Sussex Nature

Arlington Reservoir

2011-12-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

A couple of hours at the reservoir before shooting off to visit Dad was amazing! I joined Ian, Andrew and Chris on the dam wall. The Whitcombs were on fire and found endless Caspo's in the large mix of gulls. I saw 5 and they were seeing a lot more than I managed to get on! Above are some crap shots...The birds I saw were as follows: Ads - 2, 2nd Winter - 2 and a single 3rd Winter. There were also lots of Yellow-legged gulls and a lot of colour-rings I didn't have time to read!

Arcyria denudata - Warnham LNR

2011-12-07T00:48:00.000-08:00

Slime Mold - Arcyria denudata

Found this amazing Slime Mold at Warnham LNR this afternoon whilst moving some old piles of firewood. Lots of Crossbills still around the reserve too.

Western Sandpiper - Cley

2011-12-03T15:41:00.000-08:00

A nice couple of hours in Norfolk after visiting Dad produced the Western Sandpiper which gave good scope views but never came close enough for more than record shots. Also present was the drake Green-winged Teal which has be there for yonks!

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper - Chew Valley Lake

2011-11-27T11:26:00.000-08:00

Nice views of this juvenile bird from Herriots Bridge. Also an adult Spotted Sandpiper and 8 Bewick Swans

Wellshurst Golf Club

2011-11-26T11:25:00.000-08:00

2 Woodcock

Burpham and Waltham

2011-11-19T09:53:00.000-08:00

A scoot around the Burgh area for a couple of hours failed to produce the Rough-legged Buzzard but a supporting cast of Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Hen Harrier were most welcome. Also 2 Short-eared Owls at Waltham

Foreness Point - Margate

2011-11-18T13:57:00.001-08:00

Eastern Black Redstart - Margate

2011-11-16T04:08:00.001-08:00

Otters - Dorset

2011-11-11T12:02:00.001-08:00

Warnham LNR

2011-11-05T03:13:00.001-07:00

Common Crossbill

Isabelline Wheatear - Crowlink

2011-10-15T11:32:00.001-07:00

Northern Waterthrush - Higgo's Pool, St Mary's

2011-10-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

Pectoral Sandpiper - Big Pool, St Agnes

2011-10-13T16:06:00.000-07:00

Rose-coloured Starling - Sally Port, St Mary's

2011-10-13T16:05:00.000-07:00

Wilson's Snipe - Porth Hellick Pool, St Mary's

2011-10-13T15:08:00.000-07:00

Upland Sandpiper - Borough Farm, St Mary's

2011-10-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

Lesser Yellowlegs - Lower Moors, St Mary's

2011-10-13T14:39:00.001-07:00

Dungeness Obs 7th, 8th & 9th Oct

2011-10-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

Brent Migration
Crimson Speckled Common Crane The Old Lighthouse

A fantastic trip down with Wes to the obs for the annual trip. Good to catch up with Dave and the others at the obs. A good seawatch saw a huge movement of Great Skua with over 200 seen. Also several Arctic Skuas, a single Pom and large numbers of Brent Geese. Pretty quiet around the rest of the point though good numbers of common migrants especially finches moving through. The two Common Cranes gave themself up on Dengemarsh too. A single Crimson Speckled at the traps was a real bonus as well as several Vestal, Feathered Brindle and two Streak.

Arlington Reservoir

2011-10-02T08:34:00.000-07:00

1 Black-necked Grebe, 7 Gadwall, 3 Teal and 2 Tufted Duck. The evening visit produced 10 Pintail in eclipse plumage. Very nice!

Grey Phalarope

2011-09-24T01:46:00.000-07:00

Showed nicely after work yesterday. Though the light was failing quickly.

MEGA - LONG-TOED STINT

2011-09-21T15:23:00.000-07:00

Finally the long and drawn out ID of this bird has been put to bed! LGRE managed to get a friend to obtain some valuable video footage which proves the bird is infact a Long-toed Stint. The 3rd for Britain!

