With the Ashdown Bird Group at Dungeness - Pectoral Sandpiper and Balearic Shearwater

 Sunday 27th September 2026

Dungeness – A Great Day on the Kent Coast

Sunday saw our Ashdown Bird Group heading down to Dungeness for a full day of birding, and it turned out to be a very rewarding visit. With 14 members making the trip, we recorded more than 80 species, including several new to some in the group.

Highlights included a Pectoral Sandpiper at Burrowes Pit, a Bittern at Denge Marsh, several Great White Egrets and Bearded Tits, and some enjoyable seawatching from the power station area where I recorded my first Balearic Shearwater for years. We also had a final bit of excitement on the journey home when we stopped at Jurys Gap to look for an American Golden Plover among a flock of Golden Plovers.

The weather was kind to us, although the bright sunshine wasn’t always helpful for either photography or seawatching! Nevertheless, Alison, Ian, Martin and Phil managed to produce a great set of photographs.

A long day, plenty of walking and a few challenging identifications along the way - but more than 80 species and some memorable birds made the journey to Dungeness well worthwhile.

Bittern - courtesy of Alison Playle

Pectoral Sandpiper - courtesy of Phil Aylen

American Golden Plover - courtesy of Phil Aylen

One of three very friendly foxes

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

New species for the 2026 Year List:

194   Pectoral Sandpiper

195   Balearic Shearwater

196   American Golden Plover

White-tailed Eagle at RSPB Pulborough Brooks

 

A Bright Start to the New Season of East Grinstead RSPB  Walks

Twelve members joined our first outing of the 2026/27 season at RSPB Pulborough Brooks. Despite the reserve still feeling the effects of a long, dry summer, we enjoyed a productive day and recorded more than 50 species.

Highlights included excellent views of Hobby, a surprisingly cooperative Lesser Whitethroat, and three White Storks spotted by Audrey. After lunch, seven members continued to Rackham Viewpoint, where we were rewarded with views of a White-tailed Eagle perched on Amberley Wild Brooks.

Although waders were in shorter supply than usual, the quality and variety of birds more than compensated, making this a wonderful start to the new season and a thoroughly enjoyable day in great company.

Notable birds: Hobby, Lesser Whitethroat, White Stork and White-tailed Eagle.

Hobby - courtesy of Phil Aylen

Lesser Whitethroat - courtesy of Phil Aylen

White-tailed Eagle - courtesy of Phil Aylen

New species for the 2026 Year List:

193  White-tailed Eagle

Osprey Time

Wednesday 16th September 2026

Thorney Island

I’ve had surprisingly few opportunities to see an Osprey locally this year, so today I decided to take matters into my own hands and headed down to Thorney Island in the late afternoon, timing my visit for around high tide in the hope of improving my chances.

The plan worked rather well. An Osprey sat on a post in the Great Deep area, visible from the eastern outlook. There was just one small problem: it had clearly decided that today was not the day for showing off. It remained firmly attached to its post throughout my stay, and despite my best efforts, I never saw it fly.

Still, an Osprey is an Osprey, and it was good to get a decent view of one.

The Burgh

On the way home, I decided to make a second stop at The Burgh, where I hoped to track down a Grey Partridge. It was approaching dusk, which seemed a good time to try for this notoriously elusive bird.

Once again, the plan worked. I found a single Grey Partridge in a field at the top end of the track from Peppering Farm, and it showed well for as long as I was there.

Two elusive birds in one afternoon - although one was considerably more cooperative than the other!

New species for the 2026 Year List:

191  Osprey

192   Grey Partridge

West Rise Marsh - 4th Visit

The Red-necked Phalarope - The Final Chapter

Wednesday 9th September 2026

West Rise Marsh, Eastbourne, Sussex

This morning I visited Jem and Phil and told them about Martin and my successful twitch of the Red-necked Phalarope at West Rise Marsh yesterday. They were busy packing for their forthcoming trip to Norfolk, but after lunch I offered to take them down to see the bird for themselves.

