Ashdown Forest

I gave it an hour at Wrens Warren this morning, with no sign of the reported Little Bunting but this means given the short search in unfavourable conditions. I heard singing Woodlark and Mistle Thrush, and a couple of Stonechats were in the pony enclosure, but that was about it.

Dell Quay, Pagham Harbour, Shoreham and Titch Hill

Dell Quay offered a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, two Red-breasted Mergansers, a Rock Pipit and a pleasing suite of wintering waders and wildfowl.

A look from Church Norton produced a Sandwich Tern, along with a good scattering of Knot and Bar-tailed Godwits among other waders.

Peregrine at Church Norton

Shoreham Harbour had one Purple Sandpiper and five Turnstones on the wooden jetty. On the RSPB reserve on the Adur was a Wigeon, along with eight Teal, 14 Redshanks and a flock of 20 Linnets.

Purple Sandpiper at Shoreham

Late afternoon, a period scanning from Titch Hill offered 17 Fieldfares, a female Sparrowhawk and
a Kestrel, but little else.

Bramber Brooks, Patching and Goring Gap

I checked out Bramber Brooks for the first time this morning, logging a Cetti's Warbler, three Snipe, a Reed Bunting, a Stonechat, a Kestrel and two Green Woodpeckers among the birds encountered.

male Stonechat at Bramber Brooks

Patching was rewarding, with two Siberian Chiffchaffs performing superbly with five nominate Chiffchaffs. The pond was the busiest I've ever seen it, with a Great Crested Grebe, a drake Mallard, two Coots and a Moorhen! A Firecrest, a singing Treecreeper, a Yellowhammer and two Bullfinches were among the other species noted.

Siberian Chiffchaffs at Patching

Great Crested Grebe at Patching

Goring Gap was only visited briefly, with four adult Mediterranean Gulls, c500 Common Gulls and five Skylarks the best.

Goring Gap and Brooklands Park

A short visit to Goring Gap around midday, where I teamed up with Nick Bond, was otherwise uneventful, though seven Mediterranean Gulls and roughly 450 Common Gulls were counted, along with an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Stonechat. Three Dunlin decided better of settling in the roost field.

I couldn't resist twitching the drake Pintail at Brooklands Park in the late afternoon, where the drake Pochard was also still showing, along with five Teal, a Grey Heron and a Little Grebe. Two Goldcrests and 19 Long-tailed Tits gathered to roost by the Southern Water road as dusk fell.

drake Pintail at Brooklands Park

Goring Gap, West Worthing, Brooklands Park and Newhaven

Goring Gap was quiet early this morning, with 12 Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and a Redshank on the beach just about the only things worth mentioning.

When at home briefly mid-morning, three Mute Swans flew over our West Worthing garden, then from the car we saw the drake Pochard on the lake at Brooklands Park when at the traffic lights.

I dropped Ingrid off in Brighton for an appointment and killed the time before picking her up with a trip to Newhaven West Beach. There I enjoyed spectacular views of some 24 Fulmars on and around the cliffs, and rafting on the sea just offshore. Eight Purple Sandpipers and seven Turnstones were visible at long range on the east arm and a Great Crested Grebe was on the sea. A Rock Pipit was busy around the car park and a Sparrowhawk flew along the clifftop.

Fulmar at Newhaven

Rock Pipit at Newhaven

Coombes-Botolphs

A satisfying morning's birding along the Adur between Coombes and Botolphs featured three local year ticks: a Canada Goose with a flock of nine Greylags overhead, and a flock of 32 Fieldfares. An adult male Peregrine was on the cement works tower. Other observations included four Little Grebes, a Grey Wagtail, five Meadow Pipits, three Reed Buntings, two Grey Herons, two Little Egrets, four Buzzards, 97 Common Gulls, 25 Collared Doves (including a flock of 20), five Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Green Woodpeckers, three Kestrels, 120 Rooks, two Skylarks, five Goldcrests and nine Mallards.

Greylag Geese and Canada Goose

male Green Woodpecker

adult male Peregrine

Burnham Norton, Titchwell RSPB and Sculthorpe Moor NR

Before any proper birding could be done, a return visit to Burnham Norton was necessary to retrieve my tripod leg which fell off last night! Thankfully it was still by the path. Pink-feet and Dark-bellied Brents, Marsh Harriers and Cetti's Warbler brightened up the occasion.

