news came through of 9 curlew sandpipers on the Breach Pool at high tide.  By the time I got there they had moved on to White's Creek on the receding tide.  After a short search I found 4 of them, showing well on one of the side creeks close to the sluices.

courtesy of Adam Huttly and X

• I looked for the other 5 but couldn't find them.  With a fast receding tide there was muddy areas all the way down to the sea and presumably the birds had flown down there.  In an ideal scenario I would have visited a few hours earlier at the time of the incoming tide so that I could have seen all of them.  Not to worry - I was delighted to see 4!  Later reports showed that at least 16 had been seen today - an amazing total.
• By way of a bonus there was a single bar-tailed godwit feeding on the western edge of the creek, right next to a spotted redshank.

The Burgh near Arundel, West Sussex

I spent the evening at The Burgh looking for partridges.  

• All in all I saw over 10 red-legged partridges and at least the same number of grey partridges in the fields as I walked the usual loop from The Triangle, past the farm buildings to The Burgh. 

A lovely late afternoon twitch in West Sussex

 2023 species count = 195

Twitching an Aquatic Warbler at Upper Beeding in Sussex - A "lifer"

Monday 11th September 2023

Just over 24 hours ago an aquatic warbler was reported at Upper Beeding just down the road from me near Steyning.  I couldn't go immediately because I was on the Ashdown Bird Group visit to RSPB Pulborough Brooks at the time. 

Thankfully the bird was still present today,  so, after lunch, I went looking for it - arriving at 3.15 pm to join 20-30 birders on the eastern banks of the River Adur.  

Unfortunately the bird had not been seen since 12.38.  I had to wait almost 90 minutes to get a view of the bird.  Most of the time  we were monitoring a large bush where the bird was last seen.  

• Eventually a couple of reputable birders decided to search the vegetation on the opposite side of the fence and flushed the bird which flew into the next bush along from where we were standing.  As we inched forward I had a nanosecond view of it as it flew out and went behind the bush and out of view.  
• Thankfully it landed on the opposite side of the river in the tall vegetation.  It moved around somewhat before showing brilliantly directly opposite to where I was standing. Paul Frost's image on Twitter captures brilliantly the view I got.  It was sitting on a prominent stem just 10 metres away!

courtesy of Paul Frost and Twitter

• It soon took flight and came across to our side of the river again, landing in the long grass in the adjacent field and out of sight.  

Having had good views of it perched and in flight I decided to leave.  It was becoming a bit of a chase and I wanted no part of that.

• The aquatic warbler is a regular but scarce autumn migrant to certain areas in southern Britain, visiting on its way between breeding grounds in eastern Europe and its winter home in West Africa. 
• Its dependence on a specialised and vulnerable breeding habitat means it has become a globally threatened and declining species.
• It is more yellow-brown and streaked than the similar sedge warbler with a distinct yellow crown stripe.

Well worth the travel and the 90 minute wait.  Yet another "lifer" -  my 5th this year and all in Sussex!

 2023 species count = 192

Uk Life List = 371

With the Ashdown Bird Group at RSPB Pulborough Brooks

Sunday 10^th September 2023

RSPB Pulborough Brooks

Ashdown Bird Group

(5 members present)

 

We had a low turnout today; holidays and injury had taken their toll.  After the recent sweltering heat, conditions today were hot but significantly milder than the last couple of days.

 

It was difficult to set targets today because of the abnormally hot weather of late.

 

Large birds were the stand-out species today. 

• ·   Right at the start we picked out a great white egret, several little egrets, a couple of herons and a raven from the viewing point outside the Visitor Centre.
• ·         At West Mead Hide we saw our first marsh harrier, gliding gracefully over the reeds.  Soon afterwards we saw a red kite - the first of at least 4 we would find today.  This was followed by good sightings of a peregrine and a buzzard.  A hobby flew in and landed on a post and the bird remained in sight throughout our visit. 

record shot of hobby courtesy of Martin Jeffree

• ·         From Whinpenny Hide we saw a white-tailed eagle flying in the distance and immediately afterwards we picked out a white stork flying in the same area.       
• ·         Incredibly we had to wait until 11.27 before we saw our first kestrel – nearly 2 hours into our visit.

 

There was a huge lack of water in the lower brooks because of the high temperatures so we had to wait until we reached the pools at the Little Hangar viewing point before we saw any small waders.  From there through to Netley’s we came across a few.

• ·         At least 10 snipe were seen – 5 were out on the mud feeding then at least another 5 flew from the foliage when they were all flushed by a predator.
• ·         We saw several ruff.
• ·         A greenshank was our favourite.
• ·         A lone redshank was present.
• ·         At least 5 black-tailed godwits looked immaculate as they fed in the shallow water.

 

 

There were hirundines around.

• ·         They were mainly house martins interspersed with a few swallows.

There were many passerines – mainly the usual suspects.

• ·         A nuthatch was perhaps the pick of the bunch.

 

Rackham Viewing Point

We spent a very enjoyable afternoon session in Rackham Woods, visiting the higher and lower viewing areas.

• ·         We had continuous views of one white-tailed eagle in its favourite tree.  It had its back to us and held this pose throughout.

Record shot courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

• ·         Later on a second eagle appeared in the field close to the favoured tree but the bird soon disappeared in the long foliage.  It did finally surface and subsequently gave us some excellent views.

