Tuesday, 31 December 2013
Sunday 29th - South Africa
Time for a separate page for our trip to SA - which is a week staying with friends then me looking for birds for another 10 days.
Friday, 27 December 2013
Friday 27th December - Festive and Wet
It could have been a lot worse - it was certainly a decent storm on Monday - lost power around 11pm and went through Christmas Eve without it. Rhys Dee and their children, were coming from London to stay but told them to hold off until power was restored, as all utilities here (Light,cooking, heat etc) rely on electricity - I managed to cook the ham on the barbecue and we were giving up hope of the power returning when at 9pm on Christmas Eve it was back on - What a relief ! and consider ourselves lucky as there was little visible damage at home and no flooding... so as a result we had an excellent Christmas despite the weather.
Looking back on 2013 - it's not been a particularly birdy year for me mainly because of work intensity and a lack of time off, I've hardly ventured out of Sussex and my only trip abroad to Zimbabwe was mainly family rather than birding. So 2014 will be different ! - Starting with South Africa at New Year, I've decided to set a target to try and see 1,500 species in the year (It's subject to the usual caveats being health, family, time and other commitments) but may as well start with a number and see how it goes.
There's not been a lot to report of bird interest at home, although on the 22nd a Lesser Redpoll flock of around 30 birds was moving between the Alders and a small birch, and contained a very Mealy Redpoll looking bird. Although the flock was very flighty, so I didn't get clinching views and since then the weather has been so poor I haven't seen the flock since.
Roll on 2014 !
Looking back on 2013 - it's not been a particularly birdy year for me mainly because of work intensity and a lack of time off, I've hardly ventured out of Sussex and my only trip abroad to Zimbabwe was mainly family rather than birding. So 2014 will be different ! - Starting with South Africa at New Year, I've decided to set a target to try and see 1,500 species in the year (It's subject to the usual caveats being health, family, time and other commitments) but may as well start with a number and see how it goes.
There's not been a lot to report of bird interest at home, although on the 22nd a Lesser Redpoll flock of around 30 birds was moving between the Alders and a small birch, and contained a very Mealy Redpoll looking bird. Although the flock was very flighty, so I didn't get clinching views and since then the weather has been so poor I haven't seen the flock since.
Roll on 2014 !
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| Lesser Redpoll in Birch Tree |
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| Lesser Redpoll, one of a 30 strong flock |
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| Before the storm |
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| Lacking any festive colours - Jackdaws have been abundant in the garden |
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| This Stock Dove has already chosen a nesting site in the Oak outside the kitchen |
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| The boundary fence to the first field is one of the first things that needs fixing in 2014 |
Saturday, 14 December 2013
Saturday 7th December - Fernhurst
Hadn't been for a walk from the house for a while, so that was Saturday morning's itinerary. The weather has been fairly benign over the last week, cold with a bit of mist and fog, generally clearing to a dry and partly cloudy day... and this morning was no different. There are still lingering numbers of Woodpigeons, although not the colossal flocks of a couple of weeks ago.
In summary my walk was pleasant but a little unproductive on the bird front, the highlights being a lot of Nuthatches - I counted 8 including what was approaching a flock of 4 birds, 5 Bullfinches and 3 Marsh Tits. I was hoping for a Crossbill or maybe a Woodcock, but nothing unexpected, in fact I may have seen more species staying in the garden. I found several remains of Woodpigeon on the footpaths. It's difficult to conclude the predator involved although I was suspecting that foxes were involved at some point. It could have been Buzzards as a prey the pigeons are slightly big for all but the largest female Sparrowhawks. An outside chance a Goshawk had been involved, but actually more likely some were downed by human intervention.
At home there is still a mobile Siskin flock with up to 30 birds, and a flock of Redpolls numbered 22 but were very flighty, so working assumption is that they are all Lesser Redpolls, although I've not managed to 'scope' them. The vocal Marsh Tit is continuously working around the gully, occasional glimpses of the Grey Wagtails, and very small numbers of Redwing with the odd Fieldfare, and both Song and Mistle Thrush. A Long-tailed Tit flock moves past the back door once a day with about 15 birds and there's often a Treecreeper associating with them.
A Sparrowhawk is given away by an alarm call from our Cockerel. and the local Buzzard puts in an occasional appearance.
Today (the 12th) I heard a Firecrest at the back of the fields in the ivy clad oaks, but only glimpsed it in fading light and fog.
In summary my walk was pleasant but a little unproductive on the bird front, the highlights being a lot of Nuthatches - I counted 8 including what was approaching a flock of 4 birds, 5 Bullfinches and 3 Marsh Tits. I was hoping for a Crossbill or maybe a Woodcock, but nothing unexpected, in fact I may have seen more species staying in the garden. I found several remains of Woodpigeon on the footpaths. It's difficult to conclude the predator involved although I was suspecting that foxes were involved at some point. It could have been Buzzards as a prey the pigeons are slightly big for all but the largest female Sparrowhawks. An outside chance a Goshawk had been involved, but actually more likely some were downed by human intervention.
At home there is still a mobile Siskin flock with up to 30 birds, and a flock of Redpolls numbered 22 but were very flighty, so working assumption is that they are all Lesser Redpolls, although I've not managed to 'scope' them. The vocal Marsh Tit is continuously working around the gully, occasional glimpses of the Grey Wagtails, and very small numbers of Redwing with the odd Fieldfare, and both Song and Mistle Thrush. A Long-tailed Tit flock moves past the back door once a day with about 15 birds and there's often a Treecreeper associating with them.
A Sparrowhawk is given away by an alarm call from our Cockerel. and the local Buzzard puts in an occasional appearance.
Today (the 12th) I heard a Firecrest at the back of the fields in the ivy clad oaks, but only glimpsed it in fading light and fog.
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| Muddy Winter Tracks. |
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
Tuesday 3rd December - A sea full of ducks
Twice in the last week I've managed the same birding itinerary, with the weekend taken up by tree felling, and leaf sweeping, my reduced work pressure has allowed some longed-for spare time during the week.
On the 26th of November I went early to Selsey where dawn broke to a day of bright blue skies, after about an hour the amount of glare on the sea was prohibitive. The first 2 birds seen were surprising for the time of year, a Little Gull and a Sandwich Tern, both patrolling together before flying off East. 4 Great Northern Divers were on the sea, 3 Red-throated Divers flew East and a flock of 40 female Common Scoters were present and a single Sanderling on the beach. I headed to Church Norton where 4 Long-tailed Ducks had been seen at the weekend. With the tide pretty much fully out, birds on the sea were distant and no sign of the Long-tailed Ducks, but 20 Slavonian Grebes were impressive and 14 Eiders mixing with the usual flock of Red-breasted Mergansers.
