Snow Bunting

Nice to have a good looking bird on the patch, well actually it happens most years when a Snow Bunting turns up at Goring Gap. Lots of reports in the twittersphere convinced me to give it a couple of coats of looking at. I parked up in the likely area around 0800, people had obviously left feed for the bird as the Crows were having a field day. No sign until a lady returning from a walk along the beach said that she had found it and showed me a cracking photo - I thanked her from a distance as I was already on  my way. I searched in the described areas but couldn't find it until another birder almost stepped on it. Like most Snow Buntings, it was extremely confiding - happy to pose in exchange for some seed or meal worms. Surprisingly,  most of the dog walkers, joggers  and even the ladies keep fit group were happy to change direction on seeing a load of photographers lying on the shingle.  To them a hearty thank you, to the woman who refused and walked straight through spooking the bird - well my words are unprintable. Why are some dog walkers so arrogant that they think the environment is for their sole use - rant over.

Four record shots of the male Black Redstart at Shoreham Fort......

....and three from last year, the Great Grey Shrike and Crossbill at Wren's Warren in the Ashdown Forest.

Parrot Crossbills

 

Today was a third attempt to locate the Parrot Crossbills at Old Lodge in the Ashdown Forest, yesterday we had missed them by a matter of minutes because we left early in fairly miserable conditions. So, in perfect weather, we turned down a day at Dungeness for a chance to see what is a fairly scarce bird in Sussex. Halfway through the day I was beginning to think that we had made a mistake, all we had seen was a pair of Ravens arguing with a Buzzard. Plenty of birders were in attendance and as soon as the birds finally turned up word spread and everyone had excellent, though brief views of a flock of at least ten birds. We chased the birds, expecting them to be in the area that they frequent over on the north east side of the reserve, again a kind birder raised the alert and this time the birds hung around much longer, allowing great views and, for me, some mixed quality photography. However, I suspect that in the flight across the reserve the Parrots were joined by more than one Common Crossbill.

Crossbills are always difficult  as they more often than not remain high in the trees at a distance and what appear as good shots on the camera are invariably lower quality at home. Still a nice year and Sussex tick - we can always do Dunge next week.

Possible Common Crossbill??

 

And a usual suspect.....