Window to Wildlife

 Disappointingly our last day in Norfolk was wet and miserable. We drove slowly through the country lanes towards Ringstead, but the birds were lying low, and apart from a flock of Linnets in a tall tree and a mixed gaggle of Pink-foots and Greylags in a field there was nothing to be seen.  At Snettisham, we took a short walk along the sea wall to locate a flock of Lesser White-fronted Geese. Not the greatest of views in wet, muddy conditions, but the extensive white blaze on the heads, barring on chest and smaller size were evident, and Sue could just make out the golden eye ring through her scope.  Despite the grim weather, it was a lovely, although technically non-tickable, bird to end another week in Norfolk. Lesser White-fronted Goose

 Having failed on our seawatching yesterday, we decided we’d try again this morning, when the tide was higher. We’re not the greatest at this specialist type of birding, but quite enjoy having a go. The water was quite choppy, which made it more challenging, but a flock of Scoter bobbed up and down on the water, quite some way out. With the scopes, we were clearly able to pick out the telltale wing pattern of several Velvet Scoters in amongst the flock. Elsewhere on the sea a group of two female and one Eider were found, the black and white markings of the male more easily identifiable!  On our return I found a Spotted Redshank on the tidal lagoon, which obligingly flew towards us and worked its way along a nearby channel. Sadly, we again had no luck with the Water Pipit. Spotted Redshank Driving towards Stiffkey, I spotted a Grey Wagtail by the water on a bend in the road, and Sue was able to stop just long enough to get her bins on it before a car appeared and moved us on....

 We were out before breakfast today and in position at Titchwell by 6.45 ready to watch for Woodcock coming in to roost. It’s barely light at this time, so it’s not always easy to identify incoming birds in a few fleeting seconds! However, at least one bird was recognisable by its structure and rapidly whirring short wings. A mystery raptor seated in a nearby tree was identified by a passing birder as an escaped Harris Hawk! After breakfast we set off for Holme beach, hoping to find the regularly reported Glaucous Gull. Coincidentally we arrived at the same time as Richard, who joined us for the morning, and we greatly valued his expertise. There was no sign of the gull on the seal carcass, although the five Shore Larks provided some good entertainment while we waited, and a striking male Goosander zipped past in flight. Eventually another birder informed us that the gull was sat on the beach, just beyond the shingle ridge where we were positioned. Moving across, we quickly found t...

 The outlook for today was not good, with showers forecast across the day and drizzle as we left. Our first stop was Holkham, where we scanned the fresh marsh beside Lady Anne’s Drive. In comparison with previous years, this was somewhat disappointing, with Snipe being the best we could muster here. It was good to bump into Richard Allan travelling with a group from Ashdown Forest, and share the scoped Snipe. Next we went goose hunting at Weybourne, where the continuing drizzle dampened our enthusiasm as we approached a field full of geese, to try to scan for a single Tundra Bean Goose. The majority were Pink-footed Geese, with a few Greylag intermingled. However, at the edge of the field, by a large muddy flooded pool, we were pleased to find a handful of White-fronted Geese, and unexpectedly a group of Barnacles too. We scanned for some time, but failed to locate the Bean Goose, so returned to the car. Here we met a couple who had been viewing from a track leading off the A149, s...

 We started our Norfolk week at Welney, quickly finding Tree Sparrows on the feeders, mixed with House Sparrows. Tim and Sue spotted a Short-eared Owl, which I possibly flushed, but failed to see! I did however find a Cattle Egret feeding in the grass. We spent some time at the reserve, where we had excellent views of the regular ducks, and Whooper Swans. On the mudbanks we spotted several Ruff, together with Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit. Whooper Swan After an early lunch, we drove to Holme golf course, where we soon enjoyed great, sustained views of a flock of around thirty Snow Buntings on the beach. Nearby, a group of around 100 Sanderlings scurried across the sand like clockwork mice, then huddled together close to the dunes, bellies looking brilliantly white in the bright sunshine. In cold, windy conditions, despite the sunshine, we battled up the beach towards Hunstanton, where we soon found a group of five Shore Larks, which gradually wandered towards us, giving excellent...

 We had a great morning birding at Abberton with Andy, although the bitterly cold wind made conditions challenging. We started at the Layer de La Haye causeway, where amongst vast flotillas of Coot, Tufted Duck and Pochard we managed to pick out a few Goldeneye and a number of grebes. The Great Crested Grebes were easy, but in the poor light it was trickier to pin down the smaller grebes, especially as they kept diving every time you wanted to lock onto them to study the key identification features. Eventually we managed to tune in to the differences though, and helpfully we were able to get photographic evidence of both species. Black-necked Grebes Slavonian Grebe Goosander Around the margins of the lake we picked out Lapwing and Redshank, and in the shallower waters here good numbers of Teal and a few Gadwall and Wigeon were seen. Having got to grips with the grebes, we were absolutely frozen, so decided to adjourn to Layer Breton causeway, enjoying a warm car journey on the way....

We enjoyed a lovely day out at Pagham yesterday with Sue. We started with a circuit from the visitor centre, but the water levels were high at Ferry Pool and there was little of note. In the channel a few Redshank and Curlew were the best we could muster. We relocated to Halsey’s Farm and walked across the field to North Wall. There were plenty of Wigeon whistling noisily as we passed, and out in the harbour swathes of waders, creating a tremendous spectacle when they all took to the skies, a murmuration of Golden Plover swirling above flocks of Lapwing, and groups of Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit dropping in to the nearby fields. Lines of Brent geese headed further west, calling softly as they passed over.   Wigeon In the area we were thrilled to find a Long-eared Owl roosting, showing surprisingly well near the front of a bush. Long-eared Owl In White’s Creek we were treated to great views of a Spotted Redshank which wandered in very close, allowing us to note its key features. ...

