review of January 2010

This January, I saw 98 species of birds, including some very good ones for the local area. The two main highlights were lifers for me, a Black-throated Diver at Splash Point on 30 Jan and a Scaup at Cuckmere Haven on the 17th and 23rd. I also saw more seven new species for my local area, four of which were ducks; (Gadwall, Pintail, Pochard and Goldeneye.) with the former two at Arlington and the latter two at Cuckmere Haven. The others were Woodlark and Razorbill (at Splash Point), and 2 Little Owls at Seaford Head, which others have reported there for ages but which I have never seen until now. Other birds of interest where my first local winter record of Black-tailed Godwit and Shoveler(at Newhaven Tide Mills)several records of Brent Goose from the Cuckmere and Splash Point, Jack Snipe and Water Rail at Newhaven Tide Mills, Little and Mediterranean Gulls at Splash Point, and Woodcocks in the outskirts of Seaford and at Exceat Bridge. I saw Snipe three times, at Cuckmere twice and Newhaven once, and saw a Fulmar inland over Seaford. However, as with any list, there are gaping holes. These include several farmland birds, more through lack of effort than lack of birds, such as both species of Partridge and Corn Bunting, while others missed out included Treecreeper, Kingfisher, Siskin, Redpoll and Chiffchaff, and any raptor bar Kestrel, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and Little Owl.