Newhaven-Eastbourne-Newhaven (18 January 2014)

18 January.  Most of the day in East Sussex with John King.  We started at Newhaven Tidemills at 08:00, visited Splash Point, West Rise Mash, most one way streets in the centre of Eastbourne, the Lower Cuckmere (above and below the road and both sides of the river) and finished at Newhaven Harbour at 15:45.  Lots of gulls but mostly Greater Black-backs amongst which we could find nothing of particular interest.  Our best birds were a pale-bellied Brent Goose, Smew, distant Spoonbill, 4 Jack Snipe and 8 Rock Pipits (one a likely Scandinavian). 

the long staying and rather unusually plumaged Smew at West Rise Marsh

pale-bellied Brent Goose in the lower Cuckmere

nothing like close proximity to Canada Geese to remove any 'feel good factor'

15 January.  No sign of the Grey Phalarope at dawn, feels as if an old friend has gone.  Too much attention from the crows it seems.

14 January.  Grey Phalarope seen at dawn (with two crows nearby) but not in the dark, 07:30 & 17:30, on my way to and from work.

13 January.  Grey Phalarope seen at dawn and in the dark, 07:30 & 17:30, on my way to and from work.