21/09/2020 Seaford Head and the Cuckmere Valley with Paul James and the Group

Monday 21 September 2020

Seaford Head and the Cuckmere Valley

Paul James and Group

Outing number 3 in the current season saw us on the outskirts of Seaford.  4 of us met up at 07.30 at South Hill Barn on Seaford Head.  It was misty at the start but improved rapidly when the sun broke through, giving us a very pleasant 4 hour walk.

Our route took us west towards the golf course then down to the cliffs before turning east towards Hope Gap.  After ascending part of Hope Gap we returned to the cliff route and followed the path west, past the cottages and into the Cuckmere valley.  We then headed inland following the path on the west side of the river.  Just before we reached the Cuckmere Inn we turned south and followed the path towards the coast before heading up the hill, past Harry's Bush and back to the starting point.  

• On Seaford Head there was some evidence of migration, mainly blackcap and chiffchaff plus several meadow pipits and stonechats.
• In the skies we saw kestrel, raven, buzzard and sparrowhawk and several swallows and siskins.
• In the Cuckmere valley the early sightings included a couple of lovely greenshank, a knot, a turnstone  a kingfisher and a small group of teal.
• The later sightings included at least 6 dunlin, a redshank, rock pipit and 2 ringed plovers.
• We saved the best till last, seeing 4 yellow wagtails with the cows just before we headed up the hill to Harry's Bush

A much needed outing - roll on next week and our visit to Thorney Island!

16/09/2020 Curlew Sandpiper at Arlington Reservoir, Sussex

 Wednesday 16 September 2020

Arlington Reservoir

East Sussex

It was good to be out and about birding again.  The weather was ideal for this time of year, 24C with a fresh breeze.  Once again it was a late afternoon visit - this time to Arlington Reservoir  which is just 20 minutes from my home.

The attraction was a gorgeous curlew sandpiper - a first for me this year and a first ever at this reserve.

It was at the dam end of the reservoir, on the "beach", to the east of the water towers, along with 10 dunlin, numerous Canada geese and a few pied wagtails.

courtesy of Arlington Reservoir@ArlyRes

 A cracking hour,  invested at a great site with its wonderful South Downs backdrop!

02/09/2020 My first Dotterel in Sussex

Wednesday 2nd September 2020

near Ditchling Beacon, Sussex

After cancelling yet another Norfolk Tour, I was pleased to read on RBA of 3 dotterel in Sussex, just down the road near Ditchling Beacon.  Dotterel is a species that is very rare for me, having last seen one on a trip to Danby Beacon in Yorkshire with the East Grinstead RSPB Local Group in 2016.

courtesy of Lee Evans and Twitter

• I arrived around 3 pm to find that the birds had moved and temporarily "lost".  After looking down the east side of the stony field I returned to the original site where the birds were showing once again.
• One was showing prominently just below the horizon, sitting peacefully - enjoying a rest after their earlier activity - which, unfortunately happened before I arrived.
• Initially this bird was the centre of the discussion until someone with a better angle spotted the second bird immediately behind.  
• Soon after the third bird was located only a few metres away but once more, stationary.

By now there were too many birders arriving so I decided to leave and go back into lockdown - alas missing out on seeing these lovely birds moving around.

A first for me in Sussex and my 200th bird of the year!

In this covid-tarnished year it's a landmark I didn't expect to reach!