I then headed to Medmerry. It is a new RSPB reserve in the making, where they have purposely breached the sea defences to flood what was the old Selsey West Fields in order to alleviate the pressure on the tidal attack of the coast nearer the peninsula where there are more houses (a mistake in hindsight in the 70's and 80's building so many houses on a piece of land being eroded by the sea !), and even though it is now under RSPB ownership the construction is still going on, but it maybe pretty good for birds in the future . The main issue appears to be access - it was a bugger to find a way in - despite being fairly obvious on the map - the only route in was through the massive caravan park, which has gated access to prevent non-residents entering - luckily being midweek and off-season the barriers were raised, so I drove through through the maze of caravans to the other end of the site, parked and walked along the beach to the breach wall. I walked through the rather derelict area of rubble, where 5 Snow Buntings had been seen - which was the purpose of the visit - I found a single Snow Bunting creeping around, as his mates appeared to have gone, there were also 3 Stonechats present , I couldn't have a good look at the newly created pools as there were men working on the bund which you would have to enter to view - one for the future.
Today (Tuesday 3rd), with the Long-tailed ducks still being reported off Church Norton I headed again to the coast. This time it was grey and murky, the sky and sea being the same colour and blending into one, with little wind and around 5c .
I started at Selsey, 2 Chiffchaffs were calling from the tamarisks when I arrived and a small bird of prey shot through, which I only caught a glimpse before it headed over the houses but was probably a Merlin. A good count of 8 Great Northern Divers were on the sea, 3 Slavonian Grebes and 15 Common Scoter with 2 Velvet Scoter which landed briefly then flew off East,4 Razorbill , 4 Shelduck , 1 Eider and a very distant Skua sp were seen in flight. 5 Red-throated Divers and 2 Black-throated flew East and the normal count of 20 or so Red-Breasted Mergansers. After a brief chat with Chris, who I'd met on the trip to Georgia and Armenia in 2010, I headed to Church Norton.
At the end of the footpath to the beach a Firecrest was with a couple of Goldcrest. It was high tide in the harbour, with lots of Grey Plover, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlin flying around in flocks to find roosts, Good number of Teal, Wigeon and Pintail and 3 Goldeneye were the harbour and a Peregrine was making sorties from one of the islands.
Offshore the water was calm (although still very grey) and it was incredible to sea the number and variety of sea ducks present. 5 Long-tailed Ducks were the stars (not often seen in this number in Sussex), with 20 Slavonian Grebes, 10 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Redhead Goosanders flew in from the harbour mouth and drifted down the Severals, 3 Black-throated Divers were together on the sea and 2 Red-throated giving good comparison, a single Eider and 2 Velevet Scoters topped off the list. I can't recall there being such a good gathering of species off the coast on the Selsey Peninusula and in such good numbers.
On the 26th of November I went early to Selsey where dawn broke to a day of bright blue skies, after about an hour the amount of glare on the sea was prohibitive. The first 2 birds seen were surprising for the time of year, a Little Gull and a Sandwich Tern, both patrolling together before flying off East. 4 Great Northern Divers were on the sea, 3 Red-throated Divers flew East and a flock of 40 female Common Scoters were present and a single Sanderling on the beach. I headed to Church Norton where 4 Long-tailed Ducks had been seen at the weekend. With the tide pretty much fully out, birds on the sea were distant and no sign of the Long-tailed Ducks, but 20 Slavonian Grebes were impressive and 14 Eiders mixing with the usual flock of Red-breasted Mergansers.
I then headed to Medmerry. It is a new RSPB reserve in the making, where they have purposely breached the sea defences to flood what was the old Selsey West Fields in order to alleviate the pressure on the tidal attack of the coast nearer the peninsula where there are more houses (a mistake in hindsight in the 70's and 80's building so many houses on a piece of land being eroded by the sea !), and even though it is now under RSPB ownership the construction is still going on, but it maybe pretty good for birds in the future . The main issue appears to be access - it was a bugger to find a way in - despite being fairly obvious on the map - the only route in was through the massive caravan park, which has gated access to prevent non-residents entering - luckily being midweek and off-season the barriers were raised, so I drove through through the maze of caravans to the other end of the site, parked and walked along the beach to the breach wall. I walked through the rather derelict area of rubble, where 5 Snow Buntings had been seen - which was the purpose of the visit - I found a single Snow Bunting creeping around, as his mates appeared to have gone, there were also 3 Stonechats present , I couldn't have a good look at the newly created pools as there were men working on the bund which you would have to enter to view - one for the future.
Today (Tuesday 3rd), with the Long-tailed ducks still being reported off Church Norton I headed again to the coast. This time it was grey and murky, the sky and sea being the same colour and blending into one, with little wind and around 5c .
I started at Selsey, 2 Chiffchaffs were calling from the tamarisks when I arrived and a small bird of prey shot through, which I only caught a glimpse before it headed over the houses but was probably a Merlin. A good count of 8 Great Northern Divers were on the sea, 3 Slavonian Grebes and 15 Common Scoter with 2 Velvet Scoter which landed briefly then flew off East,4 Razorbill , 4 Shelduck , 1 Eider and a very distant Skua sp were seen in flight. 5 Red-throated Divers and 2 Black-throated flew East and the normal count of 20 or so Red-Breasted Mergansers. After a brief chat with Chris, who I'd met on the trip to Georgia and Armenia in 2010, I headed to Church Norton.
At the end of the footpath to the beach a Firecrest was with a couple of Goldcrest. It was high tide in the harbour, with lots of Grey Plover, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlin flying around in flocks to find roosts, Good number of Teal, Wigeon and Pintail and 3 Goldeneye were the harbour and a Peregrine was making sorties from one of the islands.
Offshore the water was calm (although still very grey) and it was incredible to sea the number and variety of sea ducks present. 5 Long-tailed Ducks were the stars (not often seen in this number in Sussex), with 20 Slavonian Grebes, 10 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Redhead Goosanders flew in from the harbour mouth and drifted down the Severals, 3 Black-throated Divers were together on the sea and 2 Red-throated giving good comparison, a single Eider and 2 Velevet Scoters topped off the list. I can't recall there being such a good gathering of species off the coast on the Selsey Peninusula and in such good numbers.
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| Selsey at Sunrise |
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| Sanderling on beach |
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| Snow bunting at Medmerry |
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| A murky Pagham harbour at high tide |
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| A drake and 2 Female Goldeneyes |
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| 7 of the 20 Slavonian Grebes on the sea at Church Norton |
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| A further 4 |
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| 5 Goosanders |
Saturday, 16 November 2013
Saturday 16th November - Bright and Sunny !
Bulbs Done !!! - There's now the wait to see whether they've survived .
Headed to Selsey this morning, with a light NW wind and not much visibly happening - it picked up a little, with Common Scoter (25), Eider (3) , Red-breasted merganser (13) a flock of Wigeon(23) with a single Shoveler and after a short while 3 Great Northern Divers were seen on the sea and then a short flurry of 10 minutes saw several divers flying through with 8 Red-throated Divers (one landed) and a single Black-throated Diver that was flying with 2 Red-throats making a useful comparison. A Razorbill sat close on the sea before flying off a Rock Pipit flew along the beach and 2 large Starling flocks around 200 birds ) flew in from the sea, at which point the glare from the sun was making viewing difficult.
