5th March,2010. Bedelands L.N.R. & Burgess Hill

Visited with David, this local Nature Reserve in Burgess Hill, and at long last saw a female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker my first since 2001. Also several Greater Spotted Woodpeckers heard drumming, large numbers of Tits including 2 Marsh Tits. Back on the lawn in our garden a fine adult male Pied Wagtail was feeding.

Adult male Pied Wagtail

20th February,2010. Selsey Bill & Sompting

Went with Doreen and David direct to Selsey Bill and had reasonable views of 2 Great Northern Divers on the sea, also 7 Slavonian Grebes, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Brent Goose, & 12 Red Breasted Mergansers. Drove back to Arundel, but again no sign of any Hawfinches. We then decided to visit the Downs above Sompting and had 1 Long Eared Owl but virtually no finches or buntings feeding in the fields.

View of the Downs above Sompting.

Long Eared Owl.

14th February 2010 Wivelsfield, Pett, Castle Water, Ternery Pool and Northiam

Went out with Doreen & David. First stop to photograph Fieldfares at Wivelsfield. We saw 100 Fieldfares & 10 Yellow Hammers. Onto Pett Level: 20 White Fronted Geese, 6 Brent Geese, 1 Knot plus the usual selection of common waders etc. Moved onto Castle Water: 2 Bitterns one of which showed very very well, nice views also of a Water Rail, 3 Smew (1 drake), 6 Pintail, 70 Grey-lag Geese, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Ravens, & 30 Fieldfares, plus 40 Gadwall and good numbers of Shovelers etc.. On our way home went via Northiam and saw the adult Whooper Swan.

Ternery Pool, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

Shoveler on Castle Water, Rye.

Fieldfare at Wivelsfield.

Bitterns.

Water Rail at Castle Water, Rye.

Smew at Castle Water, Rye.

Flock of Grey-lags over Castle Water, Rye.

Cormorant at Castle Water, Rye.

Great Crested Grebe on Castle Water, Rye.

Gadwall & Shoveler on Castle Water, Rye.

Adult Herring Gull at Rye.

13th February, 2010. Piddinghoe, Selsey & West Dean.

Went with David to see the Common Crane at Piddinghoe. also saw 50 Stock Doves, 10 Fieldfares, & 1 Common Buzzard. Then drove to Selsey Bill, and spent sometime potographing the Med. Gulls which were sowing very well. Also saw 10 Red Breasted Mergansers, 2 Diver Sp's, & 3 Sandwich Terns. Very little at West Dean other than 2 Siskins, & 750 Woodpigeons.

Common Crane at Piddinghoe.

Adult summer plumage Med. Gull at Selsey.

Adult transitional plumage Med. Gull at Selsey.

Adult in almost full summer plumage Med. Gull at Selsey.

2nd Winter Med. Gull at Selsey.

Various Med Gulls at Selsey.

Turnstone at Selsey.