Friday 15th December: Family Birding

 John and Andy headed down to Sussex for a final opportunity to add a few more ticks to their annual lists. With a Great Northern Diver and Eider Duck having been reported over recent days, we were hopeful of a positive start around Southwick canal and the harbour area, but frustratingly neither of these birds were visible today. However, a brief conversation with another birder, led us along the beach at Southwick to some rock groynes where three Black Redstarts were busy feeding, flitting between the shingle beach, a metal fence and the rocks; a quick flash of the red tail each time they flew. When perched, we were able to observe the distinctive ‘shimmering’ of the tail. A subtly beautiful species, and a new tick for both boys, which took a little pressure off after the failed sea birds.

Black Redstart

Our next stop was Shoreham Harbour, where we again failed to find our target species, the Purple Sandpiper, despite being seen by Tim the previous day while conducting his Webs survey. However, a couple of Rock Pipits at close range were another new tick for both brothers, and John and I spent some time studying the key features and differences from the more familiar Meadow Pipit.

We paused at Ferry Road for a bite to eat and a hot drink, before heading up to the Burgh, where Andy was keen to try for a Grey Partridge. Unfortunately we had lost time in our fruitless search for the sea birds earlier in the day, so arriving around 2ish, the light was already fading. There were a few Redwing perched along the hedgerows and plenty of calling Fieldfares passing overhead, with two seen well when they landed at the top of a small tree. At a game feeder, there was plenty of passerine activity, with Great Tits, Chaffinches, Goldfinches and House Sparrows all taking advantage of this easy food source. A single Greenfinch sat at the top of a bush, and along the hedgerow beside the track, a female Reed Bunting briefly showed well, another new tick for John.

This area is well-known for raptors, and we found Buzzard, Kestrel and Red Kite, but sadly no harriers today. Finally, and in very poor light, we located a group of three distant Grey Partridge, to finish the day with another new tick for both the boys. 

It’s always a worry when you’re hosting and struggling to find the birds, but in the end everyone went home happy. The weather was kind to us, after many days of gloom and rain, and it was good spending time with my lovely brothers.