Stodmarsh NNR with the East Grinstead RSPB Group

Sunday 21^st April 2024

Stodmarsh NNR

East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

(15 members present)

This was another excellent turn out, despite the long journey and the adverse weather conditions.  When we arrived it was dry and overcast but the northerly wind meant it was very cold.  Unfortunately things got worse as the day went on when it started to rain.  This did not stop us from making the most of the conditions and we recorded a very impressive 56 bird species.

There were several highlights:-

• Bird of the day was the hobby that flew close to us and lingered just long enough for Phil to get some images.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• We saw our first swifts of the year from the Reedbed Hide

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

• 2 cattle egrets were in among the cows

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

• It was nice to see greylag geese with their chicks.

Courtesy of Alison Playle

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

• Blackcaps stole the show at the start of the day in the car park area.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• Among the other sightings was my first reed warbler of the year.  There was also a booming bittern.

It was a tad early in the season for cuckoo and turtle dove and only 2 hobbies were seen.  When we return here in May I expect to see these birds.

A really good day out!

2024 species count=160

Pulborough Brooks with the East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

Saturday 13th April 2024

RSPB Pulborough Brooks

(25 Members present)

Wow - what a turnout!  Well done everyone.  The weather played its part too with dry, bright conditions and a light breeze.  Despite the recent spate of wet weather the paths were dry and amenable.   We walked around the main reserve in the morning and switched to the Wiggonholt Common area after lunch.  All in all we recorded 62 bird species including some newly arrived migrants as well as some stunning local resident birds.

Top of our wish list was nightingale.  Expectation was high as several had been seen on this site since arriving in the country last week. 

• Our first attempt to see the bird was in the picnic area near the Visitor Centre where 2 birds were singing away and showing, very briefly, on occasions.
• However it was Alastair who directed us to the Fattengates Courtyard area, the usual “hotspot” for nightingales, where one was displaying very well on the branches of a tree in the background.  This was by far our best view and the one everyone had come for.   The bird was singing away on a branch of a tree directly in front of us. 
• What a delight!  The bird was too far away for our cameras but Alan managed to digiscope an image using his mobile phone.

Courtesy of Alan Loweth

Nightingales are skittish birds by nature so to see one is no mean feat and to get prolonged views of one is really special.  Everyone left the area in a very happy frame of mind.

We were also hoping to see a white-tailed eagle today but nothing could prepare us for what we encountered as we looked over the brooks from Jupp’s View and Hangar View.  

• There right in front of us was a white-tailed eagle, sitting regally on a set of stumps, watching the proceedings in the surrounding area. 

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

• It wasn’t long before we got a flight view.

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

• Patrick photographed the eagle hunting for food over the brooks.

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

• This is my favourite view with eagle in full flight and showing its magnificent white tail.

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

The eagle grabbed the headlines today, eclipsing even the nightingales, but there were many other birds around that caught our attention.

• A pair of avocets was the pick of the waders seen today.
• We managed to hear a sedge warbler but most of us could not see it.  There was neither sight nor sound of any reed warblers.
• The chiffchaffs were one of the first migrant birds to arrive and they were present all over the reserve today, singing their hearts out.
• Some of us saw a couple of swallows and house martins in the distance - obviously newly arrived in the country.
• There was a cuckoo around.  Some members heard it early on from the car park area.  Most of us heard it repeatedly as we had lunch back at the Visitor Centre.  Unfortunately it did not put in an appearance.
• Right at the end some of us saw a wheatear from West Mead Hide
• Blackcaps have been back several weeks now and we saw several as we made our way round the site.  This photograph, taken by Phil Aylen last week, was typical of what we saw today.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

There were also some significant non-birding highlights.

• We saw an adder sleeping in the grass near the Visitor Centre.
• There were quite a few butterflies showing as we went round the reserve, including orange tip, speckled wood and peacock.

After a late lunch back at the centre we decided to stay on the reserve and visit Black Wood where we hoped to repeat last years’ experience and see a firecrest. 

