18/02/2026

A Mediterranean Gull battling against the strong SE wind today

07.15-09.30 & 12.00-14.00 from the hide with JS, SF, RW, OL, JY, SB.  Wind a biting ESE 6  Temp 6º,

Brent Goose: 2E   

Shelduck: 4E

Teal: 6E

Velvet Scoter: 6W
Common Scoter: 5E   2W

Red-necked Grebe: 1 landed on sea and drifted West. (Jacob and Charlotte only)
Great-crested Grebe: 16E      60 Present

Oystercatcher: 22E

Curlew: 1W

Dunlin: 20E
Kittiwake: 39E  
Black-headed Gull: 63E
Common Gull: 78E
Herring Gull: present
Great Black-backed Gull: present  

Razorbill: 91E       17W
Guillemots: 1812E    2W
Auk sp: 91E      17W

Red-throated Diver: 295E     2W
Fulmar: 3E 
Gannet: 49E       2W
Cormorant: present no count

Peregrine: 1 present

Harbour Porpoise: 3 present

Grey Seal: 1 present

On the way back from the early morning sea watch I stopped at Cockles Bridge where there was 2 Whooper Swans with some Mute Swans in the fields opposite the bridge. In the triangle 14 Cattle Egrets and 3 Little Egrets were feeding.

After breakfast a short excursion to Scotney where 1,000+ Golden Plover were on the sward, along with 17 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew, 18 Redshank and 500+ Lapwing. c250 Wigeon were in the pool but I couldn't find the American Wigeon.

While having a quick coffee before going back to the sea watch hide the Lesser Whitethroat was feeding under the Camelias in my garden.

17/02/2026

 Sea watching the last few days has been rather Ground Hog Day like, so today with a cold NW wind blowing this morning I gave the sea watch a miss to spend more time with Lesser Whitethroat.

From reports I heard it was a good decision, a couple of Dartford Warblers were seen around The Point along with the odd Firecrest and Chiffchaff. There were no reports of Geese, Swans and the American Wigeon.

A plywood tray placed under the feeder to catch a poo sample

Today was the Lesser Whitethroats(halimodendri) 50th day in the garden, so I spent the whole day staring at the feeders watching it, hoping it would provide me with a poo sample. I placed pieces of ply under the feeders to catch any poo sample, unfortunately the bird had other ideas and used it as a handy table to feast on the the spilt Sunflower chipsHERE

The Lesser Whiethroat

The first Great Spotted Woodpecker of the year in the garden

Lesser Whitethroat and Goldfinch

Jackdaws are frequent at the feeders

Plenty of Goldfinches were visiting the feeders

13/02/2-26

The highlight of another very slow sea watch was watching a Herring Gull swallow a Dogfish whole after a bit of struggle.

Herring Gull about to swallow a Dogfish

08.00-09.00 from the hide with RW,  Wind SW 2, Temp 10º, Misty
Brent Goose: 4E   
Common Scoter: 1E   
Great-crested Grebe: 2E      1 Present
Kittiwake: 4E  
Black-headed Gull: Present
Common Gull: present
Herring Gull: present
Great Black-backed Gull: present  
Guillemots: 2E    
Auk sp: 61W    6E
Red-throated Diver: 26E     48W
Fulmar: 1E   1W
Gannet: 4E       14W
Cormorant: present no count

There were no reports of the Tundra Bean Geese or Pink-footed Geese but they could well be out on Walland somewhere. 

A fairly thorough search of Scotney by various locals couldn't find the American Wigeon, but it would not surprise me if it turns there again or on the reserve.

There was no sign of yesterdays flock of Cattle Egrets in the Horse Paddock this morning

Tree Sparrow on Walland Marsh

The family of 3 Whooper Swans still residing in the field behind the Jurys Gap sand pit, East Sussex today

My daily Lesser Whitethroat image

Good to be getting several Green finches on the feeders

Nadine, the neck collared satellite track Bewick Swan is still residing on Walland, just lately SW of Hawthorn Corner, the rest of the herd seems to still be at Ashentree Lane/Hook Wall.

11/01/2026

07.30-10.00 from the hide with OL,RW, JY, CP. Wind SW 3 Temp 8º.  Drizzle
Brent Goose: 161E  (3 flocks)
Wigeon: 2W 
Common Scoter: 1W   
Great-crested Grebe: 1E        2W
Oystercatcher: 6E
Kittiwake: 19E     13W
Black-headed Gull: Present
Common Gull: present
Herring Gull: present
Great Black-backed Gull: present 
Razorbill: 37W   
Guillemots: 8W     
Auk sp: 65W
Red-throated Diver: 7E     17W

Fulmar: 2E   1W
Gannet: 4E       28W
Cormorant: present no Count
Harbour Porpoise: 2 present
Grey Seal: 2 present

After a rather poor sea watch, a disappointing long wander around the Walland Marsh Lanes, I could only see 31 Bewick Swans though others could be down in the dips, also no sign of any of the grey Geese, possibly because several Anglers were were wandering around the Hook Wall fields. The lanes held a few Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows, I didn't see a single Fieldfare and only 3 Redwing. While I was at Scotney the family of 3 Whooper Swans were still in the field at the back of Sand Pit.

Richard and John saw 3 Caspian gulls on the reserve between them and seemingly not a lot else.

