Review - January 2015

Not a bad start to the year, the Greater Yellowlegs at Titchfield Haven was seen after dashing over to Hampshire as soon as the news broke, good distant scope views were had (thanks to fellow Sussex birder Simon's use of his scope), the Yellowlegs was hanging around with a fairly mobile flock of Black-tailed Godwits that were being moved around by the nearby cattle. On one occasion, the bird was feeding up on a distant grass bank, totally in the open allowing study of all the features. This species has been very difficult to connect with over the last few years especially to my knowledge and as with this bird only staying for a day before moving on.

The Kumlien's Gull returned to Littlehampton for it's second winter re-found by Bola around the 21st and managed to see the bird on the 24th, I always find either side of high tide good at the river-mouth whereas at low tide you are best searching further up-river at the Look and Sea centre...take some bread...a first winter Mediterranean Gull has been around also.

3 Purple Sandpipers were seen at Shoreham Harbour on the 19th, not sure there has been higher numbers than this around this location this winter

A nice Little Owl was seen in Arundel also on the 24th, whilst plenty of the usual species were encountered up at the Burgh the same morning. The fields below Burpham Church were full of winter thrushes including good numbers of Redwing and several Mistle Thrushes. Also saw 14 Song Thrushes together in one field with 23 Blackbirds...some sight! The Bewick's Swans numbers declined slightly as we moved through the month, the most I counted was 39 including 4 juvenilles, normally 4 Black Swan's with them but always a fair distance this year...this time last year all there feeding fields were under water!

Firecrests are still reliable in Arundel, especially around the Swanbourne Lake area.

Throughout the month, all the birding I did was within West Sussex apart from the dash west for the Greater Yellowlegs, below is some photo's I would like to share from my travels.....hoping to continue to get out more throughout February

 

Pagham Harbour view from Church Norton

 

Robin and Lapwing at Arundel WWT

 

Moorhen and Water Vole also Arundel WWT

 

Carrion Crows pampering each other at Widewater

Redwing and Goldfinch at Burpham church fields