Year totals and review 31/12/11

Sussex Year List - 227 - somewhat gave up around June time, not realising what the autumn was going to bring, and potentially missed out on a record breaking year.

British Year List - 258 - a lot lower than recent years, but other commitments meant less time for long distance twitching.

Best twitch of 2011 - probably the White-winged Scoter off the Aberdeenshire Coast. A great trip with Jake, getting all Scottish specialalities during the 3 day trip on top off the Scoter.

Best UK bird of 2011 - Wilson's Petrel from the Scilly pelagics in August, just in front of the amazing Great Shearwaters.

Best world bird of 2011 - male Drakensberg Rock-Jumper in Lesotho.

The Burgh & Coldwaltham Brooks 27/12/11

The Burgh - after a couple of hours of walking around I finally managed to see the Rough-legged Buzzard well. First seen at a distance, it glided closer and gave great views flying low over fields, hovering and landing on the seed bins.

Also present were 2 ringtail Hen Harriers and 19 Grey Partridge.

Out from Burpham Church were 30 Bewicks Swans including 4 juvs and a Chiffchaff.

Afterwards I visited Coldwaltham Brooks and saw 4 Short-eared Owls, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Mandarins over and a Weasel.

Bewick's Swans at Burpham

Rough-legged Buzzard at The Burgh

Short-eared Owl at Coldwaltham

Cuckmere 26/12/11

An adult Yellow-legged was the only Gull of any note in the Cuckmere just north of Exceat Bridge this morning.
Adult Yellow-legged Gull in Cuckmere.

Widewater, The Burgh & Rodmell Brooks 24/12/11

Widewater Lagoon - Snow Bunting 2, Sanderling 15.

The Burgh - Hen Harrier 2 (1M+1F), Red Kite 1, Grey Partridge 8. No sign of the Rough-legged Buzzard.

Rodmell Brooks - Hen Harrier 1F, Short-eared Owl 3.

Snow Buntings at Widewater Lagoons.

Pett, Dungeness, Cuckmere, Rodmell 17/12/11

Pett Levels - Marsh Harrier 2, Avocet 1

Scotney GP - Barnacle Geese 30+

ARC Pit - Great White Egret 2, Tree Sparrow 8, Goldeneye 10+, Chiffchaff 1.

Dungeness Point - Snow Bunting 1 heard!

Cuckmere Haven - Brent Geese 22. No unusual Gulls on the large flock of Greater/Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Rodmell Brooks - Short-eared Owls 3, Merlin 1, Buzzards 4.

Great White Egret on ARC Pit

Short-eared Owl at Rodmell.

South Africa - 7/11/11

Cape Point - Grey-headed Gull, Hartlaub's Gulls, Jackass (African) Penguins 40+, Cape Sugarbird 2, Cape Siskin 6, Cape Gannets, White-chinned Petrel 2, White-fronted Plover 3, Crowned Cormorant 8, Antarctic Tern, Blacksmith's Plover 2, Three-banded Plovers.

Cape Beach - Levaillant's Cisticola 3, Water Thick-Knee 1, Cape Lesser Swamp Warbler 3, Little Swifts, White-rumped Swifts.

Jackass Penguin

Hartlaub's Gull

Crowned Cormorant

Blacksmith's Plover

Greater Crested (Swift) Tern

Levaillant's Cisticola

South Africa - 8/11/11

Rouiells - Cape Rockjumper 3, Orange-breasted Sunbird 2, Cape Grassbird 2, Familiar Chat 1, White-necked Raven.

Betty's Bay - Bank Cormorant 22, African Penguin 100+, Cape Francolin 2, Pin-tailed Whydah, Brimstone Canary 2.

Harold Porter Bot. Gardens - Swee Waxbill 4, Rock Martin, Southern Double-collared Sunbird 2.

On route to De Hoop - Jackal Buzzards, Blue Cranes, Capped Wheatears, Namaqua Doves, Black Harrier 1, Karoo Korhaan 2.

Cape Sugarbird at Rooiels

Cape Francolin at Betty's Bay

Brimstone Canary at Betty's Bay

Swee Waxbill at Harold Porter

Capped Wheatear on rout to De Hoop

Bokmakierie at De Hoop