Drake American Wigeon at the East Sussex end of Scotney 

Drake American Wigeon with Eurasian Wigeon and Coots

Tundra Bean Geese on the Scotney Sward

Pink-footed Geese on the Scotney Sward

White-fronted Geese on the Scotney Sward

The Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) stil visiting my garden today

09/02/2026

An average sea watch for this time of the year. It was bitterly cold in the hide today despite the + temperature.

 07.40-10.00 from the hide with RW, JY, OL. Wind SSW 5 Temp 6º

Brent Goose: 142E

Pintail: 1W

Teal: 1E    

Common Scoter: 7E    

Great-crested Grebe: 1E        2W

Oystercatcher: 16E

Dunlin: 34E

Little Gull: 16E

Kittiwake: 56E     9W

Black-headed Gull: 43E

Mediterranean Gull: 3E    

Common Gull: present

Herring Gull: present

Great Black-backed Gull: present 

Razorbill: 89E   

Guillemots: 763E     

Auk sp: not counted

Red-throated Diver: 167E     96W

Gannet: 146E       32W

Cormorant: present no Count

Harbour Porpoise: 2 present

Grey Seal: 2 present

The Geese and Swans were all still insitu today, as far as I know nothing new was found except Caspian Gulls.

The Scotney American Wigeon re-found on the ARC late morning by Ray O'reilly

Polish ringed 3rd winter Caspian Gull P:6WL at Dengemarsh late afternoon

1st Winter Caspian Gull at Dengemarsh late afternoon

 

08/02/2026

 08.00-10.00 from the hide.Wind SSW 3 Temp 9º

Brent Goose: 44E

Teal: 6E    14W

Common Scoter: 11E   4W  

Red-breasted Merganser: 2E

Little Gull: 1E

Kittiwake: 66E     12W

Black-headed Gull: present

Mediterranean Gull: 2E    21E

Common Gull: present

Herring Gull: present

Great Black-backed Gull: present 

Razorbill: 5E    1W

Guillemots: 26E     3W

Auk sp: not counted

Red-throated Diver: 9E     854W

Gannet: 5E       102W

Cormorant: present no Count

Grey Seal: 2 present

A pleasant sea watch with the highlight being a spell when 620 Red-throated Divers came through in a 20 minute spell.

After breakfast I decided against going to Scotney to see the American Wigeon as I guessed there would be some birders blocking the farmers gates, it appears I was right about that. Instead I had a look around Bretts Marina then the ARC. 2+ Firecrests at Bretts were about the best there, a Jack Snipe around the ARC was the highlight there.

Another hour spent watching the Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) in the garden with moth pot to hand incase it pooed for me, it didn't so still no DNA. I got excited when it had a go at House Sparrow which trie to push it off the feeder, alas there were no feathers flying.

Jack Snipe

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) shouting at me

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) letting a House Sparrow know who is the boss

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) 

 

07/02/2026

As the appalling weather continues sea watching has been a challenge, with force 7-8 southerly blowing with drizzle this morning I was definitely not up to the challenge. A leisurely breakfast this morning whilst the very keen birders were out around Scotney looking for yesterdays American Wigeon, with the lure of a Red-necked Grebe I made the stupid decision to cycle to Scotney in what was no more than a mist, however by the time I reached the old sand pit the proper rain had started, needless to say by the time I reached home I and my optics were very wet. Later I drove to Scotney in a slight pause in the weather and quickly located the Red-necked Grebe which will now probably stay for a few weeks, hopefully the American Wigeon will be re-located around the complex in the coming days.

Drake American Wigeon with Eurasian Wigeon yesterday

Drake American Wigeon with Eurasian Wigeon yesterday

Red-necked Grebe at Scotney found by Barry Wright this morning

The Whooper Swan family were back in East Sussex behind the old sand pit this morning

The Lesser Whitethroat was still in the garden today though less evident than usual, probably the poor weather to blame.
 

04/02/2026

 

Brent Geese passing this morning

A very poor and cold sea watch this morning. 

 08.00-09.00 from the hide with RW,  Wind SE 4 Temp 6º

Brent Goose: 72E     in 3 parties

Common Scoter: 1E     

Kittiwake: 9E    

Black-headed Gull: present   

Common Gull: 38E

Herring Gull: present

Great Black-backed Gull: present 

Auk sp: 73E      12W

Red-throated Diver: 23E       6W

Fulmar: 1W

Gannet: 12E   3W

Cormorant: present

Whilst I was having a late breakfast the Lesser Whitethroat(halimodendri) on the feeders entertained me 

A long walk around the Scotney Complex in glorious sunshine, saw 1,000s each of Lapwing and Golden Plover, Avocet was new for year for me on flat pit also the Little Stint there, the 1w drake Scaup was on the flooded sand pit, there were several Marsh Harriers hunting the game strips but still no Hen Harrier coming in my direction. The 3 Whooper Swans have now moved from East Sussex to Kent and were feeding in fields at the back of Bretts.

Golden Plover, Lapwing and Dunlin on the Scotney Sward

2 adult and a juvenile Whooper Swan at the back of Bretts

Little Owl

2 more Whooper Swans were moving between Cockles Bridge and the ARC, a Black-tailed Godwit on the new Boulderwall flood was my first of the year,

On Walland Marsh the 4 Bean Geese and 3 Pink-footed Geese were moving between Ashentree Lane/Hook Wall and Beaconsfield Flood, the Bewick Swans were still around Ashentree. I heard no reports of White-fronted Geese today.

Jack Snipe

Great White Egret

2 Whooper Swans vacating the ARC as I arrived