Tuesday 16th September - Peninsula Birding

 A couple more visits to Selsey and the Pagham area in the last few days have turned surprisingly productive. I love this time of year, when migration is happening, it is visible but you just don't know what you might see when, but it does generate a lot of optimism. 

Sunday 14th - There had been a storm front yesterday which had produced sightings of over 100 Balearic Shearwaters and 3 species of Skuas. Today was much calmer and I had assumed this would largely be after the lord mayors show and at best a few stragglers might be left. How wrong you can be, and the morning from 6.15 to 8.30 over 130 Balearic Shearwaters flew West, some spent time in very large feeding flocks of mainly gulls but also included Gannets, Sandwich and Common Terns and a single Black Tern was id'd. After I had moved on another pulse of Shearwaters started moving and dripped into the afternoon which gave a total number of some 530 birds which is a Sussex record and a considerable percentage of the global population of what is considered a threatened species. Recently the scientific powers have renamed the bird as Mediterranean Shearwater along with Yelkuan Shearwater... I think I will carry on calling it Balearic for now.

I called in at the Visitor Centre after I left Selsey and did a loop to the harbour finishing at the Ferry Pool. The tramway bushes had numerous Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Tree Pipit flew over calling. A Kingfisher flew up the channel and the harbour looked pretty empty until I noticed a Marsh Harrier  which dived at something on the mud before carrying on, retracing the scope I landed on an Osprey on the ground which was obviously feeding on something and having to fend of the attention of a couple of Carrion Crows. A couple of Whimbrel and a Black-tailed Godwit were the only notable waders while a steady stream of Swallows and a few Sand Martins were heading out over the harbour.

The Ferry Pond is undergoing a facelift and whilst in progress this has much reduced the bird population (hoping that the end result is the opposite and not just a haven for Avocets and Canada Geese, like some of the RSPB ventures). A single Common Sandpiper and 50 Med Gulls were on the pool but nothing else with 2 Wheatear behind the pool in the bushes.

Tuesday 16th - Another early visit with low expectations. The wind had switched to a Westerly and very little was predicted. The sea-watch list did not have anything particularly unusual but it was still interesting. An early movement of c85 Kittiwakes was a little surprising and the highlight was a Merlin which tracked along the coast but stayed out to sea. 54 Meadow Pipit, 43 Swallows, 2 Grey Wagtail and a Tree Pipit were remnants of passerine migration.

I moved to Church Norton and even though blustery the sun was appearing in intervals and it was fairly warm. There were 2 Spotted Flycatchers behind the hide and in the harbour the tide was just turning to fall. 16 Pintail and 34 Wigeon was an obvious increase in duck numbers and just the commoner waders were present. 3 Wheatears were around the concrete blocks and a Whinchat and up to 6 Stonechat were in the bushes near the severals. Having concluded that was it for the morning I started walking back towards the car with Andrew when a Wryneck flushed from the edge of the reeds in the Severals, perched  for a minute or so  in a small oak then flew again. We saw it fly again into another small tree. A number of observers turned up who eventually got views , but it was a good end to the morning.

Balearic Shearwaters

Balearic Shearwaters

Osprey

Whimbrel

Spotted Flycatcher

Whinchat

Stonechat

Wryneck

Wryneck

Thursday 11th September - Catch up May-Sep

A busy period yet no blog posts at all, I've done more mothing than birding in the UK in this period.  So an attempt to get up to speed before autumn is over.

For 3 weeks in June I was birding on the Tibetan Plateau, a trip I will write up although having only just completed the Costa Rica January trip, therefore it may take a while. The birding there was very good, scenery spectacular and logistics and food surprisingly good and not that numbers have meant too much for me, I did manage to see my 5,000th species on that trip.

Closer to home, birding has been principally around Sussex, the local bird surveys were completed by the end of July. Some of the commoner birds have seemed to do well this year, with good broods of Great and Blue Tits benefitting from a surplus of insects and caterpillars in the long spells of dry weather. On the heathland Dartford Warblers have had a high number of territories but lower numbers for Stonechat and Woodlark. Garden Warblers and Whitethroats were in good numbers but another reduction in Willow Warblers probably highlights their relocation northwards. A few more Crossbill turned up at the end of June. Honey Buzzard, Goshawk and Hobby did ok on the raptor front and Nightjar and Woodcock seemed to have a stable population.

My garden bird list has been boosted by 3 this year, with the early Spring Marsh Harrier added to by 2 Sedge Warblers at the end of July and 2 Yellow Wagtails that flew over during August, a Garden Warbler in the garden in early August was only my second record.  Autumn Tree Pipits and Spotted Flycatchers were seen on limited visits to Black Down but nothing else locally from a migrant point of view.

When I have put the moth traps out I have had surprisingly good numbers and several new species putting the garden list at well over 500.

