Three Tundra Bean Goose, with a Pink-footed Goose, and 15 White-fronted Goose. Thanks to the finder of the Bean Geese, very nice to see.

Early afternoon I went to Burpham for a look at the Bewick’s Swans and saw them in the Arun valley below, 15 of them with a single Mute Swan, while, closer to hand and a surprise, were two Cattle Egrets in the sheep field beside Peppering Farm.

A bright and crisp day to be mooching across the downs. Starting at Amberley, I walked eastwards as far as Sullington, then zigzagged the footpaths back to The Burgh. Highlights included 100+ Corn Buntings, with the largest flock sizes being 36 at Kithurst Hill, 27 at Sullington, 16 east of The Burgh and 10 at Chantry Hill. Many fields held feeding flocks of Starlings (4000) and Common Gulls (1025), plus a concentration of 248 Lapwing north-east of The Burgh. Also of interest: 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 ring-tail Hen Harrier (Burgh area), 1 Peregrine, 9 Golden Plover, 20 Red Kite, 1500 Woodpigeon, 145 Skylark (many in song), 56 Blackbird, 275 Linnet and 57 Yellowhammer. A joy to be out.

West Beach promenade, Newhaven: Dunlin, Fulmar, Pied Wagtail, Rock Pipit, Shag and Turnstone.

Early afternoon caught up with the 3 Tundra Bean Geese (rossicus) out on the brooks showing really well with the Pink-foot and 13 White-fronted Geese.

A high tide co-inciding with a flat calm sea and a crisp frosty morning made conditions just right for some interest on the local patch this morning. The highlights were two Velvet Scoters and a single Slavonian Grebe offshore, together with 40 Red-breasted Mergansers (some flocks displaying) and ca.30 Great Crested Grebes (one pair displaying), whilst a couple of Common Scoter and three Red-throated Divers were also present. Nine Brent Geese were resting on the sea as a flock of 24 Wigeon passed them, whilst a flock of 32 Grey Plovers (pic of most) with a few Sanderlings and a dozen Ringed Plovers was also of note before the beach got too busy.

Twenty-one Little Egrets roosted at dusk at Thorney Deeps. Other birds of note in the surrounding area included 2 squealing Water Rails, 4 singing Cetti's Warbler, at least 3 Short-eared Owls foraging over the fields on the west side and a cream capped Marsh Harrier.

Don't forget to do your part for Citizen Science with the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, today or this weekend! There was a female Blackcap in my North Lancing garden to go with the male seen yesterday.

Ca.24 Hawfinches and a Red Kite were the highlights of a couple of hours from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Enjoyed in the company of Roger Haggar and Bob Smith.

There is still time to book your free place on either or both the Conference nights this weekend.

The Conference is online again this year with events on the evenings of the 29th and 30th January. We are pleased to welcome four great speakers over the two nights.

Saturday 29th January will be a wader special with talks on Greenshank and Green Sandpiper. Pete Potts and Ken Smith will be revealing the secrets of these two amazing migrants from their long-term studies.

Sunday 30th January we welcome our special guest, award winning author of the fantastic book Rebirding, Ben Macdonald. As a prelude, Tim Squire will talk about the conservation of the South Downs.

For more details and to book go to the "Latest Posts" news item or click here:
SOS Conference 2022