Saturday 26th September - England v's Wales !!

Yes, the day ended up at Twickenham and oh what a shame about the result but he match was incredible and atmosphere electric.. so back to the birds.

I went for an early walk to Blackdown, arriving this time at 6.50am which was just after sunrise. This is potentially a good time of year for Ring Ouzels, but I have found in the past that very first thing is good for them as they can become more scattered and elusive later in the day .. if they are around at all. The very clear night skies did not bode well for migrants, but at least it was an amazingly clear morning and surprisingly without any mist.

The normal walk started of very quietly indeed, although 5 or 6 Goldcrests on the first part of the ridge to start with suggested an increase in the numbers had occurred since last week. Stonechats were also in good force with at least 10 birds in total and a couple of Dartford Warblers.

A Wheatear on the main path felt like a bit of a bonus as they are quite rare around here and a Woodlark was in full voice songflighting from the top of one of the pines. A few Meadow Pipits were moving I counted 16 in total, and 10 Swallows and 18 House Martins were early movers.in the day. 7 Crossbills, including 2 males, flew into one of the pines fed for around 15 minutes then appeared to fly South. There were lots of Mistle Thrushes, I estimated 15 birds, although constantly moving and occasionally dipping into a Rowan to feed, amongst these I saw a Ring Ouzel, initially stationary in a birch, before dropping quickly into a Rowan that was obscured in scrub before melting into the trees. It was a scruffy individual and probably a first year bird, but nice to hear the familiar  'chacking'. If the Rowan berries survive then the next couple of weeks should see more of these birds with the right weather.

2 more Woodlarks were seen on a path before flying off in a southerly direction so wasn't sure whether this was 2 different birds to the one seen earlier.

The views were glorious in bright sunshine, just wished the sporting result would have ended differently !.

View at dawn

Very little water is on the site, a couple of damp areas such as above never holds birds - maybe a drop in Snipe at the right time of year.

Scattered tall pines that all birds seem to love here

Views this morning were incredible

Woodlark in flight



Another Woodlark

Wheatear



A rather scruffy Ring Ouzel

They sit motionless for long periods

Twickenham before the excitement began !!

Wednesday 23rd Septmber - Kentish Trails

The weekend vanished and into a working week, where the project I've been working on is expected to materialise in to full-time in a couple of weeks, until then I have the odd day to fill.
Migrant birds have seemed a little thin on the ground for this time in September, although each time I went out of the house, hundreds of House Martins and Swallows were filling the sky, none more so than Sunday evening where the numbers must have been in the thousands stretching as far as the eye could see to the South. The numbers have been building as they await the call to migrate South to Africa and I would guess that in another week many would have left. This is wonderful spectacle at this time of year and although I'm sure it's the same in many places in Sussex these masses of hirundines seem happy here feeding over the treetops.

It was a surprise to hear news on Tuesday that an American Flycatcher had made landfall at Dungeness in Kent. One of the Empidonax family, 2 of which (Alder and Willow) were known collectively 'Traills Flycatcher' and 2 records of Alder Flycatcher had been recorded before (I saw one in Norfolk about 4 years ago) - There are about eleven bird species in this North American family that are considered so similar, that accurately identifying the exact species in the field is considered particularly challenging. However, as the day progressed the experts opinion, based on the viewing and good quality pictures, was that this bird was probably an Arcadian Flycatcher - The first ever recorded in Britain and only the second ever in Europe (the first one a dead specimen on the continent nearly 50 years ago).

After a mostly wet day on Tuesday, the bird had been seen going to roost into cover as the light faded. I'd been in London all day Tuesday, but not on Wednesday, so thought there was a decent chance the bird would still be there, as the need to feed up in situ after such a long sea crossing would be paramount and having listened to Gary's experience of excellent viewing including the bird landing on his camera bag, I had to at least try !. However, the skies had cleared overnight which always brings with it the potential for clear-out of grounded migrants.

I arrived early at sunrise and joined the 100 or so birders lined up around the vegetated garden of South View cottage on the edge of the 'desert' area at Dungeness. After 2 hours of waiting and no sign of the bird I joined others in a wider search of the area but to no avail. A brief report by one person who thought they may have seen it on a fence proved fruitless as each bush was scoured, but generally there were very few birds to be seen which indicated that there probably had been a clear-out of migrant birds with the overnight skies completely cloudless. So a resounding no-show for the flycatcher,

Regular groups of Meadow Pipits were arriving from the sea along with flyover Siskins, Linnets  a Grey Wagtail and a steady stream of Swallows . Nice to see was a Merlin which whizzed past the group of forlorn birders, a Sparrowhawk and later a Peregrine. Only a couple of Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs were in the bushes and a single Whinchat and a single Wheatear made up the remainder of migrant birds. A quick look at the sea produced several Gannets 2 Arctic Skuas, Sandwich and comic Terns and a group of what were possibly harbour porpoises.

Relocating late morning to the RSPB reserve (there was little of interest on the ARC pit). A Cattle Egret was in a cow field near the entrance track and a gathering roost of Lapwing and Golden Plover held a single Ruff.

At the back of the first pit 2 Great White Egrets were in the shallows and a 3rd bird flew towards Denge Marsh, making it a 3 Egret species day, which is still a rare occurrence for me in the UK. Only a Yellow Wagtail, Reed Warbler, Stonechat and Lesser Whitethroat were added as migrants on a walk around the reserve, but at least 5 Sparrowhawks were seen and a male Marsh Harrier over the track on the way out.

