Off tomorrow to Mongolia for 3 weeks - Bird list for the year stands on 883. The trip list won't be huge but should contain some special birds and expect the scenery to be spectacular. It might be cold , it might be hot, and I hope I don't catch any more strange viruses.
Thursday, 22 May 2014
Monday, 19 May 2014
Sunday 18th May - Hot and Sunny
Yesterday we went to my sister's in Reading for my Mum's 91st birthday so expecting a completely birdless day, but Red Kites were almost abundant over the town and a Peregrine flew over the garden.
This morning I had an early morning walk on Lynchmere Common. Plenty of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Garden Warblers and Blackcap, a single Common Whitethroat and a single Redstart, with 5 flyover Crossbills and 2 Spotted Flycatchers (my first in the UK this year).
Late this afternoon 2 Turtle Doves appeared in the garden and spent about an hour competing with a Pheasant to find some grain, had assumed the one I saw briefly on Friday evening was just passing through, but maybe this pair are a little more local.
This morning I had an early morning walk on Lynchmere Common. Plenty of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Garden Warblers and Blackcap, a single Common Whitethroat and a single Redstart, with 5 flyover Crossbills and 2 Spotted Flycatchers (my first in the UK this year).
Late this afternoon 2 Turtle Doves appeared in the garden and spent about an hour competing with a Pheasant to find some grain, had assumed the one I saw briefly on Friday evening was just passing through, but maybe this pair are a little more local.
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| Pair of Turtle Doves in garden |
Friday, 16 May 2014
Friday 16 May - Just a picture
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| Heavily cropped - but Honey Buzzard in Sussex |
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| male Honey Buzzard |
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| ....and again |
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Wednesday 14th May - Staying Local
A morning trip up to Blackdown then to Woolbeding Common, in bright blue skies but still a brisk northerly wind. This part of the western Weald is known in Spring to harbour a couple of Wood Warblers , although personally I'm starting to think this is a myth, rumour also has it that if they do arrive they are later in spring to this part of the world, but now feels like the ideal time.
Blackdown was filled with birdsong on arrival, plenty of Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs competing with the residents. The local Stonechats looked like they had already bred as 3 young birds were present and there were lots of active Linnets. I located 4, possibly 5, singing male Redstarts and a single Woodlark but best of all for here was a pair of Dartford Warblers who just appeared right next to path I was on making churring type noises and looked as if they were courting rather than nesting as they were passing grubs to each other as they moved around the bushes..
On to Woolbeding and a similar display of Warblers, but no Garden Warblers, although I had 2 Tree Pipits and plenty of Yellowhammers.
A pretty good haul over 3 or 4 hours but nothing to set the pulse racing and the Wood Warblers are remaining mythical in my book.
This afternoon at home, lots of Buzzards were visible a single Sparrowhawk and a very distant Red Kite. The skies are starting to fill with House Martins and Swifts with the occasional Swallow, the latter still showing no interest in the stable block as a home.
Blackdown was filled with birdsong on arrival, plenty of Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs competing with the residents. The local Stonechats looked like they had already bred as 3 young birds were present and there were lots of active Linnets. I located 4, possibly 5, singing male Redstarts and a single Woodlark but best of all for here was a pair of Dartford Warblers who just appeared right next to path I was on making churring type noises and looked as if they were courting rather than nesting as they were passing grubs to each other as they moved around the bushes..
On to Woolbeding and a similar display of Warblers, but no Garden Warblers, although I had 2 Tree Pipits and plenty of Yellowhammers.
A pretty good haul over 3 or 4 hours but nothing to set the pulse racing and the Wood Warblers are remaining mythical in my book.
This afternoon at home, lots of Buzzards were visible a single Sparrowhawk and a very distant Red Kite. The skies are starting to fill with House Martins and Swifts with the occasional Swallow, the latter still showing no interest in the stable block as a home.
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| Looking SE from the 'Temple of the Winds' at 917 ft toward the South Downs |
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| male Dartford Warbler |
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| female Dartford Warbler |
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| female with grub received |
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| they only have small rounded wings |
Saturday, 10 May 2014
Friday 9th May - A couple of morning sessions
Not much to report but on Tuesday morning I went to Stanley Common for a couple of hours first thing (before the dogs arrived !) . It was cool, overcast and windy so not ideal for passerines, the warblers were there but keeping their heads down. The best was 4 male Redstarts singing - mostly at the tops of Pines - but obviously holding territories . A couple of Garden Warbler were in song along with Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Firecrest. I was surprised I didn't hear a Cuckoo or Tree Pipit.
With the wet and windy conditions not really changing on Friday morning I went to Selsey briefly, then called in at Church Norton. The wind was a SW force 6 and rain threatened but didn't arrive.