• We were successful, seeing not one but two of these beautiful woodland birds.  Unfortunately we couldn’t get a picture so I have recalled Alison Playle’s image from last year to give a good record of what we saw.

Courtesy of Alison Playle

What a great birding experience!  Who would have thought that we would see white-tailed eagles flying freely in the Sussex countryside?

2024 species count=157

Ferruginous Duck at Whetsted Gravel Pits in Kent

Thursday11th April 2024 (and Friday 12th April 2024 pm)

Whetsted Gravel Pits in Kent

A simple twitch today to see the ferruginous duck.  The bird was showing well on the far side of the water and associating with the tufted ducks.  As I was on my own there was no chance of a photograph.  

• However we got one when I went back next day with friends Alastair and Martin - after the Old Lodge visit.

All pictures courtesy of Martin Jeffree

2024 species count=154

Old Lodge with the Ashdown Bird Group for Redstarts etc

Friday, 12th April 2024

Old Lodge NR

Our primary focus this morning was redstarts.  Thankfully they had returned in time for our visit and we managed to see at least 8.

• One was singing away in the canopy of a really tall tree - I have never seen this before. 

Courtesy of Alan Loweth

• Another was photographed emerging from a log pile.

Courtesy of Alison Playle

•  Woodlarks were a source of interest.  We saw and heard several in flight early on thanks to Charles and his fantastic hearing.  However our best views were when Kevin found one on the ground half way up the hill after we crossed the stream by the bridge.  One became two as another was spotted. They flew away just before we spotted another two.  What a treat!

Courtesy of Alison Playle

• Willow warblers are a staple here and thankfully they too had arrived in time for our visit.  There can be no sweeter sound than that of the melancholic, descending notes of this lovely bird singing from the treetops.

 

Courtesy of Alison Playle

There were several omissions:-

• Incredibly we didn’t find any dartford warblers.
• It was a tad too early for cuckoos and tree pipits.

 

Butterflies were aplenty.

• We saw orange tip, speckled wood, peacock and brimstone.

 We even saw a lizard – minus its tail!

 

Courtesy of Alison Playle

A very satisfying trip!

2024 species count=153

2 Hoopoes at Hankham near Pevensey in Sussex

8th April 2024

A quick visit to Hankham, a small village between Eastbourne and Pevensey, to twitch the hoopoes.  Right on cue, both birds were showing well, enjoying the sun on the grassy field adjacent to the road.

On the way home I called in at Iford Brooks near Lewes to look for a garganey.  Alas I failed but I did record my first common whitethroat of the year.

9th April 2024

I went back again today, this time with Martin who didn't get my message in time yesterday.  Sadly one of the hoopoes had left but the other one provided us with cracking views.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

2024 species count=151

RSPB Pulborough Brooks for Nightingales and White-tailed Eagle with the Ashdown Bird Group

7th April 2024

Our most recent outing took us to Pulborough Brooks in West Sussex where the focus was on seeing early migrant birds.  

• We heard 2 nightingales near the Visitor Centre.  At Fattengates Courtyard we heard and then got a glimpse of a 3rd as it flew round the corner into the scrub.
• Also seen were my first blackcaps of the year - they were all over the site.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• There were a couple of house martins and swallows over the brooks.

• After lunch we relocated to the Rackham raptor view point where we were lucky to get cracking flight views of the resident white-tailed eagle.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

2024 species count=149

Ring Ouzel and First Swallow of 2024

Weir Wood Reservoir, Sussex

Incredibly the ring ouzel stayed a fourth day at Weir Wood Reservoir - a testimony to the very poor weather lately. 

•  After a couple of early reports on WhatsApp, Martin and I went down late morning to have a look.  We joined another 3-4 birders but could not locate the bird.
• Bob S, one of our working party, had  posted this super image of the bird in the trees in the horse paddock area.  What I would give to get a similar one!

At 3.45 pm another positive report came through so we tried again. This time luck was on our side.