Trips to Selsey and Pagham have only just resumed and have produced some regular autumn species such as Whinchat, Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Wheatears, Redstart, Spotted Flycatchers, Yellow Wagtails and Tree Pipit. A highlight on the 6th Sept was the number of migrating hirundines, mostly Swallow but well represented by Sand Martins and House Martins, such a joy to watch this continuous stream of birds heading South, This was followed by a walk into the harbour at Pagham where I found a Grey Phalarope, that was initially asleep on the mud before the rising tide pushed it into the harbour to feed for 25 minutes before it flew off at least allowing a few others to see it. An Osprey heading out to sea on the 9th Sept was a good sighting and hoping that the autumn has more 

Crossbill

Brief Garden Warbler in garden

Goshawk

Goshawk

young Dartford Warbler

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

Spoonbill

Grey Phalarope

Grey Phalarope

Peregrine with prey

Reed Warbler

Friday 23rd May - Sussex Heathland

 I'm fairly lucky to leave in a part of the world where there are small patches of Wealden Heath. With Black Down the closest, also being the highest point in Sussex at 280m. Not a huge area, but typically with a mixture of Gorse, Heather and Bilberry groundcover and mostly Scots Pine with Birch encroachment, surrounded by deciduous woods. 

On Tuesday I went there for my first evening / dusk visit of the year and managed to see at least 3 different roding Woodcock and heard up to 5 churring Nightjar with one individual perched in the crepuscular light. This was only in the Northern half and so would expect higher numbers are on the whole site.

Unusually on Thursday, I left the comfort zone of  West Sussex and headed to the Ashdown Forest to meet Gary and Barry. The habitat is very similar, although Ashdown is in the High Weald (rather than the North West Weald) and is largely Sandstone based.

The specialist species also are very similar and we found good numbers of the main species. We started at Old Lodeg, then spent some time watching from Hindleap, with a final session from the habitat at the Long Car Park.  We saw several Woodlark and Redstart were in good numbers. We had at least 2 Tree Pipit at old Lodge, which are now absent from Black Down. We also saw Stonechat, Dartford Warbler, Crossbill, Siskin, Willow Warbler and several Linnet. A Cuckoo was only heard and despite an extensive search our watch of the skies only produced a few Common Buzzard, Red Kite and a Sparrowhawk.

An enjoyable day nonetheless.

Roding Woodcock

Silhouette of a Nightjar

Common Redstart

Dartford Warbler

Dartford Warbler

Monday 19th May - Who needs Chelsea ?

Referring of course to the flower show rather than the football team, although the comment could equally apply to both.

It's been many years since I actually went to the Chelsea Flower show, but often watch the tv highlights,  this year the flowers in the garden look pretty good at the moment, so staying here is a good alternative to the London show this week. The long dry and warm spell has restricted green growth and brought the flowers out early and even though they won't last long, now is definitely peak. Also benefitting is the wildflower meadow I started a few years ago at the front, which is also at it's best at this moment.

I've seen Honey Buzzard on a few occasions now in the last week, but very little else to report on the birding front.

Not a Chelsea show garden, but it certainly is at it's best

The pond is a bit challenged from a lack of rain, but is ok at the moment.

The veggie patch is the only part I've given water too., nothing ready to eat for another month

Roses have just come out

The orchard might struggle a bit this year with the lack of water

The wildflower meadow at the front has lots of daisy's and Yellow Rattle in flower.

Friday 16th May - Transatlantic Waders

 Minding my own with various tasks this morning, I was just having a haircut when I saw a message that a Hudsonian Godwit had been found at Titchfield Haven in Hants. After a sandwich at home, I decided to drive the hour to Titchfield in a warm sunny afternoon.

Last month in both Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico I had been looking at large shorebird flocks which were typically of birds in large numbers that would be considered rarities in the UK. So 250+ Semi-palmated Sandpipers, 200+ Least Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers, White-rumped Sandpipers, 50+ Stilt Sandpipers, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs and the list goes on, and one such bird was a Hudsonian Godwit. However, like the Least Sandpiper at Medmerry the Hudsonian Godwit was not a bird I'd caught up with in the UK before now.

After sorting out parking and a permit for entry I was soon in a packed hide where the Hudsonian Godwit was with Black-tailed Godwits at the back of a scrape, over the next couple of hours it did venture a little closer and a couple of times flew a short distance which allowed a view of the distinctive black underwings. Also on the site were Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Hobby, Marsh Harrier and lots of nesting Black-headed Gulls.

Nice way to spend a Friday afternoon.

The scrape at Titchfield Haven from the hide

Hudsonian Godwit (r) with Black-tailed Godwit (l)

Hudsonian Godwit

Hudsonian Godwit

Hudsonian Godwit

In flight from behind

showing black underwing

Black-tailed Godwit

Thursday 15th May - Spring 25 has been warm and dry

 It's been a rapid 4 weeks since the last blog update. We've had no rain in that period with mostly warm sunny weather but cold mornings. It has been a busy period for Spring birding although interspersed with several days where domestic chores prevented me me from doing so.

