Window to Wildlife

 We started our day back at Hayle, searching for some of the unusual gulls which have been reported recently. Frustratingly, many were again at some distance, making identification of fine details very tricky. Tim eventually picked out a possible candidate for Bonaparte’s Gull on the most distant sandbank. It appeared to have a black bill and shortish legs, but this was difficult to discern at such a distance. The bird then flew even further away, so we relocated to Carnsew Meadows for a closer look. Unfortunately by the time we got there, it had moved again! However, we were now more easily able to compare it to a nearby Black-headed Gull and it was noticeably smaller, so combined with the other features, we concluded this was indeed a Bonaparte’s Gull! A good result, but we had spent a lot of time here. Our main objective for the day was a walk from Gothian Sands to Hells Mouth and back on the Southwest Coast Path. On the lake we added Tufted Duck, Coot, Mallard and a Little Gre...

 With a forecast of north-north westerly winds, today was the most promising for our annual seawatch at Pendeen. It was unfortunate the clocks went forward last night, meaning the lost hour made an early start very challenging! We drove through thick mist on our way over, accompanied by mutterings of discontent from Tim, but luckily when we arrived it was glorious blue skies and sunshine. We were  disappointed to find no-one else seawatching when we arrived, but that needn’t have worried us, as the conditions were excellent, and this is probably the best experience we have ever had. For starters, it was much warmer than in October, and we were able to stand on the grass overlooking the sea rather than clambering to stand huddled beside the wall to shelter from the wind. Pendeen There was an impressive and steady stream of Manx Shearwaters passing through, with many birds coming very close, on the landward side of the rocky outcrops that serve as a great landmark for pinpointin...

 We left Sue’s at around 7am and arrived at Yarner Wood in Dartmoor around 9 o’clock. We spent some time in the bird hide, getting great views of familiar woodland species, including Marsh Tit, Coal Tit and Nuthatch. Then we strolled up onto the small heathland area, but there was almost nothing here, save for some vocal Chiffchaffs and a Stonechat. We returned via the woodland path to the visitor centre, then walked up towards the other hide, enjoying a pair of cronking Ravens which chased each other over the valley beside us. At the hide we found a Great Spotted Woodpecker and on the path back down Tim managed to see a Siskin, which had been calling all around us but remaining elusive. Disappointingly there was no sight or sound of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. After a tasty brunch, we relocated to Postbridge in a fruitless search for Dipper, then continued on to Bellevor Tor, where a Great Grey Shrike had been reported. It was quite a trek with scopes to the area it had been seen, ...

 En route to Cornwall, it was great to spend a day out birding with sister Sue. The trip got off to a great start, with a pair of showy Firecrest at point blank range in the garden, frequenting a camellia bush outside their patio doors. The male was possibly attracted by the light as Keith took a photo on his mobile phone, but it flew in aggressively towards the window flaring its magnificent flame crown as it approached. Tim managed a reasonable shot through the glass as it peered in the window. Firecrest Next up, we were told that Blue Tits had been investigating their nestbox with camera, bringing in some nesting materials. Keith viewed  the scene on the computer, and as we studied the moss gathered to date, right on cue, a bird suddenly appeared on camera, where it paused awhile, rejigging the soft furnishings, before departing. Soon we set out for a day of birding, heading over to Portland. On the way, we were chuffed when a Dotterel was reported at Ferrybridge, a familia...

  I was sat at home when I became aware of a report of a Bluethroat  (white-spotted) at Brooklands Park in Lancing. Tim was in Brighton, so I decided to hot foot it along the beachside path to Brooklands, a walk of around three miles. Tim then messaged to say he was heading for the bus and keen to see the bird, so I said I'd meet him there. There was a crowd of around fifteen when I arrived, to news that the bird had only been seen by the finder and one other birder, but had not been seen since. Disappointing, but it was good to bump into many familiar faces and chat, as we waited hopefully for an appearance.  A Chiffchaff, Wren, Cetti's Warbler and pair of Dunoocks put in occasional appearances to set pulses racing, before enough of the bird was revealed to realise it was not what everyone was looking for. But eventually our patience was rewarded, when the bird suddenly appeared, moving furtively amongst the base of the reeds at the back of a small muddy pool. It fed her...