I headed inland to the downs near North Stoke, the views were great in the sunshine, and again great numbers of passerines in flocks in the arable fields. 2 Ravens cronked as I got out of the car then I flushed a covey of 20 Grey Partridge and marvelled at the flocks of Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and especially the numbers of Skylark which were everywhere and many doing unseasonal display flights. At least 5 Red Kites were seen and 8 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk and 3 Kestrel, but nothing more unusual on the raptor front.
Headed to Selsey this morning, with a light NW wind and not much visibly happening - it picked up a little, with Common Scoter (25), Eider (3) , Red-breasted merganser (13) a flock of Wigeon(23) with a single Shoveler and after a short while 3 Great Northern Divers were seen on the sea and then a short flurry of 10 minutes saw several divers flying through with 8 Red-throated Divers (one landed) and a single Black-throated Diver that was flying with 2 Red-throats making a useful comparison. A Razorbill sat close on the sea before flying off a Rock Pipit flew along the beach and 2 large Starling flocks around 200 birds ) flew in from the sea, at which point the glare from the sun was making viewing difficult.
I headed inland to the downs near North Stoke, the views were great in the sunshine, and again great numbers of passerines in flocks in the arable fields. 2 Ravens cronked as I got out of the car then I flushed a covey of 20 Grey Partridge and marvelled at the flocks of Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and especially the numbers of Skylark which were everywhere and many doing unseasonal display flights. At least 5 Red Kites were seen and 8 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk and 3 Kestrel, but nothing more unusual on the raptor front.
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| one of the many Skylarks, |
Sunday 10th November - Pigeon domination
The Woodpigeon-fest still seems to be in full swing, over the last few days I've regularly seen hundreds of birds, Saturday morning I counted well over 2,000 in just an hour with birds continuously flying through in flocks off 100+. Birds from the house have been my only outlet over the last week, but the weekend weather has been hugely unappealing
Last Saturday (2nd) was a dry morning and I had to make the most of this as I've had around 1,000 bulbs to plant in the new flower beds - I got about half done and it's been too wet since to finish off (and I'm a little worried about the drowning the planted ones must have had in the last week), but luckily they are mainly Tulips so I can plant right through December assuming I find dry weekend.
On the night of the 7th I woke around 5.00am hearing an Owl call, once I'd tuned in and shaken the sleep haze I realised, it wasn't a Tawny Owl but a Little Owl. It had been calling continuously for what seemed around 5 minutes by the time I made it to the curtains but it ceased as soon as I stuck my head through making me think it was probably sat on one of the barns - but that was it, and no more sight or sound since.
Despite seeing 2 new birds for the house list, these probably weren't the highlights over the last week, instead I would count the Woodpigeon spectacle at the top, a pair of smart Grey Wagtails that have been visiting the new patio, and a build up of the Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Goldfinch numbers feeding on the Alders next to the orchard allowing some scope viewing with maximum counts of 55, 15 and 40 respectively.
The new birds were a flyover Yellowhammer, which I would have ignored if it hadn't called at the right moment, and 2 fairly distant Egyptian Geese. Impressive numbers of thrushes have been seen in the hour or so I've been watching, notching up around 100 each of Redwing and Fieldfare. The Redwings being small groups and individuals and the the Fieldfares in 2 flocks of 50 strong. Another highlight has been 3 Bullfinches, 2 smart males and a female, that have been on the bramble in the first field. A single Marsh Tit is roaming in the gully and has been around for a few weeks being quite vocal. I haven't seen the Firecrest again but a couple of Goldcrests have been seen in the same area. 2 Flyover Skylarks also were of note.
Last Saturday (2nd) was a dry morning and I had to make the most of this as I've had around 1,000 bulbs to plant in the new flower beds - I got about half done and it's been too wet since to finish off (and I'm a little worried about the drowning the planted ones must have had in the last week), but luckily they are mainly Tulips so I can plant right through December assuming I find dry weekend.
On the night of the 7th I woke around 5.00am hearing an Owl call, once I'd tuned in and shaken the sleep haze I realised, it wasn't a Tawny Owl but a Little Owl. It had been calling continuously for what seemed around 5 minutes by the time I made it to the curtains but it ceased as soon as I stuck my head through making me think it was probably sat on one of the barns - but that was it, and no more sight or sound since.
Despite seeing 2 new birds for the house list, these probably weren't the highlights over the last week, instead I would count the Woodpigeon spectacle at the top, a pair of smart Grey Wagtails that have been visiting the new patio, and a build up of the Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Goldfinch numbers feeding on the Alders next to the orchard allowing some scope viewing with maximum counts of 55, 15 and 40 respectively.
The new birds were a flyover Yellowhammer, which I would have ignored if it hadn't called at the right moment, and 2 fairly distant Egyptian Geese. Impressive numbers of thrushes have been seen in the hour or so I've been watching, notching up around 100 each of Redwing and Fieldfare. The Redwings being small groups and individuals and the the Fieldfares in 2 flocks of 50 strong. Another highlight has been 3 Bullfinches, 2 smart males and a female, that have been on the bramble in the first field. A single Marsh Tit is roaming in the gully and has been around for a few weeks being quite vocal. I haven't seen the Firecrest again but a couple of Goldcrests have been seen in the same area. 2 Flyover Skylarks also were of note.
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| Can never quite capture it , but this was a Woodpigeon flock early morning last week |
Friday, 1 November 2013
Friday 1 November - Pigeonopoly
.. just an observation, but on my way to the station this morning around 6.45am just as a little light was showing there seemed to be hundreds, if not into the thousands, of Woodpigeons .....everywhere.
Saturday 26th October - Semi-wet birding
The weather prospects for the weekend looked fairly shabby, but with a free Saturday it was nice surprise when Gary agreed that trying for the Semi-Palmated Plover, which had turned up on Hayling Island last weekend, was probably the only limited option that seemed worthwhile. The bird had been ranging around Chichester Harbour but was most consistently seen, on the Hampshire side of the harbour, just before high tide in the wader roost at Black Point on the South Eastern tip of the island. High tide was not until 5pm.
We headed out from my place around 8am, first calling at Ambersham Common, where the Shrike I'd seen the previous week had a single report of a re-appearance since. However it was extremely windy with squally rain and not ideal for any passerines and less so for a Shrike. We heard flyover Crossbill, saw several Redwing and Fieldfare a small Siskin flock and heard a Bullfinch but no Shrike. It wasn't a complete disaster as the other side of the common did hold 2 or 3 Dartford Warblers, Stonechat, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest,
We went towards the coast and called in at Fishbourne Creek, the tide was pretty much out and the wind and rain had picked up with at times horizontal rods of rain making looking through optics impossible, but we still managed a few birds with Greenshank(5), Rock Pipit (1), Stonechat (1) amongst the Brent Geese, Curlew, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover.
