Late Osprey

A latish Osprey reported in the lower Cuckmere on Friday (23rd), by Mike Unwin (via SOS). Today in Firle, both Swallow and Fieldfare near the Church.

Migrants at Alciston

A brief wander up to my favourite piece of the escarpment at Alciston revealed: Swallow 2 Yellowhammer 4+ Lesser Redpoll 1 Chiffchaff 2+ Blackbird c. 12 Song Thrush c. 8 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Common + BH Gull c.200 The concentration of thrushes, many of which were flighty and vocal, seemed to indicate migrants rather [...]

Late news: Swallow, Marsh Harrier, 22 Nov

A Swallow below High and Over on Saturday (22 Nov), seen by Andy & Gill Hibberd. Also on Saturday, a Marsh Harrier (female or immature) over the Ouse Estuary Project reedbed, before departing high to the west, seen by Peter and Lorna Wilson. Both sightings via SOS site. Interesting to see the Ouse Estuary Project [...]

Whooper Swans, Arlington Reservoir 16.11.08

Four Whooper Swans reported east over Arlington Reservoir, at 15.00 on Sunday (John Gallop, via SOS sightings). This is an excellent local record, of a species recorded in very small numbers in Sussex. Is this the first in the area since one at Cuckmere Haven in January 2003? Previous to that, a single (feral?) bird [...]

Hawfinch at Exceat, 9 Nov

A Hawfinch was a nice surprise for Alan Kitson at Exceat on Sunday (via SOS sightings). There are no reliable local spots for this species, as far as I’m aware, and generally the only records are of odd ones passing through, usually on the coast. It would be great to have a wintering party – [...]

Thousands of Swallows at Seaford

Dick Jackson, per SOS sightings: The birds were coming in off Seaford Bay and feeding on the hatch of flies along the cliff top. The bay was a mass of Swallows moving east. I could not accurately estimate a true number but it must have been thousands. Above Spash Point we were engulfed in the [...]