When we arrived, several birders were returning with very positive reports, so we were confident that the phalarope was still present.

We had barely set foot outside the car park when Phil picked out what he thought were Spotted Flycatchers in the tall trees along the boundary. He was right - and that was just the start. More birds appeared and, by the time we had finished looking, we had recorded at least five.

Phil then spotted the phalarope in the distance on the southern side of the main lake. Unfortunately, before we could get properly set up, it disappeared from view.

We decided to work our way anticlockwise around to the southern side of the lake, eventually reaching a point with good views across the southern shore. Once again, Phil was the first to pick up the bird - but from then on we never lost sight of it.

And what a difference the change of position made.

As we settled at the midpoint of the southern shore, the phalarope gradually came closer and we were treated to the best views yet. It was now feeding and moving around just in front of us, giving us plenty of time to enjoy this delightful little wader. Phil’s photographs capture the experience brilliantly.

From the same area, we also had splendid views of a Whinchat.

 While a Wheatear, Meadow Pipits, Swallows and Sand Martins added to the afternoon’s birding.

But the day had one more surprise in store.

A juvenile Bearded Tit suddenly appeared in the reeds at the water’s edge and came remarkably close - almost within arm’s length! It was a fantastic encounter and a fitting bonus to an already excellent visit.

In Conclusion

What a progression!

Day 1: No sign of the phalarope - it had apparently been disturbed by birders and flown off.

Day 2: Good views from the north bank, but the bird remained fairly distant as it fed along the southern side of the lake.

Day 3: Great views with Martin, but we initially struggled to locate it before discovering it on the adjacent Lottbridge Pool.

Day 4: The best views of all - close to us along the southern shore of the main lake.

Four visits, four different experiences, and gradually improving views.

Job done - finally!

Thanks, Phil, for the fantastic photographs.

Red-necked Phalarope at the Second Attempt

Monday 7th September 2026
West Rise Marsh, Eastbourne, Sussex

After Sue M reported on the Sussex WhatsApp group that the Red-necked Phalarope was still at West Rise Marsh this morning, I made the short drive down the A22 to have another go.

I had tried yesterday afternoon but arrived just too late. The bird had disappeared into the reeds and, despite waiting patiently, stubbornly refused to reappear. Clearly, a second attempt was called for!

Second Time Lucky

There were no such problems this morning. The phalarope was swimming happily at the far end of the lake, giving excellent telescope views to the seven or eight birders gathered to watch it.

Courtesy of Martin Freeman and X

What a delight to see such a lovely little wader so close to home. The Red-necked Phalarope has always been one of my favourite waders, so this was a particularly enjoyable encounter.

This particular bird has been present since 5th September, and it saved me the considerably longer journey into Kent to see the other individual at Jury's Gap near Camber, which had been there since 31st August.

So, after yesterday's disappointment, today was definitely second time lucky — and sometimes the local bird wins!

New species for the 2026 Year List:

190  Red-necked Phalarope

A Third Visit to West Rise Marsh

Tuesday 8th September 2026

I was delighted when Martin rang this afternoon to give the go-ahead for another visit.  It was certainly a welcome change of scene for me. Earlier in the day I’d been at Weir Wood Reservoir carrying out a snake survey in pouring rain, so the prospect of some sunshine and a second look at a rare wader was particularly appealing!

We headed back to West Rise, but initially there was no sign of the phalarope on the main lake. Just as we were beginning to wonder where it had disappeared to, two fellow birders alerted us to its whereabouts on the adjacent Lottbridge Pool.

We quickly made our way round and met up with David and his brother, who were already watching the bird. Thankfully, the phalarope was still there, giving us several enjoyable minutes of close views before it disappeared around the corner and out of sight.

Images courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Job done!

Best of all, Martin had finally managed to see it - and it was a lifer for him, which made the visit all the more worthwhile.

Birling Gap with the Ashdown Bird Group (ABG) 30th August 2026

 

Whinchats, Wheatears and a Near Miss!

