1st December 2019 - Westdean Woods and Fishbourne Creek

Dad, Mum and I arrived at West Dean Woods at dawn and walked up to Monkton Farm in the half- light where a total of 41 Hawfinches were seen flying N from their roost in Winden Wood between 07:39 - 07:50. Apart from two over the flint barn, the remainder were further east over the tree tops resulting in distant and somewhat underwhelming views. Later there was a single Hawfinch and a Fieldfare in the apple tree by the sharp bend NW of Staple Ash Farm and two more Hawfinches in the tree tops on the far side of the horse paddock. Also of note was a Sparrowhawk, 3+ Red Kites, Peregrine, Marsh Tit, 100 Redwings, 6 Fieldfares and both Brambling and Siskin heard.

Next stop was Chichester Marina from where we walked north through Salterns Copse to the top of Fishbourne Creek and back. The Long-tailed Duck and 6 Goldeneye (3 adult drakes) were still mid-channel off Copperas Point south of Dell Quay, also 3 Spotted Redshanks, Sandwich Tern, Kingfisher and Peregrine but the Water Pipit seen by others eluded us. On our return two male Bearded Tits were pointed out to us in the reedbed from the hide at Chichester Marina but there was no sign of the Bittern reported earlier.

Long-tailed Duck, Fishbourne Creek, West Sussex