Bird Sightings

Super area walk and WeBs today with Mike & Lesley.  Gadwall and 200 Lapwing (on Roger F’s patch) Green Sandpiper by the river, Red Kite near Stretham, and on the brooks were Canada & Greylag Geese, Wigeon and Teal in good numbers (100+ of each), Shoveler, Pintail and Snipe, with the addition of 2 newly arrived Shelduck.  We looked across to where we had seen the Lapwing earlier, and a huge flock (600?) were up in the air.  Finally Lesley spotted the Glossy Ibis seen earlier in the week, this time much closer and in good light – smashing!

Though the inefficiency of the scribe made us think we were falling short!

The Fab Four, Nigel, Nige, Will & Val (plus Maya the collie,) met at 7.45 at the Downslink car park to the serenading of a Song Thrush, and headed off by car for Woods Mill, leaving the dog in the car there for a while.  At Woods Mill and Sands Farm we managed to tick off most of the more common species, plus the only Mistle Thrush of the day, which was singing beautifully, a group of 5 Bullfinches, a rather large flock of Stock Doves (c40) in one field at the farm.

After a quick tea/coffee break  we unloaded Maya and set off on our long trek.  Weather still a bit gloomy at this stage, then the wind got up  as we walked along the millstream, though we found Snipe, Skylark and Meadow Pipit along there. We joined the Downslink and headed south to Stretham. Will rested his knees for a while at the bridge and the others nipped down river for a Stonechat. A call from Will heralded a Grey Wagtail which was still sitting near the bridge as we returned; then a Raven flew low over the river.  Always worth going up to the overflow pit, and so it proved as a Green Sandpiper nipped up to show off its white rump!  Back to Stretham, the Downslink, and a squelch into the fields for a view of the ducks, not huge numbers but we got Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, Pintail and Gadwall. There must have been 600 or more Lapwing a bit further west.  Sky was a gorgeous blue now, but it was still rather breezy.   Ticked off House Sparrow at South View Terrace and Greenfinches in my garden.  A Coal Tit was seen by Nigel & Will, but not by Nige, and Val was in the kitchen making tea at the time – it didn’t reappear, so didn’t count, as the rules say 3 out of the 4 must see the bird.

We hadn’t seen or heard a Buzzard all morning, which was rather worrying, but started off though the village and back to the Downslink. Wind easing by now and the sky still clear.   Just as we were about to head north, noisy gulls turned out to be mobbing a Red Kite, which was a nice bonus.  A lovely flock of Fieldfares (c30) and Redwings (c70) were feeding on the saturated ground south-east of Betley Bridge. Not until we got well on the way to Partridge Green did we finally get that Buzzard as one flew across by the wet area on the east side.  Dusk was beginning to fall as we wandered back along the river.  AKestrel was hovering, and a Barn Owl obligingly put in a brief appearance for us near Great Betley.  That was probably it we thought as we took the fishermen’s path to Stonepit Lane, but then a Tawny Owl hooted loudly from near the river.  We were slightly deflated as my log book only showed 59 species, and there were moves afoot to bribe the recorder to allow the Coal Tit!  However, a tot up of the species later in the evening, revealed that Jackdaws and Carrion Crows we had seen right at the start weren’t included so the final total was 61.  Definitely one of our better efforts, and without managing Yellowhammer, Goldcrest or – would you credit it – Pheasant!

Photos of Grey Wagtail, assorted ducks in the lovely blue water, and the evening walk back along the river.

When adding together all the species we have seen on our Races,  it comes to 86, quite remarkable really!

There was a Glossy Ibis, trying to pass itself off as a Lapwing on the brooks on 6th Jan – but its all dark colour, long neck and down-curved bill gave it away!  Also 3 Black-tailed Godwits, lots of Lapwing, Shoveler, Wigeon etc.

On 28th November a Cattle Egret was on the southern brooks – first since 1999/2000.  Then on 5th December Mike found a Water Pipit in the same area, the first ever for Henfield Birdwatch!

Wed 6th (from Val): The usual good numbers of geese and gulls on the brooks, with about 50 Lapwing and two larger grey waders with heads tucked into their backs.  Wondered what they were when one raised its head and flapped its wings – Black-tailed Godwits.

Sat  9th (from Peter & Penny): The flood water is back around Rye Farm and lots of birds have moved in – 100+ Canada Geese, large flock of Fieldfares, family of Swans, Mallards, Wigeon, Heron, loads of gulls and  2 or 3 pairs of Tufted Duck (first ones recorded this year).  A pair of Stonechats in the reeds by the barn conversion at this end of the track

Sun 10th (from Paul): Around Betley were good numbers of  geese and Wigeon, plus a pair of Shoveler. In the field behind Bishop Park were approx. 250 Black-headed Gulls with a lone Common Gull. Despite much scanning with fingers crossed there wasn’t a single Med Gull in with them!

Paul found 2 on the Bishop Park estate on Sunday, which Paula managed to photograph against a remarkable blue sky, and on Nige’s area walk on Tuesday 5th another was just to the north of Park Farm – sitting on a fence with a Stonechat and 4 Meadow Pipits.

Paul took his usual route on the 27th, heading up to Betley bridge and then back down the river. A mini-flock of three Mistle Thrushes were moving around the east end of Stonepit Lane, a Kingfisher shot under the bridge at Betley and there were 50ish Wigeon and a pair of Gadwall on the floods west of the river alongside the Mallards and Greylags. Also seen on the way back along Stonepit Lane were three Goldcrests, a Nuthatch and a Coal Tit. Arriving back at Bishop Park he noticed a small dusky bird flitting around the posts that line the road on the central footpath area. All of a sudden its quivering red tail became clear….  a Black Redstart! It flew off north and despite keeping an eye out all day it appeared to have quickly moved on. A great end to a lovely walk in (at last) some decent weather.

Nige, Angela B, Brian S, myself and Maya on the final Big Bird Bash walk on 30th September. We were so lucky to have a dry still day when the others battled with wind and/or rain. 52 different species seen, including two major highlights, Kingfisher and Whinchat. Both of the Saturday walk teams saw Spotted Flycatchers which were migrating south through our area. The total for the weekend was the same as the June bash at 62, but with a few different species the combined total for the 2 weekends was 72.  Amazing how many species we have in the patch.  And the winter visitors are yet to arrive!

 

Have been staring at herds of cattle for several weeks now (people think you’re off your head!), but it’s finally paid off.  A flock of Yellow Wags seen at Cissbury on Sunday and now two along the river on 20/9 between Betley and Chates on their way to winter in Africa.

I admit they were on the opposite river bank and aren’t nearly as yellow as Grey Wags, but these could be our first Henfield record of the species for 2019?  Also Kingfisher in same stretch of river yesterday.

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