The weekend potentially looked like another write off with snow all day Saturday, although it didn't settle that much. So Sunday looked as if it would be the same but maybe with a dryer spell on the coast, so with a level of determination to stick 2 fingers up at the weather I rose early and headed South - arriving at Selsey at 6.15 (although not the first there !).
The respite from the biting cold NE wind was under the sea wall giving a surprisingly sheltered spot (Even with several layers after 4 hours frozen feet and numb fingertips were the order of the day). an overcast sky and the occasional very light snow wasn't too uncomfortable and surprisingly the birds performed quite well.
Not long after arriving with views of 2 Slavonian Grebes on the sea (one showing summer plumage with the gold eyebrow) several Red breasted Mergansers and 2 Sandwich Terns, the first 2 Common Terns of the spring appeared heading East and a Sparrowhawk flew along the beach. A large looking Diver flew in and landed close enough to be ID'd as a Black-throated to add to the Red-throats seen later, and the first couple of Meadow Pipits were heard calling as they flew in off the sea, then a Chiffchaff landed on the wall and soon disappeared into the bushes. Oblivious to us watching a male Wheatear arrived on the beach which was pointed out to great delight at being the first of the Spring at the Bill.
The number of inbound migrants flying from the sea gradually built up and in total we had c200 Meadow Pipits, 3 Chiffchaffs, including one that was picked up several hundred metres offshore and flew directly at us landing at the base of my chair before flitting off. 8 Wheatears and 1 Pied Wagtail. Several Common Scoter flocks flew East, 2 Velvet Scoter were the first I've seen this year and 3 smaller duck were nailed as Garganey after a short debate, also 4 Mallard, 3 Teal, 2 Pintail and one Tufted Duck . 5 Little Gulls flew East quite distantly,. A Little Egret flew through then a Peregrine seem to drift in from the sea carrying and plucking a catch in mid-air which on closer inspection turned out to be a Moorhen !
So a freezing but thoroughly entertaining morning - just a few more days before heading off to African heat !
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
Friday, 15 March 2013
Sunday 10th March - Joys of Spring ?
Not yet - An icy blast and more snow - Hopefully this is a final hurrah from this Winter. It's about this time of year , especially if you haven't been away for a Winter break, that it starts to be a little wearing.
Saturday started with Fog that broke up to a mist but with low cloud that intermittently remained all morning, I was slightly grounded as Adie had succumbed to flu type virus and the sofa (and SpongeBob) and Sally had taken Hannah to a match in Southampton. It was fairly mild outside so I spent a little while outside with a coffee or two just looking across the fields, thinking I'd see very little.
As I gazed into the mist there were a surprising number of birds moving - I had at least 25 Meadow Pipits fly over, lots of Siskin and a single Redwing. I then heard a Skylark (I've only ever seen autumn flyovers) and eventually picked up a bird songflighting and then saw a further 2 fly through. A single Cormorant and large numbers of Woodpigeon were moving and there seemd to be an increased corvid count with several Rooks, Carrion Crows Jackdaws, 3 Magpies, 2 Jays and best of all a Raven flew over the garden 'cronking'.
As the cloud lifted a couple of Buzzards appeared and for the first time in a long while I saw a maximum of 7 at one time in the sky. 2 Sparrowhawks and a single view of a Goshawk completed the raptor viewing. So a surpringly productive morning.
Saturday started with Fog that broke up to a mist but with low cloud that intermittently remained all morning, I was slightly grounded as Adie had succumbed to flu type virus and the sofa (and SpongeBob) and Sally had taken Hannah to a match in Southampton. It was fairly mild outside so I spent a little while outside with a coffee or two just looking across the fields, thinking I'd see very little.
As I gazed into the mist there were a surprising number of birds moving - I had at least 25 Meadow Pipits fly over, lots of Siskin and a single Redwing. I then heard a Skylark (I've only ever seen autumn flyovers) and eventually picked up a bird songflighting and then saw a further 2 fly through. A single Cormorant and large numbers of Woodpigeon were moving and there seemd to be an increased corvid count with several Rooks, Carrion Crows Jackdaws, 3 Magpies, 2 Jays and best of all a Raven flew over the garden 'cronking'.