Very well done to Lee for bringing this bird to everyones attention once again. I for one am very glad to have it finally cleared up! And I am even more glad that at least 100 people saw the bird today. Although the views are typically distant some features are identifiable with a decent scope. And apologies to Paul who kept saying Long-toed to me last night when I was saying it couldn't be!

Weir Wood Reservoir - Stint/Peep sp.

2011-09-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

LGRE called mid-afternoon to say that he wasn't keen on the idea that wader at the res was a Temminck's Stint. Alarm bells started ringing as I had initially gone along with other observers views of the bird on the Thursday evening before getting home and then questioning what I had seen.

My view was of a bird with a pale super, white chin, breast band and what seemed to be quite patterned though this was in poor light. I got home and looked up pictures of Temminck's Stint in autumn plumage and couldn't find a match and the nearest thing I could see was a Least Sandpiper but having never seen this species I was not prepared to call it. I decided to call a few mates to see what they thought. In the end I called a reservoir regular and he had a look in the morning in again poor light conditions and thought it probably was a Temminck's. Several other birders also saw this bird and no one queried its appearance.

It wasn't until LGRE visited on Tuesday that these issues again came to light. LGRE was 100% sure it wasn't a Temminck's Stint and suggested Least or Long-toed...several of us spent the rest of the evening looking at the bird which seemed to feed in a strange manor. All observers present commented on its similarities with Wilson's Phal and Wood Sand behaviour. Again the white chin, breast band and rufous-capped head were noted. With the light failing quickly it was summised that it was most likely a Least Sand however pictures/video would definitly be needed for a positive id.

Sabine's Gull - Newhaven Harbour

2011-09-18T12:27:00.001-07:00

Second Sabine's Gull in four days! A different bird to the Brighton Marina bird which was seen on the 15th Sept. Performed well but in poor light conditions.

Arlington Reservoir

2011-09-18T00:46:00.000-07:00

Now 2 Little Stint, a few Common Sandpiper, plenty of Meadow Pipit and a Marsh Harrier.

Splash Point - Seaford

2011-09-17T05:34:00.000-07:00

Seawatch 9.15am ~ 12.30pm with Bob Self
Sooty Shearwater - 1 (1W @ 11.50am)
Manx Shearwater - 3 (1W @ 10.20am, 1W @ 12.01pm, 1W @ 12.07pm)
Grey Phalarope - 1 (1E @ 10.00am)
Great Skua - 2 (1E @10.21am, 1W @ 11.20am)
Brent Goose - 7 (7W @ 10.56am)
Common Scoter - 1E
Arctic Tern - 1W
Commic Tern - 32W
Black Tern - 2
Cormorant - 12W
Gannet - c100
Swallow - c100E
Oystercatcher - 22E
Curlew - 1W

Grey Seal - 1

Arlington Reservoir

2011-09-17T05:33:00.001-07:00

1 Little Stint (Juv), 5 Ringed Plover, 8 Common Sandpiper, 1 Nordic-type Jackdaw

Arlington Reservoir

2011-09-16T14:16:00.000-07:00

1 Little Stint (Juv), 1 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, 2 Shelduck (1 Ad, 1 Juv), 11 Teal and 5 Wigeon

Sabine's Gull - Brighton Marina

2011-09-15T07:26:00.001-07:00

Arlington Reservoir

2011-09-08T12:24:00.001-07:00

Little Gull
Little Gull

Little Gull

Arlington Reservoir

2011-09-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

Knot
Knot Knot

Very good hour or so at the res tonight in horrendous conditions produced 14 Knot, 2 Little Gull, 1 Arctic Tern (Though there were two but only saw 1) as well as the usual bits and bobs.

Arlington Reservoir

2011-09-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

Bar-headed Goose

I missed a Wryneck at the res today and other than that it was pretty quiet with a few Common Sandpiper, 3 Teal, 60+ Yellow Wagtail, 2 Common Tern and a Med Gull.

