8th April 2019 - Goring Gap and Iford Brooks

I visited Goring Gap in the morning and worked the fields, it was seemingly quiet apart from 4 Swallows which passed through north as well as 12 Blackcaps, 12 Greenfinches and 6 Chiffchaffs scattered around the bushes. The fields held the usual Skylarks as well as 2 Stock Doves and 3 Mallard flew over west as well as a Sparrowhawk which passed over to the North.

Later in the day, I headed over to Iford to go on a circular walk to Kingston and then out onto the Brooks. Totals from my circular walk included 7 Chiffchaffs, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, 8 Yellowhammers, 2 Buzzards, a pair of Linnets and 2 Egyptian Geese.

I called in at Mum and Dads on my way home and was surprised to see a Little Egret (garden tick) pass over the house west.

7th April 2019 - Cheesefoot Head, Hampshire

With a recent downturn in the number of Dotterel seen on passage in the UK and it being one of the more obvious gaps in my UK list, news of a pair on the South Downs at Cheesefoot Head, near Winchester for their second day was too good an opportunity to miss. Dad and I arrived on site shortly after 10am to find the birds showing very well in a south-facing stony field no more than 20 metres or so in from the downland track where the assembled birders were gathered and fortunately oblivious to three trail bikes that went past just as we arrived. Both were in winter plumage though the female showed a few blotches of colour on the belly. Also, several Skylarks were heard singing and a single Swallow passed through north. On the way home a Red Kite was over the A272.

Female Dotterel, Cheesefoot Head, Hampshire

6th April 2019 - London

A trip to London for the FA Cup semi-final to watch Brighton v Manchester City didn't end in the result we wanted with Brighton sadly losing 1-0. Dad and I, decided to walk from Victoria to Green Park and have lunch at Henry's, a nice bar situated at Green Park. In the park there was 2 Egyptian Geese as well as 5 Ring-necked Parakeets flying over, making a racket as they always do! 

Wembley Stadium, FA Cup semi-final, Brighton v Manchester City

5th April 2019 - George V Avenue, Worthing

I arrived at George V Avenue at 06:30am to find David already there in position and what followed after for the next 4 hours probably proved to be my best ever sea watch off Worthing. It didn't take long for the Skuas to start moving. I finished up on 6 Bonxies east and 8 Arctic Skuas east including a nice close individual which tracked along the beach as well as a further 2 Bonxies which went west. Common Scoters piled through over the four hour period with David and I counting 648 east. A highlight for me from the sea watch was 3 Velvet Scoters (patch tick) passing through east, which were picked up at various other locations throughout the day. As well as a Red-necked Grebe (patch tick) which tracked east at 07:30am. Later, a 2CY Little Gull passed through east and shortly after a large push of Sandwich Terns and Common Terns came through which were fantastic to watch.

A full breakdown of the numbers can be seen here: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/2099/20190405

4th April 2019 - Rye Harbour NR

David and I, again teamed up and headed off to Rye Harbour late afternoon for a second attempt at connecting with Bittern and Bearded Tit. We started however at the John Gooders Hide and had a scope around for any waders. The flat beach was quite productive with small numbers of Dunlin, Grey Plover and Ringed Plover. Around the edges we found singles of Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot and Turnstone. There was also numerous Avocets showing well from the hide which were fantastic to watch whilst a little further out Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls were plentiful making a racket. However, what was most surprising is that we picked up the 3 Twite, feeding just to the south of the hide.

After a good grilling of the flat beach, we moved too the Castle Water viewpoint and crossed our fingers that the Bittern would show. Upon arrival, a Willow Warbler was singing in the bushes behind the platform and we also heard a distant Sedge Warbler. Around 40 hirundines passed through most of which Sand Martin but there was also a few Swallows. Shortly after around 18:00pm, much to our relief the Bittern exploded out of a nearby reed bed and had a short flight only to drop back down into another reed bed. My first Bittern in Sussex for a very long time! Again like our last visit we heard Bearded Tit but again they didn't want to show themselves. Also from the Castle Water viewpoint was a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine and a couple of Cetti's Warblers.

Rye Harbour NR, East Sussex

3rd April 2019 - Chantry Hill, Storrington

David and I, ventured up to Chantry Hill late afternoon and were lucky to stumble across a stunning Short-eared Owl. It was the first bird we saw as we got out the car and it came and perched on top of  a bush nearby giving spectacular views. Also around was a few Yellowhammers and later in the evening a Barn Owl and up to 4 Tawny Owls were heard.

Short-eared Owl, Chantry Hill, Storrington, West Sussex
(Courtesy of David Campbell)

1st April 2019 - Castle Hill LNR, Newhaven

I was passing Newhaven so I quickly called into Castle Hill. Very little here other than 4 Greenfinch, 2 singing Chiffchaffs and a Song Thrush. On the beach below the cliffs were a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls along with the Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls.