Contributors

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Sunday 17th Feb Once more over the border.

Saturday evening searching whats around, heading off to Kent Sunday am looked a good idea. After walking the dogs thick fog gradually started to lift so I set off at 10am stopping at Pett sea wall to ask Pete Rouse what he's seen already - only the "4 Pink Feet" and the usuals. From here went onto Scotney G. P. and eventually found the female Scaup. Then onto Greatstone and after half an hour search around the Varne Sailing Club the 3 Snow Buntings came from nowhere and landed infront of me.




Next stop was to Lade Gravel Pits for the Black-throated Diver, walking from Seaview Avenue towards the pit another birder kindly pointed me in the right direction on the other side of the pit.


 It was good to see one fairly close (as usually distant flying over the sea) but not close enough for a good pic
 Looks a bit odd here as the sun caught the head. So far 3 out of 3 on my list for today

Next stop was onto the RSPB reserve first for the 5 Bean Geese that were distant but easy to find as the crowd were eager to point out.

 A walk round to the mound (not stopping at the hides) for no 5 on the list Penduline Tit reported yesterday. After an hour of looking without success but did see a Bittern and a couple of fly by Beardies and 7 Barnacle geese.

 I decided to start heading for home. But stopped off again at Scotney to have another look for the Scaup and to my amazement a Drake had joined the female. - So not seeing one last year I now see 2 in one day. Albeit very distant.
Drake Scaup

As high tide was approaching I stopped off at Rye Harbour reserve and managed to find my first Avocets of the year (5) the Little Stint and eventually the over wintering Spotted Redshank.

Another good day.

Friday 15 February 2013

Friday 15th Feb. Looking like Spring

With a bright morning and light winds the local birds were singing and a Great Spotted Wood was drumming so I set off to Brede Woods for some woodland birds. Getting out of the truck silence, and thats the way it stayed for most of the hour and half walk through muddy paths.

 Apart from a couple of Tit flocks I found 3 pairs of Marsh Tits

 Heard a couple of Great Spots drumming, possibly a Goldcrest, a few Wrens and a couple of Blackbirds
 Finally a Common Buzzard went high overhead.

Sunday 3 February 2013

Sunday 3rd February Distant Geese

Hearing reports over the last week of 2 Pink-footed geese are on Pett Level today I stopped at the sea wall looking over the pools towards the canal was the flock of Canadas and Greylags just on the edge of the flock 2 slightly smaller and darker headed grey geese. To get a better view a walk along the very muddy canal bank hoping to get nearer. Almost at Pannel Valley they were still distant but sure these are the Pink-foots.



 Within a couple of minutes they disappeared over the grass bank.  8 Whitefronts were also present.
 At Carters a few Teal and Shelduck, A hunting Barn Owl was robbed by a Kestrel.
Its been a good year aso far for seeing Barn Owls.

Saturday 2 February 2013

Saturday 2nd February SWW around West Sussex

5 of us met up at Swanbourne Lake Arundle, I was late due to trying to see the Angmering Waxwings that had departed by the time I got there. The group already had Grey Wagtail and Treecreeper on their list 2 I wanted to see!

A walk around the lake found 2 Firecrests, a singing Mistle Thrush.



A couple of Marsh Tits, no sign of the Mandarins, plenty of crossbred ducks plus Gadwall and Tufted Ducks
 Heading off to the Burgh we stopped off at Warningcamp for the 29 Bewick Swans.
and a distant Red Kite.

At the Burgh 10 Corn Buntings were near the triangle.


Also seen 2 more Red Kites, Buzzards, 2 Ravens, Merlin, Skylarks, more Corn Buntings and Grey Partridge.


Next stop was at Rackham for another Red Kite, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Longtailed Tits, and a mystery bird that ended up being a Buzzard but was thought at times to be anything from a Kestrel, Juv Goshawk, to a S.E. Owl.
Amberley Brooks being well and truly flooded.


Next stop at Pulborough Brooks for the easiest Water Rail in Sussex


 Also a Song Thrush getting in on the meal worms put out for Wally.
Our last stop was a Coldwaltham, stopping at the sewage works found a Grwey and Pied Wagtail, 2 - 3 over wintering Chiff Chaffs. On the Brooks 3 Barn Owls


also a flock of Linnets but the bird of the day at dusk was the Ringtail Hen Harrier coming into roost.
Another good day with great company.