| 04 Jun 2008 |
Common Rosefinch
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Further to Owen's report on the above I was having a great view of a male Cuckoo through my telescope when he arrived- little did I know that a few minutes later I would first of all hear and then see a "lifer" in the form of a Common Rosefinch - fabulous!
Posted on 04 Jun 2008 by peter callis |
| 04 Jun 2008 |
Red-backed Shrike and Common Rosefinch
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No further sign of the Common Rosefinch. I arrived at c11am and left at 1.45pm and could not locate the bird. The Red-backed Shrike at Shopham Bridge was however performing very well as we watched it catch bee's, beetles and damsel's with great success!
Posted on 04 Jun 2008 by Jacob Everitt |
| 04 Jun 2008 |
Heron mobbed on Ferring shore
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Heron wading in the sea off Ferring at 9 a.m. was mobbed by gulls..... aided by rooks. Eventually flew inland..... pursued by attendant attackers.
Posted on 04 Jun 2008 by Valerie Martin |
| 04 Jun 2008 |
Weir Wood, recent news
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Since 21/5 it's been relatively quiet in the area, however, breeding is confirmed from Coal, Blue and Great Tit. Long-tailed Tits are already roving around in small flocks mainly made up of juveniles. The Common Terns are still settled with two pairs on the rafts at the west end, also a few young Mandarins are about. Several Sky Larks are present this year, and 'sylvia' Warbler numbers are very good. A few Common Buzzards suggest that breeding is going on in the area, whilst Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls continue to show up daily. A male Pochard was a tad unusual today joining the male Tufted Duck still present. Juvenile Green Woodpecker, Mistle and Song Thrush, Jay and Nuthatch all add to the variety.
Posted on 04 Jun 2008 by Nigel Driver |
| 05 Jun 2008 |
Harrier
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Male Harrier quatering ground just East of Nutbourne Station. Brief sighting seen from train - unable to determine species but able to make out black primaries on paler wings. Be grateful for feedback are harriers regualrly seen in this area at this time of year? Presumed it would not be hen harrier as thought more of a winter visitor. Was hunting over rough grassland so thought less likely to be Marsh? ... Montagu's?
Posted on 05 Jun 2008 by Adam Fulton |
| 05 Jun 2008 |
cuckoo
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Male cuckoo seen and heard on Kent Street, Cowfold, in same place as last year.
Posted on 05 Jun 2008 by rebecca rees |
| 05 Jun 2008 |
Another late/early Ringtail
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In the light of other recent reports of ringtail Harriers in the county, it is interesting to note that we observed a ringtail Hen Harrier circling relatively high over the Newhaven Tide Mills area at 12.25 today. After gaining further height, the bird flew off towards the NW. It was not possible to ascertain whether it had come in off the sea or not but whether a late departer or (less likely) an early arriver the record is interesting given the fact that the latest recorded date for departure (prior to 2006) is 19 June (the 10 year average date being as early as 11 May)and the earliest record of arrival prior to 2006 is 4 August (the 10 year average date being 2 September).
Posted on 05 Jun 2008 by Bob Self |
| 05 Jun 2008 |
Bee-Eater at Selsey Bill
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A Bee-Eater was present at Selsey Bill this morning. It was first seen by Tim Edwards at 7.00 hours and showed briefly several times until being located perched on a dead tree in a garden of one of the houses west of Bill House at 9.30hours. After being mobbed by a pair of Blackbirds it moved to a telephone wire between two houses and showed well preening and calling until aproximately 10.00 hours when it flew off to the east. A Serin was seen four times before I arrived at 8.00 hours but not after! Circa 10 Storm Petrels lingered off the Bill - one close enough for even me to see! Other highlights were three Arctic Skuas and a drake Eider flying east.
Posted on 05 Jun 2008 by peter callis |
| 05 Jun 2008 |
Red Backed Shrike
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Male still south of the river east of Shopham Bridge showing well this morning
Posted on 05 Jun 2008 by Jack Brown |
| 05 Jun 2008 |
Weir Wood again
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Strange really, the moment I was just about to return home a large bird appears just below the escarpment along the north bank. To my amazement it was a BLACK STORK lazily drifting northwards eventually flying straight over the St. Swithun's church in East Grinstead. Without further ado I jumped in the car with the idea of getting more views! Stupid possibly? Well sometimes it works out. I caught up with the bird again in Holtye Road in East Grinstead, as it flew over and eventually watched it disappear behind the trees of Dorman's Park just in Surrey. Just of note, you can see the Kent border from here too. Annoyingly it probably flew directly over my house. No complaints though. All this fun happened from 14.45hrs to 15.00hrs the longest quarter of an hour for some years.
