Sunday, 25 January 2015

25th January 2014 Beachy, Jevington & Cuckmere

Red-throated Diver 5E
Great-crested Grebe 4 (2E and 2 on the sea)
Fulmar 6
Gannet 1E
Brent Goose 6E
Common Buzzard 2
Peregrine 1
Kittiwake 10
Stock Dove 7
Tawny Owl 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Skylark 200
Rock Pipit 1+
Wren 5
Stonechat 4
Goldfinch 20
Reed Bunting 7
Corn Bunting 50

Wren in the field opposite Belle Tout
One of a few that are wintering amongst the Skylarks and Corn Buntings in the rough field opposite Belle Tout. Whilst ringing recoveries in the County have revealed most Wrens make only local movements others have originated from Cumbria, Gwynedd, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Shropshire and even a bird ringed in Baltic Russia!
 
Pony above Belle Tout
 
Jevington
Rough-legged Buzzard 1 juvenile
 
Cuckmere
White-fronted Goose 1
Cackling Goose 1
 




Cackling Goose in the Cuckmere
Appears far too dark overall for a Richardson's Cackling Goose B.h. hutchinsii and its small size, lack of a dark gular stripe, purplish bloom to its dark upper breast all seem good pointers for B.h. minima that can also show a white neck-ring at the base of the black neck-sock albeit being a feature more often associated with Aleutian Cackling Goose B.h. leucoparia.