Record shot courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Kevin best summed up our afternoon session – “It’s still hard to believe we were stood on a hill in Sussex watching sea eagles.”

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Martin for a pleasurable and interesting trip

Today’s species list

Name:	Count
Black-headed Gull	1
Black-tailed Godwit	2
Blue Tit	3
Buzzard	4
Canada Goose	5
Chiffchaff	6
Dunnock	7
Great Spotted Woodpecker	8
Great Tit	9
Great White Egret	10
Greenshank	11
Grey Heron	12
Greylag Goose	13
Hobby	14
House Martin	15
House Sparrow	16
Jackdaw	17
Kestrel	18
Lapwing	19
Little Egret	20
Magpie	21
Mallard	22
Marsh Harrier	23
Moorhen	24
Mute Swan	25
Nuthatch	26
Peregrine	27
Pheasant	28
Raven	29
Red Kite	30
Redshank	31
Robin	32
Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon	33
Ruff	34
Snipe	35
Starling	36
Stock Dove	37
Swallow	38
Teal	39
White Stork	40
White-tailed Eagle	41
Woodpigeon	42
Wren	43

 

Species count = 43

Twitching in West Sussex - Osprey, Spotted Flycatchers and Red-backed Shrike

Monday 28th August 2023

It was time to service my year list so I travelled west for a late afternoon twitch of some of the birds that had been seen there in the last few days.

• First stop was Thorney Island for the Osprey.  It had been seen regularly at the Great Deep and, true to form, one was perched on a post close to the landing lights.  It had its back to me as I watched from the gates at the eastern end.  I walked back towards Thornham Lane to get a closer look but it soon took flight and disappeared behind the bushes and despite my best efforts I was unable to locate it again.

• Next stop was Church Norton where I was hoping to see some flycatchers.  There was no sign of any Pied Flycatchers but I was more fortunate with the Spotted Flycatchers.  There was one on a post in the field behind the hide.  It was showing well, dropping to the ground occasionally before returning to the post.  When I had a look around the churchyard,  I saw two more flying in and out of the bare tree along the edge of the cemetery.

• My final port of call on the way home was Mill Hill near Shoreham where I was fortunate to get great views of the Red-backed Shrike, down the hill, close to the seat, just 50 metres or so west of the car park - exactly where Bernie F had reported it earlier on the Sussex WhatsApp site.

A most productive twitch!

      2023 species count = 191

Updates

 Most of the summer has been spent looking for, and at, Honey Buzzards in the Ashdown Forest.  I have, however, visited a few sites as well and what follows is a quick summary of what I saw.

Pulborough Brooks, Sussex,  with Martin and Mark and Elizabeth  9 August 2023

• There was not much out of the ordinary today but we did see 2 Green Sandpipers.

RSPB Dungeness, Kent,  with Mark and Elizabeth  21 August 2023

• The highlight today was the sighting of a Glossy Ibis on the ARC Pit from Hanson Hide.  There was a second one around but I just missed it as it disappeared behind a spit at the far end of the water..
• There wasn't much to see on the main reserve but as we were driving out a flock of Yellow Wagtails flew in to the area around Cook's Pool where the cattle had assembled. 

Shooters Bottom near Beachy Head, Sussex

• A late evening trip was rewarded with good views of 2 Whinchats - on the fence line on the opposite side of the main road.

Oare Marshes, Kent, with Martin, Mark and Elizabeth  25 August 2023

• The highlight of this visit was 3 Spoonbills showing well on the East Flood

2 out of 3  Spoobills

• We also saw a Turtle Dove, the long staying Bonaparte's Gull - now in winter plumage, a Green Sandpiper, lots of Black-tailed Godwits and a Water Rail

Bonaparte's Gull

Black-tailed Godwits in flight

Water Rail

All photos courtesy of Martin Jeffree

2023 species count = 188

Good Old Bonaparte's Gull at Oare Marshes

19th July 2023

Oare Marshes, Kent

It was time for a break from the honey buzzard surveys that have dominated my birding recently.  

I accepted an invitation to go to Oare Marshes with Mark and Elizabeth to see the Bonaparte's gull that had returned for the 11th successive year.  

Initially there was no sign of the gull.  After a lovely pub lunch we returned to the fray and we were soon graced by its presence.  

• The first sighting was at high tide, on the East Flood where the bird was tucked in beyond several grassy islands.  It was showing really well as it rested in the shallow waters.  We savoured the views for a lengthy period of time before we set off round the reserve on our main tour.
• Perhaps the best views were on the scrape just before we left.  Elizabeth's photograph captures the scene brilliantly with the bird close to us and exposed on the muddy shores of the River Swale as the tide receded.

courtesy of Elizabeth Young

What a remarkable bird. It must have been blown off course 11 years ago in the USA and finished up on our shores where it has remained ever since.  We can predict its arrival and departure dates almost to the day.  

The only unknown is where on earth the bird goes to for the winter!

2023 species count = 183

Arlington Reservoir - My First Kingfisher of 2023

 I spent a couple of hours birding at Arlington Reservoir this afternoon. In all I managed to clock up 27 species.  All the usual suspects were there but there were 2 pleasant surprises.  

• I managed to see my first kingfisher of the year.  It was sitting on the lower reaches of the jetty by the fishing clubhouse.
• There was a common sandpiper at the far end (dam end) of the reservoir.  It whizzed past me along the shoreline as I was braving the gale force wind.

A very satisfying couple of hours!

2023 species count = 182