Dungeness and Pett Level

Phil and I started at the ARC Pit, where we had no luck with the Gull-billed Tern at the west end but caught a couple of brief glimpses of the male Black-winged Stilt near the screen. A Cuckoo, a few hundred Swifts, two Black-tailed Godwits, a Hobby, two Common Sandpipers, 25 Common Terns (most of these mobbing one Herring Gull on a raft at one point), a Marsh Harrier, four Sand Martins, a House Martin, four Swallows and three Lesser Whitethroats were noted before we made our way to Dungeness Point. There we had a Black Redstart gathering food, three Common Terns at The Patch and a couple of Stonechats. Our final call at Dungeness was a stop at Springfield Bridge, where Dengemarsh offered a pair of Yellow Wagtails, the male in full voice, a Hobby carrying a Swift, two Corn Buntings and a pair of Marsh Harriers.

Yellow Wagtail at Dungeness RSPB

Black Redstart at Dungeness

We finished the day at Pett Level, where it was no less gusty and there was another Common Sandpiper, a Bearded Tit, five Common Terns, a couple of Curlew and another pair of Marsh Harriers. Five Sand Martins flew through.

Pett Level, Pannel Valley NR and The Downs

For Christian's birthday we met up at Pett Level, where a male Cuckoo, a couple of Bearded Tits and a pair of Marsh Harriers immediately performed as we got out of our cars. Broods of Pochard and Tufted Duck were on the pool, a couple of Egyptian Geese were around the edges, and both Common and Sandwich Terns gave vocal fly-bys. As we walked along the canal, two Hobbies gave spectacular views as they hawked for dragonflies and Cetti's, Sedge and Reed Warblers were prominent voices, as were the comical cries of the occasional Mediterranean Gull overhead.

The Pannel Valley scrape was alive with birds, mainly Avocets, Black-headed Gulls with chicks, one or two Oystercatcher families and at least three Little Ringed Plovers (including a mating pair). A male Marsh Harrier flew through here, too, as did additional Mediterranean Gulls, and more Cetti's Warblers were vocal. Eventually, a drake Garganey came out of hiding on the far side, and other duck interest included Shoveler and Gadwall broods. An Egyptian Goose was present alongside a few Shelducks. Another Cuckoo was heard singing before a Green Sandpiper announced itself flying over the path, the first sign of autumn.

drake Garganey at Pannel Valley

Common Tern at Pannel Valley

Shovelers at Pannel Valley

We finished with lunch back on the edge of Pett Level, adding Lesser Whitethroat to the day's list. It was a pleasure to spend the day with Christian, venturing into East Sussex for the first time in some while and on such a fine morning.

The evening was spent walking the downs above Sompting, where the Shelduck brood still seemed to be complete on the dew pond, a Corn Bunting sang and a gang of five Brown Hares stood in a bare field.

Pulborough Brooks RSPB and Pett Level

I spent the morning with Phil at Pulborough Brooks, were we whiled away a happy couple of hours grilling the North Brooks. The long-staying Wood Sandpiper was on view there along with eight Green Sandpipers, a Ringed Plover, three Little Ringed Plovers, 22 Lapwings, a Mandarin, a Little Egret, three Grey Herons, 13 Teal, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, three Kestrels, a Buzzard, 11 Swallows, two Sand Martins, two House Martins, a Reed Bunting, 96 Greylag Geese, two Gadwall and two Shovelers. After seeing two Ravens flew over the reserve, I was blown away by the sight of a flock of 15 following in their path, though uttering just one soft 'cronk' as they went. Three migrant Willow Warblers were along the trail, including one in song, as were small numbers of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. One spot we passed had three Bullfinches feeding on the ground, and we had a further four of these elsewhere, along with three each of Treecreeper, Whitethroat, Nuthatch and Whitethroat, plus a juvenile Stonechat, three Green Woodpeckers, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 12 Linnets, a Goldcrest, two Skylarks and two Coal Tits.