Unexpectedly we saw a single Pomarine Skua just after 7am with 2 Great Skuas and 2 Hobbies off the sea being the best of an otherwise quiet sea. Church Norton held a few waders with a large flock of c500 Dunlin, 5 or 6 Sanderling, c40 Knot and the same number of Bar-tailed Godwit and Ringed Plover, a few Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Turnstone and several Little Terns and Common Terns . I'd missed an Osprey that had flown through the harbour about 30 minutes before I arrived.
With the wet and windy conditions not really changing on Friday morning I went to Selsey briefly, then called in at Church Norton. The wind was a SW force 6 and rain threatened but didn't arrive.
Unexpectedly we saw a single Pomarine Skua just after 7am with 2 Great Skuas and 2 Hobbies off the sea being the best of an otherwise quiet sea. Church Norton held a few waders with a large flock of c500 Dunlin, 5 or 6 Sanderling, c40 Knot and the same number of Bar-tailed Godwit and Ringed Plover, a few Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Turnstone and several Little Terns and Common Terns . I'd missed an Osprey that had flown through the harbour about 30 minutes before I arrived.
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Tuesday May 6th - and a bit of singing
I went to Pulborough Brooks for a couple of hours this morning as it's one of the best places to hear and see Nightingale and they're probably only in song for a couple more weeks. They have established good habitat on the reserve and now have a decent density of birds each year (They estimate 9 singing males this year).
As predicted the weather had turned - it was actually cloudy with a bit of drizzle first thing with the wind being quite strong, so not ideal for passerines, although it did clear a bit by the time I left.
The first warbler I saw was a Garden Warbler, and heard 3 or 4 birds on the walk which must have only arrived in the last few days. Plenty of Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Common Whitethroat with the occasional Sedge and Reed Warbler and yes - Nightingales - I probably heard 5 individuals and saw 2 well. The brooks themselves were generally pretty quite although a male Garganey was present and although no hirundines over the brooks about 50 Swifts went over the reserve . I also saw a Lesser Whitethroat on the return walk, which appeared to me to be establishing a nest !.
As predicted the weather had turned - it was actually cloudy with a bit of drizzle first thing with the wind being quite strong, so not ideal for passerines, although it did clear a bit by the time I left.
The first warbler I saw was a Garden Warbler, and heard 3 or 4 birds on the walk which must have only arrived in the last few days. Plenty of Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Common Whitethroat with the occasional Sedge and Reed Warbler and yes - Nightingales - I probably heard 5 individuals and saw 2 well. The brooks themselves were generally pretty quite although a male Garganey was present and although no hirundines over the brooks about 50 Swifts went over the reserve . I also saw a Lesser Whitethroat on the return walk, which appeared to me to be establishing a nest !.
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| Nightingale in full flow. |
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| Willow Warbler |
Monday 5th May - The big day arrives...
A promising South-Easterly was forecast and that's exactly what was delivered. I arrived early at Selsey, with expectations being that it needs to be today as then the weather swings round to a steady stream of wet south-westerlies tomorrow, which is never good for seabird passage at the Bill.
It was again promising early on, with a Whimbrel, then some Common Scoter moving East, then groups of Common/Arctic Terns and 4 Little Gulls. The Tern movement continued for a while before slowing and the local Great Northern Divers were performing their morning fly-round and then the first Pomarine Skua at 6.15am and an Artic Skua flew past about half an hour later were great signs but it seemed to go into a lull for about an hour and a half - then it took off .
At 8.30 the first big flock of Pomarine Skuas went through, with 10 birds, followed shortly after by another 4, and this seemed to set the scene for the next few hours when these amazing looking birds would appear and gracefully fly through to the East. my biggest single flock before today was 7 birds. The biggest flock today was 15 birds ! - I stayed until around 2pm and in that time notched up an incredible 54 Poms ! - Those that stayed until dusk recorded 74 in total. I also totalled 12 Arctic Skuas, Red-throated Diver, over 520 Common Scoter, 65 Common/Arctic Terns., 57 Sandwich Terns, 20 little Terns, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit and 5 Whimbrel, 1 Knot, 5 Sanderling, 8 Brent Geese, 3 Swift, 7 Swallows.
A very pleasing day !
It was again promising early on, with a Whimbrel, then some Common Scoter moving East, then groups of Common/Arctic Terns and 4 Little Gulls. The Tern movement continued for a while before slowing and the local Great Northern Divers were performing their morning fly-round and then the first Pomarine Skua at 6.15am and an Artic Skua flew past about half an hour later were great signs but it seemed to go into a lull for about an hour and a half - then it took off .
