Richard

The Burgh today: 2 Ringtail HH interacting. And later into roost, a Ringtail HH at 16.56 and a Male HH at 17.20, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cattle Egret, 3 GW Egret @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

2 Hawfinches photographed at distance. Upper bird shown in profile facing to the right. Lower bird facing towards the observer

Photo taken at distance, showing 2 Hawfinches in top balloon (1 partly obscured behind small branch) and single Hawfinch below, perched in bare tree against a background of coniferous trees.

4 Hawfinches: Photo showing 3 Hawfinches in top balloon (1 partly obscured) and single Hawfinch below (partly obscured) in bare tree.

Single Hawfinch perched in bare tree

Sherwood Rough today was a quagmire: despite heavy machinery carrying out essential forestry maintenance work, good to see at least 8 Hawfinches in a quieter area. Great afternoon viewing quietly with Richard F. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @mallalieum.bsky.social

Stunning male Black Redstart at the eastern end of Brighton Marina where it meets the Undercliff walk. Perched on rock armour and around boat yard @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Prior to today I had only managed rather frustrating, distant views of a Purple Sandpiper at high tide, roosting on the timber framework. Fortunate today to find a confiding, foraging bird at low water. #ShorehamFort #ShorehamBreakwater

Timed my visit to the lower R. Adur well, with a report on the local Whatsapp of an Avocet on the SSSi, as I arrived. First I’ve seen on the estuary. Big numbers of Common Gull, 750+ here with BHGs. Nice to see a few Lesser Black-backed Gull starting to come through now; 5 counted. Plus 2 Meds

Purple Sandpiper on breakwater near Shoreham Fort @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Rain again, but I decided to visit Ham Wall, hopefully to see a decent Starling murmuration before winter's end. Managed to hit the jackpot! A million birds? Who knows? Just before dusk I counted 6 Marsh Harriers, I heard the clarion call of Common Cranes and a booming Bittern. #UKBirding

Distant Red-head Goosander with Black-headed Gull at water’s edge on the falling tide. R. Adur, Dhoreham, Sussex.

Mediterranean Gull centre foreground. 2 Lapwing left foreground. Black-headed Gulls preening in background. Inter-tidal mudflat.

Single Mediterranean Gull with Black-headed Gulls and 2 Lapwing taking flight because of disturbance. A Common Gull to the right of the image is slow to react.

R. Adur estuary, falling tide, Railway Br. To Toll Br: Goosander, single Med Gull this afternoon.

2 hour Seawatch off Widewater, Sussex this morning: Red-throated Diver 73e, 10w, 10 o/s, Auk 60e, Razorbill 1e close, Gannet 28e, Brent Geese 71e, Kittiwake 3e, C. Scoter 5e, Great Crested Grebe 3 o/s, Turnstone 2e, Red-head Goosander still on the lagoon.

The current preponderance of wet & gloomy days have been enlivened by appearances of a Marsh Tit in the garden. There's a decent population of them half a mile away in woods at the foot of the north scarp of the downs, but they are very sedentary & we don't often see one at home.
#ukbirding

This morning, just after this big fella flew over me and landed in the tree, I was treated to a fly-past of 32 of the 40+ Russian White-fronted Geese present on Amberley Wild Brooks SWT, viewed from Rackham Viewpoint, Sussex.

Little Gull in the roost yesterday afternoon on the falling tide, near Footbridge to Shoreham Beach @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

GREEN SANDPIPER again on muddy patch at Maudlin Lane / Bramber Castle A283 roundabout. A bit of sunshine this morning.

Green Sandpiper again on muddy patch at Maudlin Lane / Bramber Castle Rdbt.

Redpoll on the garden feeders with Goldfinches - 1st I’ve seen in my Bramber/Steyning garden (late yesterday and again this morning).

Green Sandpiper again on muddy patch at Maudlin Lane / Bramber Castle Rdbt. Photo taken in poor light.

Bramber: Grey Wagtail

2 Little Gull (1st winter) feeding along the surf line, near Southwick Power Station this afternoon. Thanks for all the updates and messages on the local Whatsapp group @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Nice to find this female type Black Redstart on the beach rocks near Southwick Power Station this afternoon. Shortest day of the year, grainy exposure etc etc 😊 @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Southwick Canal: Red-necked Grebe and Great Northern Diver

Monarch’s Way, No Man’s Land to Steyning Round Hill: Ringtail Hen Harrier this morning @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Ten Years in West Dorset This mega-post has been in prep for a while. Essentially it is a potted summary of ten years birdwatching in West Dorset, between 2015 ...

Ten Years in West Dorset is less a blog post, more a chapter in my life. Hopefully an inspiration for those who prefer the paths less trodden. Bit of an epic, so well done if you get through it all.
#DorsetBirds

Smart winter plumage Slavonian Grebe found by Jenny H late this afternoon at Widewater lagoon (w)

Male Hen Harrier at dusk (18 Nov 25)

Male Hen Harrier at dusk (18 Nov 25)

Ring-tail Hen Harrier at dusk (18 Nov 25)

Male and Ring-tail Hen Harrier coming in to roost at Arundel WWT (18th Nov 2025)

Lovely afternoon walk at Sherwood Rough with Richard F, gave 1 HAWFINCH, a Firecrest, a couple of heard-not-seen Crossbill, a Coal Tit and 2 Mistle Thrush with one in song. Nice sky too

Great Grey Shrike - Upper Beeding this morning. Viewing from east bank of river. Thanks to the finder @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Black Rabbit / Arundel Wetlands: 2 Hen Harrier (Male and Ringtail), 5 Marsh Harrier, 43 Cattle Egret, 1 Great Egret @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Coal tit has not been one of the more usual visitors to the garden feeders … until the last few days that is 🙂 #changingseasons

Scilly’s first EYEBROWED THRUSH in 32 years!

A real Scilly ‘Golden Era’ grip back for those of us not fortunate enough, or old enough, to be around for the remarkable run of SIX through the 80s & 90s.

A proper stonker of a bird & a long overdue mega eastern thrush for the islands!

#ScillyBirds

First returning Purple Sandpiper to the area - a single bird, on wooden Jetty at Shoreham Fort over the high tide at 10.40hrs today @sussexornitholo.bsky.social