29/09/2018 Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Scotney Court Farm in East Sussex

Saturday 29 September 2018
Scotney Court Farm, East Sussex


Finally tore myself away from watching the golf during the foursomes.

If the Grey Phalarope at Bough Beech was an easy twitch last week, this one was tough!

• I had to wait until 17 45 to get a decent, if distant, view of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper in the field just south of the waters to the west of Scotney Court Farm, - well over 2 hours after I arrived on site. 
• Excellent company.

Patience is a virtue. 

A superb Sussex evening - I didn't want to leave!

 

22/09/2018 Grey Phalarope at Bough Beech

Saturday 22 September 2018
Bough Beech Reservoir, Kent

So much choice as to Grey Phalaropes today so I took the nearest venue - Bough Beech in Kent.

•  Despite the awful weather the bird was showing well from the north side of the road.

An easy twitch!

15/09/2018 Thorney Island with the Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS)

Saturday 15 September 2018
Thorney Island, Sussex


Please read Norma Park's report below to get a flavour of fabulous day out in West Sussex with the SOS. 
 
In glorious sunny weather, Dick Senior led our party of eleven on a circum-perambulation of Thorney Island. An Osprey had been seen earlier by those members who had been first to arrive, so there was a focus for much of the morning on finding another! On the extensive mud flats exposed by the low tide, waders were busy feeding: Curlews, Black-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Redshank and a single Greenshank with coloured leg rings (later reported to BTO). At least seven Ravens cronked on their way over. Two smart Whinchats were busy hopping around a wire fence and two Wheatears flew along the rocky embankment.
An Osprey was soon located atop a distant marker post , but was outdone by a second Osprey which gave an unforgettable display overhead as we ate lunch. As the tide flowed in, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and a single Bar-tailed Godwit came closer on the mud. We counted twenty-five Common Seals lounging on a mud bank before the bank was overwhelmed by water.
A distant circling group of Buzzards gave a total of about eight for the day. There was a splendid display of colourful autumn berries along much of our route but only a few small birds were obvious in the bushes – just a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a few Linnets were identified.
Amongst the birds in Thorney Channel , on the top of the tide, were a flotilla of Brent Geese and several diving Sandwich Terns. Two or three Whimbrel and a couple of Lapwing were by the shore. Our final stop was by the Great Deep where a cream -capped Marsh Harrier held our attention as it flew low over a wide area and counts of Kestrels in-view reached seven individuals.
A group total of 57 species of birds for the day. A huge thank-you to Dick and all the participants for a splendid day out.

 

posted by Norma Park (norma.park@btinternet.com) on 16 Sep 2018 11:18

 

 

 

A great day out with the star species not only showing up but also putting on a spectacular display.

10/09/2018 to 14/09/2018 Bits and pieces from the mid week birding.

Monday 10 September 2018

Dungeness RSPB NR

Shaun and I travelled to Dungeness hoping to see the Cattle Egrets and the Pectoral Sandpiper.  Unfortunately they were not showing when we arrived and despite our best efforts we had no luck in the short time we had available to look around.

Tuesday 11 September 2018

Weir Wood Reservoir

2 Green Sandpipers and at least 4 Snipe were the highlights of our brief birdwatch prior to starting our conservation work this morning.  The Great White Egret showed around lunchtime after going missing earlier.

Thursday 13 September 2018

Dungeness RSPB NR

I returned to Dungeness to twitch the Pectoral Sandpiper from  Denge Marsh Hide.  This time everything worked for me - the bird was showing well as I arrived and I enjoyed superb scope views as it moved across the small island directly opposite the hide.

 

If at first you don't succeed...……….

09/09/2018 With the SOS at Arlington Reservoir

Sunday 9 September 2018
Arlington Reservoir
Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS)
Leader:  Mark Wright

I spent the morning on a leisurely stroll around Arlington Reservoir as part of a group of 12, all members of the Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS).  Mark Wright, our leader, took us on a more circuitous route than my usual perimeter plod, taking in an additional section from the dam out towards Arlington Church before re-joining the main path at the opposite end of the dam.  Altogether we saw 35 species.

