Goldeneye

Locally, 5 Mergansers on Southwick Canal and a Jay in Oldfield Crescent. An adult Med Gull at the seaward end of Hillfield Road, Selsey. At Fishbourne Creek at high tide 19 Goldeneye, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine.

Weekend

Sunday 8th February - A muddy walk round the Knepp Estate was rewarded with a few birds including a Great Crested Grebe on the lake, several herons back on their nests, Sparrowhawk, probably 5 different Common Buzzards, Barn Owl, Grey Wagtail, a flock of 100 Redwings with a handful of Fieldfares, and a Treecreeper. A quick stop at Beeding Brooks as the rain set in produced a Barn Owl (my 7th of the weekend) which put on a very good display hunting at close range and a calling Cetti's Warbler in a reedy ditch which was less cooperative and refused to show itself.

Saturday 7th February - Another early start and another very cold day with a dusting of snow from Hastings eastwards. The sea off Pett was calm for once and on it were several large and mobile flocks of Common Scoter totalling perhaps 400 - 500 birds, a couple of Red-throated Divers and the usual groups of Great Crested Grebes close inshore. A Marsh Harrier was perched on a bush in the reeds by one of the lakes. From here we headed to Rye Harbour and set off on a circular point via the viewpoint, Castle Water, Long Pit and Narrow Pit. Despite the cold weather, the birding was on the slow side though we did see at least 8 Ruff with the Lapwing at the north end of Castle Water, several Snipe and the usual wildfowl from the hide at Castle Water, a Marsh Harrier that flew over mobbed by a crow, a hunting Barn Owl, and a pair of Goldeneye and a redhead Smew on Long Pit. We checked both Long-eared Owls roosts but drew a blank (again). Next stop was the Dungeness RSPB reserve where things were much quieter than a month ago though we evehtually saw 2 redhead Smew, 9 Ruddy Duck, both the Black-necked and Slavonian Grebe, two Marsh Harriers over Dengemarsh together and a couple of Tree Sparrows by the start of the entrance track.

At this point some of the group left but the rest of us headed for the Midley Cottages area of Walland Marsh where we hit a 'purple patch' seeing 4 Bewick's Swans (2 juvs), an adult male Marsh Harrier, 3 Barn Owls (2 in the scope with the harrier), a nice flock of Fieldfares and at least 40 Corn Buntings all in the space of a few minutes. The highlight of the day however was undoubtedly the harrier roost with probably 10 different Marsh Harriers and 3 Hen Harriers (2 adult males) dropping into the reedbed as the sun went down. Also a Common Buzzard, a probable Merlin perched on a bush, yet another Barn Owl and both Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler heard calling. By now we were all freezing cold so the roaring fire and cheesy chips in the Woolpack Inn were an especially welcome end to the day.

Iceland Gull

The Iceland Gull was still on Southwick Beach early afternoon resting with other gulls on the outfall opposite the sewage treatment works. Also A Pergrine in the nest box on the power station chimney.

Warnham Mill Pond

Wednesday 4th February - A frustrating morning spent at Warnham Mill Pond scanning through the very large numbers of gulls present in search of the recently reported Caspian Gulls. Things are very different there today compared with 40 years ago when there was no car park, visitor centre, boardwalk, hides or Little Egrets! Despite a couple of potential candidates, we failed to nail a Caspian Gull, photographs of a 3w bird showing it to be nothing more than an unusual Herring Gull. Can't help thinking it's about time that an indisputable Caspian Gull settled down in Sussex for a few days for all to see! Also 2 Pochard and a Little Egret there.

A quick look for Willow Tits at an undisclosed site drew a blank. The habitat did however look very suitable for them - perhaps there are other similar sites in north Sussex that are never visited by birders where Willow Tits could still cling on? A Buzzard flew over calling while other birds in the area included Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, a pair of Marsh Tits and ca. 10 Siskins feeding in the alders along the stream.

Not much to report....

A rapid thaw today after the heaviest snow since 1991. Not much to report - just 18 Mute Swans and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull on Hove Lagoon, no sign of the Iceland Gull along Southwick Beach and a pair of Mergansers on Southwick Canal.

Heavy snow

Woke up to find that heavy snow had fallen overnight resulting in the inevitable travel chaos (A27 closed between Southwick and Lewes), virtually no buses or trains and lots of school closures. A walk up on to Southwick Hill produced a Sparrowhawk and Kestrel and perhaps 10 each of Meadow Pipit and Sky Lark. A few small parties of Fieldfares passed over the rooftops on the way back as did a couple of Redwings. Early afternoon Bridget and I walked down to Southwick Canal where the Iceland Gull was still around following a fishing boat through the lock gates and then on the water at close range by the Lady Bee Marina. We lost it when it flew east towards Hove Lagoon. Otherwise it was quiet though 7 Lapwings and 9 Fieldfares flying west were further evidence of a cold weather movement. A Rock Pipit and a Song Thrush were on the east arm of Southwick Canal, the latter no doubt having just arrived in off the sea.

Fishbourne Creek

Sunday 1st February - A very cold day with a bitter easterly wind and frequent snow flurries in the afternoon producing a dusting of snow by dark. Bridget and I made a lunchtime visit to Fishbourne Creek to coincide with the rising tide. A Sparrowhawk flew over Kingston Lane as we were leaving Southwick. As usual there were plenty of birds at Fishbourne, the pick of the bunch being a Black Brant and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose with a small flock of Dark-bellied Brents on the water's edge north of Dell Quay, 10 Goldeneye (4 adult males), a pair of Mergansers, Little Egret, Kestrel, a Little Stint feeding with Dunlin in the creek where the Lavant enters the harbour, Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, female Stonechat and Jay.

Saturday 31st January - Two flocks (or perhaps the same flock) of 8 Ring-necked Parakeets flew over the Stoop as Harlequins beat Northampton 27 - 6.