On April 22nd An early morning visit to Stanley and Lynchmere common, yielded my first Tree Pipit and Garden Warbler of the year, after which I went to Pulborough Brooks where as well as decent views of signing Nightingale, there was also Sedge and Reed Warblers, Greenshank and a smart male Ruff on the brooks and for rarity value a Green-winged Teal, although it spent the whole time asleep on an island.

On the 25th I was back at Selsey, hoping for a large Spring migration. It was a decent morning without anything exceptional with highlights being a single Garganey in a Common Scoter flock, 100+ Bar-tailed Godwits, c50 Whimbrel, 20+ Common Terns, Arctic Skua, Yellow Wagtail and my first House Martin of the year and later in the day I saw my first 2 Swifts fly over the house.

Another Black Down bird survey on the 26th saw all of the expected species with some in reasonable numbers such as Dartford Warbler, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Redstart and a Cuckoo, with others such as Stonechat, Woodlark, Willow Warbler and Crossbill in lower numbers than previous years.

Monday 28th and the winds had moved to a promising E/SE direction although fairly light and a visit to Selsey was in order, rewarded with 2 Pomarine Skuas, although movement of other birds was fairly light with highlights being 5 Arctic Skuas, 20+ Little Tern, 3 Velvet Scoter , 3 Yellow Wagtails and a Wheatear.

Tuesday 29th, back at Selsey for another sea-watch, with a slightly more E/NE wind but the promise was there but not really delivering in the morning, highlights were 5 Little Gulls, c50 Whimbrel, 10 Grey Plover, 3 Arctic Skua and 2 Swift. News that the Least-Sandpiper was re-found last night at Medmerry had me heading in that direction with a stop on the way at the Ferry Pool to see 4 Common Sandpipers and a quick route-march from the car park to the Stilt Pool and the Least Sandpiper was indeed on the Stilt Pools. I though this one had passed me by as it hadn't been seen for over a week and was presumed departed and even though I'd seen c200+ in Puerto Rico only a few weeks ago this was the first UK bird for me.

I then had a spell of days when other things meant I couldn't get out birding although enjoying a few of the birds at home. highlight of which was a Turtle Dove on May 1st, purring away for 10 minutes in an oak just outside the back door, it remained out of sight at the top of the tree until it took off on a display-type flight and then disappeared and as yet not seen again.

I returned to Selsey on the 3rd May (having missed a fair few Poms during the week). The winds were North East so not a huge expectation of movement but we had 3 unexpected birds. A distant Puffin then a summer plumaged Red-Necked Grebe and finally 3 Manx Shearwaters made for a worthwhile morning. Other than an early group of c 20 'commic' Terns there was no sea movement.

On May 4th I saw my first 2 Hobby from the house and May 7th another visit to Black Down, repeated what I had seen previously with the Cuckoo very vocal and visible. However, the days highlight was a house list first in the form of a female-type Marsh Harrier which was seen through the scope moving in an Easterly direction over Fernhurst, 2 Goshawk, a Kestrel, Several Buzzards and 2 Red Kite made for an interesting raptor list from the house.

On the 8th May another visit to Selsey produced very little at all so on way back a diversion to Amberley where a Red-footed Falcon had been reported over the brooks earlier in the morning. A couple of hours scanning and only 4 Hobbies were seen plus the 2 resident White-tailed Eagles.

I lead a bird walk on Black Down on the 10th for the local village community hub, where 14 people turned up. There was nothing unusual for me but a bright warm sunny morning was ideal for getting people on the birds where we saw Woodlark, Stonechat, Dartford Warbler, Willow Warbler, Redstart, Crossbill, Whitethroat, Linnet and heard Garden Warbler, Firecrest and Cuckoo.

Another Selsey Visit on the 13th with very light winds from the East, where a nice male Serin performed, albeit briefly, on the Oval field. 5 Black Terns were the main highlight from the sea where there was also c350+ Med Gulls, 3 species of Diver, Arctic Skua, 30+ Sanderling and 7 Brent Geese. News of  a Collared Pranticole at Medmerry had me dashing there and again doing the route-march to the Stilt Pools but after Pete's initial sighting the bird had disappeared and there was no further sign and was almost certainly the bird that had been at Farlington 2 days ago.

Another bird survey to Stanley and Lynchmere on the 14th and finding 3 Spotted Flycatchers was a highlight along with the Tree Pipit, Woodlark and 3 Redstart,.

View South from Black Down

Gorse in full flower, the pond is too acid to attract any birds

Woodlark

Cuckoo

Garden Warbler

Pomarine Skua

Pomarine Skua

Whimbrel

Bar-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel

Little Gulls

Little Gulls

Least Sandpiper (showing green leg colour)

Least Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

'commic' Terns on the move

Whimbrel

Tufted Duck

Serin

Serin

Serin

Serin