Cuckmere Firsts

What a fabulous place the Cuckmere is. The busy traffic at Exceat Bridge is soon forgotten as you walk upstream along the river, and the valley manages to become quite remote. The reported Black-winged Stilt was easy to find, as several birders were already watching it. This was the first time I had seen this species in the UK.

Cattle Egret.

Further north, up the valley towards Litlington, I went looking for the Cattle Egret. This bird was more elusive, but I eventually found it near the bridge just south of Frog Firle. Again this was a UK first for me.

The lovely Black-winged Stilt. 

Flowering Blackthorn near Charlston Reedbed. The blossom has a very heavy scent.

View of the valley to the south from beneath High-and-over.

One of my first lambs of 2017 near Rickney on the Pevensey Levels. 

A female Garganey on Hankam Levels south of Chilley Farm.

Late March

Spring seems to be progressing very quickly, despite some decidedly poor weather. The wind in particular has been very strong along the coast and has generated some wintry seas. This time of year is always the busiest for me at work, meaning that my excursions outside seem to become isolated and episodic.

Song Thrush near Wych Cross, Ashdown Forest. I was hoping to see one of the reported sightings of Great Grey Shrikes, but I had no luck.

A pair of marvellous Great Crested Grebes at Weir Wood Reservoir. These birds engaged in their courtship display, with head bobbing, the offering of pond weed and lots of calling.

 Dunnock from Weir Wood Reservoir.

 Catkins of a female Goat Willow, Weir Wood Reservoir.

Shelduck at the ARK pool, Dungeness

Birling Gap

Two views of a wild sea from Birling Gap. Spring was banished for the day and winter returned. Foam from the breaking waves was blown up and over the cliffs and onto the Downs.

West Rise Marsh

The reliable Long-tailed Duck, with a friendly Tufted Duck, at West Rise Marsh. This individual has been in near permanent residence all winter.

Hill Road

Beachy Brow looking out over a mist covered Eastbourne. A still morning and all the country between the Downs and the High Weald was covered with what seemed like an inland sea.

Arlington Reservoir

The urge to see a Pintail had been increasing, so reports of several at Arlington reservoir tempted me to visit.

The marvellously plumaged male Pintail.

Dunnock.

Some of the House Sparrows from the thriving colony at Polhill's Farm.

Female House Sparrow.

Green Woodpecker.

Wren.

Goldfinch from Horseshoe Plantation.

Rye Harbour

Easily one of the best places to see birds in Sussex. A rare day out on the shingle with only gentle wind, plus some early spring sunshine.

A group of Avocets.

Little Egret.

More Avocets.

Oystercatcher.

From left to right: 2nd winter Herring Gull, 1st winter Great Black-backed Gull then two 1st winter Herring Gulls.

Views across the shingle.

A sequence of photos of Ringed Plover involved in courtship displays.

Shoveler.

Mediterranean Gulls.

Another Shoveler.

Sandwich Terns. Just back for the Spring. They flew around all afternoon, calling excitedly.

Another Oystercatcher.

Black-headed Gull.

Cormorant.

Black-headed Gull.

Collared Dove.

I also caught brief glimpses of a Little Tern and a Wheatear.

Bateman's

I never go to Bateman's without seeing Nuthatch and Treecreeper, the High Weald landscape really suits these species. The trees were also full of Goldcrests. The river Dudwell was quite high after recent rain, and I was thrilled to see a Grey Wagtail on the water.

This bird is still in its winter plumage, in the summer it will develop a dark bib. The yellowness of its breast suggests it is an older bird, not in its first winter.

A very friendly Dunnock. An adult bird judging by the amount of grey plumage around the neck.

Robin.

Extensive lichen growth on the apple trees in the orchard