Saturday did not augur well according to the BBC but the Met Office seemed a bit more hopeful. Bolstered by our mutual optimism 9 of us set out at 7.30 on an overcast and blowy morning. The party was made up of Nigel, Debbie, Will, Elaine, David, John and Diana, Brian and Mike.

First stop is always the RSPB centre at Sidlesham although we were such early birds we arrived before the cafe was open but the loos were a relief. We trundled off to the hide overlooking the Ferry Pool and en route started to find small birds – Blue, Great and LT Tits, singing Robins, Goldfinches, Chaffinches and a Greenfinch plus chirpy House Sparrows. The Ferry Pool hosted Lapwings, Black Tailed Godwits, a Ruff (courtesy of David), Shoveler, Shelduck and Teal and a sharp eyed Mike (despite not being on his balcony) spotted a distant Peregrine. David even saw a Kingfisher. A very good start but we were itching to get to Medmerry before the rain came. We convoyed to the little car park which was delightfully free of cars and set off towards the freshwater ponds and the salty sea. To make up for an unusual shortage of Stonechats, which luckily John and Diana eventually found, we came across an assortment of lovely passerines. Elaine must have got fed up with us saying “There it is. Ah no its gone down again” as we tracked the up and down progress of a Dartford Warbler across the gorse. Meadow Pipits flew over and some landed obligingly on fence posts while bubbling Skylarks were added to our list. A fairly distance mass of small shapes turned out to be Linnets and Debbie’s ears picked out a Cetti’s Warblers unique advertising call.

Raptors were becoming well represented. I found us a Marsh Harrier  and David pointed out  a Sparrowhawk which clearly had a fear of heights as it was quartering a field at speed just a few feet above the ground. Kestrels hovered and Mike saw a Buzzard in the general direction of Portsmouth.

Will found our first Great Spotted Woodpecker to go with the Greenies which were heard yaffling early in the walk. To prove that winter has not yet set in the first of a few groups of Swallows passed over our heads while Brian was passing around the Extra Strong Mints. The “chiswick” call of another flyover bird announced our only Pied Wagtail of the trip.

Anticipation mounted as we neared the freshwater ponds that clearly held a good number of birds. Lots of geese – Canada, Egyptian which we had seen flying over near the car park and apparently huge numbers of Grey Lag which I somehow failed to see. Its the pressure of being leader. I did however redeem myself by finding three Snipe and there was also a hat-trick of gorgeously elegant Greenshanks. Later Mike got one in the scope which filled its circle of vision and showed its full good looks. A good variety of ducks were on show but with dark clouds looming to the west we decided it was time for a quick dash to the beach before our picnic. Wow – so glad we did! On the massive chunks of rock deposited on the top of the beach as a bit of a sea wall was a feisty looking Wheatear drinking from a puddle and generally looking magnificent. Obviously a bit of a problem getting away with a south west wind whooshing in from the sea. This wind also brought a short but very sharp cold squall which sent us scurrying inland.

Civilised picnic under cover at the RSPB Centre and then a scoot down to Church Norton for a wader fest providing the tide was not too far in. As you can see there was plenty to look at. Waders galore with Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Knot, Grey Plover, one lone overflying Golden Plover, Whimbrel, Curlew, Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit and Oystercatcher. Varied gulls, two species of tern, Little Egrets, Grey Heron and ducks, Great Crested Grebe and even an early Brent Goose. Not to mention the Cormorants that were lined up like posts (Debbie)  or possibly posts that were lined up like Cormorants (thank you John).

To finish off we went to the Dead Sea. Well David said he thought it looked dead but it was in fact he who found the Gannets which were so far out some of us thought they were the floaters in our eyes! We also had groups of Dunlin mixed with Ringed Plover and whizzing flocks of Turnstone zooming past. Eventually we had to go although Mike was going to stay on a bit, maybe he is still looking for that Black Browed Albatross?

As a postscript I should add that we mustered up 81 species which could have increased on the way home as we saw a Red Kite and a Pheasant but in honour of Val and the Bird Race we decided “rules is rules” and stuck to the number seen on the actual trip.