Whitbread Hollow - Beachy Head

2011-09-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

Lesser Whitethroat
Common Whitethroat

Other species caught; Grasshopper Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap and Greenfinch

Arlington Reservoir

2011-08-29T13:29:00.000-07:00

Black Tern - Juv

(Record Shot Compilation)

Yellow Wagtail
Spotted Flycatcher

A very good evening at the reservoir produced several highlights and a mystery! First of all the highlights were: 1 Black Tern (juv), 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Redstart, 67 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Greenshank. Now for the mystery...Andrew Whitcomb had a Black-necked Grebe on 24th and 27th. And got video of the bird...I saw a Black-necked Grebe tonight but it wasn't around when I first arrived and then to add to the confusion Alan Kitson had a Little Grebe this afternoon which I didn't see at allfrom c6.00pm onwards! I presume the Black-necked is doing what the Goosander do and go to the quiet local farm ponds while the reservoir is busy then return in the evening to roost. Andrew also had a Wigeon at the res this morning and by the time I had got there this evening it had turned into a Shoveler! Someone's playing tricks on us!

Arlington Reservoir

2011-08-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

Med Gull (2nd Summer) Med Gull (2nd Summer)
Note the dark primary tips, dark legs and orange based bill which all help with the ageing of this bird. There was a similar bird also present but had a slightly redder bill and legs.

Spotted Flycatcher

Highlights included: 2 Med Gull (both 2nd Sum), 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 63 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 6 Common Sandpiper and a colour-ringed Black-headed Gull from Lithuania.

Whitbread Hollow - Beachy Head

2011-08-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

Common Whitethroat

Determining what age a Common Whitethroat is when ringing should be done using a couple of basic subtlties. The first is the eye colour, in an Adult it should be a sandy colour and a darker brown in a juvenile. Pictured above Adult on left and Juv on right.
Common Whitethroat
The other useful tool for determining age is the outer tail feather. In an Adult the tail feather should be pure white and the feather tips are often also tipped white. This can be seen on the left-hand photo. The Juvenile outer most tail feather is buff/dirty white in colour and other tail feathers are not so extensively tipped.

A pretty good morning at the Hollow with a nice mix of autumn migrants with the following caught; Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap.

Arlington Reservoir

2011-08-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

Bar-headed Goose

Pretty quiet at the reservoir this evening, having seen Black Tern's appear at reservoirs all over the south east today I was looking forward to counting them all at Arlington but no such luck! Highlights were: 18 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Med Gull (2nd Summer) and 8 Common Sandpiper. Stil plenty of hirundines around with c200 Sand Martin, 200 Swallow and 100 House Martin

Arlington Reservoir

2011-08-25T06:31:00.001-07:00

Yellow Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail Yellow Wagtail Yellow Wagtails Turtle Dove

A strange morning around the reservoir with no sign of yesterday Black-necked Grebe. But on the exotic front were two geese mixed in with the Canada's. One was a Bar-headed Goose and the other I have yet to identify! But its not European! Other than that: 46+ Yellow Wagtail, 2 Turtle Dove, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 5 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Tern, 300+ Sand Martin, 175+ Swallow, 15+ House Martin.

Arlington Reservoir

2011-08-22T14:11:00.001-07:00

Hirundines

Huge numbers of hirundines swarming over the reservoir with approximates given: Sand Martin 1500+, Swallow 1000+ and House Martin 500+. Otherwise pretty quiet a single Turtle Dove, 2 Teal, 4 Common Sandpiper and 2 Little Ringed Plover

Warnham LNR

2011-08-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

Southern Hawker
Greenfinch

Arlington Reservoir

2011-08-20T13:38:00.000-07:00

1 Curlew, 7 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Egret, 69 GC Grebe

Arlington Reservoir

2011-08-18T15:08:00.001-07:00

Greylag Goose

Highlights: 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Turtle Dove, 7 Stock Dove, 2 Peregrine, 7 Common Sandpiper, 400+ Sand Martin, 200+ Swallow. Gull and Geese numbers start to pick up at this time of year at the reservoir. Today 400+ Canada Geese and 47 Greylag Geese as well as 1500+ Blk-hd Gull, 150+ Herring Gull and a few Common and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Arlington Reservoir

2011-08-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

Pied Wagtail

Highlights: 1 Little Ringed Plover, 7 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret, 71 GC Grebe. The first noteworthy hirundine passage was evident today with 1500+ Sand Martin, 500+ Swallow and a few House Martin

Scilly Pelagic Pt 2

2011-08-16T15:17:00.001-07:00

Great Shearwater
Great Shearwater

Wilson's Petrel

Balearic Shearwater

Sooty Shearwater

Scilly Pelagic Pt 1

2011-08-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

Speckled Wood ssp. insula

Blue Shark Blue Shark

MV Sapphire - Pelagic Boat

Matt couldn't get enough of the Great Shearwater!

