Friday 18th 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