2017 Sightings Autumn Migration 15th November 2017 (Matthew Eade) Guadalcanal, Andalusia, Spain Sighting at Guadalcanal, Andalusia, Spain (38.10957, -5.823036) 15/11/2017 Birds observed were feeding around some olive groves near to the mirador above the town mentioned above. Three birds in total with at least two being adults. 13th November 2017 (Janets Birds) Mount Harry, Lewes, Sussex One Male Ring Ouzel with Redwings and Blackbirds on Mount Harry west of Lewes this morning. As per Geraint Thomas and posted up by Brian Cox Downland Site located on the opposite side of the Lewes By Pass to Kingston Hill. 13th November 2017 (Geoffrey Page) Birmingham, B43 5BA Have lived here for 35 years and have never seen a Ring Ouzel. This morning saw a small flock of birds in my neighbours garden, feeding on some unpicked pears. They stayed around for about an hour and were making a tic-tac type call. My first thought blackbirds, but they were more dainty and flight different to a blackbird. I am an RSPB member and checked my book, 99% certain these were Ring Ouzels. Dark bill colouration and some white around the chest. Put this on file please and let me know if this is unusual as a sighting. Thanks 5th November 2017 (J Whitlock) Beachy Head, East Sussex A pair seen today along the sea cliffs at Beach Head in Sussex . Others seen in roughly the same area this spring . Presumably migrating . 2nd November 2017 (Philip Ireson) Mam Tor, Derbyshire Very surprised to see ring ouzel at the foot of Mam Tor today 2nd Nov. Great view on hawthorn bush. 30th October 2017 (Raymond A Hogg) Drongan, Ayrshire Spotted this bird amongst `winter’ thrushes in Drongan, Ayrshire the other day. Phote HERE. Credit R.H.Hogg 30th October 2017 (Peter Whitcomb) Brighton, Sussex 2 Hollingbury Hillfort, Brighton TQ3207 on 25 Oct 4 ditto ditto ditto on 26 Oct 1 overhead from garden Hollingdean Brighton TQ3206 on 27 Oct 1 called then landed in neighbours hawthorn Hollingdean Brighton TQ3206 on 30 Oct 29th October 2017 (James McCulloch) Ashdown Forest, East Sussex One seen in flight near a Yew tree, Old Lodge SWT, Ashdown Forest, East Sussex, TQ461310, 7th October 2017. One seen in flight during a visible migration count flying low NE over a field directly north of Hedgecourt Lake, Surrey, TQ354405, 25th October 2017. One seen in flight between Holly bushes east of the car park at Gills Lap, Ashdown Forest, East Sussex, TQ465318, 29th October 2017. 27th October 2017 (Christine & John Hamilton) Chantry Post, South Downs Way. Sussex 27th October 2017 at approx. 0830. To the west of Chantry Post on the South Downs Way. Grid Ref: TQ086120. 1 male on his own and then 3 female/immature RING OUZELS together foraging in fields. 26th October 2017 (MISS DYAN HUMPHREY) Gatwick airport On the afternoon of 26th October 2017 there was a commotion going on in the adjacent field with many birds flying around which were probably crows. There was also a bird call I hadn't heard before and couldn't identify which was a loud 'tac, tac'. The following day I heard the call again and this time it was much closer to me. I could see what looked like a blackbird in a nearby tree so got my binoculars out. The obvious features of the bird was a distinctive grey crescent on its chest and the loud 'tac, tac' sound it made. On investigation it would appear to be a female Ring Ouzel. I have lived in my house for 30 years and have never seen or heard this bird before. I live near Gatwick airport. 26th October 2017 (Hilton Dawson) Amble Northumberland Saw a ring ouzel in our front garden with a complete white ring 26th October 2017. We live in Amble Northumberland. 25th October 2017 (Bryan Pinchen) Worth Matravers, Dorset Adult female, an almost blink and you miss it view as it perched up on a Whitebeam after heading out of Blackthorn scrub, barely a few seconds after it landed, it saw me then headed off and out of sight. Winspit valley, south of Worth Matravers, Dorset, SY975762. 25th/26th October 2017 (Janet Wilkes) East Sussex-Shooters Bottom, Beachy Head 26th: Eastern End. One Male and One Female Ouzel. Chacking Loudly, Flying around, Feeding on the last remaining Red Berries and posing for photographs. Many Blackbirds also seen but the Ouzels were the stars of the show.A wonderful 4 hours spent at this site. Very light breeze and temperatures of 16-17 degrees 25th At least 4 Ouzels here this morning, chacking, flying around and posing on the tops of berry bushes. 