West Sussex Monday 29th December 2014

On a very cold and frosty morning 6 of us met at Arundel, first stop was at the Water Woods where we found a couple of Firecrests, Goldcrests, Marsh Tit and Coal Tit. From here we headed to

 Iping Common

 

 

Amoung the trees we found Reed Buntings, Gold and Chaffinches, a stunning Yellow Hammer,

On entering the clearing Simon found the Great Grey Shrike which gave great views through the scope

Great Grey Shrike

 

From here we went to West Dean Wood where the pair of Little Owls were out warming themselves.

 

Little Owls

A walk up to Monkton Farm produced the usual woodland birds, but back on the corner near Stapleash Farm after some waiting we had 6 Hawfinches.

 

Heading back to Arundel we called in to Barnham Brooks seeing the adult and 3 juvenile Whooper Swans, then at Arundel the Bewick and 3 Black Swans

A Good Weekend - 20th / 21st December and more SEOs

Saturday pm went over to Horse Eye Level for another look for the Richard's Pipit and dipped again.

However 4 SEOs and 2 Ringtail Hen Harriers kept me entertained till dusk but only 1 came close to photograph. 

 

Sunday morning a couple of hours spent on Walland Marsh saw 100's  of Fieldfares but very skittish and always silhouetted against the milky sun.

Fieldfare

My prime target was the Whooper Swan which I finally found in the flock of 28 Bewick Swans. Also of note were the 4 Tundra Bean Geese.

Herd of Bewick Swans, 4 Bean Geese (centre) and Whooper Swan (second from right) 

On Dengemarsh the 2 Cattle Egrets were close to the road by Wraxhalls, but 1 went behind the hay stack as I arrived

Cattle Egret

At Scotney I couldn't find the Scaup or Black-necked Grebes and the weather deteriorated, the feral Barnacles were close to the road

Barnacle Goose

Scotney Geese

More Short-eared Owls Sunday 7th December

My first visit to look for the Richards Pipit and dipped, but happy with the couple of Short-eared Owls keeping me interested.

 

One of two Short-eared Owls

The Burgh Sunday 30th November

A sunny visit to the Burgh after Short-eared Owls, sadly only 1was seen flying over the dew pond, plus a few Red Kites

Short-eared Owl

Red Kite

Rough-legged Buzzard 24th November

 

A late afternoon visit to Jevington to see the Rough-legged Buzzard 

Rough-legged Buzzard

Shellnes and Swale NNR Sat. 22nd November

 

 

A first time visit to Sheppey produced the goods. Male Hen Harrier, 17 White-fronted Geese, hundreds of waders and 3 Short-eared Owls

 

 

 

Grey Plover

Dunlin

Grey Plover and Dunlin

Waders!

Distant Short-eared Owls

Reculver 300th UK lifer and 250th UK this year

Saturday 8th November brought me my UK 300 lifer and 250th for the year. A trip to Reculver near Herne Bay surprisingly only one and half hours away got me 3 good birds. The Dessert Wheatear present for its third day was showing well and easily found by the large group of birders, however the photo opportunities were much better having seen the Snow Buntings and a Shore Lark further along the sea wall. When I returned only 2 others were watching the Wheatear and gradually it came within 6 feet of us. The Snow Buntings and Shore Lark were much more flighty due to photographers trying to get ridiculously close for that perfect shot.

 

Dessert Wheatear

Snow Buntings

Shore Lark

North Norfolk weekend 24th - 26th October

Pink-footed Geese

The annual visit to Norfolk was once again a great weekend, in total the group saw 115 species, and I got another lifer with a Surf Scoter off Holkham gap putting me to 299 for UK, plus a year tick for Rough-legged Buzzard.

Despite looking species we were hoping for like Snow Buntings, Shore Lark, Twite, and Lapland Bunting were not there probably due to the mild weather.

Red Kite

Grey Phalarope

Common Seal pup

Red-breasted Flycatcher at Beachy Head another Lifer

 A call from PJ sent me straight to Beachy Head to see the Red-breasted Flycatcher found earlier in the morning. Little did we know he was to stay for a week. On arriving at the old trapping area found easily by the 30 birders watching the bushes. Within 5 minutes it appeared and what a stunning bird.

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