We carried on to Hayling Island and stopped at the Oyster beds, consumed a sandwich in the car then hid behind a bush to keep out of the wind to see very little - Little Grebe, more Brent Geese, Dunlin and Ringed Plover and some mad windsurfers waiting for the high tide and scaring the birds off.
Around 2pm we headed to the South of the island, parked near the lifeboat station and walked to the spit where a gathering of 60+ birders were waiting. There had been no sign of the bird yet, but high tide was still a couple of hours away, with just 5 Sanderling on the spit. A distant Common Tern then a Sandwich Tern was seen in the harbour and gradually groups of waders started to appear with small numbers of Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Sanderling and a couple of Grey Plover. Viewing was still difficult, at times impossible, being very wet and windy, but every so often there would be a small respite. By 4pm there must have been 1000 waders gathered, intermittently taking flight and returning as the tide rose, and thankfully moving closer to where we were standing. Around 4.15pm, the murmur of the bird being seen spread through the gathering birders, and quite quickly we were on to the Semi-Palmated Plover, which coincided with a relatively calm bit of weather. An American bird with only 5 confirmed records in the UK, the similarities to Ringed Plover possibly resulting in it being under-recorded. Luckily this bird was close enough that through the scope you could pick out it was considerably smaller than the Ringed Plovers, a shorter bill with a white gap patch at the base of the bill, and although we didn't hear it call nor managed to see its' palmations, we were satisfied enough with the features shown confirmed the bird as true.
After decent looks and approaching 5pm with the weather closing in again, we headed back and even though my camera stayed in the car throughout, it did feel as if we'd defeated the weather.
We headed out from my place around 8am, first calling at Ambersham Common, where the Shrike I'd seen the previous week had a single report of a re-appearance since. However it was extremely windy with squally rain and not ideal for any passerines and less so for a Shrike. We heard flyover Crossbill, saw several Redwing and Fieldfare a small Siskin flock and heard a Bullfinch but no Shrike. It wasn't a complete disaster as the other side of the common did hold 2 or 3 Dartford Warblers, Stonechat, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest,
We went towards the coast and called in at Fishbourne Creek, the tide was pretty much out and the wind and rain had picked up with at times horizontal rods of rain making looking through optics impossible, but we still managed a few birds with Greenshank(5), Rock Pipit (1), Stonechat (1) amongst the Brent Geese, Curlew, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover.
We carried on to Hayling Island and stopped at the Oyster beds, consumed a sandwich in the car then hid behind a bush to keep out of the wind to see very little - Little Grebe, more Brent Geese, Dunlin and Ringed Plover and some mad windsurfers waiting for the high tide and scaring the birds off.
Around 2pm we headed to the South of the island, parked near the lifeboat station and walked to the spit where a gathering of 60+ birders were waiting. There had been no sign of the bird yet, but high tide was still a couple of hours away, with just 5 Sanderling on the spit. A distant Common Tern then a Sandwich Tern was seen in the harbour and gradually groups of waders started to appear with small numbers of Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Sanderling and a couple of Grey Plover. Viewing was still difficult, at times impossible, being very wet and windy, but every so often there would be a small respite. By 4pm there must have been 1000 waders gathered, intermittently taking flight and returning as the tide rose, and thankfully moving closer to where we were standing. Around 4.15pm, the murmur of the bird being seen spread through the gathering birders, and quite quickly we were on to the Semi-Palmated Plover, which coincided with a relatively calm bit of weather. An American bird with only 5 confirmed records in the UK, the similarities to Ringed Plover possibly resulting in it being under-recorded. Luckily this bird was close enough that through the scope you could pick out it was considerably smaller than the Ringed Plovers, a shorter bill with a white gap patch at the base of the bill, and although we didn't hear it call nor managed to see its' palmations, we were satisfied enough with the features shown confirmed the bird as true.
After decent looks and approaching 5pm with the weather closing in again, we headed back and even though my camera stayed in the car throughout, it did feel as if we'd defeated the weather.
Wednesday, 30 October 2013
Thursday 24th October - Birds in the working week
... well not really just that I am able at the minute to make last minute decisions about not going to the office as we're still waiting for the sale of the business to go through, affording me a little more time.
I had a morning to spare and the rather windy prospects didn't hold much for passerines so I headed for the sea and even though bright and clear was lacking in seabirds, just Common Scoter (3) and Brent Geese (2) and Med Gulls (8) and a single Wigeon was a particularly poor showing. There was a small movement of passerines with Meadow pipits (72) all heading South along with Pied Wagtails (8 ) a late Yellow Wagtail and Linnets (15). There was then a Northerly movement of Skylark (42) and Siskin (6) and a single Sparrowhawk. I briefly called in at Church Norton where a flyover Brambling and Redpoll and Chiffchaff were the only interest, I started to head back but
at the last minute diverted to the North Wall.
A Kingfisher was by the Sluice with a nearby Cetti's Warbler and Reed Bunting (3),. The breach pool held squealing Water Rail, several Black-tailed Godwit and then a Glossy Ibis flew in and landed at the back of the pool. Apparently it had been there earlier and had flown off and presumed departed the area and within 5 minutes it was off again, this time fairly purposefully South. The harbour near White's creek held a good number of Wigeon and a few Pintail with a flock of Golden Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, and Grey Plover. A single Rock Pipit was near the footpath and late Swallows (3) and House Martins (2) were hawking over the creek.
I had a morning to spare and the rather windy prospects didn't hold much for passerines so I headed for the sea and even though bright and clear was lacking in seabirds, just Common Scoter (3) and Brent Geese (2) and Med Gulls (8) and a single Wigeon was a particularly poor showing. There was a small movement of passerines with Meadow pipits (72) all heading South along with Pied Wagtails (8 ) a late Yellow Wagtail and Linnets (15). There was then a Northerly movement of Skylark (42) and Siskin (6) and a single Sparrowhawk. I briefly called in at Church Norton where a flyover Brambling and Redpoll and Chiffchaff were the only interest, I started to head back but
at the last minute diverted to the North Wall.
A Kingfisher was by the Sluice with a nearby Cetti's Warbler and Reed Bunting (3),. The breach pool held squealing Water Rail, several Black-tailed Godwit and then a Glossy Ibis flew in and landed at the back of the pool. Apparently it had been there earlier and had flown off and presumed departed the area and within 5 minutes it was off again, this time fairly purposefully South. The harbour near White's creek held a good number of Wigeon and a few Pintail with a flock of Golden Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, and Grey Plover. A single Rock Pipit was near the footpath and late Swallows (3) and House Martins (2) were hawking over the creek.
