Seawatching, Brecks and Pied Flycatchers (08-13 April)

Tuesday 08 April. Widewater 06:10-09:10, light/mod NE, clear, with RP: Brent Goose 140E, Common Scoter 32E, Great Crested Grebe 1 offshore, Oystercatcher 5E, Avocet 1E (06:31), Little Ringed Plover 1N, Whimbrel 2E, Curlew heard, Black-headed Gull 58E, Mediterranean Gull 70E, Sandwich Tern 16E, Fulmar 1E, Gannet 5E., Linnet 3N. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Green Woodpecker heard, male Kestrel, 2 Long-tailed Tits, several Chiffchaffs and 2 Whitethroats. M25/M20: Ring-necked Parakeet. Cavenham Heath with DB: Egyptian Goose, 2 Shelduck, 3 Red-legged Partridges, 3 Stone Curlew, 4 Lapwings, Raven, singing Woodlark and male Stonechat.

Mediterranean Gulls east off Widewater

Stone Curlew at Cavenham Heath

USAF Boeing Stratotanker low over Cavenham Heath (it can carry 114,000 litres of fuel, enough to keep my car going for over a million miles!)

Wednesday 09 April. Lakenheath from dawn with DB: 30 Greylag Geese, 30 Shoveler, 25 Gadwall, 30 Teal, 3 Pochard, 7 Tufted Duck, Water Rail (heard), Common Crane, 9 Avocets, 4 Lapwing, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Snipe, 4+ Bitterns heard booming, 5 Cattle, 2 Great and a Little Egret, 7 Marsh Harriers including a superb adult male, 2 Barn Owls, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, several Cetti's Warblers heard, Chiffchaff, several Sedge and Reed Warblers (mostly heard), 73 Fieldfares (my first this year!!), Greenfinch, 2 Goldfinches and 3 Reed Buntings. Santon Downham with DB: Egyptian Goose, 3 Stock Doves, 2 Lapwing, Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, male Stonechat, 2 Chaffinches, 2 Linnets and heard Brambling, Redpoll and Siskin. DB also had 3 flyover Crossbills. Nunnery Lakes with DB: An Egyptian and 15 Canada Geese including one with red AHT neck ring, 6 Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Oystercatchers, Curlew heard calling on nearby heath, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay and Swallow. High Lodge Compartment with DB: Woodcock.

Barn Owl at Lakenheath

Crane at Lakenheath

Mandarin at Santon Downham

Thursday 10 April. Cavenham Heath with DB: 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Shelduck, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Stock Doves, 7 Stone Curlew (included yesterday's 3), 5 Lapwings, Curlew, 2 Great Egrets, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, 2 Woodlark and male Stonechat, 2 Meadow Pipits, female Brambling, Greenfinch, 20 Goldfinches and 3 Reed Buntings. Lackford Lakes with DB: 12 Egyptian Geese, 4 Shelduck, 8 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 55 Teal, 3 Pochard, 17 Tufted Duck, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Lapwing, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Great Egret, male Goshawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, Red Kite, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Peregrine, Cetti's Warbler heard, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Grey Wagtail, Santon Downham with DB: 3 Mandarin, Buzzard, Coal Tit heard, Marsh Tit, 3 Brambling, 3 Siskin and a Yellowhammer. High Lodge Compartment with DB: 2 Woodlark, Stonechat and Tree Pipit. DB saw briefly and heard Woodcock.

Stone Curlew at Cavenham Heath

Tree Pipit in Thetford Forest

Friday 11 April. Mill Hill with Otis. Stock Dove, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker heard, male Kestrel, Skylark and Cetti's Warbler heard, 6 Chiffchaffs, male Blackcap, 2 Whitethroats, Greenfinch heard, 2 Linnets and 2 Goldfinches.

