East Head and Thorney Deeps (01 March 2014)

1 March 2014.  I went to East Head with John King.  The water level in Snowhill Marsh was the highest I can remember with few islands for waders to roost on although we did see 3 Spotted Redshank.  The small marshy area in the dune slacks was also flooded but 2 Sky Larks and 2 Meadow Pipits were singing nearby. We walked to the end of the Head with the tide coming in fast seeing 5 Great Northern Divers, 21 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Sandwich Terns and the superb Snow Bunting.  We then drove round to Thorney and walked down the west side to the Great Deep.  Here there were 27 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Spotted Redshank, 18 Greenshanks, a Rock Pipit (flight views only) and Barry Collins on his bike.  Heading back home we called in at Brooklands where the three Little Gulls were almost constantly flying around, although usually at the far side of the lake.  I then called in at the Adur where the tide hadn't fallen quite enough and single Little and Great Crested Grebes were seen.

Snow Bunting at East Head

Spotted Redshank on Snowhill Marsh

Little Gull on Brooklands

some very dark images as the camera was inadvertently set to under-expose by 5 stops

exposure better

then the autofocus stopped working, but note the rich pink flush

nice when the less pink individual landed on the water and I could go back to digiscoping

brilliant birds

28 February 2014.  Mistle Thrush singing at the Univesity.

26 February 2914.  2 Little Grebes and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers on Southwick Canal and Herring Gull A4AH at the University.

25 February 2014.  A Peregrine on Southwick Power Station chimney and 20+ Brent Geese noticed flying east off Hove.

24 February 2014.  2 Little Grebes and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers on Southwick Canal and a Peregrine on the Power Station chimney.