 After a delicious breakfast at Winchelsea Lodge, we arrived at Rye Harbour nature reserve around 9.30AM. The weather forecast was not promising, with fog or mist predicted for the whole day, but despite wisps of low lying fog when we arrived, this soon lifted to give clear views of the reserve, despite the grey skies. Our first birds, in a muddy channel as we approached the visitor centre, were Redshank, Curlew and an elegant Avocet, a new bird for the trip, and a delight to see with its long bluish legs, striking black and white plumage, and distinctive uptilted beak. Avocet (David Park) Flat Beach was full of birds, and we found a rich variety of waders here. A large battalion of Oystercatchers huddled tight on the shingle bank, whilst the smaller islands overflowed with groups of Golden Power and Dunlin, a sprinkling of Grey Plover and single Black-tailed Godwit intermingled amongst them. Around the watery edges of the scrape, Turnstones and Ringed Plover were incredibly well c...

 We departed from Shoreham at 7AM with a group of thirteen SDOS members for our inaugural overnight minibus trip, meeting three others at our destination, who had made their own way across. Our first stop was at Rock-a-Nore, nestled beneath a cliff at the end of Hastings seafront, where a strategic toilet stop offered the opportunity to get the ball rolling with a Fulmar tick. It didn't take long for us to locate a single bird huddled on the cliff, and before long a few more traversed the rockface, stiff white wings, fringed with grey borders lending an elegant air to their flight. A smattering of small birds were feeding in the vegetation on the roadside bank, the highlight being a Firecrest found by Tim, although few in the group managed to get onto this.  A Buzzard perched on a ledge gave excellent views. Common Buzzard (David Park) With a full day planned, we didn't linger too long, and continued on to the wonderful open terrain at Pett level, with a glorious mosaic of ree...

 Back in Sussex, it was a delight to get out in some glorious warm sunshine and enjoy some exercise after a sedentary few days in Shropshire.  Our first destination was Widewater, where a drake Goosander had been seen in the last couple of days. We just managed to catch this before it flew overhead, circled round and disappeared from the lagoon.  Goosander There were a number of Little Grebes here, plus four Coot and four Teal, together with nearly forty swans.  An Sdos colleague reported a Water Rail, but we failed to find this. With lunch beckoning, a short detour to the river gave me a Grey Plover tick, our local white-headed star which has returned to the reserve for several winters now. Lapwing, and the Curlew were feeding on the opposite side of the river. After lunch, I set out again, strolling by the river towards the country park. A few Dunlin and Ringed Plover were feeding at the water’s edge, and a number of Lapwings posed on the mudbanks. By the tollbridg...

 We took an afternoon walk to Kithurst Hill, parking at Chantry Lane. Sadly the birds were few and far between - we were perhaps a little late in the day, but the views were lovely and the low sun gave the landscape a beautiful golden glow. There were a good number of Red Kite present, and a Kestrel tracking along the path. Several Linnets flitted over the stubble, together with a smattering of Goldfinches, and the showiest bird of the walk was the Robin, popping up in bushes everywhere. A Grey Partridge was heard, but refused to come out and show itself. Red Kite On 4th January we explored another patch of downland farmland, taking a circular route from Mile Oak farm towards Truleigh Hill. Here we found a sizeable flock of farmland birds foraging on mixed wild flower seeds. Skylarks flashed their white-edged wings over the stubble, and Chaffinches and Linnets alighted in the hedgerow trees and bushes, giving decent views, although not particularly close. A slap up brunch at Mile O...

 After yesterday’s grim weather, we met Sue at Pulborough at 8AM for our traditional New Year bird walk. As we drove from Shoreham, the river valley was cloaked in mist, with the higher hills bursting above to the bright skies. Away from the river there was no lingering fog, but it certainly felt very cold when we arrived, and as we passed through the Zigzags, birdlife was very limited. Reaching Fattengates, the sun was just beginning to reach the treetops, and we found good numbers of Blue Tits and Robins, together with a smattering of Dunnock and a showy Nuthatch.  Robin Blue Tit At Westmead Hide, the ducks were looking stunning in the sunshine. Wigeon were plentiful, chestnut heads glowing in the sun, while  around half a dozen pristine Pintail swam elegantly across the pool, pausing occasionally to‘bottom up’! Shovelers gleamed white and rufous, and coppery-headed Teal shone in the glorious morning light. Around the islands, several Snipe bathed in the warmth, and Lap...

 With a dire weather forecast today - rain and 60mph winds, we decided to postpone our traditional New Year visit to Pulborough until tomorrow. However the lure of a new year list was too hard to resist, so at 7.45, before sunrise, Tim and I set off for the river, hoping for a quick walk before the rain set in. As we left home, we could just make out a cluster of Wood Pigeons in our neighbours tree, and a crow landed on their roof. A Robin sang from the trees in front of our house, but we couldn’t see him in the gloom. It was very quiet on the river, with no waders in sight, but an assortment of Black-headed, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls were active in the water. We heard calling House Sparrow but again failed to see any. Approaching the tollbridge, a Kestrel flew overhead and briefly hovered, but was seen off by another silhouetted bird, species unknown, whilst three Magpies foraged on the ground and a group of Starlings flew over.   With so little on the river, and t...