Wednesday 01/01/2020

On the way to the beach this morning a Great White Egret was in its usual spot at the South Eastern end of the ARC, another 4 were seen around the area today.

From the sea watch hide with OL, SO & BB a Great Skua was the highlight, also seen 100s of Guillemots, with smaller numbers of Red-throated Divers, Great-crested Grebes and Gannets, a single Mediterranean Gull, several Kittiwake and a single Common Scoter, plus the usual Gulls and the black slick of Cormorants.

 Bittern with a Jack Pike this morning

From the sea we went to the ARC where a Bittern showed well catching a Jack Pike in front the screen hide was the highlight. We saw the rear end of Woodcock that flushed in front of us at the pines, a Chiffchaff nearby and the usual dabbling ducks as well as some Goldeneye.

 We saw the Long-tailed Ducks at Scotney, a singleton at the Kent end the 3 at the Sussex end, but it wasn't till this afternoon that we realised that there are 4 birds present, the usual feral Geese and wild fowl were seen there along with clouds of Lapwing and Golden Plover.

 Bewick Swans at Midley

A brief drive onto Walland saw 30 Bewick Swans with 1 juvenile at Midley, several each of Corn bunting and Yellowhammer in Clubbs lane but no Tree Sparrows.

 Short-eared Owl at Galloways in the gloom

A very gloomy afternoon at Galloways was surprisingly productive, with 2 Short-eared Owls. While I was watching a S.E.O. another bird flew past me very close, it took me a while to realise that it lacked a white trailing edge to the wing making it a Long-eared Owl by which time it had disappeared along the bank and behind the reeds. A male Hen Harrier has been seen in the area the last 2 days, first by CP then yesterday by CT, so we were very happy to see it the this afternoon albeit distantly over Galloways and again later at South Brooks roost. Unfortunately for us as there was no firing today, the rescue helicopter took the opportunity for some low level practise, where it spent 10 minutes hovering just a few feet over the Harrier roost site, pretty much ensuring no other Harriers would roost there today. We also saw a Merlin, Peregrine, Common Buzzard and Raven on the ranges.  

 A Raven in the gloom

A very distant male Hen harrier over the ranges