07/10/2020 Ring Ouzel in Sussex

 Wednesday 7 October 2020

Shooters Bottom near Beachy Head, Sussex

For the past 3 years, I have seen ring ouzels on Spring migration in Norfolk.  For Covid 19 reasons I could not do so this year so I was very keen to catch up with them on Autumn migration in Sussex.  Norfolk tends to have more of this species earlier in the year but Sussex has more on the return leg.

• I arrived just on 09.00 and about 20 minutes later I, and about 8 other birders, saw a female ring ouzel,  on the lower western slopes, in the large bush just below our viewing point from the eastern slopes.  The views were quite good as the bird flitted around.  

courtesy of Phillip Wells and Sussex Ornithological Society

• The next 30 minutes or so saw me moving around the site to see if there was a male ring ouzel too.  Alas I could not find one.
• When I returned to the starting point the female was showing again, this time on the eastern slopes about 30 metres due south of me.  It was sitting proud at the top of a low lying bush and gave us brilliant views for several minutes.  It then flew back to it's original position before becoming quite elusive.

Another smart twitch and hopefully the first of many over the next few days of this rather special migrant!

05/10/2020 Three of the best in Norfolk!

Monday 5 October 2020

Norfolk

A dear birding friend died recently and I agreed to help the family to organise the sale of his birding equipment.  My dealer of choice was Cley Spy in Holt, Norfolk as they have provided me with excellent service over the years.  I decided to deliver the items personally so I could get a few hours birding in afterwards - my first visit since February!

.An early start found me at Cley Spy by 09.15 and birding from 10.15 through to 13.30.  The weather was overcast but mild.

• My first port of call was to nearby Salthouse where I was lucky to see a red-necked phalarope on the ponds just a few metres north of the A149.

courtesy of Paul Baker and Twitter

• Next stop was just south of Wells Woods to see the long-staying red-backed shrike which was showing nicely on the fence on the west side of the track.

courtesy of Marcus Nash

• I just had time to call in at Wighton, south of Wells, on the way home to catch up with the Hoopoe that has been around for some time.

courtesy of Sean Gray and Twitter

I even managed to bump into Marcus whilst looking at the Hoopoe.  What a pity I had to cancel the latest trip due to start on Thursday.

Back home and back into lockdown by 16.45 after securing a good deal for the equipment and a delightful Norfolk twitch!

21/09/2020 Seaford Head and the Cuckmere Valley with Paul James and the Group

Monday 21 September 2020

Seaford Head and the Cuckmere Valley

Paul James and Group

Outing number 3 in the current season saw us on the outskirts of Seaford.  4 of us met up at 07.30 at South Hill Barn on Seaford Head.  It was misty at the start but improved rapidly when the sun broke through, giving us a very pleasant 4 hour walk.

Our route took us west towards the golf course then down to the cliffs before turning east towards Hope Gap.  After ascending part of Hope Gap we returned to the cliff route and followed the path west, past the cottages and into the Cuckmere valley.  We then headed inland following the path on the west side of the river.  Just before we reached the Cuckmere Inn we turned south and followed the path towards the coast before heading up the hill, past Harry's Bush and back to the starting point.  

• On Seaford Head there was some evidence of migration, mainly blackcap and chiffchaff plus several meadow pipits and stonechats.
• In the skies we saw kestrel, raven, buzzard and sparrowhawk and several swallows and siskins.
• In the Cuckmere valley the early sightings included a couple of lovely greenshank, a knot, a turnstone  a kingfisher and a small group of teal.
• The later sightings included at least 6 dunlin, a redshank, rock pipit and 2 ringed plovers.
• We saved the best till last, seeing 4 yellow wagtails with the cows just before we headed up the hill to Harry's Bush

A much needed outing - roll on next week and our visit to Thorney Island!

16/09/2020 Curlew Sandpiper at Arlington Reservoir, Sussex

 Wednesday 16 September 2020

Arlington Reservoir

East Sussex

It was good to be out and about birding again.  The weather was ideal for this time of year, 24C with a fresh breeze.  Once again it was a late afternoon visit - this time to Arlington Reservoir  which is just 20 minutes from my home.

The attraction was a gorgeous curlew sandpiper - a first for me this year and a first ever at this reserve.

It was at the dam end of the reservoir, on the "beach", to the east of the water towers, along with 10 dunlin, numerous Canada geese and a few pied wagtails.

courtesy of Arlington Reservoir@ArlyRes

 A cracking hour,  invested at a great site with its wonderful South Downs backdrop!