Arlington Reservoir

2011-08-07T15:01:00.000-07:00

1 Black Tern (juv), 1 Med Gull (juv), 12 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank (juv), 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Little Egret

Arlington Reservoir

2011-08-05T13:37:00.000-07:00

9 Common Sandpiper, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Little Egret, 1 Common Tern and 51 GC Grebe were the best of the bunch.

Lodmoor RSPB - Dorset

2011-07-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

A trip down to Lodmoor RSPB produced the adult Stilt Sandpiper, though views are terrible! VERY distant, hazy and obscured viewing made it all very frustrating. But could just make out the salient features. Also present 6 Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin and 3 Common Snipe.

Arlington Reservoir

2011-07-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

1 Peregrine (Ad fem), 200+ Swallow, 160+ Sand Martin, 6 Little Egret, 6 Common Sandpiper

26th ~ 28th July - New Forest

2011-07-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

Southern Damselfly - Coenagrion mercuriale Southern Damselfly - Coenagrion mercuriale

Golden-ringed Dragonfly - Cordulegaster boltonii

Ringing Demo at Warnham LNR

2011-07-24T02:36:00.000-07:00

Grasshopper Warbler

Dungeness RSPB

2011-07-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

A nice afternoon around the reserve with one Lesser Emperor on Long Pits, and lots of Blue-tailed Damsel. On the ARC Pit there were plenty of waders. Best of all was a nice Pectoral Sandpiper, others were Little Stint, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher. Few Sandwich Terns dropped in but I couldnt find the Goosander which I wanted for a new earliest!

Arlington Reservoir

2011-07-21T13:11:00.001-07:00

2 Med Gulls (1 ad, 1 juv), 9 Common Sandpiper, 2 Lapwing, 2 Common Tern, 160+ Sand Martin, 80+ Swallow.

Whitbread Hollow

2011-07-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

Chalkhill Blue - Male

Chalkhill Blue - Female

Hummingbird Hawk-moth - Caterpillar

Sandgate Park - Moth Trap

2011-07-17T03:32:00.001-07:00

Evergestis limbata

Beautiful Snout

Slender Brindle Scallop Shell Kent Black Arches

Fantastic trapping session at Sandgate Park, Storrington with 112 species recorded with the obvious highlights being the rare migrant Evergestis limbata and a few other scarcities such as Beautiful Snout and Kent Black Arches.

Small Ranunculus - Horsham

2011-07-12T15:12:00.001-07:00

Small Ranunculus - Hecatera dysodea

A fantastic suprise at work today when our recorder Jo brought in a few moths she had caught the previous night and couldn't identify in in amongst them was the pRDB Small Ranunculus. Fantastic looking moth and a new one for me! Well chuffed...thanks Jo and Dominic!!

Black Darter

2011-07-10T07:28:00.001-07:00

Black Darter - Sympetrum danae
Black Darter - Sympetrum danae

Black Darter - Sympetrum danae

Small Red Damselfly - Ceriagrion tenellum

Brilliant Emerald

2011-07-03T12:44:00.001-07:00

Brilliant Emerald - Somatochlora metallica
Brilliant Emerald - Somatochlora metallica

Brilliant Emerald - Somatochlora metallica

FIERY CLEARWING!!!

2011-06-29T12:46:00.001-07:00

Fiery Clearwing
Commophila aeneana

Southern Emerald Damselfly

Picked up Matt and headed for the Isle of Sheppey in the hope of better views of the Dainty Damselflies we had both seen previously but they never appeared in 2.5hrs. However I did have the biggest result...a guy there netted a clearwing sp. and asked me to ID it and it was a blooming FIERY CLEARWING!!! Matt was totally unimpressed by the beast of a moth! Also managed to find a single Commophila aeneana which is a cracker too!

