Saturday 21st April - Deluge

The government should have announced building the Ark had commenced at the same time they announced the hosepipe ban as it looks as if we might need it. The back-tracking by the water companies who are trying to convince us we are in the worst drought for 3 decades when we are cowering under our umbrellas and telling us it's the wrong sort of rain, isn't going down well !.

Expecting a weather affected day, I visited Apuldram Churchyard on the way to Selsey, where a 'possible' Iberian Chiffchaff had turned up. I let the Ducks and Chickens out before I left and a Willow Warbler was calling in one of the Oaks. I was the only one at Apuldram, but as soon as I got out of the car the bird was calling in a bare Ash tree in the car park. Just as I started taking pictures I realised I'd left my SD card back in the laptop ! (The light was rubbish anyway).

Iberian Chiffchaff is a separate species, but can only be successfully separated from 'normal' Chiffchaffs by it's song/call as visually they are pretty similar. I have only seen one before near Norwich in 2007 so I didn't have bags of experience to bring to the debate. This bird had a song that was in three bits. The first a two note chiff chiff intro, followed by 3/4 notes slightly higher in pitch and more flutey and then a burst of notes at the end but not quite a rattle, but perhaps not as pure as an Iberian Chiffchaffs song should be compared to the majority of recorded individuals. The debate as to it's true parentage seems to be questioned by some who believe it started life as a Chfiffchaff and has potentially learned some song notes of the Iberian variety on it's travels. To me it's just as likely that the opposite has occurred and its' an Iberian Chiffchaff which has grown up with desires for a bit of Chiffchaff in its' life. It is likely the debate will be concluded by graphing the pitch of each note into a sonogram. It was an interesting bird to see/hear  whatever it turns out to be,   I am of course interested in the conclusion, but this is where the science overtakes the hobby - anyway onto the sea.

The sea was reasonably calm but the dark numpty of a cloud which was closing rapidly in with worsening visibility meant I was in for a potential soaking. Beforehand a group of terns lingered including Common, Sandwich, 3 Little and best of all 2 Arctic Terns, but they quickly started to sprint East as the rain approached. I spent 10 minutes fighting with an umbrella and then gave up and sat in the car for another 30 minutes until the rain eased. The skies cleared a little but the birds were very distant. 1 Arctic Skua and 3 Great Skuas being the best and a few Swallows off the sea. The harbour seemed a better bet, so I parked at the Ferry pool end and walked up to Church Norton and back. My first, Reed Warblers, SedgeWarblers and Whitethroats were seen and a pair of Little Ringed Plover were on the Ferry Pool. 3 close Whimbrel were in the harbour and a Cuckoo kept overtaking me on the walk back from Church Norton.

The afternoon comprised some blustery showers, although I did hear a Cuckoo several times in the afternoon at home. The Firecrests are busily vocal, Blackcap and Chiffchaff were seen with a few Buzzards and Sparrowhawk.

A badger appeared just in daylight at home and I managed to get a shot video clip. When I work out how to load it I'll do so !

Patchy arrived a bit early for dinner.

A pair of Bullfinches still put in a daily appearance around the house,