2nd February 2020 - Combe Haven and West Rise Marsh

I headed over to Combe Haven with Mum and Dad this morning to look for the four overwintering Scaup. We parked at the entrance to the landfill site and walked around the perimeter fence following the extremely muddy footpath up onto the hill which overlooks the flooded fields where the birds are to be found. On our way up we encountered a male Kestrel and three Song Thrush. We started scanning for them but there was no immediate sign although we did find c50 Wigeon, 41 Teal and 34 Pintail with a supporting cast of 23 Lapwing, 21 Canada Geese and c20 Greylag Geese. We walked to the far side of the hill to scan the other side of the flooded fields where again there was no sign of them although here we found a male Marsh Harrier, 35 Redwing in a bordering hedgerow and a flyover Grey Heron. Starting to feel pretty despondent and wondering whether they had gone to the lake on the Northern side of the A2690 (where they have been seen once) we had a final scan of where we originally looked and again Dad and I couldn't pick up anything new other than two adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. Mum had veered off track and ended up lower down near some bushes bordering the flooded fields and started waving at Dad and I. Mum had found a female Scaup which showed well but we all agreed it seemed strange it was by itself, a couple of Black-headed Gull were giving it a hard time constantly dive bombing it. Then just as we were leaving Dad spotted three ducks in flight which turned out to be the other three and they flew in and joined the single bird. We then enjoyed great prolonged views of this scarce winter visitor to Sussex. Much harder than we expected but a rewarding morning. On our way back to the car we added a Goldcrest and two Bullfinch.

A quick stop at a very windy West Rise Marsh on our way home produced flight views of a single Water Pipit. Also c30 Common Snipe and a Cetti's Warbler.

3 of the 4 Scaup, Combe Haven, East Sussex