Waders at Arlington Reservoir

A good day for waders at Arlington Reservoir – 4 Bar-tailed Godwits flew NE in the morning (Paul James), and late this afternoon there were three Greenshank, a Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper on site. (Matt Eade – both per SOS site)

Turtle Dove at Berwick Station

One or two Turtle Doves singing at the Old Brickyard, adjacent to Berwick train station, this morning. Also Bullfinch, Cuckoo, Reed Bunting and several Whitethroats and Blackcaps, but the Willow Warbler present last month wasn’t heard, and not so much as a sqeak from a Nightingale – has anyone heard them yet at this site [...]

Little Tern, Marsh Harrier, Grasshopper Warbler

From Matt Eade:
At Arlington Reservoir this afternoon a Little Tern was feeding along the dam at 15.00, but further searches later on drew a blank. Also at 15.15 a fem. Marsh Harrier flew north.
And Paul James reported a Grasshopper Warbler reeling along the West side of the Lower Cuckmere valley this morning.
(Both sightings [...]

Arlington reservoir area

An afternoon walk aroundthe north side of the res. and down to the river and weir and back to the car park produced 6 warblers (Cetti’s,Willow,Chiffchaff,Common Whitethroat,Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap) 4 Common Buzzards and 2 Grey Wagtails .

Black Kite at Seaford

A Black Kite reported at Seaford just before 9am this morning (via Birdguides).
Nothing quite so exciting at Arlington Reservoir this morning, but a very brief visit produced five Shoveler on the water, and singing Reed Bunting and Linnet near the car park.
Nearby at Berwick Station, a Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler singing, [...]

Weekend roundup

The trickle of early spring migrants continued during the fine weekend.
By Saturday, there were at least 5 Chiffchaffs singing around Firle (with territorial Stock Doves (2-3 pairs), Buzzards (1 pair), Green and GS Woodpecker (1 each).
The SOS walk at Newhaven Tidemills turned up more Wheatears, plus 12 Purple Sandpipers on the harbour arm (Neil Greenaway), [...]

Slav Grebe at Arlington

A Slavonian Grebe at Arlington Reservoir today, near the hide, plus adult Mediterranean Gull in the roost and Peregrine over (Chris Ball, via SOS site)

Red-throated Diver at Arlington

A Red-throated Diver showing at Arlington Reservoir today (Alan Kitson and Miou Helps, SOS site).
Also, a few reports belatedly reproduced here: On New Year’s Eve, nine Waxwings were at Exceat (Karen Anne Cooper, via SOS) and a Little Gull at Cuckmere Haven on New Year’s Day (Joanne Chattaway, also SOS).
Yesterday, the Bearded Tits were seen [...]

Grey geese influx

Three Tundra Bean Geese on Lewes Brooks (in an area with no public access) yesterday and today, five White-fronted Geese seen on Glynde Levels today, and two juv White-fronts reported amongst a mixed group of geese reported in the lower Cuckmere (all via SOS).
Elsewhere, an Eider at Arlington Reservoir on Boxing Day (see photo on [...]

Goosander at Arlington

A male Goosander at Arlington Reservoir on Saturday and again early Sunday morning, until it flew SW at 0736 (via Birdguides & SOS sightings).