Then it was on to Titchwell for the intended few hours' general birding before heading home. Highlights included two flighty Water Pipits, two showy Water Rails, a Spotted Redshank, a Long-tailed Duck, two Chiffchaffs, four Pintail, a Red-throated Diver, three drake Goldeneye, five Red-breasted Mergansers, Rock Pipit, Bearded Tits, a flock of 35 Knot, Cetti's Warbler, Avocets, and close views of Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers, and the like feeding on the beach.

Bar-tailed Godwit at Titchwell RSPB

Grey Plover at Titchwell RSPB

Long-tailed Duck at Titchwell RSPB

Long-tailed Duck at Titchwell RSPB

Water Rail at Titchwell RSPB

A pit stop at Sculthorpe Moor NR secured views of the Waxwing conveniently feeding and resting by the reserve car park.

Waxwing at Sculthorpe Moor NR

Sedgeford, Wells, Holkham, Thornham and Burnham Norton

Sedgeford first thing this morning produced fine views of the male EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL on the dung heap by the road. 60 Fieldfares, a Redwing, a Red Kite, a Marsh Harrier and a Yellowhammer were also logged.

male Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Sedgeford

Wells was the next stop, where the faithful juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard was successfully twitched, with two Golden Plovers in a nearby field and skeins of Pink-footed and Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying in (what was presumably the known Black Brant hybrid was clocked among the latter).

Rough-legged Buzzard at Wells

Holkham was rewarding, with nice views of four Shorelarks and 42 Snow Buntings in the roped-off area, while the sea produced four Long-tailed Ducks, several Velvet Scoters among vast rafts of Common Scoters, plus small numbers of Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Diver and Great Crested Grebe. Other birds included a field full of 75 Snipe, six Ruff, 12 Grey Partridges, 100 or so Golden Plovers, a White-fronted Goose with Pink-footed Geese, Dark-bellied Brent Geese and two Egyptian Geese and a Fieldfare.

Snow Buntings at Holkham

Shorelark at Holkham

Common Scoters off Holkham

Long-tailed Ducks off Holkham

Velvet Scoters in with Common Scoters off Holkham

Grey Partridges at Holkham

Ruff at Holkham

Snipe at Holkham

Thornham harbour offered the relic winter flock of 10 Twite, along with a Rock Pipit, a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers and trip ticks such as Mediterranean Gull, Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover.

Twite at Thornham harbour

Curlew at Thornham harbour

Today's dusk vigil was at Burnham Norton, where we had a Short-eared Owl, a Great White Egret, a Barn Owl, good numbers of Dark-bellied Brent Geese and Pink-footed Geese, three Cetti's Warblers, a Bearded Tit and four Egyptian Geese.

Lynford Arboretum, Billockby and Hickling Broad

A couple of nights away in Norfolk with Ian and Phil started with a short visit to Lynford Arboretum, enjoying nice views of two Hawfinches, four Bramblings, around 30 Siskins, a Yellowhammer, two roosting Tawny Owls and a few Marsh Tits among an array of common birds.

female Brambling at Lynford Arboretum

male Chaffinch at Lynford Arboretum

male Hawfinch at Lynford Arboretum

Long-tailed Tit at Lynford Arboretum

After a drive-by sighting of three Cranes in the famous field between Acle and Billockby, we finished the day at the Stubb Mill viewpoint at Hickling Broad. Along the approach was a flock of eight adult Bewick's Swans. We were greeted at the viewpoint by a vocal Siberian Chiffchaff in the adjacent ditch, before enjoying two Cranes, two Barn Owls, a Woodcock, eight Marsh Harriers and the sound of a Tawny Owl as darkness fell.

Bewick's Swans at Hickling Broad

Brooklands Park and Raystead Animal Welfare Centre

A short morning visit to Brooklands featured the drake POCHARD still, seven Teal, a Cetti's Warbler, a Little Egret, a Grey Heron, a Little Grebe, a Sparrowhawk and my first drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker of the season.

Grey Heron at Brooklands Park

Little Egret at Brooklands Park

Later, Ingrid and I had a look at the animals up for adoption at Raystead Animal Welfare Centre. A Fieldfare and a Nuthatch were the best wild birds seen...

Adur Estuary and Finsbury Park

In a really enjoyable couple of hours along the lower Adur in fine weather this morning, I caught up with the wintering Whimbrel and Greenshank, as well as two Curlew, a Kingfisher, a Rock Pipit, 15+ Reed Buntings, 13 Ringed Plovers, three Grey Plovers, 11 Oystercatchers, 12 Redshanks, 80+ Lapwings, five Teal, two Stonechats, four Meadow Pipits, 20 Linnets and four Skylarks.

