Princess Park 26/9/11

This amazing Grey Phalarope showed superbly this morning. A macro lens would have been more appropriate for the job, but am very happy with these shots.

Cuckmere Sabine's 23/9/11

This juv. SABINE'S GULL was found in the Cuckmere this morning by Bob Izzard. Being a patch tick, i went down to see it. It showed amazingly well (down to a metre) at times catching Craneflies on the surface of the water.

Sabine's Gull in Cuckmere Haven.

PALLID HARRIER!!!!

Saw the superb juvenile PALLID HARRIER just south of The Burgh this morning. Had to wait 3 hours to see it, but when it showed; it showed well and for prolonged periods. Supporting cast were a male Hen Harrier; Merlin (mobbing the Pallid), Hobbies, Sparrowhawks, Kestrels, Marsh Harrier and plenty of Buzzards.

juv Pallid Harrier

male Hen Harrier

Newhaven West Beach 19/9/11

juv Sabine's Gull at Newhaven West Beach this morning - a different individual to the Brighton Marina bird!!

Seaford Head & Brighton Marina 15/9/11

A lovely morning on Seaford Head today. Warblers consisted of 69 Blackcaps; 39 Chiffchaffs; 3 Willow Warblers; 16 Whitethroats; 2 Lesser Whitethroats; 3 Reed Warblers; 2 Garden Warblers and 1 Sedge Warbler.

Others bits included 110 Meadow Pipits; 2 Tree Pipits; 23 Wheatears; 2 Whinchats; 16 Yellow Wagtails; 2 Grey Wagtails; 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 7 Siskin.

4 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpipers were in the Cuckmere.

Blackcap

Chiffchaff

Reed Warbler

Willow Warbler

Afterwards i went over to Brighton Marina and had great views of this juv. SABINE'S GULL on the west arm. A great Sussex tick.

juv. Sabine's Gull at Brighton Marina.

Splash Point 5/9/11

6.20am-9.15am Wind SW 4-5 Clear conditions

Pomarine Skua - 1 adult 800 metres approx.
Manx Shearwater - 5 - all mega distant
Common Scoter - 8
Shag - 3 west
Common Terns - 20+
Sandwich Tern - 2
Gannet - lots

Thorney, Fishbourne & Pagham Harbour 1/9/11

Started the day on Thorney Island in hopes of seeing the Cattle Egret. There was no sign initially but after 45 minutes it showed on a fence post at 100m range, hence the poor photo. It was great to see and i think is my 13th for Sussex. Nothing else of note.

Next was Fishbourne Creek where the highlights were stacks of Mediterranean Gulls, Greenshank and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Pagham Harbour was the last stop and produced 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 12 Knot, lots of Med. Gulls and Black-tailed Godwits.

Sussex Year List now on 217, UK year list on 251.

Cattle Egret on Thorney Island

Med. Gull off North Wall.

A Grey Squirrel in the channel off the North Wall.

Black-tailed Godwit on Breech Pool.