Snow Buntings

As I got out of the car in the ARC car park first thing this morning I could hear Bewick Swans calling as they left the lake. In a couple of minutes 114 left roost on the pit. The bushes along the track to Hanson was alive with Redwings and a few Fieldfares and Reed Buntings also 2 Marsh Harriers over. The Willow Trail was also full of Redwings and Blackbirds. The view from the hide was disappointing with most of the lake frozen and few wildfowl to be seen. Driving to The Point a Great White Egret and 3 red head Smew could be seen on New Diggings.

 From the fishing boats still 100s of Razorbills, Guillemots, Great Crested Grebes and 10s of Red Throated Divers, Gannets and Kittiwakes tooing and froing, also 18 Common Scoter moved west.
Scotney pits were covered in wildfowl, mainly Wigeon and Greylags, but also good numbers of Pochard and Tufted Duck. The Barnacle Goose flock was still present and in the small copse dozens of Redwing and fieldfare and a single Woodcock.
News from PT that he had seen the 2 Snow Buntings in Greatstone Dunes first seen Saturday by OL. I was joined on the beach by the dunes at Greatstone by CT and SB where we saw a few Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits, on the shore Sanderling, Dunlin, Knot, Bar Tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Curlew and Oystercatchers but no Snow Buntings. I decided to walk along the dunes to the sailing club and saw a few more Reed Buntings also a few winter Thrushes but Snow Bunting. I was half way back when SB called to say the Buntings were just east of the sailing club. Another hike back and I could see them. They were uncharacteristically flighty not allowing close approach and flying several hundreds of yards each time a dog walker came near.    

On Burrowes Pit 2 Great White Egrets from Dennis's Hide, from Scott a red head Smew, a Raven 2 Marsh Harriers and a Peregrine. Along the track 200+ Golden Plover and 20+ Common Snipe over.
On Walland near Midley I counted 162 Bewick Swans but there may well have been more as they were distant and the light was failing, also a Merlin dashed over a ploughed field putting up a flock of c40 Corn Buntings. Driving through the lanes winter Thrushes were much in evidence.

Orlestone Again

Orlestone Forest

By 11.00 hrs and the snow still falling I had to get out into the woods. A couple of hours wandering    along the forest tracks not really seeing much. Once again 3 rear end views of Woodcock, plenty of Redwings and Blackbirds with a few Fieldfares and a couple of Tit flocks, 2 calling Tawny Owls. Getting back to the car I parked up near a feeding station and let the birds come to me.  

In the Forest

Note how the snow has built up round the ring on its right leg

I spent a pleasant 3 hours this morning wandering around Orlestone Forest which was totally devoid of human life. Not many birds away from the feeding stations, but I did see the back end of 4 Woodcocks, 4 Bullfinches, 6 Goldcrests, a Long Tailed Tit flock, dozens of Redwing and 2 calling Tawny Owls. Still no Crossbills, Siskins or Redpolls.
This afternoon a wander round Hothfield Common which was like a Winalot advert found a flock of 30 Siskins at last, but the star bird was a Grey Wagtail.

What Snow?

A Woodcock beside the road as I drove through Orlestone Forest this morning on my way to The Point.

 At The Point 100s of Razorbills and Guillemots and scores of Red Throated Divers Tooing and Froing off shore. A steady trickle west of Kittiwakes c160 in 1.5hrs, c200 Wigeon west + 4 Pintail, 6 Mallard and 3 Mediterranean Gulls. On the beach the Glaucous Gull kept itself cool by standing on the ice, nearby the Great Black Backed Gull with a deformed tail.

The ARC Pit was disappointing with few birds and little of note. Burrowes was also disappointing, apart from 1 red head Smew and 1 Great White Egret.
At Scotney 2 Slavonian Grebes, increased numbers of Wigeon and the feral Barnacle Goose flock has returned.
Out on Walland Marsh 100s of Winter Thrushes on the fields with 100s of Golden Plover and lapwing,  c30 Tree sparrows in the bushes opposite the feeding station at midley. From the triangle at Cheyne Court 72 Bewick Swans, 2 Whooper Swans, 21 Greater White fronted Geese, a ring tail Hen Harrier and 3 Marsh Harriers.
At the spoil heap in Tickners Lane 2 Yellow Hammers, 8 Corn Buntings, c40 Chaffinches and a Common Buzzard.

