Splash Point 16/4/14

Two sessions today, both equally slow but enough interesting species were seen to make it just worth while. The late session saw a large number of Little Gulls moving east, especially late on where  flocks of 20 were watched. But by far the highlight for me were the 2 Garganey that passed in the morning.

Totals from 05.30-09.15:

Garganey - 2 (1 drk)
Arctic Skua - 2
Commic Tern - 4
Arctic Tern - 4
Sandwich Tern - 23
Sanderling - 7
Red-breasted Merganser - 5
Shoveler - 34
Black-throated Diver - 3 (all s/p)
Red-throated Diver - 10
Auk sp. - 9
Greylag Geese - 5
Brent Geese - 7
Whimbrel - 26
Gannet - 6
Teal - 2
Common Scoter - 148
Gadwall - 2
Pintail - 3
Little Gull - 4
Avocet - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 2

And totals between 15.15-19.15:

Little Gull - 162
Arctic Skua - 2
Commic Tern - 58
Sandwich Tern - 42
Diver sp. - 6
Gannet - 2

A small amount of time was spent on the Head between periods but nothing exciting seen.

Whitethroat on Seaford Head

Splash Point - 10 year anniversary 15/4/14

The anniversary actually relates to my first ever Pomarine Skua on this date 10 years ago at Splash Point, so after work today I phoned and then met Bob down there at 4pm, leaving at 6.30ish in the hope of an early Pom. This wasn't to be, but a couple of very good highlights were seen, and was well worth a random visit.

Totals are:

Red-necked Grebe - 1 offshore for 5 minutes before being lost as it drifted east
Black-throated Diver - 1 offshore just in front of the Grebe
Common Tern - 9
Arctic Tern - 1
Great Skua - 1
Red-throated Diver - 3
Whimbrel - 5
Bar-tailed Godwit - 32
Tufted Duck - 1
Common Scoter - 5
Sandwich Tern - 8

Old Lodge 14/4/14

After work I had a quick walk around Old Lodge. It was very pleasant, with plenty of summer migrants in song, but no Cuckoo for me. Earlier on in Fuerteventura there was nothing to see surprisingly, maybe I'll have to get off the plane next time!!

Anyway totals for Old Lodge are:

Redstart - 3
Tree Pipit - 1
Woodlark - 2
Swallow - 1
Lesser Redpoll - 4

 Tree Pipit

Woodlark

Seaford Head 12/4/14

A complete contrast this morning from yesterday. Very few grounded migrants, nothing flying over and very little moving out at sea except from a close in Black-throated Diver. On the Head however, a Corn Bunting was by far the highlight, being my first one there of the year.

Totals include:

Corn Bunting - 1
Whitethroat - 3
Lesser Whitethroat - 3
Willow Warbler - 3
Spoonbill - 1 still on west side of the Cuckmere

Corn Bunting on Seaford Head

male Wheatears in the Cuckmere from yesterday

Seaford Head & Ouse Valley 11/4/14

A very productive morning on the Head today. An increase in yesterdays totals, as well as a steep increase in sylvia Warblers. The northerly wind was also encouraging a couple of migrants to get going overhead. The Wheatears were interesting this morning, two flocks consisting of 7 and 12, were present for around 5 minutes, before completely moving off again. Always nice to watch migration in action.

Anyway, totals for this morning are:

Redstart - 2 males
Whitethroat - 1 - first of the year
Lesser Whitethroat - 2 - first of the year
Willow Warbler - 40 including a possible acredula individual (see below)
Blackcap - 23
Chiffchaff - 15
Wheatear - 23 - by far my highest ever spring count
White Wagtail - 1 male
Swallow - 10
Meadow Pipit - 45
Spoonbill - 1 on west side of Cuckmere

An afternoon walk down the Cuckmere produced yet another 10 Wheatears including some cracking males.

This evening at Rodmell the Little Ringed Plover showed nicely, and on Lewes Brooks the Glossy Ibis showed distantly.

 I'm not really up on these pale type birds, but comparing the above two images with the lower image (P. trochilus), there does seem to be a significant difference, with the top bird showing much greyer upperparts and whiter underparts, whereas the lower bird shows the typical colouration of a trochilus. It also stood out like a sore thumb!!

(possible acredula Willow Warbler - Seaford Head)

 Willow Warbler in Harry's Bush

 male Redstart by Harry's Bush

 female Blackcap in Harry's Bush

Spoonbill on the west side today

Seaford Head & elsewhere 10/4/13

Spent most of the day out and about today finding not very much at all. Started off on the Head where a nice fall of Willow Warblers were present, but other than these there wasn't a great deal of variety.
Dipped the Garganey at Arlington, then saw a couple of Tree Sparrows somewhere else along with a Red Kite. A couple of other sites were visited but nothing much seen.

Totals for Seaford Head are:

Wheatear - 4
Willow Warbler - 25
Blackcap - 6
Chiffchaff - 5
Spoonbill - 1 still on east side on the scrape

 Willow Warbler on Seaford Head

The Spoonbill still present

Seaford Head, Splash Point & Ouse Valley 3/4/14

I started the morning off with Graeme Lyons on Seaford Head to do a breeding bird survey. The usual breeders evident, but migrants consisted of 3 Wheatears, and singles of Willow Warbler and Blackcap.

Unfortunately I had to leave abruptly due to a call from Nick Bond informing me of a Red-breasted Goose which passed Selsey Bill at 9.30am. Being a good year tick, but a mega patch tick I legged it to my car and ragged it down to Splash Point, where fortunately I had time to calm down as it was another 45 minutes before the Goose appeared. A brilliant looking bird and a very exciting occurrence.

So totals for Splash between 10.30-12.30 are:

RED-BREASTED GOOSE - 1 east with ca. 50 Brent Geese
Brent Geese - 112
Common Tern - 2
Sandwich Tern - 10
Red-throated Diver - 3
Common Scoter - 81

In the afternoon I visited Rodmell and Lewes Brooks seeing a Red Kite and 5 Swallows and then as the wind had veered to SE, I gave Splash another go from 5.40-6.40 seeing:

Arctic Skua - 1
Little Gull - 27
Common Tern - 12
Sandwich Tern - 29
Gannet - 4
Mediterranean Gull - 2

Red-breasted Goose past Splash Point