Friday, 2 August 2024

More updates - Honey Buzzards, Nightjars etc

 


Sorry but I have been a bit neglectful to the blog lately.  The birding goes on however and I have some pretty impressive sightings to bring you!  


Ashdown Forest,  Sussex

Lots of my time has been given over to nightjar events and honey buzzard surveys.  

  • The former is a forest staple and this year has been very successful with lots of sightings at various places.
  • The latter is new and burgeoning with more and more honey buzzard sightings in the area.  The best place to view these fabulous birds is the newly designated site beyond the old Llama Park.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree



Courtesy of Martin Jeffree


Pagham Harbour 1st July 20204

  • On 1st July I finally got to twitch the spotted redshank at Pagham Harbour,  Chichester.  It took me 3 attempts before I got to see the bird.  It was always present early morning but every time I made the 75 minute journey I arrived too late. 

 Desperate times call for desperate measures so today I was up with the larks and lo and behold I got my reward with fabulous views of the bird on the Ferry Pool


The Mens 14th July 2024

This was a trip with the Ashdown Bird Group to the north west corner of Sussex.  Most of the excitement came from the butterflies and dragonflies on the reserve, except for a couple of exceptions when the birding grabbed the headlines.
  • At 2 different locations on the site we came across 2 spotted flycatchers  flitting around in the trees adjacent to our path.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen



Courtesy of Phil Aylen



Oare Marshes, Kent  28th July 2024

This was a visit to the north Kent coast with the Ashdown Bird Group where a fabulous outing added 4 birds to my year list.

  • For the 12th year in a row the Bonaparte's gull has returned to this site and I was pleased to be there once again to greet it.  


Smaller than the black-headed gull behind it,with a jet black head, now fading, and with a black bill, this bird is legendary in Kent.  


Below is the same bird photographed a month earlier, in the same place, now in full summer plumage!

Courtesy of Kent Ornithological Society and Facebook


  • Also seen here were a couple of green sandpipers, a sleepy spoonbill and some golden plovers, associating with the lapwings in the photograph below.
Courtesy of Martin Jeffree



Cuckmere Haven, Sussex  2nd August 2024

Tonight I went down to the beautiful Cuckmere Haven to twitch the black-winged stilt.  

Thankfully the bird was still there despite the hige number of casual walkers etc.


Keep the faith!

2024 species count=194

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