Grizzled Skipper on Mill Hill

Saturday 12 April. Widewater. 06:25-09:20, light/mod NE/ENE, hazy, with RP: Brent Goose 393E, Shoveler 1E (male), Common Scoter 24E, Oystercatcher 1E, Whimbrel 4E, Turnstone 3W, Black-headed Gull 25E, Mediterranean Gull 13E (adults), Sandwich Tern 47E:2W, Fulmar 1E, Gannet 1E, Little Egret 1E, Linnet 4E. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Buzzard, Green Woodpecker and Skylark heard, 2 Chiffchaffs , male Blackcap, Whitethroat heard and 2 Linnets. Lancing Ring: Green Woodpecker heard, Jay, 7 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps and male and female Pied Flycatcher (found by James Grundy).

female Pied Flycatcher at Lancing Ring

male Pied Flycatcher at Lancing Ring (found by James Grundy)

Sunday 13 April. Widewater. 06:25-09:20, moderate W/SW, clear, with RP: Brent Goose 1E:2W, Shelduck 2W, Velvet Scoter 1E (male at 08:10), Common Scoter 34E, Great Crested Grebe 1 on sea, Oystercatcher 2E, Whimbrel heard, Turnstone 2E, Mediterranean Gull 2E:4W (adults):others heard twice, Sandwich Tern 20E, Red-throated Diver 4E, Black-throated Diver 1E, Fulmar 1E, Gannet 4E:3W and Little Egret 1E. During the seawatch harsh parakeet calls were briefly heard overhead. Maybe half and hour later they were heard again and the 'Middle road' female Lord Derby's and male Ring-necked Parakeets flew over quite high to the east. Adur with Megan and Otis: 46 Turnstones, Greenshank and Skylark heard.

Seawatching, Woodchat and Least Sandpiper (01-07 April)

Tuesday 01 April. Widewater 06:45-09:15. Moderate NE, clear: Brent Goose 28E, Canada Goose 1W & 1 on lagoon, Mute Swan 26, Shelduck 1E, Teal 6, Common Scoter 7E:3W, Great Crested Grebe 5 offshore, Oystercatcher 2E:3W, Black-headed Gull 15E, Sandwich Tern 13E, Red-throated Diver 1E, Fulmar 1E, Gannet 21E. 

Wednesday 02 April. Widewater 06:50-09:20. Moderate/strong NE, clear: Shoveller 66E, Common Scoter 64E, Coot 2, Great Crested Grebe 3 offshore, Black-headed Gull 6E, Common Gull 15E, Sandwich Tern 18E, auk sp. 2W, Fulmar 2E, Gannet 21E, Little Grebe 1. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: 2 Stock Doves, Red Kite, Skylark (heard), 2 Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaff and 3 Goldfinches.

Thursday 03 April. Widewater 06:30-11:20. Moderate E, clear: Canada Goose 10E & 1 on lagoon, Mute Swan 32, Shoveller 31E, Teal 4E & 4 on lagoon, Common Scoter 153E, Great Crested Grebe 2 offshore, Oystercatcher 2E, Grey Plover 2E, Black-headed Gull 16E, Mediterranean Gull 2E (adults), Common Gull 28E, Sandwich Tern 5E, Common/Arctic Tern 2E, auk sp. 2E:3W, Red-throated Diver 1E, Fulmar 2E, Gannet 10E, alba Wagtail 1E. 

Friday 04 April. Widewater 06:15-08:10. Moderate NE, hazy: Egyptian Goose 2NW, Shoveller 2E, Common Scoter 5 on sea, Woodpigeon 12E, Great Crested Grebe 2 offshore, Avocet 1E (06:30), Oystercatcher 2E, Black-headed Gull 13E, Mediterranean Gull 7E (adults), Sandwich Tern 33E, Common/Arctic Tern 6E, Gannet 11E, Little Egret 1E, Kestrel 1E. Middle Road: Lord Derby's and Red-necked Parakeets. Crown Road: Swallow 1N (poor view). Happy Valley/Thundersbarrow/Mile Oak/Southwick Hill: Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, 4 Skylarks, 3 Chiffchaffs, male Blackcap, 3 Greenfinches, 45 Linnets and 4 Corn Buntings.

dawn at Shoreham Beach 

Great Crested Grebe off Widewater

female Lord Deryb's and male Ring-necked Parakeets

Saturday 05 April. Widewater 06:20-07:45. Strong NE, clear, with RP: Moderate/strong NE, clear, with RP: Shelduck 3E, Common Scoter 8E, Great Crested Grebe 1 offshore, Avocet 1E (06:42), Oystercatcher 2E, Black-headed Gull 13E, Mediterranean Gull 2E (adults), Common Gull 40E, Sandwich Tern 14E, Red-throated Diver 1E, Gannet 7E:2W. Newhaven West Beach with RP: Fulmar, Raven (& another Tarring Neville), female Woodchat Shrike and 4 Goldfinches. Mill Hill: 2 Stock Doves, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and 2 Goldfinches.

