16/10/2014 Ring Ouzels!

Thursday 16th October 2014
Whitbread Hollow  nr Beachy Head
Paul and group

The target bird today was the Ring Ouzel.  There have been so many sightings  along the south coast recently with 500+ at Dungeness on Tuesday that expectations were high when we set off from Whitbread Hollow at 08.00.

We soon encountered our first group when we saw 6 Ring Ouzels flying overhead.  Job done?  Not really because we really wanted really good views of them on the ground as well.  This happened when we moved a few metres further west where we got excellent views of the birds perches on the Yew trees and again as they moved around the area.  In all we reckoned there were a minimum of 12 birds on this site - the most Ring Ouzels I personally have ever seen in one place.




Ring Ouzels in flight
Library picture



Ring Ouzel in tree
Library picture



Ring Ouzel facing us
Library picture

It appears that Ring Ouzels were everywhere again today with all sites reporting lots of activity.  Their migration is well and truly in full swing.


There were also good numbers of Jay on site - at least 6 and probably more, Swallow, House Martin, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Stonechat.  The area was buzzing with birds.

I had to leave early to get to Euston Station for 14.30 but the group relocated to Shooters Bottom (Beachy Head) where they saw more Ring Ouzels and 2 Dartford Warblers.

What a cracking day!



Today's species list:
Sparrowhawk (x2)
Kestrel
Stonechat
Meadow Pipit
Chaffinch
Jay
Peregrine
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Blackbird   (10)
Chaffinch
Meadow Pipit
Chiffchaff
Greenfinch
Herring Gull
Oystercatcher
Blue Tit
Swallow
House Martin
Robin   (20)
Dunnock
Linnet
Magpie
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon

10/10/2014. A Tawny Pipit at Newhaven, Tidemills

Friday 10th October 2014
Tidemills, Newhaven

I received a call from Paul alerting me to the appearance of the rare Tawny Pipit at Tidemills.  Apparently it had been there since Monday.  After finishing shopping at Tunbridge Wells I dashed down and was rewarded with superb views.  

                         

Tawny Pipit
Library picture

It was another "lifer" for me.

Thanks Paul!

 

The Tawny Pipit was probably lost en-route from Europe or Asia to it's wintering grounds in NW Africa.




 

Addition to 2014 UK Bird List:  Tawny Pipit   (264)
Addition to Life List of UK Birds: Tawny Pipit (277)

06/102014. Groombridge Lagoons Water Rails

Monday 06 October 2014
Groombridge Lagoons
With Chris, Anne and Sue

We saw 2 Water Rails on one of the lagoons today and another 1 on a different lagoon later on, probably a different one, meaning that we could have up to 3 on our patch.

Teal numbers were the highest so far with at least 10 seen.

05/10/2014 Rye Harbour and Dungeness A Real Sunday Treat

Sunday 5th October 2014
Rye Harbour and Dungeness
Paul and group

Weather conditions today were superb with clear blue skies, no wind and temperatures that went to 21C at mid-day.  We spent the morning at Rye Harbour before moving on to Dungeness for the afternoon.



Rye Harbour
There were many birds showing today but with nothing extra special. 

• The highlight was probably the Kingfisher we saw from Denny's Hide which flew across the water in front of us and perched on the fence.

Species list:
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Brent Goose
Wigeon
Mallard
Shoveler
Teal
Little Grebe
Cormorant
Gannet   (10)
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Marsh Harrier
Kestrel
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Lapwing
Dunlin Knot   (20)
Turnstone
Bar-tailed Godwit
Curlew
Redshank
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Gull
Sandwich Tern   (30)
Woodpigeon
Skylark
Pied Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Robin
Stonechat
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie   (40)
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Kingfisher








Dungeness

Again lots of birds were seen and this time there were several interesting ones - even though none of them were year or life ticks.

• A Cattle Egret was showing well near Houseman's Farm near the herd of cows,of course!  It was perched on a post and it stayed like this for some time before flying towards us.  This was my second sighting this year.

• While we were watching the Cattle Egret we heard the characteristic sound of a Cetti's Warbler less than 10 metres away from us.  Lo and behold, after a few minutes, we actually saw it fly away from us.  Surprising but most welcome!

• A Little Stint was seen on one of the islands in front of Makepiece Hide.  It was moving around among the Lapwings and Dunlin. 

• From Denge Hide we got our first, of many, sightings of the Great White Egret standing by the side of the water about 50 metres away.  Later sightings included flight views.  A second bird was seen from the ARC Pit just before we finished for the day.

• A Glossy Ibis was also seen briefly from the hide and we had to wait another 20 minutes or so to get a good sighting from the viewing area 100 metres from the hide.

• We even had Bearded Tits showing in the reeds from the viewing area overlooking Denge Marsh.  We were alerted to their presence by their sound and soon after we saw them flying.  What a pity we couldn't get a good view of them in the reeds.

