Monday 17th -Wednesday 19th January 2022: Family Birding in Sussex

 Sue and Keith decided they could do with an early boost to their annual list so came across for a few days. Living close to Poole Harbour, with its extensive birding opportunities, we tried to target habitats and species they are less likely to encounter locally, and found we had considerable success.

Monday: Lancing

We started at Southwick Harbour, looking for the regularly sighted Long-tailed Duck, but were disappointed not to find it in the usual spot. Even more galling was to later see it reported again! A boat had sailed up the harbour as we arrived, so it’s possible that had displaced the bird, but it’s always disappointing for us tour guides when we fail to deliver on an expected tick!

Undeterred, we headed to Widewater, where there was little to be seen on the lagoon or the sea. However, a stroll along the beach was more successful, as we managed to find the flock of roosting waders, with around 120 Dunlin tucking their heads under their wing, and 15 Ringed Plover blending against the shingle with excellent camouflage. Both new ticks for our guests, and we were able to relax at last!

After lunch we drove up to Lancing Ring and walked to the trig point at Steepdown, with superb views across the downs and river valley and out to sea. Our targets here were farmland birds and they did not let us down, with around 50 Skylarks rising and singing over the field and a few Corn Buntings perching obligingly on top of the bushes with a low burst of song, allowing some very good views. A pair of Stonechat also popped up on the fence and vegetation to make sure we noticed them too.

Tuesday: The Burgh 

It was great to have Andy and John both join us for the day, reminiscent of old times, with our first birding  adventures across the fields at home, Yellowhammer on the hedgerow and Great Spotted Woodpecker performing a ventriloquist act in the woodland, its invisible drumming echoing from all directions.

We started at Burpham Church and water treatment works, where we found several Chiffchaff and a Grey Wagtail on the gravel bed, a Cattle Egret in the adjacent field and through the scopes, a distant flock of Bewick’s Swans. From here we drove round to Peppering Triangle and walked around the Estate, picking up a beautifully marked Fieldfare which posed  on the fence allowing brilliant scope views. Grey and Red-legged Partridges were spotted around the field margins.

There was plenty of bird activity at the small copse, with Greenfinch, Redwing and Goldcrest all present. The hedgerows were busy with flocks of Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Linnets, but we were delighted to pick out a few Brambling, with gorgeous orange chests and had some excellent views of these through the telescopes.

The Burgh is renowned for its raptors, and this did not disappoint with Kestrel, Buzzard, Red Kite and a superb Hen Harrier seen by all and some also enjoying a Marsh Harrier.

We lunched back at The Triangle, before driving back to Shoreham, hoping to pick up a few more birds on the river, although the light was by now beginning to drop. At the houseboat channel we found Redshank and Teal, then right on cue the Greenshank arrived and landed just a few feet away from us, a beautiful, elegant bird. From Norfolk Bridge, we found some Turnstones busy on the shellbeds and a Kingfisher perched on the rail of a boat. Initially distant, both species hung around long enough for us to move much nearer  and to set up the scopes for a closer view. Finally, on the other side of the railway bridge a single Grey Plover, Curlew and several Lapwings rounded off a great day of birding, with new ticks for all.

Wednesday: 

We returned to Southwick Harbour and this time easily found the Long-tailed Duck which showed very well.