RIP Les Hemblade

A trip back to West Sussex to see my old birding mate Les Hemblade, with whom I spent many weekends birding round Sussex and beyond off on his final twitch. 

 As I arrived early I spent an half an hour at The Burgh watching from the triangle. Where a flock of 20+ Corn Buntings were in the hedge by the paddock along with several Yellowhammers and several Song Thrushes. Across the fields a covey of c15 Grey Partridges could be seen and others that were hidden could be heard heard. 4 Common Buzzards soared over hill with Red Kite and 2 more Red Kites flew down the Arun Valley. On the way back to the A27 30 Bewick Swans could be seen in the fields between Wepham and Warningcamp.  

After seeing Les off  I made a brief visit to Shoreham fort where 8 Purple Sandpipers were on the wooden pier. On the sea nothing worth mentioning.

More of the same

First thing this morning at the ARC Pit found 1 Great White Egret, 2 red head Smew and 4 Goldeneye among the common wildfowl. In the Willow Trail the Tit flock still had 1 Chiffchaff and 3 Goldcrest also a Woodcock flushed from the sallows and a Marsh Harrier over. At the south end another Great White Egret and 2 Chiffchaffs. The other side of the road on New Diggings 3 Smew (2 drakes) before they relocated to Burrowes.
At The Point several hundred Guillemots and Razorbills tooing and froing with a few Red Throated Divers, a flock of 5 Pintail came in as did c20 Skylarks.
At Scotney I was unable to locate the 2 Slavonian Grebes I missed yesterday, 2 Marsh Harriers flew through upsetting the Herring Gulls and Wigeon and despite spending along time going through the Greylag flock I could find nothing interesting amongst them. By the concrete road to Scotney Court Farm 30+ Fieldfare and 2 Redwing.
On Burrowes from Dennis's hide another 2 Great White Egrets along with 6 Smew, 6 Goldeneye and an elusive Goosander. From Scott Hide a Kingfisher, 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Marsh harriers were the highlights.  
Late afternoon on Walland 9 Bewick swans with the Mutes opposite Midley barns, 30+ Tree Sparrows and 4 Yellowhammers in the bushes opposite the feeders. By the spoil heap in Tickners Lane 2 Common Buzzards, 6 Yellowhammers, 8 Reed Buntings, 14 Corn Buntings and c40 Chaffinches.  
  

A plod along the beach

 Mid morning at the ARC Pit: In the Willow Trail 2+ squealing Water Rail, a Cetti's Warbler, a Green Woodpecker and in the  Tit flock, still 1 Firecrest, 2 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff. From Hanson 3 Smew (1 drake), 5 Goldeneye and a Marsh Harrier. At the south end a single Great White Egret and much reduced numbers of the common wildfowl.

At the fishing boats far fewer Razorbills, Guillemots, Grebes and Red Throated Divers on a rough sea than of late, but the ever present 3w Glaucous Gull was on patrol. 

 With little moving at sea I walked along the beach to the lifeboat station. On the way a party of 10 Brent Geese, 18 Teal and 5 Wigeon flew east.

Dozens of dead Dogfish littered the high tide line and were much appreciated by the Gulls and Turnstones.

 250+ Oystercatchers, 8 Bar Tailed Godwits, 2 Grey Plover and 6+ Dunlin were in a high tide roost by the lifeboat station.

 The reserve was disappointing with the reduced numbers of wildfowl. The highlights were a single red head Smew on Burrowes, a party of 10 Snipe over and 2 Marsh Harriers.
Scotney was also disappointing with little of note present.
On Walland all I could find was 2 Bewick Swans in the potato field and a family of 5 with the Mute swans opposite Midley Barn, nearby the usual Tree Sparrow flock and 2 Common Buzzards. 