We then headed for Cliffe Pools RSPB and have four Southern Emerald Damselflies.

Scotland - Day 3

2011-06-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

Slavonian Grebe
Northern Damselfly (Copulating pair)
Northern Damselfly (Teneral male)
Roe Deer
Common Blue Damselfly

Day 3 Highlights

Birds: Slavonian Grebe, Raven, Crested Tit, Goldeneye, Scottish Crossbill

Butterflies: Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Dragon/Damselflies: Nothern Emerald (1), Northern Damselfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.

Mammals: Roe Deer, Red Squirrel

Wildflowers: Lesser Butterfly Orchid, Heath Fragrant Orchid

My thanks go to Matt for driving up to Scotland and for arranging the accomodation a cracking trip with tons of ticks and highlights! If anyone is interested I will be sorting a full trip report in the next few days so drop me a line if you want a copy.

Scotland - Day 2

2011-06-23T14:58:00.000-07:00

Red Squirrel
Common Rosefinch
Northern Damselfly

Wood Warbler

Common Sandpiper

Day 2 Highlights

Birds: Black Grouse (M.E. only), Whinchat, Crested Tit, Osprey, Common Sandpiper, Goldeneye, Siskin, Scottish Crossbill, Common Rosefinch

Butterflies: Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Dragon/Damselflies: Northern Damselfly (21), Four-spotted Chaser

Mammals: Roe Deer, Bank Vole, Red Squirrel

Scotland - Day 1

2011-06-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

Ptarmigan Mountain Hare Glenshee Northern Marsh Orchid

Red Deer

Day 1 Highlights:

Birds: American White-winged Scoter, Surf Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Little Tern, Arctic Skua, Eider (+ 6 juv), Scottish Crossbill, Parrot Crossbill, Dipper, Cuckoo, Golden Eagle, Ptarmigan (+10 juv), Red Grouse, Spotted Flycatcher and Ring Ouzel

Mammals: Hare, Common Seal, Grey Seal, Red Deer, Rabbit, Mountain Hare

Wild Flowers: Northern Marsh Orchid, Frog Orchid, Alpine Bistort, Butterwort

White-throated Robin - Cleveland

2011-06-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

DIP

Club-tailed Dragonfly & Silver-studded Blue

2011-06-04T16:18:00.001-07:00

Silver-studded Blue - Plebeius argus Silver-studded Blue - Plebeius argus

Silver-studded Blue - Plebeius argus

Club-tailed Dragonfly - Gomphus vulgatissimus

Heath Fritillary - Kent

2011-06-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

Scarce Emerald Damselfly - Essex

2011-06-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

Arlington Reservoir

2011-05-29T14:57:00.000-07:00

Sanderling

Highlights:

27/5 - Hobby

29/5 - Sanderling, 90+ Swifts

A Dragon Saved My Day!

2011-05-27T13:30:00.001-07:00

White-faced Darter

The peaks and troughs of twitching hit me again today...4.50am waiting to get into Old Moor RSPB, Yorkshire in an attempt to see the Least Sandpiper which was present till dusk...7.00am thoroughly naffed off that the little blighter had seemingly cleared off over night! Luckily I knew of a Dragonfly species I wanted to see not to far away...BUT the weather was horrid, windy and intermittant showers...perfect for dragonflies! Anyway finally the sun peeked out of the clouds and I manged to see 5 White-faced Darters at Whixall Moss, Shropshire. A very poor record short is attached above. Also managed a new moth for me which was Ancylis apicella.

Ancylis apicella

Norfolk Trip

2011-05-22T14:58:00.001-07:00

Norfolk Hawker
Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

Swallowtail

Blue-tailed Damsel - f. violacea

New species for me: Norfolk Hawker, Swallowtail and Chinese Water Deer

Arlington Reservoir

2011-05-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

Dunlin
Dunlin

Again very quiet this evening though the water level is starting to drop ready for loads of waders in the autumn! The 2 Dunlin are still present, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Lesser Whitethroat the highlights.