Greenshank at Adur Estuary

Reed Buntings at Adur Estuary

Rock Pipit at Adur Estuary

Rock Pipit and Reed Buntings at Adur Estuary

A trip to London included lunch at Finsbury Park, where birds included four Mistle Thrushes, two Nuthatches, a Redwing, three Pochards, two Egyptian Geese and 42 Tufted Ducks.

Goring Gap

Another terribly quiet, and therefore brief, morning visit produced just eight Red-breasted Mergansers and a Red-throated Diver of note. Dunlin, Turnstones, Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers flew along the beach but the tide didn't suit counting waders.

Coombes

I took advantage of the wretched conditions in the morning to stay in and get things done then headed out to the Adur near Coombes in the afternoon. I was hoping for the Goosander, yet again, but no sign. The tide was high and a Common Sandpiper and eight Redshanks were roosting on the banks. A Peregrine, a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and three Buzzards represented the raptors. A Little Grebe was on the river.

Goring Gap and West Worthing

Goring Gap was dead this morning. Four Red-breasted Mergansers and a Grey Heron were the highlights. Sanderling, Turnstone and Dunlin were along the beach but not counted.

Later in the day, a Peregrine hung in the storm over West Worthing.

Cissbury Ring

A morning ringing session with Val and Pete was quiet for catching but did include a retrap Firecrest and a couple of Bullfinches. At least two Woodcocks were busy flying around in the pre-dawn gloom, while two Tawny Owls were having a hoot-off. Other observations included three Red Kites, a Raven, two Buzzards, a Redwing and a Meadow Pipit.

Steep Down and West Worthing

Steep Down this morning featured three Chiffchaffs, three Ravens, 26 Corn Buntings (some singing, and a flock of 21), 16 Skylarks, two Stonechats, 19 Pied Wagtails, 300 Common Gulls, a Buzzard, four Reed Buntings, 22 Linnets and five Meadow Pipits.

Ravens at Steep Down

Corn Buntings at Steep Down

Dunnock at Steep Down

Later, a Redwing was in a tree near my house in West Worthing.

Cissbury Ring

Just in case the shrike was still around, I had a mooch around Cissbury for a couple of hours this morning. No sign of course, and it was rather quiet, but two Mistle Thrushes included one singing and other birds included two Stonechats, a Redwing, a Nuthatch, four Meadow Pipits and nine Song Thrushes (six singing).

Ferring Rife, Patching and West Tarring

On my way through Ferring my first Sparrowhawk of the year flew over the car. Two Snipe, a Water Rail, a Grey Heron, a Redwing, a Reed Bunting, a 2cy male Kestrel, a Grey Wagtail, 12 Skylarks, a singing Coal Tit, three Goldcrests and 17 Moorhens were logged during a morning walk at Ferring Rife.

2cy male Kestrel at Ferring Rife

The 'Northern Treecreeper' was still along the public footpath by the east side of The World's End pub, where George and I found a 'Siberian Chiffchaff' where the path opens out to the fields. Also a Firecrest still on the south side of the road, plus two Bullfinches, a Yellowhammer and a Meadow Pipit. A Great Crested Grebe was on the pond - my first water bird there beside a brief Mallard the other day!

'Northern Treecreeper' at Patching

'Siberian Chiffchaff' at Patching

A Grey Wagtail flew over our allotment in Worthing.

Shoreham Fort and Botolphs/Coombes

My day started at Shoreham Fort, where on the adjacent wooden jetty four Purple Sandpipers were actively feeding in the company of 10 Turnstones and a Rock Pipit with a severe growth of its left foot (which it largely kept tucked away, shuffling along on its right leg). Two Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew east overhead and a glance out to sea revealed just two Gannets.

Purple Sandpiper on the jetty by Shoreham Fort

I parked at Botolphs then walked south along the Adur to a little way south of the cement works, then back. This produced a handful of good birds, not least a 'Siberian Chiffchaff' just by the little forest school as I got back to the car. It turned out to be quite a vocal bird after watching it for a few minutes and I ended up with some sound recordings. The other surprise of the outing was a flock of at least 24 Corn Buntings spotted by fluke in on a fence bordering a distant field well east of the river towards Beeding Hill. Further highlights included a Common Sandpiper, three Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, 12 Redwings, a Red Kite, a Redshank, two Buzzards, 35 Meadow Pipits, a Reed Bunting, a family of five Mute Swans, three Grey Herons and two Kestrels (including nice views of an adult male).

'Siberian Chiffchaff' at Botolphs

Common Sandpiper on the Adur near the cement works