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| Black-tailed Godwit |
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| Glossy Ibis in flight |
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| Last seen heading south |
Sunday, 20 October 2013
Friday 18th October - Delivery day
Following the building work at home, the next task is to try and get the garden looking like a garden, with the back of the house largely having been mud and rubble. So I arranged to get a couple of garden beds properly dug, an area re-turfed, and eventually moving the chicken pen to the orchard so the back garden has a bit more light and a better flow. Today was delivery day for manure, soil and turf but a problem is our post-code doesn't get drivers to the house, and we always need to be around to guide delivery drivers in when the inevitable call comes saying 'I'm lost'. At least by the end of the day everything had successfully arrived,. I'd sorted out work so I could do any at home and I had a couple of slots where I could get out of the house. It was very misty first thing and I stood in the garden waiting for delivery number 1 and notched up a fair old bird list both flyovers and in situ.
lots of Redwing (97) in various loose flocks.
Song Thrush (7)
Fieldfare (4)
Blackbird (2)
Pied Wagtail (4)
Nuthatch
Wren
Chaffinch (7)
Jackdaw
Meadow Pipit (5)
Swallow (1)
Siskin (4)
Linnet (4)
Black-headed Gull (2)
Raven (2)
Goldfinch (7)
Greenfinch (5)
Firecrest (1) - in the same Holly
Collared Dove
Great-Spotted Woodpecker
Stock Dove (5)
After delivery 1, I headed up to Blackdown, as the mist seemed to have cleared at home, but annoyingly Blackdown was still covered in thick rolling fog. There were plenty of birds calling, particularly Redwing and Fieldfare although it was difficult to see more than about 30ft in front, I could also hear the call of Bramblings, Chaffinches, Goldcrest and Siskin. I headed down one of the more sheltered valleys but it was still quite foggy. A Bullfinch called then at least one Brambling, then a call, which took a while to register, but it was a Yellow-browed Warbler !, the problem was the call was coming from a clump of young birch half way up the slope shrouded in mist. It then called again (a continuous series of notes) but I waited for around 20 minutes but no sighting and no more calling and I had to start heading back for the next delivery- how frustrating !. A single Crossbill chupped away and flew around the tops of several pines then in a noisy bird flock, I made out at least 15 Brambling feeding in a Rowan with more calling.
After delivery 2, with the weather brightening up I went to Ambersham. I met Colin and Mich (Selsey regulars) as I got out of the car, they that said they had had no luck looking for yesterdays shrike. I hadn't walked far down the path when I found the Great Grey Shrike distantly at the top of a small pine. I called out to Colin and Mich who managed to to get on the bird through the scope before it took flight again. I headed off along the path where there was a Stonechat and 2 Dartford Warblers. The shrike then flew across the path and was visible through a gap in some pines not too far away. The next 20 minutes were spent watching the shrike as it hunted, successfully catching what looked like a large bumblebee, before it flew more distantly.
After calling in at home again, I headed back to Blackdown, to see if I could relocate the calling YBW, but no luck and other than around 50 Fieldfare there was very little else on offer.
lots of Redwing (97) in various loose flocks.
Song Thrush (7)
Fieldfare (4)
Blackbird (2)
Pied Wagtail (4)
Nuthatch
Wren
Chaffinch (7)
Jackdaw
Meadow Pipit (5)
Swallow (1)
Siskin (4)
Linnet (4)
Black-headed Gull (2)
Raven (2)
Goldfinch (7)
Greenfinch (5)
Firecrest (1) - in the same Holly
Collared Dove
Great-Spotted Woodpecker
Stock Dove (5)
After delivery 1, I headed up to Blackdown, as the mist seemed to have cleared at home, but annoyingly Blackdown was still covered in thick rolling fog. There were plenty of birds calling, particularly Redwing and Fieldfare although it was difficult to see more than about 30ft in front, I could also hear the call of Bramblings, Chaffinches, Goldcrest and Siskin. I headed down one of the more sheltered valleys but it was still quite foggy. A Bullfinch called then at least one Brambling, then a call, which took a while to register, but it was a Yellow-browed Warbler !, the problem was the call was coming from a clump of young birch half way up the slope shrouded in mist. It then called again (a continuous series of notes) but I waited for around 20 minutes but no sighting and no more calling and I had to start heading back for the next delivery- how frustrating !. A single Crossbill chupped away and flew around the tops of several pines then in a noisy bird flock, I made out at least 15 Brambling feeding in a Rowan with more calling.
After delivery 2, with the weather brightening up I went to Ambersham. I met Colin and Mich (Selsey regulars) as I got out of the car, they that said they had had no luck looking for yesterdays shrike. I hadn't walked far down the path when I found the Great Grey Shrike distantly at the top of a small pine. I called out to Colin and Mich who managed to to get on the bird through the scope before it took flight again. I headed off along the path where there was a Stonechat and 2 Dartford Warblers. The shrike then flew across the path and was visible through a gap in some pines not too far away. The next 20 minutes were spent watching the shrike as it hunted, successfully catching what looked like a large bumblebee, before it flew more distantly.
After calling in at home again, I headed back to Blackdown, to see if I could relocate the calling YBW, but no luck and other than around 50 Fieldfare there was very little else on offer.
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| Stonechat |
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| Great Grey Shrike |
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| Add caption |
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| Eventually gave good views |
Saturday, 19 October 2013
Sunday October 13th - Wash out
There had been so many thrushes reported all over the South yesterday that I was determined to have a look locally first thing- the weather looked less than promising and was only predicted to get worse later. So by 7.30am I was at Blackdown, but unlike Friday where the wind was the problem I could hardly see a thing due to the low cloud and drizzle. Plenty of Redwings were calling along with Goldcrest, Siskin, Chiffchaff and Meadow Pipits. After hearing the call of a Brambling I eventually managed to see one through the murk in a sheltered valley along with a single Fieldfare. It then started to rain heavily, which it did for the rest of the day, so I headed home.
Saturday October 12th - Winds , rain and normal weather
On Thursday there had been a mass movement of Redwings into the country with coastal sights reporting counts of 40,000+. I saw over 100 pass over the garden late Thursday evening, with the thrushes dispersing inland and the first 2 Fieldfare of the year.
Unusually I had a couple of hours on Friday free as we were expecting a delivery which I needed to be at home for, so I had a quick trip up to Blackdown, it was dry but the wind was atrocious, a force 6 or 7 northerly, which made me think the visit would largely be a mistake, the first few hundred yards just involved the Oak trees throwing there mass of acorns at me. I did however see 4 Crossbill (albeit in flight and very quick !) a few Redwing, Meadow Pipit and Siskin, a single male Stonechat, a Buzzard and the same Raven I saw at home last week (based on the same missing secondary on it's left wing), returning home the Firecrest I saw lat week was again glimpsed in the hedge outside the back door.
Saturday looked a better day with at last a change in the winds but in a few hours the prediction swung from an extremely promising strong South Easterly to a less strong and less promising North easterly, but my mind was already made up that I was coast bound.
