Saturday 30th January in West sussex

Today we started at a West Sussex heath looking for a Great Grey Shrike which failed to show but were rewarded with a couple of bonus birds being Woodlarks and a singing Dartford Warbler which posed well till I finally got the camera out.

Dartford Warbler

 

From here we headed to Westdean Woods where I managed to spot a Bullfinch fly in front of the car. At the usual tree by Staple Ash farm the Little Owl was showing well.

 

Little Owl

 

A walk up to Monkton farm found several flocks of Bramblings,

Brambling

 

Plus Red Kites and a Marsh Tit both new for the year.

Monkton Farm

 

A scan around at Monkton failed to find any Hawfinches but on the way back Bridget spotted one and then the same or another was seen.

Stopping off at Chalk Springs in Arundel 18 Mandarin ducks were roosting on the bank of one of the fishing pools. A great day adding 8 species to my year list.