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