Local Sites 12th - 16th November 2018

Last week was the week for Sussex to get it's first Pallid Swift, and it probably had four, although neither were photographed and therefore the county's best chance has now come and gone. I did twitch the central Brighton individual but despite the low cloud the bird had not hung around long enough for anyone to see it.

Last Monday there were two Caspian Gulls in the Cuckmere, both the same birds that were seen last Saturday. However, since Monday Gull numbers have been low and no more were seen all week.

Despite being out a lot last week the only highlight were my first returning Purple Sandpipers on Newhaven East Pier, with two birds present. A Brambling flew over Newhaven Fort and there were plenty of Goldcrests still scattered about. I had searched Splash Point a couple of times for the Purple Sandpiper seen there by Bob Izzard, however there was no sign.

Only one colour-ringed Great Black-backed Gull was found last week in Newhaven Harbour, this bird being the same I found four days earlier last year, this time being in third-winter plumage and was ringed in northern France.

First-winter Caspian Gull

Adult Caspian Gull

Purple Sandpiper at Newhaven