WEST SUSSEX and KENT in WINTER

SAT 27 JANUARY – SAT 3 FEBRUARY 2024

PRICES: from £1695pp

Single supplement: £230 Deposit: £300pp

Max group size 7. Leader from our experienced team

Sussex is delightful, with huge potential and an array of mixed winter habitats. We explore the Selsey peninsula, including famous RSPB Pagham Harbour, with huge numbers of wintering waders, ducks and geese. Chichester Harbour has many good sites such as East Head, Dell Quay and Fishbourne, as does RSPB Medmerry. Our list could top 120 species, and we target Bewick's Swan, Dark-bellied Brent Goose (flocks of thousands), among which Black Brant is regular. Offshore we have chances of all three divers, Slavonian Grebe and both scoters, while a feature is the huge flocks of wintering Mediterranean Gulls, often over 100 individuals.

Waders include Avocet, Golden Plover, Knot, Sanderling, Jack Snipe and both godwits. Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper may be seen, and wintering Sandwich Tern and Cattle and Great White Egret are becoming regular. It's not uncommon to find a Snow Bunting or Black Redstart, while sheltered copses can hold Firecrest, Chiffchaff and scarce Siberian Chiffchaff. The West Sussex Downs offer large winter flocks of Yellowhammer, Linnet, Chaffinch, Reed and Corn Bunting and in most years, Brambling. This area holds a high density of Grey Partridge and plenty of prey for raptors including Hen Harrier, Red Kite, Peregrine, Merlin, Short-eared, Barn and Little Owl. Dartford Warbler is another target, we may find a Great Grey Shrike and Dean Woods might give us Hawfinch, Common Crossbill or Marsh Tit and an early displaying Goshawk. In the east, we explore Rye Harbour LNR and Pett Level, great sites for wildfowl and waders, and often include Russian White-fronted Goose. The unique Dungeness peninsula is the largest shingle promontory in Europe. This area holds important wintering numbers of grey geese and ducks including Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Smew, Goosander and Goldeneye. The sea can be busy with birds such as Red-throated Diver, Razorbill, Guillemot, Gannet, Kittiwake and Fulmar. This is one of the best places in the UK to see Caspian Gull and often Glaucous and Iceland Gull are present too. Long-eared Owl can be found roosting in quiet places and Bearded Tit and Water Rail are frequently seen or heard. Bittern and Kingfisher may be seen and Dungeness has a history of attracting a rarity or two! Number of centres: 2.