 This was our first visit to Medmerry for some time. Scopes are needed to find some of the smaller waders on Stilt Pool at the end of the path, and it is quite a long walk carrying this on the back as we get older, so our visits are less frequent than to nearby Pagham, which is always such a good source of birds. We arrived around 9AM in glorious sunshine and the first sound I heard on opening the car door was a singing Skylark. It is difficult to feel anything other than joy when listening to this melodic song poured out in a constant stream of cascading notes. We were serenaded by this delightful song throughout our walk as Skylarks soared above us, then parachuted down to disappear in the long grass or alight helpfully atop a thorny gorse bush. Spring has definitely arrived! Our next noteworthy sighting was a flock of eight Fieldfares in a field close to the car park, a lingering winter visitor, and a species that has been notably thin on the ground in Sussex this year. A single...

We led a minibus tour to Warnham today for Shoreham District Ornithological Society, a repeat of last year's successful outing to this excellent local reserve.  Starting at the lake, there were plenty of Tufted Duck and a few Teal seen from the hides, whilst Grey Herons gathering nesting material and Little Egret were found around the Heronry, together with a group of Cormorant. A pair of Great-crested Grebe looked stunning through the scope in their fresh breeding plumage, and snatches of courtship dance were seen by some lucky group members. Although increasingly common, a pair of Egyptian Geese close to the Discovery Hide showed off their bold and colourful markings, and it was difficult not to admire them. A few were lucky enough to spot a Grey Wagtail at the water edges. Around the feeders and hides, a good variety of birds were active, although the first hide was bereft of birds other than Blue and Great Tits, following a sweep through from a Sparrowhawk just before we arrive...

 We’ve done lots of local walks over the last week, since returning from grandparenting duties in Shropshire, but with no other commitments today, we ventured further afield, starting at Lord’s Piece a small heathland reserve near Petworth. As soon as we got out from the car we could hear the melodic tones of a Wood Lark singing, our target species here. However, it took us well over an hour before we managed to actually spot the bird! We found it tricky to pinpoint the sound, so wandered up and down various paths in vain, before I finally spotted it in a central tree, tucked against the branches near the top of the canopy. We edged a little closer to confirm the identification and after a few minutes it flew down towards another bird on the ground, before landing in a helpful position on a nearby conifer. Wood Lark With that job done, we continued on our way towards Burton Mill Pond. There wasn’t much of note, but it is a lovely varied walk, in a beautiful setting. On the pond wer...

 This newly opened reserve is becoming a great local hotspot, with the resident Barn Owls a star attraction. We wandered across for our daily exercise this afternoon, and as we approached immediately spotted an owl sat on a post overlooking the ditch. Before long we encountered several familiar faces, with two of them thrilled at encountering these magnificent birds for the very first time. It was a privilege to share in their enthusiasm. Barn Owl (photo by Paul Loader) Paul, an excellent local photographer, managed to capture the rings on both birds, one a metal ring, with number unreadable, the other a red colour ring, of the type the Sussex Barn Owl Study Group have been using since 2024. This enabled them to identify this as a female,  ringed as a chick in July 2024 at a site 7km away.  Recently, a further bird has been spotted just across the river near the flyover. This also has a colour ring, so it is hoped we will be able to find out more about the origins of that...

 After ten days of grandparenting duties, it was great to get out birdwatching again, on an SDOS outing to Sherwood Rough.  This is the site we had visited a few weeks ago for Hawfinch, and in birding terms the walk was a tad disappointing, but the company was excellent, with a good turnout of around twenty five members. It was a steepish climb up, but our efforts were rewarded on the ridge top, where a calling Nuthatch showed very well in a tree close to the path, and a Kestrel in the treetops made the effort of carrying my scope worthwhile! Continuing round, the woodland walk was rather quiet, but an open, sunny ride proved a little more productive with Yellowhammer and Firecrest showing very well.  At a small pond, we stopped for drinks and snacks, and suddenly, to great delight a huge, magnificent White-tailed Eagle drifted into view, and circled above us giving stunning views and a real ‘Wow!’ moment.  White-tailed Eagle (Richard Allan) With our spirits revived,...