White Fronted Geese

Yesterday I was out and about in the Arun Valley searching for the elusive Bewick Swans, all to no avail but it did mean that I got to tick off a few more birds. Up at the Burgh the Red Kites were active and at one time, thanks to other kind birders,  I had five in the scope - four sitting and one flying. Skylarks were singing and Corn Buntings very active. However, best of the day was a covey of eight Grey Partridges, tucked up in the hedge out of the wind.

 

Today was a different kettle of fish, east again, this time to the Cuckmere in search of what has proved to be a bogey bird for me - the White Fronted Goose. We parked at the Golden Galleon and the first bird in the log was a Kingfisher, sat above the sluice, he relocated to a perch just below the road bridge and we tried for a shot but he disappeared as we set up our cameras. Making our way down the west side path, which I have to say is exceptionally muddy, we located the birds easily amongst the countless Canada Geese and captured some rather distant record shots.

 

Transverse belly markings clearly visible

On the Cuckmere there is a fairly large roost of Great Black-backed Gulls, something spooked them and they rose as one and were wheeling above the geese. Fortuitously, under the cloud of birds, I spotted a lone Brent Goose which turned out to be a specimen of the light bellied form  Branta bernicla hrota. Sorry about the quality of the shot, it was a long way off.

The journey home took us to Seaford Splash Point and Newhaven West Beach, at both venues Fulmars are present on the cliffs but not Kittiwakes as yet. By now the weather had picked up with some really nice sunshine, too nice to go home early so we called into the Widewater at Shoreham. A total of seven Red-breasted Mergansers were feeding and bathing in the lagoon and who can resist taking a few photographs - I know I can't