Cuckmere Haven 28/8/12

Went and saw the Wryneck again today and had much better views than on Saturday. As the morning wore on it became more elusive.

Also present was a Whinchat and a mixed flock of Knot and Dunlin on the scrape.

Wryneck

Lincs & Norfolk 27/8/12

With Jake and Mick for the day for a spot of twitching and yearlisting.

We started off in Lincolnshire at Frampton Marsh RSPB where we quickly saw the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. A bit distant but still some nice views were obtained.

We then made our way to the beach road at Cley and parked up. We then had a nice 1hr 10min trek along the shingle of Blakeney Point. Fortunately, at the end a very elusive GREENISH WARBLER showed a couple of times, as did a Pied Flycatcher, both in the plantation.

A long day in the lovely bank holiday traffic, but still another 2 year ticks puts my UK yearlist on 283 BOU.

Red-necked Phalarope at Frampton Marsh RSPB

Wryneck on the patch 26/8/12

Les Bird kindly informed of a Wryneck he had found on the east side of the Cuckmere late morning, so I headed on down there.

Eventually with Neil Greenaway and Jon King the WRYNECK was found in the isolated river bank bushes opposite the scrape. However it was amazingly elusive and was only seen another 4 times in flight. It was last seen flying across the river onto the west side.

Also about was a Common Sandpiper and a couple of Wheatears.

Yesterday at Splash Point a Pomarine Skua flew east, as did 2 Common Scoter.

Seaford Head & West Rise Marsh 24/8/12

Weather much better than expected this morning but again migrants were slow going. Totals for S. Head are:

Marsh Harrier - 1 east @ 7.10am
Redstart - 1
Yellow Wagtail - 6
Wheatear - 5
Whinchat - 2
Whitethroat - 27
Lesser Whitethroat - 4
Sedge Warbler - 2
Blackcap - 8
Willow Warbler - 30
Reed Warbler - 2
Garden Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 8

Visited West Rise Marsh after and got a new Dragonfly in the form of a Lesser Emperor. A cracking male as well. At first it showed well often flying near to me but moving very fast so very difficult to photograph. After a while it became elusive as it moved onto the lake. It was best viewed on the south side of the main lake.

 Grey Squirrel on the cliff edge.

male Lesser Emperor at West Rise Marsh

Seaford Head & Beachy Head 23/8/12

A calmer morning this morning dropped some migrants, but still that rarity eludes Seaford Head. Anyway, total for S. Head are:

Tree Pipit - 5+
Yellow Wagtail - 2
Wheatear - 3
Whinchat - 3
Spotted Flycatcher - 1
Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 4
Garden Warbler - 2
Willow Warbler - 28
Whitethroat - 25
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Blackcap - 6
Chiffchaff - 3

Did a raptor watch at the Old Trapping Area, Beachy Head with others; totals are:

Osprey - 1 - out to sea at 11.10am
Marsh Harrier - 1 out to sea at 11.25am
Hobby

Willow Warblers at Seaford Head

Seaford Head & Farlington 19/8/12

I started off at Seaford Head and on arrival it was evident there had been a fall of Willow Warblers as birds were constantly flying back north towards the town. In 10-15 minutes I counted 60 departing the Head.

Totals are:
Willow Warbler - 103
Crossbill - 2
Tree Pipit - 2
Yellow Wagtail - 7
Wheatear - 3
Whinchat - 2
Whitethroat - 18
Lesser Whitethroat - 8
Blackcap - 2
Chiffchaff - 4

I left 3/4 of the way through the route to go to Farlington Marshes, and unfortunately missed 3 Pied Flycatchers seen by Bob.

Farlington totals:
SPOTTED CRAKE - 1 (eventually seen after waiting 3.5 hours in the baking sun)
Little Stint - 1
Spotted Redshank - 1
Green Sandpiper - 1

Seaford Head & Beachy Head 18/8/12

Been on earlies all week so today was the first chance of birding the patch. Afterwards I went up to Beachy for a raptor watch.

Totals for Seaford Head are:
Nightingale - 2
Tree Pipit - 5
Whinchat - 3
Wheatear - 5
Redstart - 1
Yellow Wagtail - 1
Whitethroat - 38
Lesser Whitethroat - 5
Willow Warbler - 10
Reed Warbler - 6
Blackcap - 2
Garden Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 3
House Sparrow - 38 (consisted of 3 flocks moving west)

Moved on to the Old Trapping Area, Beachy Head arriving at 10am and stayed til 1.30pm. Totals are:

HONEY BUZZARD - 1 ad @ 12.25pm - approached the headland then turned round and headed inland. Same bird again at 1.20pm did same pattern.
Osprey - 1 ad flew south out to sea @ 10.10am.
Marsh Harrier - 1 fem
Hobby - 3
Crossbill - 21 (2 flocks)

 Whinchat at Seaford Head

 Osprey over Old Trapping Area

 Marsh Harrier over Old Trapping Area

Honey Buzzard over Old Trapping Area

Garden Birds 14/812

A fem/juv Marsh Harrier drifted east at 5.18pm, and just after a male Redstart was in the garden.

Seaford Head 10/8/12

A great morning today, and great to see a whole page of my notepad used up in a couple of hours. Also for the first time of the autumn, 9 species of Warbler.

Totals are:
Pied Flycatcher - 1
Redstart - 1
Tree Pipit - 4
Nightingale - 2
Wheatear - 12
Grasshopper Warbler - 2 (at long last)
Garden Warbler - 3
Sedge Warbler - 4
Reed Warbler - 5
Willow Warbler - 48
Whitethroat - 38
Lesser Whitethroat - 3
Chiffchaff - 3
Blackcap - 2
Green Sandpiper - 6 (inc 3 flying west over Hope Gap)
Little Owl - 1

Whimbrel and Wheatear on the patch.

Seaford Head + Cliffe Pools 7/8/12

Started the day on Seaford Head where unfortunately there were fewer migrants than expected. Only half the route was covered for that reason. I then went to Cliffe Pools RSPB after to get a couple more yearticks.

Totals for S'ford Head:

Nightingale - 3
Wheatear - 3
Tree Pipit - 1
Willow Warbler - 10
Whitethroat - 13
Lesser Whitethroat - 4
Blackcap - 2
Chiffchaff - 1

Cliffe Pools RSPB:

Pectoral Sandpiper - 1
Little Stint - 1
Greenshank - 9
Common Sandpiper - 2

Wheatear and Willow Warbler on Seaford Head.

Seaford Head 5/8/12

My first morning on the patch this autumn and it wasn't too bad. The first decent weather for a while resulted in a small fall of migrants. Totals are:

Nightingale - 2
Tree Pipit - 1
Sedge Warbler - 6
Reed Warbler - 6
Willow Warbler - 15
Whitethroat - 30
Lesser Whitethroat - 3
Blackcap - 3

Raven and Reed Warbler at Seaford Head