• After quite a long search, Martin spotted the bird high in the tall birch tree near the water treatment building beside the horse paddock.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

SUCCESS!

• While we were searching for the ring ouzel, Jonathan, who we had joined, pointed out a solitary swallow flying over the dam wall - our first of the year.

2024 species count=145

Ring Ouzel at Weir Wood Reservoir

Wednesday 27th March 2024

I picked up a WhatsApp message from Jonathan about a male ring ouzel at the dam end of the reservoir.

• When I arrived the bird was showing well on the grassy area behind the dam. At the time there were 3 of us present but none of us had a camera.  Thankfully the bird was still there in the afternoon when Alastair called in after work and his picture is shown below.

Courtesy of Alastair Gray

Thanks Jonathan, Alastair C and Alastair G

2024 species count=144

Dungeness with the Ashdown Bird Group

 Sunday 24th March 2024

I was back at Dungeness again - this time with 6 of my friends from the Ashdown Bird Group.  Thankfully it was dry and mild but there was quite a stiff breeze.

• A great northern diver was still present on Burrowes but the other one had left overnight with the black-throated diver and a visiting Slavonian grebe.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• There were 2 little gulls flying around and we got good views from the Firth Lookout.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• We saw 2 splendid black-necked grebes on the ARC pit from Hanson Hide.  Yesterday there were 3 but one had departed overnight.

 

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

 

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

         

• Those of us who had visited the reserve earlier in the year were disappointed not to see the glossy ibis.  That was not the case today.  As we were walking between Christmas Dell Hide and Dengemarsh Hide the bird flew in and landed in the Hayfields area - right in front of us.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

• A “booming” bittern and a stunning male reed bunting provided the main memories of our stop at the viewing ramp on the main reserve. 

• My own particular favourite and, I suspect, that of some other members was provided by the goldeneye with well into double figures sighted around the reserve. 

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

We finished the day seawatching over by the power station.  By now the breeze had eased considerably and the sea was relatively calm.

• Phil spotted a peregrine near the top of one of the pylons close to the car park.

• Pick of the birds on the sea was a red-throated diver.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• A second species of diver, probably a black-throated, was also seen.
• There were also several guillemots.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• We had several glimpses of the harbour porpoises that were patrolling the sea close to the shore.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

A fitting end to another very good outing!

2024 species count=143

Update on recent activity

Monday 18th March 2024

Warnham NR, Horsham, Sussex

A flying visit to Warnham NR to look at the birds on their feeders yielded my first siskins of the year.

Tuesday 19th March 2024

Weir Wood Reservoir, Sussex

Whilst working at the reservoir today 3 mandarins flew by.

Wednesday 20th March 2024

Uckfield, Sussex

Got my first migrant bird of the year - a chiffchaff.

Thursday 21st March 2024

Rye Harbour, Sussex a.m.

Yet more migrant birds - this time wheatears (x4) and sandwich terns (at least 25)

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Thursday 21st March 2024

RSPB Dungeness, Kent p.m.

Another visit to Dungeness produced much the same birds as last time with the exception of a very welcome black-necked grebe.

2024 species count=139

Dartford Warblers on Ashdown Forest

Saturday 16th March 2024

Ashdown Forest

I went with Martin to his patch on the Ashdown Forest.

• It didn't take long to see our first dartford warbler.  One was showing well at the top of a bush a few metres ahead of us.  It was associating with the nearby stonechats.

• Not long afterwards we came across a second bird in almost identical circumstances.

Thanks Martin - my first dartford warblers of the year.

2024 species count=133

My first Goshawk of 2024

Thursday 14th March 2024

Crowborough, Sussex

I persuaded Martin to join me at our usual goshawk viewing point for an afternoon session.

• There were at least 4 common buzzards enjoying the conditions.
• Eventually we found our goshawk.  It was being attacked by a couple of corvids but it managed to get away and fly down and into the forest below.  Our view was distant but  very clear.

The first of many raptor sightings here this year I hope!

