Let Osprey

A grand day's birding today. Firstly we went to a very full Arlington Reservoir. The air was full of birdsong but nothing very exciting was visible on the water, just a few mallard and a great-crested grebe or two. There was a cormorant or two about as well.

Meanwhile there was a lot of small-bird activity in the trees but this was mostly confined to sound rather than vision. In the course of our wanderings we did see chiff-chaff, blackcap, green woodpecker (in flight), goldfinches, reed bunting, sparrow and swallows darting above us. We had been hoping for a turtle dove but only managed the collared variety as we walked across the bridge and down to the church and back. We had seen a kestrel soaring and hovering but on the return journey to the reservoir we had very nice views of a red kite. Things were looking up.

The best was yet to come though and as we reached the shore of the far side of the reservoir, heading back for our lunch we noticed a really big bird with a long wingspan had appeared over the water. This was really exciting for us. An osprey!

We watched in awe for some time as he began to try and catch a fish. He made several unsuccessful attempts, plunging into the water and emerging to shake himself dry in mid-air. Finally though, he emerged with a fish and once he'd got it slung underneath in his talons neatly he began to fly North towards us looking for all the world like some kind of torpedo bomber with his trout arranged aerodynamically fore-and-aft. A helicopter clattered into view and caused him to change his mind but after it had passed he reverted to his original course and flew past us giving us brilliant views.

After that we had lunch. Nothing much could follow that. However, after lunch we headed for the coast to see if we could see any justification for the bad reports my bird-tutor had heard about the kittiwake colony this year. The tide was out and there was a fair bit of kittiwake activity with some sitting on the posts of a wooden groyne, some bobbing about out on the sea and others coming and going from the cliff face and making their characteristic kitti-waaake" cry. Happily, on scanning the cliffs with the 'scope we did see some evidence of eggs and are hopeful that the problem is only that the earlier bad weather has put back the breeding schedule a bit. Amongst the nesting kitties we also spotted a fulmar on a nest.

Finally we set off to the Seaford Head area and strolled down to Hope Gap and back. At the water's edge were a couple of curlew and once again the bushes seemed full of song. We saw and heard a number of skylarks and heard raven about. We were almost sure that we saw one fly over as it was making a characteristic raven sound. It wasn't as large as we'd normally expect but it could have been a juvenile at this time of year. We also saw meadow pipits, whitethroat, blackbird and a nice tubby thrush running through his repertoire of songs and impressions on top of a bush.

There were plenty of things besides birds to look at including wild flowers (I'm told there were a fairly uncommon vetch species, orchids, nightshades and bugloss amongst them). We also saw a number of insects including damsel flies, ladybirds and butterflies which included a number of small heath, chalkhill blue, gatekeeper, comma, speckled wood and painted lady I think

It's the thawed that counts

I

Image via Wikipedia

came out of hibernation on Thursday and went birding. It was overcast and a little chilly but not as icy as it has been of late and we set off to Burpham for another crack at the rough-legged buzzard. As it turned out we couldn't confirm a sighting this time but we did see a hen harrier hunting down the valley, skimming along the top of a hedge line, and this was a first for me.

Image via Wikipedia

Also thrilling, were some excellent views of the beautiful red kite, kestrels and a number of common buzzards. On the way there we had come across a flock of Bewick swans too, so not a bad visit at all. We ate our picnics while standing up, so worried were we that we might miss old rough-leg but we only had a possible sighting. There was a distant buzzard circling and occasionally hovering which appeared to have the right markings in the appropriate places but even through the 'scope it was impossible to be certain. Meanwhile we also saw corn bunting, most of the Turdidae and several red-legged and grey partridge.

Image via Wikipedia

In the afternoon we decided to try and see the tundra bean geese at Beeding Brooks but (as we were later advised by a knowledgeable local lady walking her dog) we were not in quite the right place. We did see a lot of cormorants, a couple of little egret and best of all several short-eared owls, both in flight and perching.

By the end of the afternoon there was quite a lot of blue sky visible and we were treated to the most spectacular sunset. Unfortunately we are both aware that it probably signifies that the air quality was particularly appalling but nevertheless it was breathtakingly beautiful.

Raptorous Birding

Image via WikipediaA fairly bright and mild Autumn day tempered with a slightly chilly wind and we were off in search of a Rough-legged Buzzard and a Hen Harrier. To avoid disappointment later I will say straight away that our recent record of missing the target continued.

It was a marvellous day for views of other raptors though as we trampted the crest of the Downs overlooking Amberley with distant views of Arundel Castle across the valley. We had already seen a Kestrel or two when Mrs Birdguru spotted what she thought was another and four Red Kites wheeling and diving to the North above a distant farm.

Once the 'scope was brought to bear it transpired that there were five Kites and a Kestrel to be seen. This was a glorious sight but by the end of the afternoon we would be almost blase about Kites, Kestrels and Buzzards.

Stones perched all the way along a fence

Sudden huge smoke cloud from far copse

 A few minutes later on the other side of the hill facing South we came across another birding couple who were watching a Red Kite, one again the 'scope revealed another. One of the two Kites was sweeping the ground in the valley below and getting closer and closer. Even through the binoculars it was a thrilling sight.

After some further forays down the many intersecting bridlepaths in search of the Rough-legged and Hen Harrier, we retired to the car for lunch. Even sitting in the car at our startpoint we were treated to a cabaret of more Red Kites and a Buzzard.

After lunch we set off again and eventually encountered someone who had apparently just come from viewing the Rough-legged and gave us fairly explicit directions. Nevertheless when we got there we just had more stunning views of Kestrel, Kite and Common Buzzard.

We did notice that there was a group of birders in the distance apparently looking intently towards a group of trees to the left of us. Using the 'scope and moving around we eventually had good views of a pale-looking roosting Buzzard. A fine sight but, however much we wanted to make it the RLB my birding mentor was sure it was just another Common. I think at one point we remarked on how we were sounding disappointed as we said "another Kite" or "another Buzzard" but of course these are wonderful sights in their own right and contributed to the feeling that we had actually had a marvellous day's birding.


During the course of our rambles we had also seen many smaller species down to a perky Jenny Wren. As well as a few excitable Skylarks, there seemed to be a great number of Fieldfares about and also some Long-tailed Tits amonst the Bluetits and Great Tits.