Short-eared Owl at last

Wednesday 18th January 2023

Rodmell near Lewes, Sussex

After 2 recent trips to the Isle of Sheppey where we missed out on short-eared owls, Alison and I made the short trip to the Lewes Brooks, near Rodmell, where one had been seen earlier in the week.  The weather conditions were almost perfect, with bright sunshine and very little wind, as we arrived around 3 pm.  

After parking up at the National Trust car park near Monk Cottage, former home of Virginia Woolf, we headed out across the flooded fields to the west bank of the River Ouse.  On the way we met Simon Linington, one of our finest local birders and we enjoyed his company and expertise from then on.

• The first species of interest was corn bunting.  We saw several flocks during our stay with numbers exceeding 50.

Courtesy of Alison Playle

Courtesy of Alison Playle

Courtesy of Alison Playle

• Simon spotted our first barn owl of the evening, way off to the west, not far from where we had parked the car.  A second one appeared on the east side of the river and for a while we enjoyed watching these birds - sometimes flying around, often perched on a fence post but always looking magnificent.  Alas they were too distant to warrant a photograph.
• There were at least 5 other birders stretched out along the riverbank to the south of us.  One of them had already seen a short-eared owl on the west side of the river but it had gone down and out of sight.
• A marsh harrier appeared and moved gracefully over the brooks.  it was probably the one Simon had seen earlier, just as Alison and I arrived.
• Just as we were getting worried that the short-eared owl would not appear we caught sight of it - flying over the reeds on the west side of the river.  It disappeared again but soon came back up, allowing everyone present to get a good look.
• By way of a bonus, we saw a cracking ring-tailed hen harrier flying low over the brooks to the north of us.  it stayed around for quite some time - much to the enjoyment of all present.
• A sparrowhawk joined in the fun briefly before flying away.

What a lovely evening out - good company and plenty of raptors.

 I returned on Friday 21st January with Martin, Ian and John S but we did not see the short-eared owl or the hen harrier.  

• By way of consolation we saw a chiffchaff by the water treatment plant.

2023 species count = 97