Early rain passed and the wind actually died down but there was a fair movement. Med Gulls (9) lingered offshore and 5 Sandwich Terns passed through with a westerly passage of Brent Geese with over 300 passing through in small family groups. A close Arctic Skua and 5 Razorbill flew past and Common Scoter Shoveler and Teal were the only duck and Swallows (8), House Martins (2) and a Wheatear were the only outbound migrants.
Meadow Pipits were constantly passing over and several groups of Linnets flew in from the sea, then a Brambling flew over calling and the best bird being an inbound Short-Eared Owl, flying in off the sea and maintaining a steady height as it progressed inland,. I called in at Pagham on the way home where a Kingfisher and 5 Blackcaps were the only real interest.
Elsewhere a huge movement of Ring Ouzels had been recorded with peak counts of over 200 birds at single coastal sights in East Sussex and Kent but none in the West but there had been up to 20 on Blackdown which was a bit annoying, but they weren't there in yesterdays wind !
Unusually I had a couple of hours on Friday free as we were expecting a delivery which I needed to be at home for, so I had a quick trip up to Blackdown, it was dry but the wind was atrocious, a force 6 or 7 northerly, which made me think the visit would largely be a mistake, the first few hundred yards just involved the Oak trees throwing there mass of acorns at me. I did however see 4 Crossbill (albeit in flight and very quick !) a few Redwing, Meadow Pipit and Siskin, a single male Stonechat, a Buzzard and the same Raven I saw at home last week (based on the same missing secondary on it's left wing), returning home the Firecrest I saw lat week was again glimpsed in the hedge outside the back door.
Saturday looked a better day with at last a change in the winds but in a few hours the prediction swung from an extremely promising strong South Easterly to a less strong and less promising North easterly, but my mind was already made up that I was coast bound.
Early rain passed and the wind actually died down but there was a fair movement. Med Gulls (9) lingered offshore and 5 Sandwich Terns passed through with a westerly passage of Brent Geese with over 300 passing through in small family groups. A close Arctic Skua and 5 Razorbill flew past and Common Scoter Shoveler and Teal were the only duck and Swallows (8), House Martins (2) and a Wheatear were the only outbound migrants.
Meadow Pipits were constantly passing over and several groups of Linnets flew in from the sea, then a Brambling flew over calling and the best bird being an inbound Short-Eared Owl, flying in off the sea and maintaining a steady height as it progressed inland,. I called in at Pagham on the way home where a Kingfisher and 5 Blackcaps were the only real interest.
Elsewhere a huge movement of Ring Ouzels had been recorded with peak counts of over 200 birds at single coastal sights in East Sussex and Kent but none in the West but there had been up to 20 on Blackdown which was a bit annoying, but they weren't there in yesterdays wind !
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| Standing on Blackdown looking south - Woolbeding is the dark green middle peak just right of centre - just to prove you can see one from the other - the house is in between, somewhere over the first ridge of trees. |
Thursday, 10 October 2013
6th October - Dog fest
A bright morning with a westerly breeze had me debating where to go. I didn't feel like the sea would be productive but I definitely wanted to be coastal. Many reports of Yellow-browed Warblers during the last few days had me hopeful of catching up with one, although the area of coast I favour had none, they had all been in East Sussex or just over the Hampshire border.
I decided to go to West Wittering, which I really like as habitat , but the dogs are the problem. Even though I was fairly early the car park was filling with dog walkers, barking, stick throwing, dog pooh and an atmosphere of 'my dog's bigger than yours...'
Even though the tamarisks in the car park held a least 10 Chiffchaffs, I decided to give the dunes on East head a miss and walk towards Elanore. A steady stream of Meadow pipits were heading west, and the scrub held more Chiffchaffs, the occasional Blackcap (4) and lots of Blackbirds and Song Thrushes, but nothing more unusual.
On Snowhill Marsh the juvenile Spoonbill, was right on the far pool and spent the majority of the morning asleep (and it was looking directly into the sun). A Greenshank was with the Black-tailed Godwits and a single Snipe. A small flock of Golden Plover flew out towards the mudflats with the Brent Geese, Dunlin , Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover and Curlew.
A nice male Wheatear was in the scrub and many more Chiffchaff were seen, totalling at least 50 during the morning. A Stonechat and Yellowhammer were at the edge of the fields near the car park and these fields contained over 100 Pied Wagtail with just 1 Yellow Wagtail and over 50 Meadow Pipits. No sign of anything more interesting and a dog ran out onto the mudlflats and chased the Brent Geese away, with the owner just looking on oblivious - unbelievable, so I headed home.
I decided to go to West Wittering, which I really like as habitat , but the dogs are the problem. Even though I was fairly early the car park was filling with dog walkers, barking, stick throwing, dog pooh and an atmosphere of 'my dog's bigger than yours...'
Even though the tamarisks in the car park held a least 10 Chiffchaffs, I decided to give the dunes on East head a miss and walk towards Elanore. A steady stream of Meadow pipits were heading west, and the scrub held more Chiffchaffs, the occasional Blackcap (4) and lots of Blackbirds and Song Thrushes, but nothing more unusual.
On Snowhill Marsh the juvenile Spoonbill, was right on the far pool and spent the majority of the morning asleep (and it was looking directly into the sun). A Greenshank was with the Black-tailed Godwits and a single Snipe. A small flock of Golden Plover flew out towards the mudflats with the Brent Geese, Dunlin , Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover and Curlew.
A nice male Wheatear was in the scrub and many more Chiffchaff were seen, totalling at least 50 during the morning. A Stonechat and Yellowhammer were at the edge of the fields near the car park and these fields contained over 100 Pied Wagtail with just 1 Yellow Wagtail and over 50 Meadow Pipits. No sign of anything more interesting and a dog ran out onto the mudlflats and chased the Brent Geese away, with the owner just looking on oblivious - unbelievable, so I headed home.
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| Male Wheatear |
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| view over East Head and towards Hayling Island |
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| A few Brents |
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| Raven at home |
5th October - Woolbeding
Again stayed local this morning and went to Woolbeding Common, which is another fairly high peak at just over 200m but not quite as high as Blackdown at 280m (I live pretty equi-distant between the two and can just see both from the house), but still with a sharp wooded north escarpment and a more gently sloping southerly aspect, which was historically proper heath and common with much gorse and heather, but appears a little abandoned and losing it's historic habitat, slowly reverting to woodland with much Birch colonisation. However, it is National Trust owned and it was good to see some active management with a large area fenced off with electric fence and a small herd of grazing cattle, which will do much for restoring the area to proper heath.
It was cloudy and still and actually quite warm and humid, but this did little for bird activity. Chiffchaff (6), Swallow (7), Meadow Pipit (3), Green Woodpecker, Yellowhammer (2), Redwing (9), Mistle Thrush (6)
were the best of a small number of species recorded, although I'm sure I heard a brief song of distant Woodlark, but as soon as the ears were alerted it abruptly stopped. A lot of Fungi had burst through and I'm still not up to naming them but they looked good !.
