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.

Weymouth (02-08 November)

Saturday 02 November. Megan and I drove down to Weymouth with Otis, stopping for a walk around Maiden Castle on the way and arriving when almost dark. Birds seen were Red Kite over the A35 and 10 Meadow Pipits at Maiden Castle.

Sunday 03 November. After visiting Radipole with Otis we walked to Ferrybridge mostly along the Rodwell Trail before catching a bus back. Otis and I revisited Radipole late afternoon (it was less than 10 minutes walk from where we were staying). Birds seen included a Stonechat on the Rodwell Trail, 125 Brent Geese, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Knot and 650 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge and 24 Tufted Duck, 150 Mediterranean Gulls, a Marsh Harrier and 71 Pied Wagtails at Radipole. The Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge included yellow A3TS, an adult probably ringed in Germany.

Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge

Mediterranean Gull A3TS, most likely ringed in Germany

Monday 04 November. Radipole and Lodmoor: 20 Shoveler, a flock of 700 Woodpigeons (flying SW over Lodmoor), 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 19 Snipe, a Sanderling (on Weymouth Beach), 120 Mediterranean Gulls, Marsh Harrier (over Lodmoor) and Cetti's Warbler. 

Tuesday 05 November. Two visits to Radipole sandwiched between a bus trip to Dorchester. Birds seen at Radipole included 150 Mediterranean Gulls and Great Egret (flying S). Both Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler were heard.

Wednesday 06 November. Radipole and Lodmoor (while Megan was in the Sealife Centre): 360 Golden Plover, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Snipe, 4 Dunlin, 220 Mediterranean Gulls, Marsh Harrier (roosting at Radipole), Cetti's Warbler and 2 Chiffchaffs.

Mediterranean Gull ASTJ, another most likely ringed in Germany

Thursday 07 November. I visited Radipole with Otis before we walked around the Nothe to Sandsfoot Castle. There Megan and Otis returned along the Rodwell Trail and I continued to Ferry Bridge and Portland. I spent half an hour or so looking in Portland Harbour off Lidl for the potential American holbollii Red-necked Grebe that had been present for a week or so. No success but the wind had picked up a bit and there were 8-10 wind surfers carving up the area so I continued towards Portland Castle where it had been seen from earlier in its stay. Stopping to scan a 100m or so short of the castle I saw the Red-necked Grebe almost immediately although it was distant and diving a lot. I completely failed to pick it up through my camera and even through a telescope it was hard to make out any critical detail. With news of a Pallas's Leaf Warbler in 'a garden' in Southwell it seemed worth jumping on a bus in the hope of seeing someone there who knew more about it. I got off at the top of Avalanche road and was drawn to the hump, seeing a handful of birders in a large unkempt 'garden'. By good fortune I had come to the right place as one was local legend Pete Coe who I'd known in the mid/late 70s. I was looking in the right place but it still took a couple of hours for the Pallas's Leaf Warbler to appear. Well worth the wait then it did! A bus arrived just as I reached the bus stop which was opposite the entrance to the hump and I was back in Weymouth half an hour later. Other birds seen included 360 Mediterranean Gulls, a Shag, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Chifchaffs, a Goldcrest and 3 Stonechats.

Pallas's Leaf Warbler at Southwell, stunning even in deteriorating light

Friday 08 November. Radipole: 30 Shoveler, 35 Gadwall, 20 Teal, 28 Tufted Duck, 70 Mediterranean Gulls, 17 Blue and 20 Long-tailed Tits and 2 Chiffchaffs. Also a Black Redstart on Corfe Castle where we stopped on our way home.

Desert Wheatear, Firecrest and Hawfinch in SUSSEX (20 October - 01 November)

Sunday 20 October. Back to the reality of birding in Sussex: 2 Jays in Buckingham Park with Megan and Otis.

Monday 21 October. Adur Rec with Megan and Otis: Jay 2 and Chiffchaff 2.