As the cloud lifted a couple of Buzzards appeared and for the first time in a long while I saw a maximum of 7 at one time in the sky. 2 Sparrowhawks and a single view of a Goshawk completed the raptor viewing. So a surpringly productive morning.
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Sunday 3rd March - Exotic ?
.. No way - I haven't been anywhere exotic.
My lack of posting in February has just been a factor of too busy - work, organising at home in preparation for some building works to start at Easter and a limited amount of birding excursions and even less in the way of any photos .
This Winter has been odd in many respects and somewhat lacking in both species and bird numbers, particularly locally. The same time last year at home and in the local area I was watching lots of Crossbill, Firecrest, countless Siskin, Redpolls and a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. This year the woods seem devoid. I've been on probably 4 walks locally and only seen a few Siskin of those listed. The more interesting species being limited to 2 Ravens on three occasions and twice over the garden, 3 Mandarins on the Furnace Pond. I flushed 2 Woodcock today and for the first time this Spring saw a Goshawk twice today (briefly and distant), I saw a pair of Buzzards and 2 male Sparrowhawk today, but the Buzzards seem less numerous than a year ago. A Chaffinch flock which numbers about 40 birds in one of the large stubble fields has attracted a small number of Meadow Pipit which are certainly less common here, and I had my first flyover Lapwing in the area at the beginning of the month. The female Reed Bunting seen before Christmas was present in early Feb in the same spot. A Long-tailed Tit has re-commence the antics first seen this time last year of repeatedly trying to get into the kitchen window on a daily basis, and our 8 domestic ducks have acquired the company of 2 Mallards.
I've made 3 visits to the coast in February. The most interesting of which coincided with a large movement of Auks, nearly all were Razorbill, but one Puffin was seen, my first off the south coast and 5 Sandwich Terns flew boldly East on the 17 Feb, indicating they might be an early Spring arrival rather than ones that have wintered in the area. Other more familiar species included Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebes, Kittiwake, Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Scoters. I also saw another Barn Owl when driving past Singleton.
My lack of posting in February has just been a factor of too busy - work, organising at home in preparation for some building works to start at Easter and a limited amount of birding excursions and even less in the way of any photos .
This Winter has been odd in many respects and somewhat lacking in both species and bird numbers, particularly locally. The same time last year at home and in the local area I was watching lots of Crossbill, Firecrest, countless Siskin, Redpolls and a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. This year the woods seem devoid. I've been on probably 4 walks locally and only seen a few Siskin of those listed. The more interesting species being limited to 2 Ravens on three occasions and twice over the garden, 3 Mandarins on the Furnace Pond. I flushed 2 Woodcock today and for the first time this Spring saw a Goshawk twice today (briefly and distant), I saw a pair of Buzzards and 2 male Sparrowhawk today, but the Buzzards seem less numerous than a year ago. A Chaffinch flock which numbers about 40 birds in one of the large stubble fields has attracted a small number of Meadow Pipit which are certainly less common here, and I had my first flyover Lapwing in the area at the beginning of the month. The female Reed Bunting seen before Christmas was present in early Feb in the same spot. A Long-tailed Tit has re-commence the antics first seen this time last year of repeatedly trying to get into the kitchen window on a daily basis, and our 8 domestic ducks have acquired the company of 2 Mallards.
I've made 3 visits to the coast in February. The most interesting of which coincided with a large movement of Auks, nearly all were Razorbill, but one Puffin was seen, my first off the south coast and 5 Sandwich Terns flew boldly East on the 17 Feb, indicating they might be an early Spring arrival rather than ones that have wintered in the area. Other more familiar species included Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebes, Kittiwake, Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Scoters. I also saw another Barn Owl when driving past Singleton.
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