02/02/2015 Another excellent day at the office!

Monday 2nd February 2015
Selsey, Medmerry and West Dean Woods

On a bitterly cold morning Paul and I visited Selsey where the action was very quiet but still fruitful for my year list.  A Shag, flying east and a Great Northern Diver were the main highlights along with 15-20 Common Scoter on the sea between Selsey and the Medmerry estuary.

At Medmerry itself, at least 2 of the Spoonbills could be seen in the distance and a number of waders were also showing well.

Around lunchtime we called in at Chichester GP to twitch the Tundra Bean Goose.  What a contrast to Saturday's failed effort; this time the goose was swimming in the lake alongside the Greylags and the ID was a formality. The beak was showing well and I also appreciated, for the first time, how significantly smaller in size this bird is compared to the Greylags.  An obliging Kingfisher also flew past us, on the lake behind us, as we were observing the goose.

At West Dean Woods, after stopping to see the Little Owl, Paul gave a masterclass on finding woodland birds.  He was on to the Siskins as soon as we arrived and near the end he found the elusive Hawfinches as well as at least one Firecrest and several Bramblings. An obliging Red-legged Partridge provide my 7th addition to the year list . 

Additions to BUBO 2015 UK bird List:
Jack Snipe   (140)
Shag   (141)
Great Northern Diver   (142)
Common Scoter   (143)
Tundra Bean Goose   (144)
Red-legged Partridge   (145)
Siskin   (146)


Today's species list:
Mute Swan
Tundra Bean Goose
Greylag Goose
Shelduck
Teal
Mallard
Wigeon
Tufted Duck
Pochard
Common Scoter   (10)
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-legged Partridge
Common Pheasant
Great Northern Diver
Great-crested Grebe
Cormorant
Shag
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Spoonbill   (20)
Red Kite
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Coot
Ringed Plover
Grey Plover
Dunlin
Jack Snipe
Snipe
Redshank   (30)
Turnstone
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Woodpigeon
Little Owl
Kingfisher
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Wren   (40)
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Goldcrest
Firecrest
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit   (50)
Marsh Tit
Nuthatch
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Starling
Chaffinch
Brambling
Greenfinch
House Sparrow   (60)
Goldfinch
Siskin
Hawfinch

A cracking birding trip!