Arlington Reservoir

2011-05-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

An evening visit proved very quiet, highlights as follows: 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Turtle Dove and 25+ Swift.

Recent Moth Highlights

2011-05-10T13:47:00.001-07:00

Alabonia geoffrella

Chocolate-tip - Clostera curtula

The Mocha - Cyclophora annularia

Orange Footman - Eilema sororcula
Ptycholoma lecheana

Ivy Lake

2011-05-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

White-winged Black Tern
White-winged Black Tern

Arlington Reservoir

2011-05-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

Swift
Swift

Swift

Swallow

Arlington Reservoir

2011-05-01T17:12:00.001-07:00

Garganey

Not much else at the res for me today except the stunning drake Garganey, 6 Common Sandpiperm, 4 Shovellor and 2 Gadwall. Missed out on the other waders.

Splash Point - Pom Fest!

2011-04-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

Seawatch from 2.25pm to 5.50pm produced the following all going east unless stated:

Pomarine Skua - 9
Arctic Skua - 2
Great Skua - 1
Manx Shearwater - 2
Whimbrel - 1
Dunlin - 3
Knot - 75+
Bar-tailed Godwit - 430+
Guillemot - 4 (On sea)
Sandwich Tern - 3
Gannet - 14+
Common Scoter - 3
Great Crested Grebe - 1
Diver sp - 1
Auk sp - 1
Swallow - 3 (N)

Heyshott Down

2011-04-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

Duke of Burgundy Fritillary

Dragons in Ditches

2011-04-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

Hairy Hawker

A good look around Pevensey Levels for a Sussex Vagrant Emperor didn't go to plan but several species of dragon/damsel out including this stunning Hairy Hawker.

Vagrant Emperor - Dungeness RSPB

2011-04-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

Vagrant Emperor - Anax ephippiger Vagrant Emperor - Anax ephippiger

Vagrant Emperor - Anax ephippiger

Vagrant Emperor - Anax ephippiger Sedge Warbler

Yellow Wagtail Whitethroat

A good few hours spent down on Denge Marsh looking at 2+ Vagrant Emperor's and 8+ Hairy Hawker and 4 Blue-tailed Damselflies in the company of Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Wabler, Hobby, Peregrine, Marsh Harrier, Bittern, Whitethroat and Red-legged Partridge.

Arlington Reservoir

2011-04-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Not much new in today with the following of note: 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 11 Swallow, 2 Gadwall, 2 Nightingale, 7 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler and the highlight was a purring Turtle Dove from the stand of Ash by the pumping station.

Arlington Reservoir

2011-04-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

Brent Goose
Ahhhh!!!

No doubt the highlight of the day was the strange appearance of a Brent Goose which was happy feeding on the pasture below the dam. It was later seen on the reservoir itself seemingly fit and well! Other bits of note: 1 Nightingale, 12+ Large Red Damselflies and 7 species of butterfly.

Iceland Gull - Splash Point

2011-04-23T12:25:00.000-07:00

Managed to get down to Splash Point after doing a brief stomp around Arlington to see the unseasonal Iceland Gull also a flyby Sandwich Tern was a year tick!

Arlington Reservoir

2011-04-22T15:34:00.000-07:00

Yellowhammer

3 hours spent in boiling heat today was rewarded with a bit of a reservoir rarity! A Yellowhammer...occasional flyover but one on the deck warranted a picture! Other birds of note: 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Cuckoo, 9 Whitethroat and a single Sand Martin

Old Lodge - Ashdown Forest

2011-04-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

Redstart

2 Redstart, 1 Dartford Warbler, 2 Stonechat, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard

4 Common Heath, 1 Common Lizard

Rumper at the Res

2011-04-17T13:59:00.001-07:00

Red-rumped Swallow

I found this little cracker at 6.55pm, it showed well until 7.45pm when it headed out over the water and was much harder to track. Eventually lost at about 7.50pm as the whole group lifted off the water and spiralled up high.

