11th January 2019 - Ouse Valley

David picked me up from the flat at 06:45 and we headed straight to the old waste ground at Newhaven where there had been a Hume's Leaf Warbler since 27th December. We arrived in good time and soon located the area where the bird had been seen and heard it call almost instantly. However, actually seeing it proved to be a lot more difficult and after about an hour we eventually located the bird and obtained good views through both bins and telescope. Other birds of note seen whilst we were here included 5 Goldcrest, a few Redwing and a single Cetti's Warbler.

After the excitement of seeing my first Hume's Leaf Warbler we moved onto Piddinghoe Boating Lake in the hope of finding some Bearded Tits. However this proved to be unsuccessful although we did see a single Rock Pipit which was my first of the year.  

Moving on from Piddinghoe we headed back North up the Ouse Valley to Rodmell where we saw 2 Pink-footed Geese out on the brooks with a herd of 44 Mute Swans albeit distantly. Also seen here was a single Skylark in the field from where we viewed them. 

1 of the 2 Pink-footed Geese on Rodmell Brooks 

From Rodmell, we then headed back South down the Ouse Valley and decided we would go to the Cuckmere Haven to look at gulls, with time pressing on, we parked on Chyngton Way and walked through the farm so we were walking down onto the roost. There were lots of gulls however we couldn't find a Caspian amongst the 588 Great and 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Other birds of note seen in the Cuckmere were 12 Shelduck and a single roosting Grey Plover. 

We walked back to the car and decided we would head home to Worthing, on the way home I saw a Red Kite over Southease. Just as we were approaching Lyons Farm, we received a message from Nick to say that Garry had found a Caspian Gull at Goring Gap, being handily placed we arrived within 15 minutes and luckily the bird was still there. This was a cracking 1st-winter bird and the first time I have seen one properly at The Gap with my previous only being seen in flight. 

1st-winter Caspian Gull at Goring Gap

A fitting end to a great day and thanks to David for doing the driving!