This morning I treated myself to a trip to the coast, and headed to Climping for a seawatch at first light. To begin with it was very quiet, with just a few gulls and Turnstones moving around. After a spectacular sunrise things got a bit more livelier. A single Curlew went over and headed inland, and a single Mediterranean Gull went by. A few Brent Geese were moving and a group of 60 landed on the sea not far away. I spotted 3 distant divers that I couldn't identify. The two nearest were moving very fast and were difficult to track, but they appeared to be quite straight-necked and their wingbeats quite shallow, probably ruling out red throated. Two dark birds were sitting on the sea, and I really struggled to see any colouration, although one did appear to have a slightly more pale face. They dived together to feed, and having ruled out grebe for lack of any pale markings I am pretty certain these could only have been Common Scoter. My first in Sussex. A black and white bird seen flying low towards shore may have been an Eider.
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| Climping |
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| Brent Geese |
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| Brent Geese |
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| Mediterranean Gull |
The wey south path at Amberley Wildbrooks is more or less impassable now, with water nearly overtopping my wellies. This gives a sense of being right in the middle of it, with geese and ducks all around. There's still no sign of the 2 Bewick's spotted the other day, although there are many Mute Swans, and no white fronts seen today. Starlings were in abundance, as were Common Gulls. A Sparrowhawk, Red Kite and Buzzard were the raptors seen.
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| Amberley Wildbrooks |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Stonechat |
Update 24/12: The Bewick's and white fronts were seen later on the east side of the reserve.
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