Owl Herding

Selected birds recorded on walks in the valley this week. 28 Nov (10.15-11.45) – WWT: 2 Little Grebe, 15 Shelduck, 12 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 2 Water Rail, 2 Snipe, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Coal Tit. 27 Nov (07.50-09.05) - Arun East, Millstream, Mill Road: 1 Stonechat, 80 Fieldfare + Redwings. 2 6 Nov (08.10-9.40) - Arun South: 2 Buzzard, 1 Redshank, 52 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 12 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, 3 Meadow Pipit, 200+ Skylark. 25 Nov (14.00-16.00) – Arundel Park (Hiorne Tower, Duchess Lodge): 2 Hawfinch, 35 Chaffinch, 20 Yellowhammer, 12 Reed Bunting, 2 Fieldfare, 3 Buzzard. 25 Nov (07.50-09.05) - Arun East, Millstream, Mill Road: 9 Gadwall, 40 Fieldfare.

Selected birds recorded on walks in the valley this week. 19 Nov (07.50-09.10) - Arun East, Millstream, Mill Road: 1 Little Grebe, 2 Wigeon, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 40 Fieldfare, 1 Stonechat. 18 Nov (08.00-09.00) - Arun East, Millstream, Mill Road: 1 Little Grebe, 6 Teal, 4 Lapwings, 1 Buzzard. 17 Nov (07.30-09.00) - Arun East, Millstream, Mill Road: 4 Song Thrushes, 1 Yellowhammer, 9 Gadwall. 16 Nov (08.00-9.30) - Arun South: 1 Red-crested Pochard, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Buzzard, 1 Redshank, 135 Lapwings, 1 Common Sandpiper. 15 Nov (09.10-11.10) - Arun East, Offham, Millstream, Mill Road: 1 Red Kite, 1 Peregrine, 2 Water Rails, 1 Kingfisher. 14 Nov (12.50-16.40) – Hiorne Tower, Lonebeech Plantation, South Wood, South Stoke, Black Rabbit: 1 Hawfinch, 2 Bramblings, 70 Chaffinches, 9 Yellowhammers, 5 Little Egrets, 8 Marsh Harriers, 1 Peregrine, 4 Kestrels, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Tawny Owl, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Marsh Tit, 4 Jays. 14 Nov (08.20-9.40) - Arun Eas

Selected birds recorded on walks in the valley this week. 13 Nov (08.20-9.40) - Arun East, Millstream, Mill Road: 30+ Fieldfares and Redwings, 1 Stonechat, 6 Yellowhammers, 4 Reed Buntings. 12 Nov (7.50-9.20) - Arun South: 2 Little Grebes, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Redshank, 58 Lapwings, 1 Mediterranean Gull (with central/eastern European green ring). 11 Nov (07.50-9.20) - Arun East, Millstream, Mill Road: 3 Mandarin, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Red Kite, 2 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine. 10 Nov (07.35-9.10) - Arun East, Millstream, Mill Road: 1 Blackcap, 14 Reed Buntings, 60 Redwings, 20 Song Thrushes, 25 Blackbirds. 9 Nov (14.50-16.05) – WWT: 2 Goosanders, 9 Shelduck, 14 Shoveler, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. 9 Nov (08.10-9.30) - Arun East, Millstream, Mill Road: 1 Woodcock, 6 Snipe, 13 Lapwings, 2 Red Kites, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Shelduck. 8 Nov (08.10-9.20) - Arun East, Millstream, Mill Road: 6 Gadwall, 1 Snipe, 2 Redwings, 1 Yellowhammer.

Selected birds recorded on walks in the valley this week. 6 Nov (08.10-9.20) - Arun East, Millstream, Mill Road: 2 Little Grebes, 1 Yellowhammer, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Stonechat. 4 Nov (10.00-12.00) – Amberley, Stokes, Arundel: <17 Goosanders, 3 Red Kite, 2 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Snipe, 1 Stonechat. 3 Nov (08.15-09.40) - Arun East, Millstream, Mill Road: 4 Goosanders, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Meadow Pipits. 2 Nov (13.15-17.30) – Amberley Station, Rackham Banks, Wepham Down, The Burgh, Canada Barn, North Stoke, Amberley: 3 Hen Harriers, 7 Red Kites, 8 Buzzards, 4 Kestrels, 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Snipe, 9 Grey Partridges, 11 Red-legged Partridges, 4 Stonechat. 1 Nov (07.50-09.10) - Arun East, Millstream, Mill Road: 7 Goosanders, 3 Little Grebes, 3 Stonechat, 6 Redwings. 31 Oct (15.30-17.00) – WWT, Arun: 2 Little Grebes, 8 Shelduck, 1 Pintail, 17 Shoveler, 5 Marsh Harriers, 1Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 2+ Water Rails. 31 Oct (12.30-14.30) - Arun South:

It is breezy on this morning’s walk by the Arun, with no mist clinging to the valley as it did two days back. Then the river held seven Goosanders -- classic visitors to the river on mist-ridden days in November. Today’s weather conditions are not propitious. Yet there are four Goosanders in much the same place as two days back, swimming and diving on the straight and narrow stretch of the river opposite the path to Warningcamp. As then, all are immatures or females, their distinctive combination of frosted white and grey topped by rusting brown a welcome sight on an otherwise quiet day. They must be part of the same group and, having been here three days now, may stay a while longer. It has been a good couple of weeks for sightings, with a Cattle Egret on the water meadows by Lyminster, eight Hawfinches in the Rewell, and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Arundel Park. Best of all, maybe, was yesterday, when on a ridiculously warm and windless late afternoon three ringtail He