I did slightly better at home later as a Red Kite drifted West and a Firecrest was a holly next to the house.
It was cloudy and still and actually quite warm and humid, but this did little for bird activity. Chiffchaff (6), Swallow (7), Meadow Pipit (3), Green Woodpecker, Yellowhammer (2), Redwing (9), Mistle Thrush (6)
were the best of a small number of species recorded, although I'm sure I heard a brief song of distant Woodlark, but as soon as the ears were alerted it abruptly stopped. A lot of Fungi had burst through and I'm still not up to naming them but they looked good !.
I did slightly better at home later as a Red Kite drifted West and a Firecrest was a holly next to the house.
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| Woolbeding |
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| Puffball about to blow |
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| Whitebeam |
Sunday, 29 September 2013
Sunday 29th September - Autumn fruits
An early rise, but stayed local and went to Blackdown around 7am, shortly after sun up. It was still quite windy perhaps an ENE and a thick blanket of cloud. I headed out from the car park with bins and camera and quickly realised I'd left my SD card in the laptop ! - So ended up carrying the camera for 3 hours for the hell of it, not that I missed any real opportunities. After 5 minutes, a rustle in a Holly bush and a familiar 'chacking' produced a Ring Ouzel, which burst out of the Holly and flew over the gully and landed in a distant pine. A great start to the morning. The theme of hirundine movement from yesterday continued with a steady trickle for over an hour, the majority being House Martins (132) and Swallows (124) and I would only have seen a small proportion of the total of those flying through. Meadow Pipits were also moving although I only counted 8. A young birch copse held a Firecrest and there were calling Chiffchaff everywhere , well into double figures. A single Redwing, flew north calling and several Song Thrushes did the same. Other birds seen were 2 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 2 Bullfinch, Goldcrest and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Although slightly disappointed I didn't get another view of the Ring Ouzel, it was clear there is a bumper crop of Rowan berries this Autumn and Blackdown is covered in Rowan trees, the Whitebeams look bare, but I imagine over the next few weeks there might be a thrush bonanza.
I headed home for a coffee, and the cloud lifted a little. Last year was so wet and generally a failure for most fruit crops. I had no Plums and very few edible Apples and could hardly find a Holly berry, the Sweet Chestnuts had a dismal crop and there were few acorns. What a contrast this year. There are 2 Rowans in the Gully at home,several Sweet Chestnuts and lots of Oak, and all are full of fruit. The 3 Mistle Thrushes I saw yesterday appear to have taken up territory around the 2 Rowans (which is great but it means no hope for a Ring Ouzel or other rare thrush at home as they will defend this vigorously). I disturbed the 2 young Roe Deer that appear daily in the fields. There is also a Yew, full of berries in the gully, which is slightly obscured by other trees, but after a brief watch 2 Blackbirds had been hiding within, feasting on the berries. Blackbirds are one of the more visible thrushes and I'm not sure whether this time of year makes a difference, but their approach to this Yew Tree was like being seen near a seedy strip joint, as they were trying their best to remain undetected and almost embarrassed by eating the berries (no doubt intoxicating).
I headed home for a coffee, and the cloud lifted a little. Last year was so wet and generally a failure for most fruit crops. I had no Plums and very few edible Apples and could hardly find a Holly berry, the Sweet Chestnuts had a dismal crop and there were few acorns. What a contrast this year. There are 2 Rowans in the Gully at home,several Sweet Chestnuts and lots of Oak, and all are full of fruit. The 3 Mistle Thrushes I saw yesterday appear to have taken up territory around the 2 Rowans (which is great but it means no hope for a Ring Ouzel or other rare thrush at home as they will defend this vigorously). I disturbed the 2 young Roe Deer that appear daily in the fields. There is also a Yew, full of berries in the gully, which is slightly obscured by other trees, but after a brief watch 2 Blackbirds had been hiding within, feasting on the berries. Blackbirds are one of the more visible thrushes and I'm not sure whether this time of year makes a difference, but their approach to this Yew Tree was like being seen near a seedy strip joint, as they were trying their best to remain undetected and almost embarrassed by eating the berries (no doubt intoxicating).
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| One of 2 young Roe Deer inhabiting the house fields. |
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| Rowan berry cluster - just right for wandering thrushes to feast on. |
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| Rowan in the field, bursting with ripe fruit |
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| Sweet Chestnuts are laden with fruit |
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| My plums are bulging ! |
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| Ornamental Crab apples , full of fruit |
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| Viburnum Opulus (Guelder Rose) fruits loved by Bullfinches in Winter when they're beyond ripe |
Saturday 28th September - Home
A repeating agenda of dropping off and picking up for school sports, so I had a couple of hours in between at home - from around 8.30 to 10.30, with an overcast sky, low cloud and a brisk Easterly, it was still mild enough to sit outside. The theme was movement of hirundines, with a large number of mainly House Martins. I counted 95 birds heading East with 35 Swallows. There were more birds around but I was being too careful not to double count as they spent some time hawking for food before passing through. There was also a decent number of Meadow Pipits (35N). For the morning watch I recorded 29 species, the remaining were :-
Jackdaw
Magpie
Raven 1 (twice)
Carrion Crow
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Green Woodpecker 1
Mistle Thrush 3
Robin 3
Dunnock
Wren 2
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit 5
Marsh Tit 1
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Nuthatch 2
Chaffinch (8N)
Pied Wagtail 2
Chiffchaff 3
Blackcap 1
Siskin 1
Greenfinch 5
Goldfinch 2
Sparrowhawk 2 female
Starling
Woodpigeon
Stock Dove
Jackdaw
Magpie
Raven 1 (twice)
Carrion Crow
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Green Woodpecker 1
Mistle Thrush 3
Robin 3
Dunnock
Wren 2
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit 5
Marsh Tit 1
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Nuthatch 2
Chaffinch (8N)
Pied Wagtail 2
Chiffchaff 3
Blackcap 1
Siskin 1
Greenfinch 5
Goldfinch 2
Sparrowhawk 2 female
Starling
Woodpigeon
Stock Dove
Monday, 23 September 2013
22 September - Heading South
September is the time for migrants. Large numbers of birds heading South with the added excitement of finding the unusual or rare species thrown in for the lucky few and at the end of the month this is mixed with birds returning the other way for Winter.
So with the Sun also heading South, officially today the other other side of the Equator, and a very light SSW breeze and overcast weather with early mist forecast it looked promising for migrating birds to be held up on the South Coast, which is where I went. The mornings are now closing in much more noticeably with light not really up until approaching 6.45am, I saw a Tawny Owl fly across the road just before Midhurst. and a Buzzard on it's first foray of the morning just past Goodwood, in between dense patches of fog, which made me a little concerned I wouldn't be able to see anything on the coast.
