Tom

Birding Hastings and beyond. Mostly gulls 😏

[Tom @T_omissus]

Composite of 4CY+ large gulls in flight. From L to R: argenteus Herring Gull; argentatus Herring Gull; Caspian Gull; Yellow-legged Gull. Photos taken Hastings 23 December 2023.

[Tom @T_omissus]

Notables at Hastings CP y'day morn were a GW Egret west along cliffs, 8 GS Woodpecker flitting between scrub and my first two migrant Firecrest of autumn. Also 2 Whinchat, 40 Com Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wag, 16 Yellow Wag, 7 alba Wag, 123 Meadow Pipit. @SussexBirding @SussexOrnitholo

[Tom @T_omissus]

Dreamy early autumn morning at Hastings CP: highlights were a Redshank over and 4 Common Redstart; also 18 Common Buzzard, 2 Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whinchat, 3 Wheatear and 25 Yellow Wagtail. @SussexBirding @SussexOrnitholo

[Tom @T_omissus]

@SussexTangerine @surreywallcreep It's an amazing area, particularly the section near Doleham which a few of us are visiting semi-regularly https://t.co/4TKvnGUUbn . I'm sure a lot is missed and there's so much more of the valley to explore too..

[Tom @T_omissus]

Let up in the weather and some evidence of migration up at Hastings CP this morning, including 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 2 alba Wagtail and 4 Tree Pipit (pictured). @SussexBirding @SussexOrnitholo

[Tom @T_omissus]

@Jake_Gearty @SussexBirding It's hard to imagine much better than this, but I hope so! #GullGratitude

[Tom @T_omissus]

Big eastward movement of gulls along Hastings seafront this morning, in humid and hazy conditions with a light NE. Hundreds of birds, majority juvenile, in mixed species groups - mainly (in order of abundance) Herring, Black-headed, Mediterranean and Common. @SussexBirding

[Tom @T_omissus]

@Jake_Gearty @southwoldbrdr 🥵

[Tom @T_omissus]

Some signs of southward movement at Hastings Country Park this morning with this Northern Wheatear near the radar station plus juveniles of Sedge Warbler and Willow Warbler. @SussexBirding

[Tom @T_omissus]

A single Green Sandpiper was the only notable from my WeBS count at Combe Valley CP this morning, the floods now being largely dry. Still plenty to see though including juvenile Sedge Warbler, Cuckoo and Marsh Harrier. @SussexBirding @SussexOrnitholo

[Wayne Turner @WayneTurner4]

The first Yellow-legged Gulls of the autumn appeared in Guernsey today. A sub-adult in Perelle Bay and a fresh juvenile at St. Saviour's Reservoir.

The juvenile is my earliest and probably the island's earliest in autumn ever. @GuernseyBirds

[Tom @T_omissus]

Crossness Nature Reserve, one of few remaining fragments of Erith Marshes and an amazing London wildlife site, is under threat from development. The local campaign needs funds to support a legal challenge - please consider giving: https://t.co/I1JQYN4yOT @Erith_Marshes

[Tom @T_omissus]

@readbirdphotos @SussexBirding Thanks Marc, yea great few weeks here!

[Tom @T_omissus]

Absolute panic as I flushed this 2CY Purple Heron from a path-side ditch at Combe Valley CP this morning, chucking the scope in a bush to quickly get the camera up! What a beauty. Also 4 Hobby hunting over the floods, some of which must've been new in. @SussexBirding

[Tom @T_omissus]

@BEACHYBIRDER @SussexBirding It's been mad - still not sure why!

[Tom @T_omissus]

@LeyshonOwen @ParryWildlife Based on damage to p6 and p5 of right wing, looks to be same individual as seen at Pett Level on the 31st May (cf Graham's photo 2 with mine below).

[Tom @T_omissus]

@BEACHYBIRDER @SussexBirding Northerlies strike again 🤷‍♂️

[Tom @T_omissus]

@readbirdphotos @SussexBirding Thanks Marc!

[Tom @T_omissus]

Arrived at Pett Level this morning to the spectacle of hundreds of Swift pouring west, then almost immediately (c8:15) picked up a Black Kite being hassled by an Oystercatcher over the marsh. It quickly moved off west with 3 Red Kites. Not what I expected in a strong NW and rain!

[Tom @T_omissus]

Purple Heron flew NE over Harbour Road from Castle Water area (RHNR) at 07:50 @SussexBirding

[Tom @T_omissus]

A brief singing Golden Oriole y'day morning in the Brede Valley, from somewhere within the railway embankment trees along Doleham Ditch. Audio below 🔊 starting with a couple of screech calls then some fluting phrases. No sign since sadly. @SussexBirding