Tuesday 22 October. Mill Hill with Otis: Woodpigeon 550 SW, Red Kite 1, Buzzard 4, Jay, Long-tailed Tit 4, Stonechat 1 male, Bullfinch 1 male.

Wednesday 23 October. Pulborough Woods fungi trail with Megan and Otis: Marsh Harrier 1, Buzzard 1, Nuthatch heard.

Yellow Stagshorn on the Pulborough RSPB Fungi Trail

Marsh Harrier on the South Brooks

Thursday 24 October. Mill Hill, 08:05-11:05, partly with Megan and Otis: Stock Dove 5W, Woodpigeon 400W, Buzzard 2, Skylark 3, Swallow 5E, Long-tailed Tit 5, Chiffchaff, Mistle Thrush 1E, Stonechat 1 female, Meadow Pipit 15, Chaffinch 3, Linnet 6, Goldfinch 2.

Friday 25 October. Adur with Otis: Ringed Plover 54, Dunlin 1. Belle Tout/Birling: Raven 3, Chiffchaff 2, Dartford Warbler 1 poor flight view, Stonechat 2, Desert Wheatear 1 female (presumed immature).

female Desert Wheatear near Belle Tout Lighthouse

Saturday 26 October. Adur with Megan and Otis: Ringed Plover 60, Dunlin 1, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 2.

Sunday 27 October. Mill Hill: Stock Dove 5, Red Kite 1, Buzzard 1, Skylark heard, Long-tailed Tit 2, Chiffchaff 2, Firecrest 1, Meadow Pipit 2, Chaffinch 3, Goldfinch 2. Sherwood Rough: Goshawk 1 adult, Red Kite 2, Buzzard 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Kestrel 2, Jay 3, Raven 4, Fieldfare 1, Redwing 12, Mistle Thrush 2, Stonechat 1 male, Chaffinch 3, Hawfinch 10, Bullfinch 1 male, Greenfinch 2, Yellowhammer 7.

Firecrest at Mill Hill

Hawfinches at Sherwood Rough

Hawfinch and Fieldfare

Monday 28 October. Mill Hill: Stock Dove 8, Woodpigeon 130, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Kestrel 2, Peregrine 1, Skylark 2, Chiffchaff heard, Meadow Pipit 8, Chaffinch 1. Widewater to Lancing with Otis: Brent Goose 5W, Ringed Plover 57 on beach, Dunlin 1 on beach, Mediterranean Gull 1 adult W.

Tuesday 29 October. Mile Oak-South Downs Way with Otis: Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel 6, Skylark 25, Stonechat 6 (3 pairs?), Meadow Pipit 30, Chaffinch 6, Greenfinch, Linnet 100, Goldfinch 30, Corn Bunting 30, Reed Bunting 2.

Stonechat at Mile Oak

Wednesday 30 October. Mill Hill: Green Woodpecker heard, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush 2. Boardwalk/Fort circuit with Megan and Otis: Eider 1 male, Turnstone 15, Ring Ouzel 1 immature male, Linnet, Goldfinch 3.

Turnstone at Shoreham Fort

Eider in Shoreham Harbour

Thursday 31 October. Southwick Canal with Megan & Otis: Stonechat 1 male, Wheatear 1.

Wheatear at Southwick Canal

the warm plumage suggested Greenland although most wheatears would look richly coloured compared with the Beachy Desert

01 November 2024: Widewater to Brooklands and back with Otis: Mute Swans 33 (Widewater), Little Grebe 11, Water Rail, Ringed Plover 57, Dunlin 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 2, Cetti's Warbler heard, Black Redstart 1, Stonechat 1 male, Pied Wagtail 6, Meadow Pipit 1, Goldfinch 1.

 juvenile/female Black Redstart on the groynes at Eastern Sands

too slow again

 it appeared to have a loose feather (see also first photo)

male Stonechat at Widewater