Birling, Glynde, Beeding & Adur (18 February 2012)

A day perhaps best forgotten.  200 auks west off Birling and 40+ Gannets but only a Sparrowhawk aound the gardens there and a Treecreeper and 4 Long-tailed Tits in Belle Tout Wood.  A couple of hours wandering along the river bank at Glynde failed to produce the Great Grey Shrike, although I did flush a Woodcock from a nearby copse.  Simon Linington then appeared and following the old maxim that two pairs of eyes are always better than one, especially if they include Simon's, we tried the river bank for another hour or so but to no avail.  I then went to Beeding Brooks, arriving just as the rain did.  An hour and a half walking around produced two flocks of Greylags but no sign of the 4 Bean Geese that had been present at least until Thursday (weekend birding due to work has a lot to answer for).  Now thoroughly wet I called in at the Adur as it was low tide.  A North Thames colour-ringed Herring Gull was seen but by now the light was too poor to be sure of its ring number.