At 8.30 the first big flock of Pomarine Skuas went through, with 10 birds, followed shortly after by another 4, and this seemed to set the scene for the next few hours when these amazing looking birds would appear and gracefully fly through to the East. my biggest single flock before today was 7 birds. The biggest flock today was 15 birds ! - I stayed until around 2pm and in that time notched up an incredible 54 Poms ! - Those that stayed until dusk recorded 74 in total. I also totalled 12 Arctic Skuas, Red-throated Diver, over 520 Common Scoter, 65 Common/Arctic Terns., 57 Sandwich Terns, 20 little Terns, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit and 5 Whimbrel, 1 Knot, 5 Sanderling, 8 Brent Geese, 3 Swift, 7 Swallows.
A very pleasing day !
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| 7 Pomarine Skuas |
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| Flock of 10 - rather spread out |
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| Another 4 .. with a dark phase bird with big spoons ! |
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| A different 4 |
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| 2 Arctic Skuas |
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| Female Eider |
Sunday May 4th - Maybe tomorrow !
.. was the cry from the throngs gathered at the sea-watching wall at Selsey this morning, as it seemed to have been all Spring - waiting for a day when a big seabird movement happens. A promising early flurry of birds which included 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Manx Shearwater, about 400 Common Scoter, 7 Whimbrel and 1 Hobby flying in from the sea, but no real movement of Terns and everything seem to fizzle out by around 10am, so I went to the visitor centre at Pagham and had a walk around the Western end of the harbour.
Plenty of Reed Warblers, Common Whitethroat and two Sedge Warblers were seen around the bushes and a Whinchat was in the fields next to the Long Pool. The male Garganey was still on the Ferry Pool and had multiplied as there were now 2 males there. The weather was good but no sign of any migrant movements so I headed home after lunch.
Plenty of Reed Warblers, Common Whitethroat and two Sedge Warblers were seen around the bushes and a Whinchat was in the fields next to the Long Pool. The male Garganey was still on the Ferry Pool and had multiplied as there were now 2 males there. The weather was good but no sign of any migrant movements so I headed home after lunch.
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| Northern Fulmar |
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| Northern Fulmar |
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| This Fulmar helpfully passed along the beach |
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| A rather distant shot of one of the Garganey's |
Sunday, 4 May 2014
Saturday 3rd May - Soldiering on
More about surviving the last couple of weeks still not having shaken the bug I picked up in Vietnam, with the Doctors not having helped much other than now agreeing that I must have picked something up in Vietnam !!. So I was referred on Monday to the Tropical diseases clinic in London, but have heard nothing from them .. all a bit frustrating, but at least I've finally finished the trip write-up on the page on the right.
I went to Selsey Bill this morning, this is potentially the main week or so to for Spring passage, it was quiet by any standard with no real movement of birds . 4 Great Skuas in total, with 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Whimbrel, 5 inbound Swifts, a single Common Scoter and plenty of Common/Arctic, Sandwich and Little Terns. I had to return home promptly as Hannah had an Athletics match in Portsmouth, I called in briefly at the Ferry pool at Siddlesham and was surprised to see a male Garganey at the back of the pool and a smart looking Whinchat.
At home, as well as Robins and Blue Tits using the nestboxes, Wren, Dunnock and Blackbird are in the hedge, a Nutchatch in one of the big Oaks along with Stock Doves (and Jackdaws !) and a Firecrest is singing in the gully outside the back door. At least one pair of Siskins are in the long line of trees along with Goldfinch and Chaffinch and 2 singing Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap indicate nesting. Plenty of Buzzards are seen daily and a Swift fly over on the 30th April.
I went to Selsey Bill this morning, this is potentially the main week or so to for Spring passage, it was quiet by any standard with no real movement of birds . 4 Great Skuas in total, with 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Whimbrel, 5 inbound Swifts, a single Common Scoter and plenty of Common/Arctic, Sandwich and Little Terns. I had to return home promptly as Hannah had an Athletics match in Portsmouth, I called in briefly at the Ferry pool at Siddlesham and was surprised to see a male Garganey at the back of the pool and a smart looking Whinchat.
At home, as well as Robins and Blue Tits using the nestboxes, Wren, Dunnock and Blackbird are in the hedge, a Nutchatch in one of the big Oaks along with Stock Doves (and Jackdaws !) and a Firecrest is singing in the gully outside the back door. At least one pair of Siskins are in the long line of trees along with Goldfinch and Chaffinch and 2 singing Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap indicate nesting. Plenty of Buzzards are seen daily and a Swift fly over on the 30th April.
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| This boat was about as much passage at the Bill. |
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| 7 Bar-tailed Godwits |
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| 2 Bar-tailed Godwits overhead |
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| 3 Distant Great Skuas |
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| The same 2 Mallards that arrived last year for about a month have appeared around the small pond again daily |
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| A pair of Robins have made use of the porcelain hat we stuck on the barn. |
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| The tulips I planted have done incredibly well. |
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