Sunday’s Ashdown Bird Group outing took us to Birling Gap and the surrounding downland, where 13 of us set off with autumn migration firmly in our sights. Brian joined us for his first walk with the group, and although the weather forecast had threatened to spoil the party, it turned out to be considerably kinder than expected.

Our main target was Whinchat, and this time the birding gods were on our side. Around seven or eight birds were found during the day, with sightings becoming increasingly frequent as we worked our way towards Kiln Combe. Some gave excellent views, much to the delight of our photographers.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

Wheatears were also well represented, with several birds encountered during the afternoon. 

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

Add in Common Whitethroats, Yellow Wagtails, Corn Buntings, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs and there was plenty to keep us occupied.

There was even a Dartford Warbler, although John rather selfishly kept this one to himself, being the only member of the group to see it!

The raptors provided a little extra excitement, with Kestrel, Buzzard and Peregrine all putting in appearances. One Peregrine was particularly impressive, being photographed carrying what appeared to be a Woodpigeon.

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

.

Our final tally was 37 species, two short of last year's 39. But when you're getting cracking views of seven or eight Whinchats and plenty of Wheatears, it's difficult to complain too much about the missing two!

It was a long but thoroughly enjoyable walk through some superb coastal downland, and with autumn migration clearly gathering pace, there is every reason to look forward to what the next few weeks might bring.

Two Trips Today - Mixed Fortunes

Thursday 27th August 2026

 Today was officially House Martin Day - at least as far as I was concerned. I had decided that, one way or another, I was going to find one.  This was not, however, a new quest. I’d been trying for some time.

Weir Wood Reservoir? Nothing.

Stodmarsh? Nothing.

Minsmere? Nothing.

Oare Marshes? Nothing.

Dungeness? Nothing.

I was beginning to think House Martins had been removed from the British bird list without telling me.

So where, eventually, did I find one?

 

Uckfield. 

And not even at one of the traditional local spots. The Water Treatment Works had been a reliable haunt for me in the past, but recent housing developments have put a stop to that. Instead, I found them in the most ridiculous place imaginable - my own back yard!

I headed down to Fernley Park, where I used to walk our dogs, Odin and Bronwyn, and stopped at the pond viewing area in the middle of the estate.  And there they were!

 House Martins

Flying happily overhead, apparently completely unaware that I had spent the best part of the summer travelling around the south-east looking for them.  It took me barely 15 minutes to find them.

Fifteen minutes!

Clearly, my birding strategy needs some work.

 Having achieved the morning's objective far quicker than expected, I headed home and  joined Sue for lunch. With the House Martin safely in the bag, I decided to make the most of the day and headed off to Chichester for another three targets:  Osprey, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper.

 

Mixed Fortunes in Chichester

Things didn't go quite so smoothly in the afternoon.  I made what, in hindsight, was a rather poor tactical decision. Instead of going straight to Thorney Island and looking for Ospreys at The Deeps, I decided to visit Church Norton first.  The Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper had both been reported there the previous day, while Church Norton had also produced some good Osprey sightings recently.

 Unfortunately, the tide hadn't read my itinerary.  It hadn't gone out as far as I had hoped, and the channels were still surprisingly full of water. After a fair amount of searching, I eventually located the Little Stint - although I have to admit that the credit belongs to a visiting birder from Croydon, who was the first to see it and pointed it out to me.

The Curlew Sandpiper, meanwhile, was playing hard to get, and there was no sign of it or the Osprey.

 

                                                                      Thorney Deeps

 Eventually I decided to try my luck at Thorney Deeps, checking both the west and east ends. The Osprey had been seen on the eastern side earlier in the day, so I arrived full of optimism.

                                                                   Naturally, it had gone!

 

A House Martin Victory

In the end, the day produced just two of my targets - the House Martin and Little Stint - but I'm not complaining.  After all, the House Martin had been the main objective, and it provided the best moment of the day. 

New species for the 2026 Year List:

188  House Martin

189  Little Stint