Mill Hill - Shoreham

2011-04-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

Green Hairstreak Grizzled Skipper

Species noted :

Butterflies - 1 Green Hairstreak, 8+ Grizzled Skipper, 30+ Dingy Skipper, 6 Brimstone, 1 Large White, 1 Orange-tip, 1 Comma, 3 Peacock and 2 Red Admiral

Moths - 6 Panacalia schwarzella, 14 Panacalia leuwenhoekella, 50+ Pyrausta nigrata

Other - 1 Dotted Bee-fly

Dotted Bee-fly - Hope Gap

2011-04-16T10:37:00.001-07:00

Dotted Bee-fly - Bombylius discolor

Arlington Reservoir

2011-04-16T02:16:00.000-07:00

Very little of note with 230+ Swallow, 30+ Sand Martin and 20+ House Martin

Cracking Day

2011-04-14T13:04:00.000-07:00

Osprey - Michelham Priory

Purple Heron - Southease

A cracking day started off at Michelham Priory where the colour-ringed Osprey performed brilliantly before departing off south towards Arlington Reservoir. Then a call from Steven Munday to say he had found a Purple Heron at Southease.

Little Crake - Arundel WWT

2011-04-09T13:41:00.000-07:00

Appalling pictures of a stunning little bird. The last Sussex record was 1985 at the Cuckmere a very welcome grip back on the Old'uns!

Day-flying Moths

2011-04-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

Scarce Violet Cosmet - Panacalia schwarzella Violet Cosmet - Panacalia leuwenhoekella

After a tip-off from Graeme Lyons I headed up on the downs to have a look for two moths, both of which are under 1cm and both would be new for me! It took me a little while to find them but soon I had counted 11 Panacalia schwarzella and 3 Panacalia leuwenhoekella. The P. schwarzella is a RDB2 species and the P. leuwenhoekella is Nb! Very nice too! Cheers Graeme and Pen...Great find

Arlington Reservoir

2011-04-02T14:12:00.001-07:00

A stunning Black-necked Grebe (Summer plumage) was found this morning by Dereck Barber and I manged to see it at 5.00pm also present c60 Swallow, 8 Sand Martin a single House Martin and 7 Shoveler.

Waxwings

2011-03-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

1 of 48 - Lovely!!!

Arlington Reservoir

2011-03-27T12:48:00.001-07:00

2 Sand Martin at 6.30pm

Hooded Merganser - Sidlesham Ferry

2011-03-26T14:16:00.000-07:00

Hooded Merganser
Hooded Merganser

A dash down after finishing work at 5.30pm to see the drake Hooded Merganser as a bit of insurance! Sorry about the appalling pictures but it was c6.30pm and taken through my scope on my phone!

Short-toed Treecreeper - Landguard NR

2011-03-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

A really good trip to Suffolk with Matt produced the goods eventually as the stupid Short-toed Treecreeper blundered into the nets at Landguard for a third time in a morning! Cracking bird though and a good day. Nothing good at Arlington in the evening.

Arlington Reservoir

2011-03-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

Firecrest
Firecrest

Chiffchaff

Nordic Jackdaw

Slavonian Grebe - Arlington Reservoir

2011-03-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

Arlington Reservoir

2011-03-20T08:11:00.000-07:00

March Tubic - Diurnea fagella

Arlington Reservoir

2011-03-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

Nordic Jackdaw
Nordic Jackdaw

Nordic Jackdaw

Another visit to the reservoir today resulted in the discovery of a Nordic Jackdaw in the Horse Paddocks. A very obvious individual that stood out among the usual birds in the paddocks. Also 9 Gadwall, 3 Wigeon and plenty of thrushes.

Dungeness Area

2011-03-12T08:10:00.000-08:00

Turnstone - Dungeness Point Tree Sparrow - Walland Marsh

Colour-ringed Herring Gull - Dungeness Point

A pleasant afternoon at Dungeness at the point there was no sign of the juv. Glaucous Gull but a couple of Ringed Plover and Turnstone along the shore. As well as the usual mix of gulls and 2 groups of Woodpigeon came in off the sea. On the ARC things of note were 1 Marsh Harrier, 8 Goldeneye and 1 Goosander.

I then moved to Walland Marsh where there were c12 Tree Sparrows on the feeders.