Selsey was first. The tide was way out and the light was very low in still conditions but at least not foggy. 10 Med Gulls were with a selection of Herring, Black-headed, Lesser and Great-black backed Gulls, but the sea was extremely quiet with a handful of distant Gannets, Sandwich Terns, 3 Common Scoter,13 Wigeon and 24 Brent Geese were the first returning Autumn birds . One observant birder called a Pied Flycatcher which had flown over our heads and landed in the Tamarisks , so we waited patiently for about 45 minutes for it to reappear from the bush, which it never did !, just 4 or 5 Chiffchaffs present. and a steady flow of Swallows numbered over 200 moving SW, with 4 Meadow Pipits and 2 Grey Wagtails.
I went to Church Norton, where the number of hirundines was staggering. Impossible to accurately count but an estimate of 5,000 + birds over the saltmarshes and extending both inland and out to the sea, the vast majority being Swallows but also House Martins and Sand Martins, I tried to capture the sight but failed miserably in the pictures below - Swallows are a nightmare to photgraph in flight !
The Scrub around the churchyard held 2 Spotted Flycatchers, and a large number of Blackaps and Chiffchaffs, with 1 Willow Warbler and 4 Whitethroats. A female type Marsh Harrier flew the length of the harbour and seemed to continue straight out to sea and there were Dunlin, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Turnstone, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Grey Heron on the mud-flats.
As the morning ended it appeared the activity of the smaller birds was diminishing so I headed inland to the South Downs at North Stoke. All the fields had now been either cut or ploughed, with the managed wildlife field fringes full of seed plants. There were large numbers of hirundines over the hills as far as the eye could see ( must be a mass-movement day). Small flocks of Linnets and Goldfinches were operating between the fields and obviously gathering in numbers for Winter, although I only saw 3 Yellowhammers, the build up of these passerines should prove good for Winter raptors and one field was covered in Meadow Pipits joined by 2 Wheatears. Distantly 4 Red Kites and 5 Buzzards soared, but little else was of note. So a spectacular day for movements of Swallows, but again nothing unusual to spice up the day.
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| Specs are not Camera dust but Swallows |
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| Difficult to capture - just a few of the 000's of Swallows |
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| ..... and a few more |
Saturday 21 September - Pain-in-the-Neck
I had a couple of hours this morning before doing the Saturday sports runs, so I headed up to Blackdown, which is only 10 minutes away. Catching up with Wrynecks this autumn has been a problem for me. They are reported in very small numbers, typically from late August through to late September on the move South, and this year seems to be a good year for them. I hadn't made a specific effort to see a reported bird, but a couple of times in the last few weeks I've missed seeing one at Church Norton by minutes. With a report of a bird at Blackdown from Wednesday and again Friday, I though this must be luck so I headed there at 7am.
It was overcast and a little gloomy and a bit of drizzle for a few minutes. In 2 hours wandering around I had no sniff of a Wryneck, the Saturday curse stikes again, but I was the only one looking. Plenty of Chiffchaffs were calling along with Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrests, Coal Tit, 3 Stonechats, 20 Meadow Pipits flew over and about the same number of Swallows, and the best bird was a Wheatear - I hadn't seen one in the wider area before, but as I don't visit Blackdown very frequently wouldn't know whether this is unusual or not - perhaps I should.
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| Blackdown,, looking South |
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| Blackdown, looking North |
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| Wheatear |
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| Stonechat |
Sunday, 15 September 2013
Sunday 15th September - Selsey and Pagham
The first autumn storm looks set to hit here later today, and in anticipation I hoped that there would be birds moving ahead of this. I headed to Selsey first thing, stopping briefly at Siddlesham Ferry pool on-route at 6.45am. There was no wind and still a little fog lingered so I couldn't quite see the back of the pool but
10 Curlew Sandpipers (which is a good number here) were fairly close to the road with a c20 Dunlin, 7 Black-tailed Godwits and a single Greenshank flew in. I recall my first ever visit to Pagham in the very early 80's when the Ferry pool was covered in waders and I saw my first ever Curlew Sandpipers here and since then this is the first time I've seen double figures at this site.
I drove to the Bill and as I got out of the car Meadow Pipits were flying over calling and I noticed a raptor very high and heading out to sea, it was probably a Marsh Harrier and I say probably as I only got a rear view and staring upwards into a birds ventrical area isn't the best view to clinch ID , annoyingly it didn't turn at all as it disappeared South , but it was Buzzard size and uniformly dark underneath and it wasn't a Buzzard. There were several Chiffchaffs in the bushes and a Sedge Warbler and the Meadow Pipits continued to fly over in small groups.
The Meadow Pipit count was well over 100 by the time I left with 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtails, 2 Wheatears on the beach and Sand Martin, House Martin and Swallow recording small numbers. A Kestrel flew in from the sea but the most unusual sighting - a Great Spotted Woodpecker bounding in across the sea from quite a distance out. Seabird action was quiet apart from Gannets with 4 Common Scoter, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Shoveler, 1 Guillemot 1 Sandwich Tern and 3 Common Terns, no doubt the big movement will be later this afternoon !.
The Ferry pool held a Ruff on the way back but the other waders had departed.
10 Curlew Sandpipers (which is a good number here) were fairly close to the road with a c20 Dunlin, 7 Black-tailed Godwits and a single Greenshank flew in. I recall my first ever visit to Pagham in the very early 80's when the Ferry pool was covered in waders and I saw my first ever Curlew Sandpipers here and since then this is the first time I've seen double figures at this site.
I drove to the Bill and as I got out of the car Meadow Pipits were flying over calling and I noticed a raptor very high and heading out to sea, it was probably a Marsh Harrier and I say probably as I only got a rear view and staring upwards into a birds ventrical area isn't the best view to clinch ID , annoyingly it didn't turn at all as it disappeared South , but it was Buzzard size and uniformly dark underneath and it wasn't a Buzzard. There were several Chiffchaffs in the bushes and a Sedge Warbler and the Meadow Pipits continued to fly over in small groups.
The Meadow Pipit count was well over 100 by the time I left with 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtails, 2 Wheatears on the beach and Sand Martin, House Martin and Swallow recording small numbers. A Kestrel flew in from the sea but the most unusual sighting - a Great Spotted Woodpecker bounding in across the sea from quite a distance out. Seabird action was quiet apart from Gannets with 4 Common Scoter, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Shoveler, 1 Guillemot 1 Sandwich Tern and 3 Common Terns, no doubt the big movement will be later this afternoon !.
The Ferry pool held a Ruff on the way back but the other waders had departed.
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| Curlew Sandpipers 2 of the 10 |
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| 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 1 Dunlin in flight |
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| Dunlin left and Curlew Sandpiper right - with reflections |
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| Wheatear on beach at Selsey |
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| Turnstone on beach |
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