Wood Sandpiper at Pulborough Brooks RSPB

After a couple of errands at lunchtime, Ingrid and I treated ourselves to a drive over to Pett Level. The light was not in our favour and it a bit breezy but we picked out the drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK soon enough - a lifer for Ingrid - in the left-hand corner of the eastern pool amid a mix of Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Ducks and Teal. 40 Sand Martins hawked over the pools, where a Little Egret was resting, and two Sandwich Terns flew along the sea wall.

drake Ferruginous Duck at Pett Level

Pett Level, Pannel Valley NR and Adur Estuary

I eventually made it over to East Sussex this morning after battling through the usual traffic. An initial scan over Pett Level revealed a family of Marsh Harriers, three Whimbrel keeping just out of a flock of 53 Curlew and a couple of Common Terns. But best of all was a Common Sandpiper. My first of the year no less - I'm not quite sure how I managed not to see one for so long. Most of the Aythya ducks were hanging out on the eastern pool, so I spent a good while scanning through the ensemble, made up of Pochard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Teal and Gadwall, all in alternate plumage. One more scan, however, and almost to my surprise there was the reported FERRUGINOUS DUCK in all its glory. It was distant, and was mostly sleeping, but it was a fine, pure drake. As I moved on, nine Sand Martins and a couple of Swifts flew through.

drake Ferruginous Duck at Pett Level

Feeling somewhat elevated, I set out along the canal at the west end towards the enigmatic Pannel Valley Nature Reserve, encountering a Lesser Whitethroat and a handful of Sedge and Reed Warblers along the way, plus a flyover Raven. It is years since my last visit here, due as much to an - I suppose - unfounded sense that visitors are not particularly welcome, as the testing journey. I entered the first hide and quickly picked up the beautiful adult Curlew Sandpiper feeding opposite, as well as three Little Ringed Plovers (including a juvenile). Another birder joined me briefly before trying the other hide. After a few minutes, I followed him over and he gave me the inevitable news that the Pectoral Sandpiper had just shown for him before flying back towards the hide I'd just left. Without wanting to start to merry dance to and fro, I opted to stay put, enjoying establishing the presence of three Greenshanks and eight Black-tailed Godwits. Thankfully, soon the Pec appeared in flight and touched down for a few seconds to our left before settling on the far side, where it was dwarfed by a moulting male Ruff.

Lesser Whitethroat at Pett Level

Curlew Sandpiper at Pannel Valley NR

Pectoral Sandpiper at Pannel Valley NR

After walking back and taking a few minutes for lunch, I called back at Pett Pools for another look at the 'Fudge'. It was nowhere to be seen, and was presumably still in the reeds at the back, where it had drifted when I left it earlier. After hearing several earlier in the day (and at Rye in the early spring), though, I was glad to finally lay eyes on a male Bearded Tit as it flew over the vegetation. Two Common Gulls, an adult and a 2cy, were my first of the season, and six Sandwich Terns flew over.

On the way home, to break the monotony of the rush hour traffic I pulled off to have a quick scan of the Adur. I barely added to what I'd seen from the A27, with three Little Egrets and a count of 12 Mute Swans the most noteworthy sightings.

Hastings Country Park and Pett Level

I met up with Christian for a look round Hastings Country Park and Pett Level, both sites which will hopefully soon be local to him. I'd only briefly visited a small part of the country park before so a proper explore left me very impressed with the potential of the site. Highlights there included a Red Kite, a Siskin, a Raven, two Bullfinches and several Yellowhammers; offshore were 14 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, two Fulmars, a Curlew, three Sandwich Terns, 21 Common Scoters, seven Great Crested Grebes and two Gannets.

The wind put us off staying long at Pett Level but we witnessed a Marsh Harrier food pass and noted singles of Mediterranean Gull and Avocet.

Emsworth, Rye Harbour and Pett Level

The day started with dipping Waxwings on the Sussex side of Emsworth, flyover Grey Wagtail and Little Egret being the only birds of note. Ingrid and I then made the voyage to Rye Harbour, connecting with the three Twite on my second attempt near the Gooders Hide as they fed on the edge of the beach reserve with Skylarks. A Rock Pipit was also noted, as well as a scattering of wildfowl and waders, including Pintail, Grey and Golden Plovers, etc. Ingrid enjoyed a good showing of Shovelers, one of her favourites. We then moved on to Pett Level for a quick look, connecting with eight Velvet Scoters among Common Scoters offshore, where a few Red-throated Divers flew by. At least four Russian White-fronted Geese were visible in the distance, along with a Ruff, a Marsh Harrier, good numbers of Curlews and Lapwings and two Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Velvet and Common Scoters off Pett Level