31st October 2019 - London Heathrow

Before flying to Ethiopia at the car park where we left the car there was 3 Ring-necked Parakeets and a Red Kite flew over the M25 on our journey up.

23rd October 2019 - Shoreham Fort and Brooklands

After work Max and I headed to Shoreham Fort to look for Snow Bunting sadly there was no sign, probably due to the amount of disturbance from the trucks constantly going back and forth collecting shingle. Birds of note at the fort included a Stonechat and 5 Meadow Pipits. Whilst foraging on the mud were a Little Egret and a vocal Kingfisher flew over the harbour getting chased by Black-headed Gulls.

Afterwards we went to Brooklands and around the bushes we found 10 Chiffchaff and two Goldcrests. On the lake were three Teal and two Mediterranean Gulls (Adult and 1w). Also Grey Wagtail and Sparrowhawk.

22nd October 2019 - Shoreham Fort

The Snow Bunting was still present at Shoreham Fort early this evening, often showing down to a few metres - a pleasant way to break up the journey home!

Snow Bunting, Shoreham Fort, West Sussex

20th October 2019 - Cuckmere Haven

The Grey Phalarope found yesterday by Nick Pope was showing very nicely in the Cuckmere this afternoon on the pools near Foxhole Farm. My 220th species in Sussex this year. 

Grey Phalarope, Cuckmere Haven, East Sussex

19th October 2019 - Beachy Head and Dungeness

A productive morning at Beachy Head, despite the heavy showers. Highlights were a Merlin (over the rough field opposite Horseshoe Plantation), a Short-eared Owl that flew up from under our feet in Whitbread Hollow, a total of 20 Ring Ouzels (10 in Cow Gap/Whitbread Hollow, 10 in Shooters' Bottom), 20 Swallows, a late Common Whitethroat and a Coal Tit. 

1 of 20 Ring Ouzels, Beachy Head, East Sussex

We were just finishing up at Beachy for the morning when I saw on Birdguides that a juvenile Sabine's Gull had been seen at Dungeness and had settled on the beach. Dad and I pressed onto Dungeness and upon arrival there were a few birders standing around but they hadn't seen it. Dad and I walked along the beach and in no time the Sabine's Gull was flying towards us, close inshore. It showed nicely and settled on the sea before flying towards the fishing boats. We headed back to the car and drove round to the fishing boats and after a short wait, it flew past and settled on the sea just round the corner.  Also of note at sea was an Arctic Skua, a Little Gull and three Kittiwakes.

Sabine's Gull, Dungeness, Kent

After the excitement of the Sabine's Gull, we headed round to ARC pit and soon found the juvenile Little Stint along with the Garganey and an added bonus of a juvenile Arctic Tern. Also female Marsh Harrier and Great White Egret. We moved onto the reserve and the Red-throated Diver was showing nicely infront of the visitor centre and from Firth Hide we picked out a 1w Caspian Gull. There was also a Long-tailed Duck which had been reported but despite a good search from Firth and Makepeace Hide we could not find it. 

12th October 2019 - Shoreham, Brooklands, Lyminster Water Meadows and Edburton

Dad and I headed out locally for the morning and first stop was Shoreham Harbour. There was very little going on here apart from two late Sandwich Terns. Next we visited Widewater Lagoon where the only birds of note were a Kingfisher and a Little Egret.

Afterwards, we moved onto Brooklands. There was quite a lot of birds around the bushes but the best we could find were c50 Chiffchaffs and two Blackcaps. Just as we had finished the northern section, a message came through on Birdguides alerting us to a report of a Purple Heron at Lyminster Water Meadows just south of Arundel. We headed straight over, so sadly no time to look at the lake at Brooklands on this occasion. We got to where the Purple Heron was supposed to be but all we could see were four Grey Herons including a dark, scruffy looking juvenile. We presumed that must be the bird that was put out as Purple Heron and its location also matched perfectly to the grid ref on Birguides. We put the news straight out on local WhatsApp group to save other birders a wasted journey. We managed to salvage something from our wasted journey as along the banks of the River Arun were a Whinchat and c50 Mediterranean Gulls and a Marsh Harrier was also noted.

We headed to Edburton after Lyminster and came across two Ring Ouzels which was pleasing however they were typically elusive.