• Other interesting birds included Ruff, Black-necked Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Snipe, Tree Sparrow and Marsh Harrier.

Species List:
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Barnacle Goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Gadwall
Teal
Pintail
Shoveler
Mallard   (10)
Tufted Duck
Ruddy Duck
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Cormorant
Cattle Egret
Great White Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron   (20)
Glossy Ibis
Marsh Harrier
Kestrel
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Golden Plover
Lapwing
Little Stint   (30)
Dunlin
Ruff
Common Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Curlew
Redshank
Turnstone
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull  
Common Gull   (40)
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Robin
Stonechat
Cetti's Warbler   (50)
Chiffchaff
Bearded Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
Tree Sparrow
Chaffinch   (60)
Goldfinch





What a fabulous day out with loads of birds to see, lovely weather and good company!

01/10/2014 Climping Gap - not much going on here today!

Wednesday 1st October 2014
Climping Gap

This was supposed to be a group activity run by Paul but it was cancelled because of low uptake.  I had only visited this site once before so I decided to give it a go on my own.  Paul had targeted migratory birds so I had a focus.  Rain was falling as I arrived but it soon cleared up to give a bright, sunny morning.

There were a few migratory birds around, mainly Chiffchaffs and Meadow Pipits but not a great deal more.




Today's species list:
Chiffchaff
Linnet
Meadow Pipit
Skylark
Grey Heron
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon  (10)
Swallow
House Martin
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Sanderling
House Sparrow
Robin
Wren
Blackbird   (20)
Cormorant

Not many birds but I did have a good morning stroll on the coast! 

29/09/2014 Around Uckfield 2

Monday 29th September 2014
Home - Framfield - Buxted Park - Home
15.00 to 18.00


I tried another walk from home today going to the old laundry again but this time heading off towards Framfield to join the Wealden Way leading to the Buxted Park estate before returning home following the route by the River Uck.  Weatherwise it was another warm day with , thankfully, no rain.

• The Kingfisher was around again today but not on the stream  - it was on the pond.  No sign of the Mandarins on the pond, although I am sure they are still there. 

• On the way to Framfield I had a super view of the Buzzard.  It circled overhead, coming down quite low and making it's characteristic call.  What a well behaved bird - showing well, hanging around and making clear calls.  If only birding was always this easy!

• On the way out of Framfield a Jay flew by again offering super views.

• At Buxted Park, in the early evening, the main highlight were the geese flocks flying around.  There were 25+ Canada Geese and a couple of flocks of 15 - 20 Greylag Geese.  A flock of noisy Long-tailed Tits dropped in to liven up events before moving on.

Today's species list:
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Chiffchaff
Blackbird
Robin
Dunnock
Chaffinch
Wren
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove   (10)
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Martin
Moorhen
Kestrel
Pheasant
Mallard
Mute Swan   (20)
Canada Goose
Greylag Goose
Long-tailed Tit
Green Woodpecker
Herring Gull
Buzzard
Jay
Coot
Kingfisher
House Sparrow   (30)


Another lovely afternoon walk providing much needed exercise and some good birding!

29/09/2014 Groombridge Lagoons

Monday 29th September 2014
Groombridge Lagoons


Friends Chis and Anne volunteered us to monitor this area on behalf of the Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group (SARG) who manage the site on behalf of Southern Water.  With Alastair to help us when needed this seemed like a lovely project in an area with a couple of lagoons surrounded by bushes and small trees.  We agreed on a weekly visit for the first month and then a monthly visit thereafter.
 
Weather conditions today were warm but overcast. This was our third visit and like the previous two it was very pleasant a with a reasonable number of birds present.   There was nothing spectacular just a steady gathering of "normal" birds.  Pick of the bunch had to be the Water Rail seen today skulking in the bushes growing from the side of the lagoon.  Blackcaps seemed to be in 2 territories which bodes well for the future.  A small group of Sedge Warblers had lingered and showed well just ahead of us.






Species seen on this site today:

Species	Count 3
	29 September 14
	08.00 to 09.00
Blackbird	2
Blackcap	2
Blue Tit	6
Carrion Crow	2
Chaffinch	2
Chiffchaff	2
Coot	3
Dunnock	2
Goldfinch	0
Great Tit	2
Great-spotted Woodpecker	0
Heron	0
House Martin	0
Jackdaw	0
Little Grebe	1
Long-tailed Tit	6
Magpie	2
Mallard	8
Meadow Pipit	0
Moorhen	4
Pheasant	0
Robin	5
Sand Martins	0
Sedge Warbler	3
Song Thrush	0
Sparrowhawk	0
Starling	2
Swallows	6
Teal	3
Water Rail	1
Woodpigeon	1
Wren	2

This is going to be a cracking site!