19th January: Local birding

 Since my last posting, our birding has been very slow, operating under the constraints of local exercise, with all outings on foot, and around Shoreham and the surrounding area.

On 9th January I met with Becky for a socially distanced walk to Shoreham Beach. I showed her where we had seen the Dartford Warbler earlier in the week and with her sharp eyes she quickly spotted it actively feeding at the base of the Valerian growing in the shingle. We watched it for several minutes and enjoyed good views. A few Greenfinch were feeding on some shrubs and looked stunning, with the low early morning light enhancing their forest green colouring. We continued along the boardwalk to Shoreham Fort area. The tide was wrong for the local Purple Sandpipers, but the regular Rock Pipit was feeding in some puddles along the rough harbour wall and at the sailing club we were delighted to find not just the female Black Redstart reported regularly over the last week, but a gorgeous male bird, with smart grey plumage and a black head.

Tim and I returned the following day with his camera, but unfortunately there was no sign of the male. However, a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the muddy beach at Harbour Way posed rather well and was a useful, if not over-exciting tick.

On 11th January we walked to Lancing Ring. There were good numbers of Redwing in the fields on the path as we walked up to the Ring, and a tinkling charm of Goldfinches flitting around the trees. We spotted a dozen Song Thrush hopping around the paddocks, then, foraging around the feet of the sheep, were a small flock of Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits. It was an enjoyable walk, but the only new bird we managed to add to our list... a Pheasant!

On 15th January we headed to a different area of the South Downs, up past Mill Hill to Truleigh Hill via the Monarch’s Way - escape route of King Charles centuries ago, but also famous to some as the site of the great Red-footed Falcon twitch last year! Initially it was quiet, with very little bird activity. Eventually we managed a few Rooks feeding in the fields and as we reached the top of the hill, the sun broke through and a Skylark floated up with a burst of joyful song. That lifted our spirits, and things continued to progress with a flock of around 30 sunny Yellowhammers in the bushes lining the muddy track stretched ahead of us.

Next, after several dreary, rainy days, we ventured out late afternoon on 17th January, in response to a report on the ‘Shoreham Birding’ Facebook page we have created to promote the local birdwatching group SDOS. We headed towards the fields near the Dogs Trust and airport where a wonderful Barn Owl showed brilliantly, quartering the marshy fields, twisting and turning, sometimes dropping out of sight, at one stage gliding silently towards us, before veering to the side. An impressive local bird which was enjoyed by many passing observers.

On 18th January, a message on a local WhatsApp group lured us out again in the late afternoon, for an Iceland Gull. We didn’t see one of these at all last year, so were thrilled to find this bird resting on the harbour arm at Shoreham. Although the light was not great, Tim managed some record shots. We returned this morning hoping for better views, but despite extensive searching there was no sign of the bird. Whilst at the harbour, the tide was fairly high, so this time we were successful in finding the regular Purple Sandpiper. We returned home feeling very happy.

Slowly but surely our species list for the year is increasing and I am now up to 90 birds, all found walking locally, with the exception of our short drive to Woods Mill nature reserve on 2nd January.

Iceland Gull

Barn Owl