Pied Wheatear and Caspian Gulls in SUSSEX (09-14 November 2024)

Saturday 09 November. I was preparing to visit Mill Hill when I rather belatedly noticed an earlier WhatsApp message about a female Pied Wheatear present at Seaford Head (it had been seen but not identified by Simon Linington the previous afternoon). I changed plans, made sure I had my scope and drove over to Seaford arriving about an hour after it had disappeared over the cliff edge. A very confiding Black Redstart provided some distraction but after about three hours of searching with no further sign, in rather cold conditions, I decided to try the Cuckmere gull roost as there had been some first-winter Caspian Gulls moving in the east of the county the previous day. Two hours studying the roost of at least 650 large gulls, predominantly Great Black-backs, produced what seems to count these days as OK for a first-winter Caspian Gull (trait scores seeming a distant memory). It was near the front of the flock for most of the time I was there and sometimes stood up (in tall grass so not showing much leg). Other potentially interesting looking gulls were generally very unhelpful. What was probably a third-winter Caspian Gull sitting at the back of the flock for a while briefly raised its head although my views were of it were not very satisfactory. A probable adult Yellow-legged Gull was also sitting at the back of the flock and stuck its head up once. Another white-headed adult looked interesting with a slightly lighted mantle and what appeared to be a dark eye but with a squarish head and on a brief view quite a bright coloured bill. My views were very inconclusive. I changed position and joined Brian Cox and John Curson who had also been watching the flock, slightly out of view from where I'd been. They'd had somewhat more success than me with first-winter, third-winter and adult Caspian Gulls and adult Yellow-legged. While trying to find their birds we heard that Matt Eade and Michael Booker had relocated the Pied Wheatear on the cliff edge opposite Seaford Head barn. The attraction of distant, often sleeping, gulls promptly vanished and we hurried over, although my progress up past Harry's Bush wouldn't comply with most definitions of hurrying. The light was starting to go but the Pied Wheatear performed reasonably well until dusk for a small crowd although generally kept its distance. 

Black Redstart on Seaford Head

first-winter Caspian Gull in the Cuckmere gull roost

perhaps a bit dirtier below than one might have liked

I never saw its legs or underwing but what I could see looked the part

third-winter gull which from what I saw of it seemed to fit Caspian Gull (presumably the bird seen by Brian and Jon)

adult/near adult Yellow-legged Gull in the Cuckmere gull roost

adult Yellow-legged or Caspian Gull

Sunday 10 November. Nothing at Mill Hill on a morning walk with Megan and Otis. The male Ring-necked Parakeet was in its usual tree above the Sullington Way bus stop at 15:35 but no sign of the Lord Derby's although the tree still had a lot of leaves. I walked Otis to Buckingham Park but no sign there and when I returned the Ring-necked couldn't be found.

Monday 11 November. Adur with Megan and Otis: 6 Teal, 33 Lapwings, the white-capped Grey Plover (welcome back), 40 Ringed Plover, Curlew, 20+ Turnstones, 7 Dunlin, 27 Redshank, 54 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Rock Pipit.

Curlew on the Adur

Woodpigeon by the Adur

Tuesday 12 November. Beeding Hill triangle with Otis: Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, 13 Skylarks, 10 Stonechats (5 potential pairs), 3 Meadow Pipits, Greenfinch, 12 Linnets, 8 Goldfinches and 2 Corn Buntings. With 2 Ring-necked and the Lord Derby's being seen Otis and I tried the usual trees and Park Avenue between 15:30-15:50 without success. We should have persevered as all three were seen later.

Stonechats on Beeding Hill

Wednesday 13 November. Megan and I took Otis to Harbour Way, walked to the Adur Ferry Bridge and back via the boardwalk and Fort. We saw a female Goosander slowly drifting down-river into the harbour and 8 Turnstones on the beach. Otis and I drew another blank with the parakeets between 15:50-16:30. My last chance for a couple of weeks as I'm off to Southern Argentina tomorrow.

female Goosander in Shoreham Harbour as seen from the Sailing Club slipway

Thursday 14 November. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was briefly on our bird table while a short circuit along Adur/Downslink from Dacre Gardens with Megan and Otis produced 5 Little Egrets, Chiffchaff and 2 Goldfinches. I'd forgotten my binoculars though doubt I'd've seen much more with them.