The Juvenile Birder

 Successful Southern Expedition! image from eBird We set off at 1.30am and arrived at RSPB Pulborough Brooks at 6:20am   in hopes of seeing  Nightingales. We walked along the trail, which we were told was very good for Nightingales, and started listening for their song. We then came to the end of a path and saw a sign saying to look out for Nightingales. Suddenly, a burst of song broke out from the bushes. It was the sweet song of a Nightingale! I looked around, trying to locate it; when I saw a plain, brown bird with a grey chest and throat singing on the edge of a bush. It was a  Nightingale.  I listened and watched as it flitted about but was unable to get a record shot, due to the branches in front of it.  image from Thomas Inns, not same bird Feeling satisfied with my views, I then started hearing a Cuckoo which was a bogey bird of mine and a bird I have been trying to see for years. I went to a viewpoint overlooking the scrape near a playground and sc...

 Birds Soaring & Sailing! Image from James B, (same bird, but taken on different date) We arrived at Duncombe Park at 12:30pm in hopes of seeing a Black Kite. When we arrived, someone mentioned that the bird hadn't been seen for a bit, last being seen dropping down behind some trees. However, Steve (the person we were talking to) mentioned that he wasn't ticking it with the views he got, as with the views he had he couldn't confirm it, but the guys who got in on the scope said it was it. After waiting for a few minutes, we saw a few Red Kites , Buzzards  and Kestrels when suddenly (at around 1:00am) someone shouted that they had the Black Kite above the treeline, in front of a cloud. I scanned in the direction he was describing and saw it. It was quite distant so I couldn't get it in my camera, however you were able to see the dark shape in the sky with a naked eye. A kind birder got it in their scope and let me take a look at the majestic raptor. I watched as it so...

 Found Myself a Patch! I have always intended to find a patch and have recently explored some potential sites. After browsing google maps looking for a place to patch, we found a place called Grimsargh Wetlands. We also saw that a Garganey was reported there yesterday. With it being quite local to us, and there being nothing to twitch, we decided to give it a try. We arrived at Grimsargh Wetlands at 10:30am and as soon as we got to the main viewing screen, we managed to spot the drake Gargane y straight away, fairly close on Island Lake. We also saw two Avocets  which were also reported on RBA yesterday. We then spotted two Great Crested Grebes doing their courtship display on The Mere and while we were watching them, I spotted a medium-sized bird with a striking blue wing fly across the lake and land in a tree. I had a look through my binoculars and saw that it was a Jay ! We watched it for a bit and then observed the species on both lakes. We spotted an Oystercatcher , a few...