A walk around the area from 06:50 Saturday morning in sunny conditions with a light wind produced 6 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 2 Stock Dove, 15 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Oystercatcher, 28 Black headed Gull, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Common Gull, 89 Herring Gull, 1 Great Black backed Gull, 1 Great crested Grebe, 6 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Ring necked Parakeet (88) flew high east over the Downs, 2 Magpie, 3 Jackdaw, 27 Carrion Crow, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Skylark, 8 Sand Martin, 1 Willow Warbler (89) was singing at Bishopstone, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Robin, 5 Dunnock, 8 House Sparrow, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 6 Linnet, 3 Goldfinch and 13 Corn Bunting. 

Sand Martin

As well as quite a good showing of the Northern Lights last night from Bishopstone around 8pm, I also had the recorder out in the area which recorded 2 flocks of Common Scoter over during the night along with some Brent Geese, 1 Moorhen, Wigeon, Water Rail and a few Redwing calls. A cycle along the seawall after work in glorious warm sunshine did not reveal that much but I did note 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Little Egret and 2 Great crested Grebe offshore.

Water Rail

Common Scoter

Northern Lights off Bishopstone

28th March edit

Nocmig recording during the night of the 27th produced some Brent Geese, Wigeon and a Fieldfare (87) call.

Nocmig recording last night (25th) produced a few flocks of Brent Geese heard, 2 Moorhen, 1 Grey Plover (85) heard 'live',  a flock of Wigeon, Common Scoter, 1 Grey Heron and over 200 Redwing calls. A cycle along the seawall after work in lovely sunny conditions failed to produce a Wheatear or Black Redstart but I did see the first Little Egret (86) of the year feeding on the receding tide. 

Wigeon

I had another cycle along the seawall tonight to see whether any Wheatears or Black Redstarts could be found but despite a good search, I failed to find any. It wasn't a wasted trip though as I picked up 5 large Geese that were flying west. After quickly stopping on the bike and looking, I suspected that they might be Greylag Geese so put a message out hoping a few observers further west would be able to get on to them. I soon received a message back from Andy Taylor that 5 Greylag Geese (84) had just flown west past Swalecliffe, a patch tick for me. Other bits seen or heard included 1 Pheasant, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Great crested Grebe, 1 Meadow Pipit and a few Cormorant offshore. Nocmig recording last night (24th) produced a few birds on the move including 3 flocks of Brent Geese, 1 Grey Heron, Wigeon, 2 Moorhen and a Curlew. 

Brent Geese

Grey Heron 

Birding the area Saturday morning from first light included 2 Brent Geese, 3 Mute Swan (74) were on the sea and just before 7am, an adult Spoonbill (75) flew high east where I was able to grab a few distant photos. This is a new patch bird for me. There were 4 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Stock Dove, 37 Oystercatcher, 2 Golden Plover, 4 Turnstone, 12 Sanderling, 59 Black headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 75 Herring Gull, 2 Great Black backed Gull, 5 Great crested Grebe, 1 Red throated Diver, 7 Grey Heron (76) east at sea in one flock, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Peregrine, 1 Common Buzzard (77), 2 Jay, 1 Skylark, 4 Sand Martin (78) back at the Bishopstone colony, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Blackcap (79) singing, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Firecrest, 5 Meadow Pipit, 6 Chaffinch, 3 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch and 46 Corn Bunting (80) feeding in fields at Bishopstone. 

Adult Spoonbill

This morning dawned rainy and misty for a while before the rain eased. Birds noted included 1 Shelduck, 1 Mallard, 8 Stock Dove, 6 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew (81) heard calling in the murk at sea, 7 Turnstone, 2 Great Black backed Gull, 4 Great crested Grebe, 1 Jay, 8 Jackdaw, 37 Carrion Crow, 1 Skylark, 6 Sand Martin, 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Long tailed Tit, 1 Firecrest, 11 Dunnock, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Meadow Pipit, 16 Linnet, 3 Goldfinch and a superb male Goosander (82) flew west close inshoere. Despite a good search of all the likely areas, I couldn't find any Wheatears or Black Redstarts so I will have to hope they may be around next weekend, unless I can get out after work on the bike on the way home. 'Nocmig' recording Friday and Saturday night produced 2 Moorhen, 2 Coot and a Golden Plover over. 

Mute Swans

Monday 24th March edit. 

A cycle along the seawall after work in sunny weather produced the first Wheatear (83) on the rocks. 'Nocmig' recording during the night of the 23rd produced 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Moorhen and a Coot.

The evening of the 19th started very well when I was able to view the Northern Lights from the Downs just after 8pm which provided an excellent spectacle through the camera. Recording during the evening only produced a Golden Plover calling. A brief visit early morning to collect the recorder produced 1 Rook (71), 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Pheasant, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Skylark, 2 Blackbird and a few Carrion Crow and Jackdaw. After work I had a brief cycle through the area and noted c15 Rook, c15 Black headed Gull, 1 Stock Dove (72), 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Mallard (73) on the sea but as of yet, no Wheatear or Black Redstart. 

Northern Lights from Bishopstone

Recording during the night of the 17th March produced Teal (70) over during the night and some distant Grey Partridge calling early morning.