Birding with Dad over Southwick.

Saturday 25th February 2023.

This beautiful pair of Great Crested Grebes were on the main lake displaying to one another.

I took my father this morning to his favourite fishing lake over Southwick Park Lake, which was on the old HMS Dryad grounds. He mentioned that he would like to take a walk around there some weeks ago and seeing Andy had other plans today, I picked my father up around 9am to take the nice drive through the Denmead countryside to the village of Southwick. On the way there, I even bumped into birding pal John Goodall, who was parked up in a lay by intently looking through his binoculars into a woodland.

Above and below, the smaller lakes near the woodland most certainly have potential for something exciting.

The weather wasn't too bad though the north-easterly wind kept the temperatures down and though it was mostly overcast, the sun did pop out a few times to brighten up the place. Thankfully, we were both wrapped up and now my father is reaching the grand old age of 78. He is walking very slow now; but in a way that's a good thing as you tend to notice things more when moving slowly. My father used to go ‘egging’ here when he was a child and was even shot at here by a lunatic Navy person for probably trespassing on the land with his mates. Can you imagine if that happened now?   

Above, King Edward's Cakes fungus growing on a fallen tree within the small woodland. Below, looking east across Southwick Park Lake. A pair of Grey Wagtails were active around here.

It has been a few years since I have been to Southwick Park Lake and parking up in the car park adjacent to the Golden Lion pub, we made our way through the woodland, taking in the newly created lakes that held a few notable species. Flowering Snowdrops were about and I even found a single Lesser Celandine flower among the leaf litter. One of the small lakes held a reed bed which looked promising for Cetti’s Warbler or a Water Rail, but we had to be content with a few Mallards and Coots. The other lake was much larger, but with most of the vegetation cleared around the perimeter of the small lake, it most certainly has potential.

Above, two drake Mallards have just landed on the main Lake and below, another pair coming in to join them.

There were a lot of birds in song this morning that included Nuthatch, Song Thrush, Robin and Blackbird; while high up in the bare overhanging branches, both Blue Tit and Long-tailed Tit were noted. Passing the old ruins of Southwick Abbey, we made our way to the west end of Southwick Park Lake where we saw a chap fishing for Bream (according to my father. The main Lake holds Carp ). What was noticeable was the lengths of rope stretched across the width of the lake to prevent Cormorants attacking the fish stocks there and though a good idea, it wasn't exactly pretty, though it was effective. Yes, there were at least four Cormorants on the main Lake, much to the scourge of the local Anglers, but a pair of courting Great Crested Grebes grabbed my attention (see photos).

A pair of Great Crested Grebes were displaying to one another with the male even bringing some material for the female to inspect.

A pair of Grey Wagtails were near the main footpath, but proved difficult to photograph as they would not settle. We took the footpath adjacent to the south wall and came across several Goldcrests, Wrens and Robins and even a Song Thrush belted through the trees. A Treecreeper was heard calling high up in one of the trees, but proved too difficult for my father to see as it was right above him! Small numbers of Goldfinches were seen high up in the trees and nearby, a Green Woodpecker was calling in nearby trees of which I got a quick glimpse of the bird flying away from us heading east. We had to make our way across the Golf Course to reach the other footpath and so taking the footpath across the main fairway, we made our way to the opposite side of Southwick Park Lake where we took some verbal abuse from some cowardly pricks telling us to hurry up. Fortunately for them, they were some 200 yards away. F***wits! My father is 78 with a history of poor health of late and it really got my father angry. But I told him they were pathetic and to just move on and enjoy the day. On the lake, we saw a pair of Egyptian Geese land on the water which was unexpected and more Mallards further along. The last time I was here, which was also in early Spring, a Common Sandpiper was flushed by the waters edge.

Above, a lone Lesser Celandine flower making its way through the leaf litter and below, Hazel Catkins overhanging the footpath.

More Long-tailed Tits were seen in the trees and a Common Buzzard flew out of the trees ahead of us and flew off northbound over the trees. Two more birds were seen and heard calling high over the countryside somewhere over Skew Road and another bird flew low over the car park when we arrived back at the car. A Bullfinch was heard though not seen, which was a shame and although nothing really unusual was seen, it was a most enjoyable walk. Dropping off my father at his house in Lovedean, he thanked me for taking him there and I said we will do it again in the Spring when a lot of the Warblers are in.    

From top to bottom: A showy Robin along the main footpath. An entrance to a Badger sett. The pair of Egyptian Geese that landed on the main lake. A Common Buzzard flying away from us. My father. Mallards on the smaller lake by the woodland. A Wren perched on a fence post in the woodland. My first 'Pussy Willow' of the year.