Saturday 27th April - SWW West Sussex

Today we started with an 8am sea watch at Selsey, although very quiet 3 Great Northern divers were on the sea (2 Summer plumage), A Yellow Wagtail flew in and 11 (I think) Little Terns flew east. I missed out on the Hobby coming in but found one in Fairlight later in the week.

We moved on to Church Norton where Bob's Keys were another story!!. Out on the mud flats it was quiet but we picked out a lone Whimbrel,

 Then later found 5 more closer in with a SP Bar-tailed Godwit

A walk around the severals the other birds of note were Lesser Whitethroat and a calling Cuckoo.
Stopping off at Ivy Lake my first Common Tern of the year and off to Lavington Common.

Although I love these West Sussex commons in the past couple of visits have not been very fruitfull. I was however proved they can produce as within 5 minutes we were looking at a flock of 15 Crossbills in a distant Fir tree. A few minutes later they flew into a tree closer by.

Sorry girls the boys are much better looking.

Having eaten my words we went to Coldwaltham where by the sewage works it was alive with warblers and also 3 Nightingales but the Gropper failed to show but a Cettis put on the best show I have ever seen and managed a couple of shots.

Unfortunately we were looking into the light - well thats my excuse! also around Sedge Warbler

a Lesser Whitethroat and a Common Whitethroat.

Bird of the day however was a female Winchat on Pulborough Brooks followed by 3 Swifts over. Another good day out with 80 plus species.