West Sussex

West Sussex 27^th to 29^th March 2012

Tuesday 27^th

Today decided on a walk around part of the RSPB reserve at Pagham Harbour I started at Church Farm walked down Church Lane to the north wall walked along the wall then took the path to Halseys Farm then on to Mill Lane past the Crap and Lobster pub where I stopped off for a pint then on to the information centre and a look at the ferry pool, Then I took the bus to Ivy lake part of the Chichester pit complex I walked through part of the pits to Runcton where I caught the bus back to Bognor

Wednesday 28^th

 Today it was back to the information centre at RSPB reserve Pagham Harbour I continued my walk past the long pool then on down the west side to Church Norton  then on down to the harbour, Then i walked along the beach towards the several’s then I took the path between the several’s where I stopped for lunch, Then I continued through the fields till I came to the lane and followed it back to the main road where I caught the bus to Selsey then I walked along the coast to the east car park and the bus back

Thursday 29^th

Today I took the bus to Bognor then got the bus to Elmer and walked to Littlehampton via Climping at Climping I normally walk the road towards the mill have walked this road for the past 30 years now there is a sign telling you this a private road and no general access so I had to use the top of the dunes and walk along the shingle beach

Birds seen over the past 3 days included

Rook, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great/Blue/Coal Tit, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Ring Ouzel, Little Gull, Black Headed Gull, Great & Lesser Black Backed Gull, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Little Ringeed Plover, Curlew, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Wigeon, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Swallow, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Cetti’s Warbler, Black Redstart, Sandwich Turn, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Peregrine,

Current Year List stands at 184

25th March

Nice and pleasant afternoon in The Woodland Gardens Busy Park Kingston

Rainham Marshes

Spent yesterday at the RSPB Rainham Marshes Reserve
Had a nice relaxing day went by train then a 15 minutes walk on the way to the reserve I had a Blackcap after a coffee I did the walk round the reserve found a imm Glaucous Gull plenty of Wigeon still about birds seen included Linnet, Robin, Reed Bunting, Woodpigeon, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Shellduck, Teal, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Grweat Blackbacked Gull, Herring Gull, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Cormarant, nice walk around so will be doing this again

London Wetland Centre

Spent this afternoon at the Wetland Centre London nice and quite afternmoon I did find the Jack Snipe   plus Chiffchaff, Sand Martin. Cetti's Warbler, Ringed Neck Parrakeet, Redoll, Great & Blue Tit, plus a lot of common birds no sign of the Perigrine while I was there now the birds have eggs will not put up any information of where they are might go to Rainham Marshes tomorrow

Short Update

Monday 19^th March

Today decided to go to Weymouth and spend the day looking at Radipole and Lodmoor due to the trains being delayed (less said the better) I only managed to have a look at Radipole where I had the 2 Glossy Ibis from the north hide a few Chiffchaffs  and Cetti’s Warblers  Water rail, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard a selection of ducks and a good selection of Gulls no sign of the Iceland

Tuesday 20^th March

Off to Beddington today where I had Caspian Gull, Iceland Gull plus the Kumlin’s Gull, Chiffchaff, Water Pipit, and had a House Martin fly over plus a good selection of common birds along the edge of Beddington park

16th March West Sussex

A few spots in  West Sussex today started off at a spot that I know for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker as we were walking along the path to where the woodpeckers are I flushed a Woodcock from the side of the path so a nice start we stopped near the  spot for the woodpecker and after a short time I had one carrying nest material then we spotted the female at the top of a tree calling not a lot of drumming going on but we did have a lesser calling and drumming for a short time we also had greater spotted Woodpecker for comparison, We then headed for Selsey where we spent some time at the bill but not a lot going on plus the fact it was getting cold so of to do some shopping year list now at 168

15th March New Forest

We went to the new forest today we left the caravan at about 10 o’clock and travelled through fog on arriving in the forest the sun came out, Our first stop was at Hordel he we were looking for the Rose Collared Starling that has been about for a short time, We parked up near the spot it had been seen the past couple of days and we had a wander round we spoke to the local postman who told us which was its favourite tree so we hang around waiting for it to appear, Then a local said it had been in the tree at about 9 30 but no sign by 12 o’clock then a birder sais are you looking for the Starling because it is sitting in a hedge near where we had parked, So we went back on arriving the local who’s garden it was in said here it is, It was singing but deep in the hedge even the non birder with us got good views we had it down to about 8 feet I took some pictures but the fact it was deep in the hedge and the sun was behind it made it difficult to get any good ones but good views where had.

We then stopped at a couple of spots looking for Dartford Warbler which we found at the second one, Then it was off to a spot for Wood lark but as they where control burning this turned out to be a waste of time so we headed off to some shopping before heading back to the caravan.

Update & British Tick

Not done much birding over the past couple of weeks
Yesterday the 12th March did finaly get the Paddyfield Warbler at Pagham so a British tick It took me five atempts not very good views so will go back later in the week to see if I can get any better views, Been to Worthing today 13th March good views of the Yellow Browed Wabler not sure what I will be up to tomorrow currently haveing a break at my caravan so will be doing some south coast birding will update when I can Internet connecton not the best