sunrise from Shoreham Beach

Woodchat Shrike at Newhaven West Beach

Sunday 06 April. Widewater 06:20-09:30, moderate/strong NE, with RP. Brent Goose 29E, 28 Mute and a Black Swan on the lagoon, Shelduck 4E, Shoveler 2E, Teal 2E + 2 on lagoon, Eider 1E (male), Common Scoter 18E, Black-headed Gull 34E, Mediterranean Gull 14E (adults), Common Gull 2E, Sandwich Tern 26E, Guillemot 1 on sea, diver sp. 1E, Gannet 32E, Fulmar 1E, Swallow 1E, Chiffchaff 2. Medmerry (Earnley/Stilt Pool/Beach to Breech. 14 Brent Geese, female Wigeon, 4 Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, 8 Avocets, 4 Ringed and 2 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Curlew, 14 Sanderling, 10 Dunlin, Least Sandpiper (on Stilt Pool), 19 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Buzzards, Swallow, Willow Warbler (heard), male Redstart, 2 Yellow and a White Wagtail and 3 Reed Buntings. 

Least Sandpiper on the Stilt Pool at Medmerry

nice to see it well after a dodgy flight view during a couple of hours search along the beach

... and shake your right foot ...

one of 19 Mediterranean Gulls heard and seen flying high over Earlney

Monday 07 April. Widewater 06:10-09:20, moderate/strong NNE, with RP. Brent Goose 39E, 2 Mute and a Black Swan on the sea and later flying E, Canada Goose 5W (landed on lagoon), Greylag Goose 7E, Common Scoter 6E, Great Crested Grebe 1E, Black-headed Gull 57E, Mediterranean Gull 82E (80 adults), Common Gull 6E, Sandwich Tern 51E, Gannet 10E, Grey Heron 2E, Little Egret 5E, Chiffchaff 4, Linnet 3. 

swans off Widewater

Seawatching, Malmesbury and a Bluethroat (21-31 March)

Friday 21 March. Widewater, 05:50-08:50, moderate SSE, clearish: Brent Goose 48E, Common Scoter 65E, Red-breasted Merganser 1 o/sea, Great Crested Grebe 2E:4 o/sea, Oystercatcher 8E, Curlew 4E, Black-headed Gull 103E, Mediterranean Gull 7E (all adults), Sandwich Tern 9E, diver sp 19E, Red-throated Diver 3E, Gannet 9 offshore, Kestrel 1, Peregrine 1E. Adur to Cuckoos Corner with Otis: Peregrine 1E + 1 on Lancing College chapel, Cetti's Warbler heard, Reed Bunting 2. Crown Road: Stock Dove 2.

sunrise at Widewater

Brent Geese passing Widewater

Stock Dove in our front garden

Saturday 22 March. Widewater, 05:50-09:20, light/moderate ESE, hazy: Mute Swan 22, Brent Goose 340E, Teal 10, Common Scoter 109E, Red-breasted Merganser 4 o/sea, Great Crested Grebe 5 o/sea, Oystercatcher 1E, Ringed Plover 1E, Black-headed Gull 92E, Mediterranean Gull 4E (l adults & 2CY), Sandwich Tern 58E, Red-throated Diver 21E, Gannet 4 offshore, Kestrel 1, Wheatear 1 female o/beach. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: 2 Red Kites, several Skylarks and Chiffchaffs heard, 3 Redwings and 3 Goldfinches.

Sunday 23 March. Shoreham Boardwalk/Fort with Megan and Otis: 14 Teal, 4 Oystercatchers and a Raven (head visible on nest). Middle Road: female Lord Derby's and male Ring-necked Parakeets in usual pre-roost tree.