Harrier Count

A late start this morning at a bitterly cold point. Still plenty of  Razorbills, Guillemots, Great Crested Grebes,and Red Throated Divers tooing and froing off shore with small numbers of Gannets and Kittiwakes. A few Common Scoter, Wigeon and Shoveller moved east along with 300+ Brent Geese and a Single Red Breasted Merganser, a single drake Eider flew west.

On the ARC a Great White Egret, 2 red head Smew and 6+ Goldeneye among the very much depleted numbers of common wildfowl. In the Willow Trail a Cetti's Warbler tacking and a Water Rail squealing, the Tit flock held a Firecrest , Chiffchaff and 3 Goldcrests.

The track to The Pines found another Firecrest and Chiffchaff with 2 Marsh Harriers over. 

A freezing Walland Marsh this afternoon

Scotney wildfowl numbers were also much depleted from last weeks 1000s. The Red Crested Pochard roosting at the Sussex end and a male Marsh Harrier were the only notable birds seen.
On Walland 74 Bewick Swans in the potato field but no sign of the Whoopers.
The reed bed I was watching had a single male Marsh Harrier roost, the smart male Hen Harrier flew over and returned a few minutes later dropping in to the reed bed in front of me, a few seconds later it came out and flew into a nearby roost. While waiting for the Harriers 2 Common Buzzards flew over along with a few Fieldfare, Snipe, Golden Plover and Lapwing, but once again nothing like last weeks numbers.   

Easterly passage

08.25-10.30  From the fishing boats saw another good movement of Auks with 5,000+ moving east, along with 230+ Red Throated Divers and smaller numbers of Gannets and Kittiwakes. A surprise easterly movement of 639 Brent Geese also a Bonxie off shore.
New Diggings held 2 Great White Egrets, 3 red head Smew and 5 Goldeneye, among the much depleted numbers of common wildfowl which seems to be the case on all the pits.
A walk round the reserve found 2 more Great White Egrets, 3+ Marsh Harriers a Firecrest on the return trail but little else of note.
The ARC pit had another 2 Great White Egrets making probably 6 individuals, from Hanson 7 Smew(1 drake), 6 Goldeneye, a Kingfisher, a Bittern and 3 Marsh Harriers. In the Willow trail the Tit flock held another Firecrest, 4 Goldcrests and 2 Chiffchaffs.
On Walland Marsh the Bewick Swan herd has risen to 88 with Whoopers all feeding on the potato fields. Nearby 30+ Tree Sparrows opposite the feeding station and c15 Marsh Harriers out by the windmills.

Swimming Bittern

1of 250+ Red-throated Divers off shore today

 From the fishing boats this morning the sea was not quite as busy as yesterday but still a very entertaining morning.
07-50-11.00 TG,DW,OL,MH,PT,MC a full count was not made for the whole period (lots of chat and laughs)
Red-throated Diver: c250 tooing and froing
Great Crested Grebe: c2,000 off shore
Gannet: c50 off shore
Brent Goose: 16E
Shelduck: 16E
Common Scoter: 14w  3E
Teal: 18 E then W
Wigeon: 13E
Oystercatcher: 41E
Mediterranean Gull: 2 off shore
Kittiwake: 142E
Auks: 5,593 moved east in the first hour with a rough split of 70% Razorbill 30% Guillemot. The total for the whole period was probably well in excess of 10,000

On The New Diggings of note 3 Smew (1 drake) and 1 Great White Egret.
On the ARC Pit from the screen hide a Bittern watched swimming from 1 reed bed to another, behaviour that I have never witnessed before. Also there of note 1 Great White Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Goldeye, 2 red head Smew, 2 Chiffchaffs, 8+ Goldcrests and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Scotney held c1000 each of Golden Plover and Lapwing, 30+ Dunlin and 2 Ruff.
Many thanks to Richard Smith Bird Watching Days Out for all his help with getting my 7D fixed.