• The bird of the day was a female Redstart which showed well on the fence line of the field when we headed out towards the church from the dam end.
• Canada Geese were by far the most abundant species with numbers in the hundreds.
• A couple of Common Sandpipers caught our interest.
• At least 25 House Martins dominated the skies with only a small number of Swallows with them.
• Several Kestrels, a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk also put in an appearance.

This was my first outing with the SOS for years and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I shall go on as many of the future events as I can to ensure I get good coverage of the birds of Sussex as well as benefiting from the expertise of the SOS guiding team. 

08/09/2018 Sandwich Bay in Kent with the East Grinstead Local Group

Saturday 8 September 2018
Sandwich Bay, Kent

East Grinstead Local Group

Sandwich Bay in the far NE corner of Kent was the venue for this month's outing.  We spent the morning in and around the bird observatory before heading off to Pegwell Bay in the afternoon.  The weather was overcast but it was dry, warm and calm.

• As ringing observations go, the  one at the observatory has to be the best ever with some outstanding birds seen at close quarters.  The undoubted star was a beautiful Firecrest, weighing in at just 5.1 grams.  A Goldcrest even pipped this at just 4.9 grams!  A cracking Lesser Whitethroat completed a star studded trio but that is not to take away from the other birds ringed which were also good to see.
• On the way to the hide we saw 2 stunning Whinchats in the Restharrow Dunes to the east and about 30 metres away.
• The outstanding sightings from the hide were a close Snipe and a Common Sandpiper along the side of the scrape.
• The skies were dominated by House Martins. This is a hot spot for Kestrels and they were seen continuously throughout. 

A 10 minute drive took us to Pegwell Bay where there were no birds to be seen on land so we concentrated on the sea birds.

• There were plenty of Curlew, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit at the waters edge but our attention was grabbed by a Peregrine sitting on the dunes, watching over the scene.  It stayed in the area throughout our visit, affording good views as it moved around.

 All 7 of us left very satisfied with our day - excited to see the star performers and so pleased to be in such a beautiful place. 

07/09/2018 Birding Locally

Friday 7 September 2018

I decided to spend the day locally - the weather was ideal.

• On my patch, Press Ridge Warren, there was a huge presence of House Martins with over 100 seen, way above the norm of 2-3.
• At Weir Wood Reservoir, the Great White Egret was still showing well at the west end of the reserve.

Quiet but very satisfying!

06/09/2018 Birding with Terry and Alan

06/09/2018    Birding with Terry and Alan

Today I enjoyed a cracking birding session on the south coast with Terry and Alan, the brothers from Crawley and fellow members of the East Grinstead RSPB Group.  In all we saw 43 birds including some very interesting ones.

• An early start at Hope Gap resulted in a glut of passerines, including Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Greenfinch, Wheatear and Stonechat.  A Hobby flew overhead.
• On the Cuckmere we saw the usual suspects, including more than a dozen Yellow Wagtails and half a dozen Dunlin.
• The birds of the day however were seen at Harry's Bush where we saw at least 3 Spotted Flycatchers and a Redstart.
• The highlight at Shooters Bottom was provided by another Hobby seen flying overhead.

A superb day out.

04/09/2018 Missed the Osprey then just missed the Semipalmated Sandpiper

Tuesday 4 September 2018


At Weirwood today, after I had finished my snake survey, I saw the long-staying Great White Egret at the west end as I walked back to the car.  Unfortunately I left before the Osprey was sighted around lunchtime.

Just before 6 pm I got a call from Matt Eade and a text from Alastair Gray about a Semipalmated Sandpiper on the River Cuckmere just south of Exceat Bridge.  This being a "lifer" prompted me to leave immediately and head down to the south coast.  Alas the bird had flown downstream with some Dunlin and, despite our best efforts it was never seen again.  I guess I was 20 minutes too late.

 

Thanks Matt and Alastair - much appreciated!