Monday 24 March. Widewater, 06:30-09:25, moderate NE, moderate viz: Brent Goose 2E, Shoveler 1E (male):1 prob. immature o/sea, Teal 2E (mf with Shoveler), Common Scoter 9W, Red-breasted Merganser 5 o/sea, Great Crested Grebe 10 o/sea, Stock Dove 1E, Woodpigeon 12E, Oystercatcher 1W, Black-headed Gull 115E, Mediterranean Gull 5E (all adults), Common Gull 8E, Sandwich Tern 5E, Gannet 3 offshore, Chiffchaff 1 in, Wheatear 1 female o/beach. Brooklands with Megan and Otis: Jay, Cetti's Warbler seen well, Chiffchaff heard. Middle Road: female Lord Derby's and male Ring-necked Parakeets in usual pre-roost tree.

female Wheatear at Widewater

Cetti's Warbler at Brooklands

Tuesday 25 March. Brooklands with Otis: Great Spotted Woodpecker heard, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrest and White-spotted Bluethroat. I'd gone to Brooklands hoping to see a Firecrest that had been seen in the past week or so, with Nick Bond seeing two shortly after we'd visited the previous day. No luck again today but as I was leaving Dave Sadler, who I'd met earlier, phoned to say was I still about as he'd just found a Bluethroat! I hurried back and as I approached could see he was watching/photographing what was presumably it. I hurried up and it was, hopping around on the ground partly obscured just inside the reeds. While I was getting my camera out, not having thought to do so on my approach, it went further in and was lost to view. I waited 15 minutes for it to reappear but then had to hurry home as we were leaving for Malmesbury and I was going to be late. The Bluethroat didn't reappear for an hour or so after I'd left but then showed very well intermittently later that afternoon and the following day. A34/M4: 6 Red Kites and a Buzzard.

Wednesday 26 March. Malmesbury River Walk with Megan and Otis: Little Egret and Treecreeper seen, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff and Bullfinch heard.

Malmesbury

Thursday 27 March. Chippenham River Walk with Megan and Otis: Little Egret, Red Kite and 2 Goldcrests seen, Chiffchaff and Grey Wagtail heard.

Megan and Otis at Malmesbury Abbey

Friday 28 March. Malmesbury with Otis: 2 Chiffchaffs and a Greenfinch. Avebury with Megan and Otis: 2 Ravens, Chiffchaff heard, Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinches and a Corn Bunting. Drive home: 5 Red Kites and a Buzzard.

Malmesbury

Megan and Otis at Avebury

Silbury Hill

the largest artificial prehistoric mound in Europe

built in several stages between approximately 2470 and 2350 BCE

purpose unknown

Saturday 29 March. Widewater, 06:20-08:45, moderate NE, moderate viz: Brent Goose 2E, Mute Swan 32, Teal 26, Common Scoter 8E, Red-breasted Merganser 1E, Coot 2, Great Crested Grebe 2 o/sea, Oystercatcher 1E, Sandwich Tern 1W, diver sp. 1E, Fulmar 1W, Gannet 2 offshore. Mill Hill with Megan and Otis: Kestrel, Peregrine (on quarry chimney), 2 Skylarks, 2 Chiffchaffs seen and 2 more and a Blackcap heard.

Sunday 30 March. Shoreham Boardwalk/Fort with Megan, Nessa and Otis: Raven standing on nest.

Monday 31 March. Widewater, 06:55-09:20, light NE, clear: Canada Goose 3E, Mute Swan 35, Shelduck 4E, Common Scoter 1E, Woodpigeon 2 in: 9 out, Coot, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe 3 o/sea, Oystercatcher heard, Sandwich Tern 1E, Red-throated Diver 1E, Fulmar 1E, Gannet 5 offshore, Cormorant 12W, Grey Heron 1E, Skylark and Chiffchaff heard. Adur with Megan and Otis: Oystercatcher 4, Curlew 1 (N0), Sparrowhawk 1, Skylark 1, Cetti's Warbler heard. A23 to Gatwick: Buzzard 1.

Shelduck passing Widewater

Curlew N0 on the Shoreham Airport Saltings

from Richard Allan: N0 is the most frequently seen Curlew on the Adur from the GWCT reintroduction scheme. It was released on the Burpham estate in July 2022 and seems to appear on the Adur in Spring and Autumn, having been tracked to Pembrokeshire previously