1 Female and 3 first year/Juv birds seen by mysel. However another birder had seen 2 males earlier. Ouzels also seen along the coast at Horseshoe Plantation and South Hill Barn,Seaford Head. 25th October 2017 (Janets Birds) Beachy Head, East Sussex A very quick visit to Shooters Bottom, Beachy Head this morning. Thick sea mist on the drive up from Eastbourne, could not see a cars length in front of us. Once down at the Bottom the Mist had cleared but very drizzly conditions.This did not seen to bother the Ouzels. 4+ Ouzels. 1 Female and 3 First Year/Juvenile flying around the scrub. Chacking loudly and posing in the Bushes. Not very many Berries. 2 Males also seen earlier in Shooters by other birders. Also seen by other birders just along the coast: 2 at Belle Tout and 1 at South Hill Barn, Seaford. 24th October 2017 (Joseph Adam Rickards) Seaford , East Sussex This morning at about 8:00 I spotted a male ring ouzel just outside my garden on a tree flying along with blackbirds although i did not check if they were ring ouzels too. It had a pure white stripe just below its throat going all the way across. It was in Seaford , East Sussex ( Coxwell Close)on a farm with hedgerows and almost came in my garden. 23rd October 2017 (Stephen Berry) Lewes, East Sussex I saw one Ring Ouzel on 23rd October. I then e-mailed a couple of local birders, one of whom found two in the same place on the following day. On 28 October, I had clear views of four birds. On 2 November, there was still at least one. All these sightings were within a couple of hundred yards of each other, near the top of Kingston Hill (Kingston near Lewes, East Sussex). Kingston "cold combes" were mentioned as a favoured stop-off point for Ring Ouzels in one book (sorry - can't remember which) but these are my first local sightings of this species in the 24 years that I have lived here. 21st October 2017 (Jane Binks) Vyner Park, Swarland, Morpeth, Northumberland 2 were seen at the weekend, probably a pair but only one seen clearly enough to know it was a male, on a grassy meadow in our local park. They appeared to be very confident, only flying up at the last few seconds of our approach , to adjacent undergrowth with blackberries, hogweed and the like, which they then flitted about in. 18th October 2017 (Martin Eva) IVYBRIDGE, Devon Sighted a male and female Ouzel yesterday, together @ Wotter, nr Ivybridge, Devon. Watched them from 50 meters with bino's, on holly/hawthorn, in open moorland/rough grazing area, close to chine clay works. I have spotted them on Snowdon and on the Cairngorms, but never seen them down here. Very exciting. 17th October 2017 (K Jones) Barbican, London Sitting working at home, right in the middle of the City of London at the Barbican (TQ 32237 81834). 9am, 17/10/17 (the day after storm Ophelia). A female landed on my 1st floor balcony that overlooks the gardens. It stayed long enough for me to identify it - not a bird I've seen here before. 10th October 2017 (Arthur Norton) Blackdown, Sussex At around midday. Blackdown at around SU 916 305. 3 ring ouzels, 1 male, 1 female, 1 juvenile 10th October 2017 (Lesley Angell) Crosby, Ravensworth Fell We spotted a male ring ouzel today ( 1300 hours 10 october 2017). ny618 108, on the coast to coas route crosby ravensworth fell 9th October 2017 (Bryan Pinchen) Worth Matravers, Dorset 1st winter male and apparent adult female, trying to feed on sloe berries, Winspit valley to the south of Worth Matravers, Dorset (SY9776), Monday 9th October 2017, around 11.20 BST. Both associating together and largely unable to settle to feed due to being constantly chased by Blackbirds and a Song Thrush. 7th October 2017 (Mark Williams) St. David’s Head,Pembrokeshire Around mid-day, Saturday, October 7th. Female. Feeding on blackberries 1st October 2017 (Alastair Gray) Ashdown Forest, Sussex Ashdown Forest, Old Lodge SWT,(TQ461310).1st Winter Male feeding in yew tree.(My first sighting this Autumn,2 days earlier then last year) 18th September 2017 (Lyndsay Robertson) Torridon, Wester Ross Saw 2 Ring Ouzels just below summit of Munro called Maol Chean-dearg in Torridon on 18th September. Also on another Munro in Torridon called Beinn Liath Mhor on 21st September we saw one. 13th September 2017 (Julian Hoskins) Broadhembury, Devon Just by the old stone bridge over the river Tale. 10th September 2017 (Janet Wilkes) Blackdown, West Sussex "First Winter Male Ring Ouzel feeding on Rowan Berries. The heavy Rowan crop gobbled up by Blackbirds. Whitebeam have berries on unlike the past two years or so. Ouzels seem to go for these if they have a choice. Hopefully enough berries to hold passing Ouzels." Recorded by Dave Burges on the Sussex Ornithological Society Web Site.