February 2023

2nd Feb 2023, Southwick Beach & Canal: A walk with Dad produced a single Purple Sandpiper on the rock revetment on the east side of Shoreham Harbour East Arm. Other birds noted included four Turnstone, 54 Common Gulls, two Great Black-backed Gulls and a Pied Wagtail. Southwick Canal was very quiet and held two Mute Swans and 10 Mallard. 

4th Feb 2023, Falmer Pond & Amex Stadium: The drake Red-crested Pochard was still present on Falmer Pond before Brighton played Bournemouth. During the football, a Peregrine flew over the away end just before half time. 

7th Feb 2023, Isle of Wight: Working on the east side of the Isle of Wight produced a booming Bittern, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Cattle Egret, two Water Pipits and a White-tailed Eagle. 

Cattle Egret on east side of Isle of Wight - 7th February 2023

8th Feb 2023, Southmoor Nature Reserve, Hampshire: On the way home from the Isle of Wight, I called in to have another look at the adult Sabine's Gull which was still performing superbly. Also noted was the two Long-tailed Ducks, single Black-necked Grebe and three Greenshank.  

Adult Sabine's Gull and me at Southmoor Nature Reserve in Hampshire - 8th February 2023

9th Feb 2023, Highdown Hill: An afterwork walk around Highdown Hill produced two Bramblings, 165 Chaffinches, nine Greenfinches, 75 Linnets and five Yellowhammers feeding in a set aside strip south of Highdown Copse at TQ09428 05044. Other birds noted on my walk included 30 Redwing, single Mistle Thrush and 425 Common Gulls flying south to roost. 

11th Feb 2023, Fishbourne Creek, Westdean Woods, Burton & Chingford Ponds & Black Rabbit at Arundel: Dad and I led a walk at Fisbourne Creek & Westdean Woods. At Fishbourne Creek, we recorded 53 species including 600 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 200 Wigeon, four Pintail, 50 Teal, four Goldeneye, five Red-breasted Mergansers, 150 Black-tailed Godwits, two Spotted Redshanks, three Greenshank, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls and singles of Cetti's Warbler, Grey Wagtail and Rock Pipit. At Westdean Woods, the highlights were seven Hawfinches along the Monkton track, 150 Redwing, 20 Fieldfare and single Marsh Tit. After we had finished our guided walk, Dad and I went to Burton & Chingford Ponds where we found two Egyptian Geese, 22 Gadwall, 19 Pochard, 43 Tufted Duck, a sinensis Cormorant and single Firecrest. One last final stop at the Black Rabbit at Arundel yielded four Marsh Harriers going into roost at the Arundel WWT. 

12th Feb 2023, Angmering Park Estate & Patching Pond: A mid-morning walk around the Angmering Park Estate with Sophie produced two Stock Doves, four Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Ravens, a Coal Tit, single Firecrest, two Mistle Thrush and 30 Redwing. A quick pit stop at Patching Pond on our way home produced a drake Tufted Duck, three Coot and a Great Crested Grebe. 

13th Feb 2023, Highdown Hill: An afterwork walk around Highdown Hill produced 250 Common Gulls flying south to roost, a Buzzard, two Kestrels, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, three Mistle Thrush, 50 Redwing and three Bullfinch. Sadly, the large flock of finches recorded on 9th were no where to be seen. 

18th Feb 2023, Falmer Pond: Drake Red-crested Pochard still and a Chiffchaff at Falmer Village Pond before Brighton played Fulham. 

19th Feb 2023, Arundel Waterwoods, Rewell Wood, Arundel WWT & The Burgh: Dad and I started the day with a long circular walk with Dad from Arundel Waterwoods through to Rewell Wood which was disappointing. Birds of note included seven Firecrests, a Grey Wagtail, six Coal Tits, two Marsh Tits and two Yellowhammers. The day improved once we arrived at Arundel WWT where we found nine Shelduck, 14 Shoveler, 44 Gadwall, single Wigeon, 50 Teal, 16 Pochard, 13 Tufted Duck, Water Rail, Oystercatcher, 110 Lapwing, 11 Snipe, 65 Mediterranean Gulls, 500 Common Gulls, single Great White Egret from Scrape Hide, five Cattle Egrets from Ramsar Hide, Red Kite, two Kingfishers, Peregrine, two Chiffchaffs and singles of Cetti's Warbler, Firecrest and Grey Wagtail. We finished the day with a circular walk around The Burgh seeing eight Grey Partridge, 70 Stock Doves, 1000 Common Gulls, two Marsh Harriers, 30 Red Kites, two Barn Owls, male Merlin, single Raven, seven Yellowhammers and a flock of 50 Corn Buntings.

20th Feb 2023, Ferring Rife: An afterwork walk along Ferring Rife produced 19 Moorhens, a Green Woodpecker, two Song Thrush and nine Greenfinches.  

21st Feb 2023, Victoria Park, Haywards Heath & Southwick Canal: On the way to the office in Victoria Park was two Coal Tits and a Song Thrush. After I had finished work for the day I visited Mum & Dad and a brief visit to Southwick Canal in fading light produced a Little Grebe and a Stonechat. At dusk, a Sparrowhawk flew over Mum & Dads house. 

22nd Feb 2023, Durrington: A Coal Tit made a brief appearance on the feeder in the back garden today.

24th Feb 2023, Iford Brooks: After some training in East Sussex with work colleagues, I had a walk out onto Iford Brooks. Species present included 10 Shoveler, 50 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 250 Lapwing, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Barn Owl, Cetti's Warbler and 45 Pied Wagtails.  

25th Feb 2023, Madehurst, Arundel WWT & Ferring Beach: An excellent morning with Dad  around Madehurst produced four Woodlarks, female Goshawk, Tawny Owl, five Mediterranean Gulls, 170 Stock Doves, three Red Kites, four Ravens, three Marsh Tits and a Siskin. Afterwards we headed to the Arundel WWT where we recorded two Egyptian Geese, 11 Shelduck, 11 Shoveler, 40 Gadwall, 14 Wigeon, five Teal, 103 Lapwing, 12 Snipe, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, nine Cattle Egrets from Ramsar Hide, three White-tailed Eagles flew overhead, Raven, Marsh Tit, two Cetti's Warblers, four Chiffchaffs and two Grey Wagtails. After Dad dropped me home, I went for a look at the sea off Ferring Beach and found 46 Red-breasted Mergansers, five Great Crested Grebes, 29 Mediterranean Gulls, 11 Common Gulls and single Gannet flew east. 

26th Feb 2023, Climping & Cissbury Ring Car Park to No Man's Land (circular walk): I spent the morning at Climping and recorded single Jack Snipe, 20 Red-breasted Mergansers, 13 Grey Plover, 21 Ringed Plover, 35 Turnstone, 30 Skylarks, two Stonechats and 120 Linnets. An afternoon walk from the car park at Cissbury Ring to No Man's Land produced 75 Corn Buntings, 15 Yellowhammers and five Stonechats along the Monarchs Way also in the area was six Red Kites, three Buzzards and a Raven. 

27th Feb 2023, Highdown Hill: An afterwork walk around Highdown Hill produced two Canada Geese, a Red Kite, three Buzzards, two Mistle Thrush, seven Linnets and a Yellowhammer. 

Not as much coverage as January although I still managed to record 101 species in the Arun District In February. Highlights for the month included Brambling, Great White Egret, Merlin, Corn Bunting, Egyptian Goose, Goshawk, Woodlark & Jack Snipe. My Arun District year list at the end of February stands at 127 species.