28th March 2016 - *Sussex Mega* - American Wigeon at Pulborough
Gordon Beck had found a drake American Wigeon at Pulborough Brooks on the evening of the 27th and news filtered out via the SOS website and the Sussex Birders Facebook page. Forecast for the morning was bleak as storm Katie rattled in over night, I was up before light but was left questioning my sanity as I looked outside and saw the storm ripping through everything in site. A tweet from Ian Barnard had me moving though as the positive news was put out early that the bird was still present. There has only been one previous accepted record for Sussex so heading out into the storm was a no brainer and was soon on-site having passed several fallen trees en-route. The hide was fairly empty and good scope views were obtained as the bird sheltered on the far bank with 3 other Wigeon, occasionally swimming, feeding before going to sleep on the bank. There was at least 30 Sand Martins on the north brooks along with 2 Swallows, 2 Pintail and a Firecrest was found along the zig zag track which showed well. Good to see so many local birders out in force, it has been a while!
26th March 2016 - Patch Gold!
An hours sea-watch off Worthing was fairly productive with my first Sandwich Terns of the year seen here, 3 in total and all going through singly, other than that there were small groups of Common Scoter and Brent Geese going through. 2 Red-throated Diver and 2 Fulmar all east were also noted. I decided to head to the patch to check for any passerines, looking for Wheatears on the beach here a male Peregrine headed low overhead. No luck with Wheatears, I tried the compound area and soon heard the call of a parakeet, the bird called again and soon picked it up high over the houses above Sea Lane, it circled around a couple of times before heading overhead and headed off high eastwards! A patch tick in the bag, ok, not a migrant but these are pretty scarce on the south coast. I then picked up another familiar call and was soon watching another patch tick in the form of the delightful Firecrest that popped out in the nearest bramble patch, there was at least 2 birds seen with maybe a third. I was amazed to find these birds on the coat in spring, but soon realised via other news feeds, there is an obvious influx of this species along the coast! Coming away from the sea-watch early, I missed a Arctic Skua, Bonxie and a Balearic Shearwater which again is birding for you, you cannot see everything!
25th March 2016 - Arundel WWT and Heyshott common
Managed to see the Great-grey Shrike that Chris Janman had reported on the SOS site, gaining good scope views when the bird eventually gave itself up. 2 Red Kites, Marsh Tit, Stonechat and Siskin were also on site. At Arundel WWT provided a couple of singing Chiffchaffs, Water Vole, Grey Wagtail, Brimstone and Peacock butterfly whilst a Peregrine was seen at the hanger
Local West Sussex birds -
A few local year-ticks been added recently with a trip to the north end of Pagham Harbour and church Norton, taking in the ferry pool, aswell as a quick morning visit to Climping. Highlights included a Spotted Redshank in White's Creek, 2 Avocet at breech pool and 4 on the ferry pool which also hosted my first Green Sandpiper of the year. A Whimbrel was also in the harbour from Church Norton. A visit to a undisclosed heathland found a singing male Dartford Warbler, the same site saw many Siskin's flying about. I connected with one of the Siberian Chiffchaff's at Coldwaltham before another failed attempt for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker's ended the day on a low. Brimstone, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock were all on the wing at various locations. 2 Grey Patridges were in the horse paddock at Climping whilst Red-legged Partridge were seen at ferry pool and the entrance road to Church Norton
18th - 21st March 2016 - Weekend in WeymouthA family break in Littlesea enabled me to catch up with the Pallas's Warbler at Portesham which showed very well once located, calling several times too. Some nice record shots were obtained but the light was pretty poor for photography. Saw my first Sand Martins of the year at Lodmoor
16th March 2016 -
Another quick look at Shoreham Fort only 2 Purple Sandpipers being noteworthy, birding pretty difficult in a nagging easterly wind. No passerines on offer and very little at Widewater
12th and 13th March 2016 -
Great to be back out in the field again after a 12 day stretch at work was greeted with spring sunshine on each day after the murk had cleared. Stuck local with highlights being 2 Purple Sandpipers and Wall Lizards at Shoreham Fort, 2 Short-eared Owls at the dogs trust field a Shoreham airport, 2 Little Owls, Raven, 4 Fieldfare at Warningcamp, a smart male Blackcap(2016 patch tick) and a Mediterranean Gull at Goring. No Wheatears yet but just a matter of days
Elsewhere in Sussex, the Glossy Ibis is still being seen at Pett Level, the Glaucous Gull was seen in Shoreham Harbour and Goring.
3rd March 2016 -
Had a free morning so headed inland again and spent a couple of hours to no avail in looking for a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, perfect conditions this morning with morning sunshine and a light breeze. The place was alive though with small woodland birds including Marsh Tit and good numbers of Treecreepers were seen (see below)
I am sure I will be back to try and see this elusive Woodpecker in their regular/traditional haunts, as I said earlier in the year, determined to get out more this year and doing so ! Wish I had the day to explore these parts and light was perfect for photography. Great to bump into George Kinnard and Luke Dray there too...wonder if they found any??
Matter of days til the first Wheatear. Garganey, LRP's and Sand Martins arrive on these shores so should stir things up a bit.
Elsewhere in Sussex, there is a White-fronted Goose and Chichester GP's on trout lake, recently been a pair of Red-crested Pochards on nearby Ivy Lake and a Green Sandpiper has been on Siddelsham Ferry Pool. The Glaucous Gull is still around and frequently seen these days at the entrance to Shoreham Harbour, but has also been seen at Widewater and along the Adur by the new footbridge. Nearby, a Short-eared Owl is still in residence at Shoreham airport.2 Black-necked Grebes are on the Long Pool at Rye and 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs are still at Coldwaltham sewage works. Divers are still around with 5 Great-northern at Selsey and a smart Red-throated Diver is at Arlington Marshes
