18/01/2014 Birding in the Arun Vallley.

Saturday 18th January
Birding in the Arun Valley and Surrounding Area with Paul James

Spent the day birding with Paul - just the two of us today.

• First task was to locate the Bewick Swans that we knew to be at one of several favoured sites.  After a thorough search we finally located them on the flooded fields by the side of Amberley Castle.  There were two families of five, thoroughly at home in these conditions and looking majestic in the early morning sunshine.  A cracking start to our day.

Bewick Swans
Library pictures only

We were less successful with the Whooper Swans and the Red-breasted Pochard on the Ivy Lakes.  The Great Grey Shrike also eluded us, and fellow birders, at Greatham Bridge.  We had another "dip" with the Little Owl at West Dean.

• The highlight of the day was a spectacular viewing of 12 Hawfinches at Monkton Farm in the West Dean woods.  This was my first sighting of this species in Sussex but I have seen them before in Cumbria and in Surrey.  They flew in and landed in the canopy of a high tree on the opposite ridge, providing us with wonderful views in our scopes.  Truly awesome!

Hawfinch
Library picture only

I have never seen so much flooding anywhere in the country as what we saw in the Arun Valley.  Most roads were flooded in  parts and some were closed.  When we went to Greatham Bridge in the morning the road had some pools at the side but it was quite easy to travel.  The same route on the return visit was completely different even though there had been no rain.  The river is tidal and the high tide had caused the water to overflow from one side of the road to the next making it quite deep and with a strong cross current.  After some deliberation, we took the advice of a local dog walker and chanced going through rather than turn back; thankfully we were fine but not without some deep breathes and crossed fingers.  The things we will do to spot birds!

Today's species list:
Mute Swan
Bewicks Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Brent Goose
Shelduck
Gadwall
Wigeon
Mallard
Shoveler  (10)
Teal
Pintail
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Red-legged Partridge
Pheasant
Grey Heron
Little Grebe
Great-crested Grebe
Buzzard   (20)
Kestrel
Moorhen Coot
Lapwing
Herring Gull
Black-headed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Great-spotted Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Magpie
Carrion Crow   (30)
Goldcrest
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Starling
Blackbird
Redwing
Song Thrush
Robin
Dunnock   (40)
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Hawfinch



Total = 45  This is a minimum figure as we did not keep a careful watch for all species; we were after scarcities and the species count would probably have been over 50.









Addition to 2014 UK Bird List:
Bewicks Swan   (116)
Hawfinch   (117)
Red-legged Partridge   (118)