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A walk down to Brooklands Park and Widewater this morning, in search of Wheatears.  We had none at Brooklands, but the Black Redstart that has been on the beach finally cooperated and the willows around the lake were full of Chiffchaffs.  Bird of the day was found when scanning the sea: a summer plumage grebe that I assumed was Slavonian, as it’s the more likely here.  Only after I had put the word out did I realise that this was a Black-necked Grebe (and then Birdguides got the location in Goring, 4 miles away, so not the best effort at publicising the bird).  Too far away to photograph and it quickly drifted away.

Down at Widewater we had a total of seven Wheatears, but not much else.  On the Adur estuary the tide was high so there was a selection of waders on an island.

Back at Lancing Green we ate our lunch and looked at the sea, which was slow but excellent, with a couple of Slavonian Grebes (definitely this time and in winter plumage), a small flock of Shoveler passing, a Black-throated Diver  and our first Sandwich Terns of the year.  Throughout there was a steady trickle of Meadow Pipits coming in off the sea.

8 birds added to the on-foot bird list, taking it to 112.

Gotcha! The Black Redstart finally gives herself up.

One of several Chiffchaffs at Brooklands

Wheatear on the rocks at Widewater

Another Wheatear between Lancing and Brooklands

A week on, the Cetti’s Warbler is still hanging around.  It’s now in full song, rather than the chuntering subsong that we had last week.  It has made a few brief forays into the garden, inspecting the pond, but never in good light, so the photographic evidence is weak.

Meanwhile, our fox becomes more blasé by the day.

Out and about today we had our first Adders of the year at Church Norton and a nice Curlew showed well.  A group of Cattle Egrets by the road flew off just as we arrived.

Cetti’s Warbler

Adders

Curlew

Fred

We had a windy walk up on the downs today, up to Cissbury Ring and then along the Monarch’s Way.  Not much to speak of bird-wise, but a pair of Hares were followed by another single, that just came running towards us.

Skylark: the sound of spring

The first two of the year

Gimme three!

It was a red letter day at home yesterday, when I opened the window, thinking there might be a migrant or two about, only to hear a Cetti’s Warbler singing at the end of the garden.  A new bird for the house list, which briefly showed itself.  They breed in the reedbed near us, so it’s not too much of a surprise, but to actually see it rather than hear a distant song is.

Today we had a look at the reedbed and the brooks next to us, with the highlights being a couple of Water Rails that eventually showed themselves and a much hoped-for Woodcock: my hundredth bird for my on-foot year list.

Of course they didn’t hang around to be photographed, but some insects showed that spring is coming.

Only a Mallard, but it’s three years since we had one at home, so a welcome return

Small Tortoiseshell

Bee Fly

We’ve had a glorious weekend, with cloudless skies.  Yesterday we had poor views of Brambling and Hawfinch at West Dean Woods (no photos there) and better views of Short-eared Owl at Beeding Brooks (too dark, though still no photos), but the Barn Owl failed to show up.

Today we made our first visit of the year to the West Sussex Commons, and were greeted by a chipping Crossbill as soon as we got out of the car at Ambersham.  Eventually we found it, and then we went onto the common where there were a pleasing number of Dartford Warblers, including one showy one that almost behaved, posing close, but insisting on hiding its head behind a branch.

The other commons were quieter (we were too late for the Woodlark singing) but it was a great day to be outside.

Sunset over the Downs from Beeding Brooks

A very vocal male Crossbill

Datford Warbler, one of at least 7 in the day

The first reptile of the year: a Slow Worm

We had an offsite meeting on Thursday.  Most of the time this would be in a hotel somewhere, and wouldn’t be worth a post, but this was a little different.

The meeting was on No Man’s Fort in the middle of the Solent, so we had a 45 minute boat trip there and back.  Sadly the birding was awful, but the place was fascinating (and the meeting was good too).

The Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth

Nearly finished: HMS Queen Elizabeth

Looking back to Porstmouth with Spit Bank Fort in the foreground

No Man’s Fort: our destination for the day

Homeward bound

We had a walk to Shoreham Harbour yesterday and back over the Downs, in the hope of adding some birds to the on-foot year list.  While we got the hoped-for Purple Sandpiper at the harbour mouth and Greenshank on the Adur, the wind was too strong and the “reliable” Black Redstart and Rock Pipit were sheltering out of sight somewhere.  Still, it was a very pleasant walk and the wind made for some nice seascapes.

A day out in Hampshire today, starting at Hayling Island for some Black-necked Grebes, moving on to Weston for the Long-tailed Duck (we didn’t even need to get out of the car for it, but it was asking to be photographed) and then on to Blashford Lakes.  A mixed bag there, with failure on a Yellow-browed Warbler, but nice views of Water Rail and a Bittern flew past.  Finally we went down to the New Forest for a brief and incredibly distant view of a Great Grey Shrike.

Long-tailed Duck

Siskin

Redwing

Water Rail

Rather a pitiful amount of snow this week.  It’s a sign of the times that this much snow counts as exciting down here.

It wasn’t a great snowman, even before its head fell off, but I think the fox’s final judgement on it was harsh… (paraphrasing from a Bob Rivers Twisted Christmas song)

He’s ginger and his tail is bushy,
And the snowman’s backside is mushy.
He couldn’t resist, oh no:
Yellow snow, yellow snow, yellow snow!

Snow of a different sort today, with a return to the Snow Bunting at Goring Gap, this time on foot.  What a difference a bit of sunshine makes.

A frustrating morning, where we wasted an hour looking where Birdguides said a Snow Bunting was, instead of the location we would have gone had we not known “better”.  Fortunately it was waiting for us when we finally got there and was as approachable as this species normally is.

The Purple Sandpipers at Shoreham Harbour gave us the slip again, but the Black Redstart is always worth a look.  Finally we went over to Ashdown Forest, where Common Crossbills cooperated.

Snow Bunting

Black Redstart

This Turnstone is the Purple Sandpiper replacement service

Common Crossbill