2024 species count=132

Saturday 9th March 2024

Ifield Mill Pond, Crawley, Sussex

I have been planning to visit this site ever since Alastair reported that 100+ ring-necked parakeets came into roost here each night.

• I didn't see 100+ but I did manage to watch 19 parakeets come in.  The first 7 landed in the tree closest to my viewpoint on the boardwalk before they flew across the water and into the woods to roost.  Then another 3 flew across the water followed by another 3, then a single bird and finally a group of 5.

• I didn't stay till the end as I wanted to get back to the car to listen to the rugby on the radio otherwise my count would, no doubt, have been much higher.

Thanks Alastair - this was well worth the drive!

2024 species count=131

Black Down for a Great Grey Shrike

7th March 2023

Black Down NR, Sussex

A very successful twitch today.  

With weather conditions almost ideal 5 of us  made the long journey to Black Down at the NW Sussex/Surrey border to look for the great grey shrike that has been present for some weeks.  The car park proved more elusive than the birds but eventually we found our way to the correct one.

What a day we had!

• The great grey shrike was visible from the start and then at regular intervals throughout our visit.  Most times it was distant but we did get some lovely images of the bird at close quarters.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

• By way of a bonus, we also saw at least 4 crossbills including this beauty from close range.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

• We saw or heard 23 species today:  notable ones, in addition to those above, included marsh tit, goldcrest, linnet, lots of stonechat, treecreeper and woodlark.

A great day out - with no rain at all!

2024 species count=130

RSPB Dungeness with the East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

Sunday 25th February 2024

RSPB Dungeness

What a turnout from our members!  Despite a "dodgy" weather forecast 20 members made the long journey down to the south coast at Dungeness in Kent.  Things worked out well in the end - the rain didn't arrive till mid afternoon by which time we had finished our visit and were heading home.  The rewards were good, a species count of 57 including some rarities. 

 The highlights included the following:-

• There were 2 Great Northern Divers on the site and we eventually located both - a great northern diver on Burrowes, seen from Dennis's hide, and the other one plus a Black-throated Diver from the ARC Hanson hide.

Great Northern Diver and Black-throated Diver - courtesy of Alison Playle

• However the stars of the show were the Goldeneye - with at least 3 drakes and 2 ducks.

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

• We heard the Cetti’s warbler calling many times and today we were afforded a rare glimpse of the bird as it flitted around the reeds in front of us.  Unfortunately it was too quick for our cameras.

• That wasn't the case for the single bearded reedling that we saw briefly on the grit tray opposite the viewing ramp; this time Alison, with her lightning-quick reflexes got a record shot of the bird.

Courtesy of Alison Playle

We got some spectacular flight photographs of birds we would normally see mainly on or in the water

Great White Egret - courtesy of Phil Aylen

Shoveler - courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

Gadwall - courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

• These birds you would expect to get flight views in the main.

Marsh Harrier - courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

Raven - courtesy of Phil Aylen

Aborted Seawatch

By mid-afternoon the weather was closing in on us and most people decided to head home.  4 of us decided to continue birding and drove round to the power station for a short seawatch from the side of the hide.  However our plans were scuppered completely as soon as we arrived at the hide.

Steve and Andrew spotted a beached dolphin that was being attacked by gulls and they immediately ran to the rescue whilst Suzanne and I tried, unsuccessfully, to ring the staff at the bird observatory for help.  The dolphin was barely alive but between them Steve and Andrew managed to scare off the gulls and roll the dolphin into the water.  Unfortunately the tide washed the dolphin ashore again and again.  In the end we were able to get the dolphin to float 15-20 metres into deep water and it was still alive.  At that point we could do no more.  The prognosis for the dolphin was not good but at least it now had a chance to live.

Back at the hide we had little appetite for further birding and we decided to leave.

 

A dramatic end to the visit!

I managed to add 2 more birds to my year list - Stock Doves were feeding in the fields on Denge Marsh and we saw several Gannets flying low over the waves on the sea.

2024 species count=128