Posted on 05 Jun 2008 by Nigel Driver |
| 05 Jun 2008 |
Balcombe Lake
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2 Greylag geese and 1 Canada joined by a larger group of which 1 was a Barnacle Goose, first time I have seen one on the lake. 1 Great Crested Grebe sitting on nest, 1 Lapwing, 2 Kingfishers, House Martins, 1 Common Tern, 1 Male Tufted, 2 Grey Wagtails and 3 Bullfinches as I walked back up the lane. Quite a productive dog walk.
Posted on 05 Jun 2008 by M Hawkins |
| 05 Jun 2008 |
Woodpecker Family
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Three juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers with both parent birds feeding them in the tree and on the feeders five feet from my kitchen window in Catsfield this morning. What a time waster! Also a Common Buzzard cruising at rooftop height above the hedge of the field opposite last evening. This is the first year that I have ever seen them so close to the centre of the village.
Posted on 05 Jun 2008 by Carole Meek |
| 01 May 2008 |
Think I saw a Red Kite too! A26 - Eridge
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Driving down the A26 at Eridge towards Crowborough. I looked up as something caught my eye and I couldn't believe what I saw! Flying directly over me cross the road was a large patchy light brown/white pointed winged, forked tailed bird. I've seen red kites before in Scotland but never here. I thought surely not but I'm quite convinced it was. Well pleased I was!
Posted on 05 Jun 2008 by Neil C |
| 04 Jun 2008 |
Pulborough Brooks
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Lovely day on the reserve made for a great days birding. Highlights for me were a willow warbler collecting food & three whitethroats together singing off the zigzags, also a good day for damselflies & a treat to see a broad-bodied chaser dragonfly & the common newts - thank you to the gentleman who identified the magnificent beasties for me that I'd been puzzling over. A little egret & redshank in front of West Mead and great fly past by a hobby who continued dashing across the reeds taking advantage of the dragonflies. Dabchick in front of Little Hangar hide, the spoonbill still present in front of Nettleys spending much time preening along with a little egret. Nightingale showing well & singing in clearing along with a chiffchaff. The swimming grass snake in front of Nettley's was the icing on the cake!
Posted on 05 Jun 2008 by Andrea Thomas |
| 05 Jun 2008 |
Coates Common
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Lords Piece at 2145hrs on Thursday, 1 churring Nightjar followed by a brief view as it flew in the gloom.
Posted on 06 Jun 2008 by Dsve & Jean Killick |
| 01 Jun 2008 |
Splash Point Records
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Spring migration virtually over, I'm tidying up the records. I still have NO records for the critical days, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 25 and 26 May, and very few for 14, 18 and 19 May. If you have any data for any of these dates, I'd be very pleased to have them. Thanks. It has been an average year for most species, with happily, no record low numbers, and record highs for Manx Shearwaters (50E and 14W), Pomarine Skuas (349) and Mediterranean Gull (128).
Posted on 06 Jun 2008 by Dick Gilmore |
| 06 Jun 2008 |
Trumpeter Finch
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A very poor, almost Bagnellesque record shot of the Trumpeter Finch, which has been showing well all morning in the grounds of the water works, Telscombe.
Posted on 06 Jun 2008 by Paul Marten |
| 06 Jun 2008 |
Garden Siskins
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I'm still getting a small flock of Siskins coming to my garden feeders in Maidenbower, Crawley. There's a mix of male and females and, after checking BWP, I'm sure one is a juvenile. In previous years adults have appeared anywhere between November - February but have gone by end of April. This winter they came in November, peaked around March with 30+ birds, but 6 - 8 are still around including the juvenile. Is this unusual for Sussex?
Posted on 06 Jun 2008 by Richard Allan |
| 06 Jun 2008 |
Selsey Bill
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A short morning seawatch produced 2 Arctic Skuas and at least 1 Storm Petrel, plus a gathering of Common and Little Terns feeding offshore. (No sign of the Bee-eater or Serin so far).
Posted on 06 Jun 2008 by Owen Mitchell & John Dodd |
| 06 Jun 2008 |
Virtue Rewarded
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I decided to tackle a neglected bit of grass in my garden in Blackham in extreme north-east Sussex before the looming rain clouds opened up. At 1510 two adult looking Red Kites flew purposefully and low west north west over the house. They appeared to be very much together. Shortly after, and equally unusual, two adult Mute Swans flew over.
Posted on 06 Jun 2008 by Bill Harvey |
