...species to start the year. Poor, but with no coastal areas/downs etc and, of course, lack of effort (seven hours of which nearly two were in the car travelling and one on coffee, lunch and afternoon tea!!). In light of recent outings notable misses were Greenfinch, M'ipit, Skylark and Marsh Harrier.
At Pulborough two Peregrines perched up distantly for a while eventually tried to harrass a Buzzard which was polishing off the remains of their lunch.
Lots of 'kekking' and dive-bombing before giving up and going their separate ways. Chatted to TS for a while, Jean being away in London and caught up with CL for the first time since his op.
The light was poor so drove down to Arundel to try to add a few more species to the day-list - usual suspects - Kingfisher, Water Rail, Snipe(20), Cetti's, Red Kite, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Bullfinch, Tufted Duck, Pochard and eventually Firecrest. Jeremy and his wife were the only people I knew today. No harriers here either and disinclined to wait until closing (or later) for roosting birds; this morning's Cattle Egret hadn't returned either.
Just about out of daylight on return so didn't stop at the FM carpark although I guess I could have added a few wader spp here.
PS Good to hear the eagle was seen mid-afternoon over Backley plain, the winter bird survey area I covered some years back. Maybe there will be another chance to see it before it eventually departs.
PPS Above Pintails were WWT captive birds. At least ten of the twenty Snipe were unseen until disturbed by the usual, deafening strimming noise outside the hide!!
