Change of status
9th November 2009, Monday
Another day of bright blue sky and a chill in the air, migrant birds calling overhead, mostly invisible.
Heading north-east along the coasts old and new: Goldfinch, Siskin, lesser Redpoll, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit and a flock of 13 Crossbills while I was still at the back of the marsh.
Heading south-west: Woodpigeons (but not many), a flock of 6 Bullfinches high over the seawall, a Brambling and a Snow Bunting.
The latter was flying along the beach. From its call, I could see exactly where it must be but just could not pick it out and as I stared down towards Cliff End, I became aware of something going on to the right of where it ought to have been. 2 Carrion Crows were bothering 2 Red Kites, languidly circling, slowly drifting over the cliffs, where they were seen later at Hastings.
For a few years now I have been able to complain “How-come-everybody-else-sees-Kites-except me” but now I shall have to lament another absentee. It should be no problem; there are dozens.
The beach had a wintry feel, with black Brent Goose necks sticking up from the moorlog and wailing Grey Plover. Nothing on the sea though.
Now there’s water in the pools again, some birds have returned, but there remain muddy edges to attract a few waders including single Green and Common Sandpiper. a Marsh Harrier sat hunched up on the reeds and a Sparrowhawk was seen off by a crow, providing a show of aerobatics in the bright light.
Small waves of Starlings were heading inland over the seawall and above them I could hear Skylarks arriving straight off the sea.
Back near the Pannel Valley, a high-velocity Merlin shot past me, on its way to panic marsh birds into wavering clouds and quavering chorus of alarm calls. Lastly, a hoarse little call alerted me to 2 Firecrests in a hedgerow near my house.
70 species in all, in 3 hours.
