Dark-breasted type Barn Owl(type) - Southease - East Sussex

This bird has been stirring up some interest recently, thrilled to see such a stunning bird, Barn Owls are always special and we were treated to a 'normal' type aswell! Can watch these birds all day and the photo's do not do the bird justice...poor light, fantastic views.....photo's....do the weather justice!

 



A visit to the East side!! Bonaparte's Gull - Eastbourne

Made a visit for the first time this year to East Sussex with several target birds in mind! The first target was a visit to Prince's Park in Eastbourne to try for the Bonaparte's Gull that had been present now for nearly 2 weeks..the promised Eastbourne sunshine failed to materialise but the bird was soon located and showed well to the admiring camera club and a few birders amongst us! The bird was also heard calling whilst being chased for it's bread by a large by comparison Black-headed Gull...once fed, the bird was quite happy to loaf around in the middle of the lake. A very confiding bird and pleased to see another one in Sussex after the summer-plumaged Arlington bird a few years back and my first Bonaparte's being a first winter bird in Whitstable, Kent back in the late 90's, so this was a plumage tick...will be interested to see if this hangs around and starts moulting into summer plumage..could be worth a return visit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Managed these in pretty poor light



 

Then we made a stop at Newhaven Harbour where we counted at least 24 Fulmars on the cliff face or flying around, there was also a Common Seal close inshore and scanned through the gulls in the hope of something interesting..which there wasn't!  

 

 

Moved onto Southease, parked by the train station and viewed the Dark-breasted type Barn Owl flying around the nearby fields, there was a normal Barn Owl also present...the light was grim the whole day so didn't help with the photography but a good day out and nice to connect with all intended