Immature Sabines Gull

Seen on west side of west breakwater at Newhaven Harbour this afternoon.

 

Plethora of Sandpipers

Computer problems finally sorted ( at last) and something to report locally, not a rarity but a build up of Common Sandpipers along the Ouse between South Heighton and Piddinghoe this evening totalled twenty eight birds,with twenty three together in one flock, I would have walked on further but the darkening sky sent me back home, thankfully just before the heavens opened . How many more might there have been heading towards Lewes ?  Over Piddinghoe Pond  60 odd Sand Martins were gathered not as many as Jake`s count at Arlington but a good movement in the area.

The local breeding pair of Canada Geese have been successful again this year, nothing new there you`re thinking, six fluffy goslings duly hatched and cared for by attentive parents it was only when they were fully feathered  with white facial features that I realised one hadn`t got any, in fact it looked to me to have morphed into a young Greylag Goose, most unusual. Answers ? well Greylag Geese have also been seen with young on Piddinghoe Pond so maybe a sortie onto the pond by the Canada`s and a mix up ensued with them returning with six young only one was not their own, possible I suppose but hardly likely, or maybe something genetically  in the parents past came to the fore with this youngster, anyway I guess I`ll never know but they are still on the river with a larger flock of Canada`s now, including one superficially anyway looking Greylag.

Arlington

Spent the afternoon in a garden just south-west of Arlington Reservoir, to a constant soundtrack of Nightingale, Linnet and Common Whitethroat. 

These were briefly joined by Turtle Dove and Lesser Whitethroat, and late in the afternoon a Green Sandpiper flew over, heading East.

Purple Heron at Southease

A Purple Heron at Southease late this morning, found by Steven Munday.

Apparently it was last watched heading North and appeared to drop down on the Beddingham side of the Ouse at Rodmell.

Also an Osprey at Michelham Priory today.

Thanks to Jacob Everitt for both reports.

Black – necked Beauty at Arlington

Thanks go to Derek Barber and Matt Eade for passing on the info regarding a summer plumaged Black necked Grebe at Arlington Reservoir today, it certainly was a stunner.

The resident Great crested Grebes were looking very smart too.

A handful of both Swallows and Sand Martins present with a couple of  House Martins seen.

Goosanders at Arlington, injured LEO, Green Sand at Glynde

A drake and two redhead Goosanders at Arlington Reservoir today, plus the drake Goldeneye (Jacob Everitt).

Last Monday, an injured Long-eared Owl was picked up on the road between Rodmell and Piddinghoe – taken to Buckinghamshire (top picture over on the Sussex Ornithological Society site).

Last weekend, a Green Sandpiper, two Peregrines and eleven Snipe along Glynde Reach. (via Firle Birds)

 

Bittern Demise

Very sad to write I found the remains of a Bittern yesterday afternoon, close to the river north of South Heighton which had more than likely fallen victim to a Fox. I`d seen which was almost certainly this bird in flight late on Tuesday afternoon heading over the railway line and disappearing into reeds bordering the private fishing site.

On a happier note this last week has seen a return of the pair of Bearded Tits to the east side of the river, a redhead Goosander was on the river today, the long staying Grey Plover remains and two Common Sandpipers are regular mostly around Piddinghoe. The Corn Bunting flock has varied from four to forty birds and can be elusive as I found this weekend as I didn`t see any.

At Newhaven west beach this morning two Ravens flew off as I arrived and before I could get any images, plenty of Fulmars prospecting nest sites and interacting with much head shaking and cackling. A brief glimse of a Black Redstart as it flew past unfortunately not to be seen again. A surviving Stonechat showed well and eight Rock Pipits noted.

Piddinghoe Pond etc….

A redhead Smew still on Piddinghoe Pond this afternoon, which Jake and I found yesterday morning ,with a supporting cast of the long staying redhead Goosander, a drake Pochard, three Wigeon and a Great crested Grebe, four Bearded Tits seen, two pairs, of which one of the females was a dark streaked headed variant that was also present yesterday, a much improved size flock of Corn Buntings totalled at least 73 birds, only 10 yesterday, by far the best count of this winter to date.

Bittern, Bewick’s, Waxwing, Egyptian Goose

New reports over the last couple of days have included:

6 Bewick’s Swans over Lewes (Matthew Silk), last seen heading in the direction of the Brooks,

a Bittern flushed yesterday at Glynde (Andrew and Diane Lusted)

a single Waxwing reported in Mill Lane, Ringmer (James Grover, via SOS sightings)

Egyptian Goose and 2 Goosander at Arlington Reservoir this morning (Jacob Everitt)

Happy New Year!

A morning around the Ouse and the Cuckmere

An excellent few hours around the Cuckmere and the Ouse with Paul Stevens this morning.

It didn’t start well – we drew a blank on Waxwings at Lewes Tesco – but the Brooks at Iford were busier. On the flood as viewed from Swanborough we could see hundreds of Lapwing and Wigeon, with a few Gadwall and the odd Shoveler. A couple walking their dog very close to the flood flushed many of the birds, including a dozen or so small waders (presumably Dunlin) and four probable Black-tailed Godwits, seen just too briefly for me to be 100%. A Water Rail squealed from one of the fishing lakes, and there was a Grey Wagtail on the treatment works.

From there to Piddinghoe, where a walk along the river produced the redhead GOOSANDER, two Little Grebes and a neat Grey Plover – not a bird I recall ever having seen along the Ouse before. A male BEARDED TIT crossed the river and dropped into the reeds at Piddinghoe Pond, finally giving great close views.

The Ouse Estuary Project was (again) bereft of Waxwings, so we quickly shifted to the Golden Galleon at Exceat, where the WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were feeding just north of the bridge – we counted 65 (some ten down on yesterday’s report) with the Canadas, Wigeon and Curlew.

South of the bridge there was a great selection of duck on the meanders, including a pair of GOLDENEYE, 3 male PINTAIL and four Pochard. A brief scan of the marshes on the west side revealed plenty of large gulls and Shelduck, but no Barnacle Geese.

Having dipped WAXWING twice already during the morning, we dropped in on Vale Close, Seaford and found an obliging and apparently fearless bird tucking into the apples; it was also being enjoyed by several photographers and some intrigued local residents.

A brief stop at Litlington Bridge just north of Alfriston produced three more Little Grebes and a couple of Kestrels but not much else, so we called it a day, having clocked a respectable-for-this-bit-of-Sussex total of 60 species.