Alfriston - Day Three
Panorama from 'High and Over'
Sign at the carpark 'High and Over'
Pathway to viewing area
Seeing, last night, a posting on the Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS at http://www.sos.org.uk/index.htm) website about six Cattle Egrets recently seen at Piddinghoe, near Newhaven, we decided today to have a look for them.
Pathway to viewing area
Cuckmere from High and Over
First, we set off for a view of the Cuckmere valley from 'High and Over', a downland property owned by the National Trust. From the lookout we could see that there was more water in the side streams than usual and the clear day with bright sunshine made the view exceptional. We could see several groups of Wigeon grazing on the flooded meadows. There were perhaps 150 or so in total with many fine males visible. Also seen were some Greater Canada Geese, perhaps 20 or so, and a few Common Shelduck. We could see only one pair of Mallard and a few Mute Swans.
View from above the White Horse 'High and Over' and a typical Sussex footpath gate
Moving on to Newhaven harbour we found some gulls on the west side, attracted by bread crumbs, mostly Black-headed Gull with some Herring Gull but we failed to find any Purple Sandpiper after searching along the jetties with binoculars.
First year Herring Gull
Adult Herring Gull
Summer plumaged Black-headed Gulls
Winter plumaged Black-headed Gull
Jackdaw
However, while watching Feral Pigeon courting in the small caves on the chalk cliffs above us we realized that several Fulmar were prospecting along the face and some were alighting occasionally with a few of them calling in pairs from these nooks and cranies. On the sea we spotted a Great-crested Grebe.
Summer plumaged Black-headed Gulls
Winter plumaged Black-headed Gull
Jackdaw
Chalk cliffs west of Newhaven harbour