Window to Wildlife

 Weather conditions were reported as being ideal for seawatching today. With Pilates at 9.30 there wasn’t time to travel far, but a quick visit to Widewater was fairly unproductive, although a passing Sandwich Tern was new for the list. Later in the day, reports came through of a Woodchat Shrike at Angmering. Although I have seen these overseas, it would be new for the UK, so after lunch we sat off across the fields to the area where it had been seen. Others were looking, but it was not in view, although had been seen fairly recently. We scoured the area, tracking the fencelines and hedgerows with our scopes, checking the long grassy areas and the barn, but to no avail. We were at the point of giving up, and chatting to other birders, when as I put my bins up to check again, I suddenly spotted it sat on the top a distant bramble thicket. We all moved nearer and spreading into the field managed decent scope views. The bird was quite mobile, but showed well. Unfortunately it was too far

 We had planned a day out with Sue M, and started at Old Lodge on Ashdown Forest. A Willow Warbler was singing as we entered the reserve, and we soon found this in a tree on the top path. Woodlarks were singing too, and there were plenty of the regular tits feeding in the trees alongside the path. As we descended towards the valley, a singing Cuckoo flew past and rapidly disappeared from view. As the path climbed back up, Sue found a Redstart moving around the base of a tree, and this eventually perched on a low branch, giving a brief but clear view. Belted Galloway grazed the grassland, their cow bells ringing as they lumbered through the vegetation. A bird landed on a dead tree , but disappeared before we could get the scope onto it. We suspected a Tree Pipit, but couldn’t be sure. The Cuckoo again  flew over, this time giving much clearer views.  From here, we drove across the border into Kent, visiting Whetsted gravel pits, where a Ferruginous Duck was reported. We had a pleasant w

 A visit to Pulborough this afternoon was very rewarding. There were a few wildfowl still present on the brooks, and from Westmead hide we noted Shelduck, Shoveler, Gadwall and a protective female Mallard with ducklings in tow. Around the margins were scything Avocets and a crested Lapwing guarding its tiny, fluffy chick attentively. Moving on to Little Hangar hide we spotted a distant male Garganey out on the water, always a striking species, with chocolate brown hood and contrasting crescent band across its head. Moving to the Hangar viewpoint overlooking the brooks we were able to relocate the bird, a little closer now, and were pleased to be able to point it out to a another group of birders, that were about to depart without having seen it. Overhead, Swallows and Sand Martins swooped low over the water, harvesting insects, with the martins being our first for the year.  Garganey Moving on to north brooks, we located a couple of Little Ringed Plover, another annual tick, although a

 Today we were leading an SDOS walk at Seaford Head. Ten members gathered by the car park, in pretty cold conditions. I had dressed for Spring, but winter layers would have felt warmer! A Common Whitethroat was singing from a song post as we  arrived...and still there when we returned at the end of the walk! We descended through Hope Gap, but this was disappointingly quiet, with few migrants seen other than a reasonable count of Chiffchaff. Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnet all showed well as they flitted around the scrub. As we reached the grassy slopes below the path, we had a good opportunity to compare and contrast the Meadow and Rock Pipits feeding amongst the vegetation. Rock Pipit (Richard Allan) The steps to the beach are now sealed off, and the tide was quite high, but we managed to find a pair of Whimbrel perched on the rocks below, and several Fulmars soared overhead. On the top of the ridge, a Skylark was sat on the grass, its crest raised and ruffled by the wind. At the Riv

 Finally an opportunity to get out for some birdwatching, we set out along the River Adur around 8am. It was pretty cold, but at this time of year migrating waders often stop off on the river to refuel en route to their summer breeding grounds. On this date last year we had ticked our first Whimbrel of the year... and right on cue, here they were again! We located two birds, a little mobile due to the activities of morning dog walkers, together with a tagged Curlew, all foraging around the mudflats at the water's edge. Whimbrel Curlew The tagged Curlew is part of a re-introduction scheme at the Burgh, so it was interesting to see this making use of the river. Apparently it was released in 2022 and has overwintered in Pembrokeshire.  Later in the day, we were able to get out to Pulborough Brooks where, despite some inclement weather, we enjoyed a walk around the reserve and were very lucky in strategically avoiding the showers by timely stops at the cafe and various hides around the

 With extensive family commitments over the Easter period and beyond, there was little opportunity for birdwatching in the early part of the month. We managed to drag mum out for an amble around Woods Mill on one day and Brooklands lake on another, but it was 13th April before our first chance to escape to the countryside for some proper birding.  Parking at Woods Mill we set off along the mill stream, where we heard the magnificent song of the Nightingale, but failed to locate the bird. There were plenty of Blackcaps about, and several were seen, both male and females. In the roost by the Downs link cycle path, we were surprised to find a Cattle Egret roosting alongside the Herons and Little Egrets. Scanning the Levels, we found Shoveler and  Teal, but failed to locate the Garganey, despite scanning slowly across the whole flooded area. It was therefore a bit galling to see a report from Becky mid afternoon reporting her ‘lifer’ sighting of this bird!  We had another attempt for a Ga