02/09/2020 My first Dotterel in Sussex

Wednesday 2nd September 2020

near Ditchling Beacon, Sussex

After cancelling yet another Norfolk Tour, I was pleased to read on RBA of 3 dotterel in Sussex, just down the road near Ditchling Beacon.  Dotterel is a species that is very rare for me, having last seen one on a trip to Danby Beacon in Yorkshire with the East Grinstead RSPB Local Group in 2016.

courtesy of Lee Evans and Twitter

• I arrived around 3 pm to find that the birds had moved and temporarily "lost".  After looking down the east side of the stony field I returned to the original site where the birds were showing once again.
• One was showing prominently just below the horizon, sitting peacefully - enjoying a rest after their earlier activity - which, unfortunately happened before I arrived.
• Initially this bird was the centre of the discussion until someone with a better angle spotted the second bird immediately behind.  
• Soon after the third bird was located only a few metres away but once more, stationary.

By now there were too many birders arriving so I decided to leave and go back into lockdown - alas missing out on seeing these lovely birds moving around.

A first for me in Sussex and my 200th bird of the year!

In this covid-tarnished year it's a landmark I didn't expect to reach!

20/08/2020 With Paul James and Group Pagham Harbour, West Sussex

For the second of our outings this year we were joined by Andrew, Jan and Chris, swelling our ranks to 10.  This time we were in West Sussex at Pagham Harbour on a glorious autumn day - lots of sunshine and a gentle breeze.  Paul had planned the walk, starting on the east side, looking for waders on the incoming tide, then heading out west along the North Wall and returning just as the water levels reached their peak.

There was a bountiful array of birds on show:

• Cattle egrets were the dominant species today with nigh on 30 seen, 14 immediately as we headed east and the rest from the North Wall and surrounding fields.  It is incredible to think that they are now breeding here; it is only in 2014 that I saw my first one in the UK after several failed but humorous attempts to find one in Sussex, Hampshire,/Dorset and Devon.
• There were plenty of waders to see including a bar-tailed godwit, several black-tailed godwits, knot x2, common sandpiper, whimbrel x2, greenshank x2, grey plover x4,as well as the usual suspects dunlin, oystercatcher, ringed plover, redshank, lapwing and curlew.
• We even managed to see another whinchat on the fences with 6 or so wheatear on the west side later on.

Just after 1 pm 7 of us relocated to Siddlesham Ferry where the sandpipers were the focus.

• A wood sandpiper was still there - although it took some time to find it; there was also a green sandpiper and 4 common sandpipers.  
• By way of a bonus at least one more whinchat was seen on the fences at the back of the pool.

At this point the group started to break up with 2 more going home.  Paul had alerted me earlier to an osprey sighting at nearby Thorney Island and his advice was for me to head off there next before the tide went out too far.  So I left the remaining group members as they moved around the harbour towards Church Norton.

• I tried  the viewing gate opposite Eames Farm but it was occupied by another birder, who obviously didn't want company so I headed off to the west of the island along Thornham Lane to the MOD entry gate.   
• After scanning the area with my scope I found the bird sitting on a post by the cows in the distant fields.  It dropped to the ground after a while but soon reappeared on an adjacent post enabling me to get some reliable but distant views.  
• I alerted Lyn and her husband to the osprey and we continued to look until it dropped down from the post again and out of sight.  At this point I had to leave but I noticed that they tweeted later on that they had seen the bird flying.

• Another excellent day out with the group - we are gradually getting back to maximum numbers.  
• Can't wait for the next one Paul!

14/08/2020 Glossy Ibis at Dungeness

Friday 14 August 2020

Dungeness, Kent

It was high time that I took a look at the glossy ibis that has been on the ARC Pit at Dungeness since last Sunday evening.  My chance came this afternoon after Sue and I got back from the vets.  The weather was looking unsettled as I drove down to the Kent coast but thankfully it was dry and calm when I arrived at 4.30 pm.

• The glossy ibis was showing well at the place where it had been seen regularly all week.  The only problem was the screen hide was closed and the only possible viewing area was a little further towards the cooling tower and then only after peering over the raised bank - something we should not really be doing.

I didn't stay long as I would have disturbed the birds and also because the car park was due to close at 5 pm!

courtesy of mike link and twitter

• I moved the car down to Dengemarsh Road and then walked onto the RSPB reserve hoping to see a bittern or a bearded tit from the raised viewing point.  Sadly I saw neither but I was compensated by the sight of a marsh harrier in flight and a close reed warbler as I followed my route.

Yet another successful late afternoon foray!