Headed home early afternoon, despite the disappointment of the Flycatcher performing an overnight vanishing act, Dungeness is always somewhere I enjoy visiting and always with something to see it was well worth the trip.

On the way to pick up Hannah from school, I saw a Barn Owl hunting over a field near Milland around 6.45pm, which is almost a first for me for this area.

Wheater

A distant Great White Egret

A view to the ARC pit from RSPB reserve

Dungeness Nuclear Power Station form the RSPB reserve

Friday 18th September - Selsey Peninsula

I decided to go to Selsey Bill first this morning. I hadn't been for a couple of months at least, and didn't have huge expectations with a forecast WNW light wind and it was quiet. 7 Common Scoter flew East, a few Terns were moving West with 32 Sandwich Terns and 18 Common Terns. A single Razorbill flew West and around a dozen Gannets were milling offshore. A Tree Pipit flew North and a steady stream of Meadow Pipits started to arrive from the South, my count of 47 probably vastly underestimated the numbers arriving. Also Swallows were arriving from the sea, perhaps unusually this time of year inbound rather than going in the other direction, again a count of 50 would have been low to the actual numbers. 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail alos flew over, but it was pretty quiet up to 9am.
I drove to the Pagham visitor centre and walked through the bushes to the harbour and round to the ferry pool. The brambles and scrub were full of Blackcaps and Whitethroats, presumably soon to be departing south. A Redstart shot past and a Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat also seen. A Greenshank was in the harbour in the low tide along with Redshank and Curlew and more Meadow Pipits and Swallows steramed through.  I was hoping to get a better view of the Phalarope on the Ferry pool and a chance of seeing the elusive Pectoral Sandpiper. Luckily the Grey Phalarope was actively feeding near to the road when I arrived , swimming, spinning on the water and then feeding on the mud and perforemed very well. I also managed a brief view of the Pectoral Sandpiper. It was just visible in the reeds, then ran out to the mud and ran back behind the reeds to disappear again. Other birds present were similar to the previous day with 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper , 3 Dumlin, 30 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Avocet. Several Yellow Wagtails were amongst the cows and a flock of  newly arrived Wigeon with a single Pintail flew into the harbour.

I went to Medmerry briefly, a pair of Garganey had been frequenting a reedy pool, but there was no sign when I was there. A couple of  Yellow Wagtails, Sand Martin, Buzzard, Yellowhammer and Linnets were the only additions as I stopped short of walking all the way to the pools.

Grey Phalarope

Thursday September 17th - After the Rain

There was a lot - Heavy monsoon-like downpours yesterday afternoon and throughout the night , but seemed to have cleared by the morning. I went to Blackdown first thing for a walk. It did feel that the birds may have either drowned or gone elsewhere, but eventually I caught up with a few. At least 8 Stonechat and a Dartford Warbler were keeping tabs on anything else that moved and 5 Mistle Thrush was a collective. 2 Kestrels were also hunting. 6 Meadow Pipits were the first of the autumn.

The migrant numbers had definitely reduced with 10 Chiffchaffs, a Whitethroat and at least 3 Redstart being the best.

Returning home and 3 more Meadow Pipits flew over the house, with a Grey Wagtail being the first I've seen for a while and 2 Ravens , or I should say The 2 Ravens with one still showing a missing primary that's distinctive and has been visible for a couple of years now.

A steady build up of Swallows and House Martins, probably at least 100 birds attracted a Hobby to drift over.

Autumn plumaged male Redstart

Stonechat

Hobby at home

Wednesday 16th September - Bits of a week

A very bitty weekend and start to this week. The weather has been appalling, which hasn't helped. There was little to report from the weekend as I didn't manage to get out. The Cuckoo appeared again in the garden late Sunday afternoon for no more than 5 minutes, just like a week ago, and there have been at least 25 Greenfinches, plus one Siskin and 8 Goldfinch, although I've seen at least 2 of the greenfinches looking visibly sick - so maybe their large numbers are still not virus free. The other significant wildlife was the sighting of a Weasel. It ran across the Patio outside the backdoor, stopped momentarily and then dash into the flowerbed not to be seen again. It's been years since I've seen a Weasel !

Yesterday evening a Yellow-browed Warbler was reported from Linchmere Common, which is only 5 minutes away but the rain was predicted to be heavy from 8am and to continue for the rest of the day. But a good bird so close to home was worth a try, therefore after I dropped the Girls at school I headed there for a try. The rain actually held off, which is typical of the forecasting,  but there was no sign of the warbler. Just a few Chiffchaffs and best a Firecrest.

Arriving home and finding that the rain was now forecast to be delayed until 11am I decided to head to Siddlesham as there was a Grey Phalarope and Pectoral Sandpiper reported there, which are 2 good autumn waders to catch up with. I arrived there around 10.55am and yes, had 5 minutes of rain free before it started.

The Ferry Pool was quite busy and the Grey Phalarope was there, but at the back of the pool so scope views only. Also 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 4 Avocet and 30 Lapwing, but no sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper, the considered opinion of those present was that the Pec Sand was hiding in the reeds next to the road and it would be a waiting game, but the rain deluge casued me to think the bird might well stay in the reeds for longer than I would keep dry.

Several eclipse Teal and Shoveler were on the pool and a flock of c50 Yellow Wagtails were amongst the cows at the back of the field and a Peregrine made a couple of swoops overt the pool.

A grim and wet Ferry Pool

There is a Grey Phalarope hiding on the edge of the mud in this picture !

Friday 11th September - Blackdown

and again a morning visit - overnight clear skies and bright sunshine this morning with a light easterly wind  would not normally result in many new birds and often a clear-out of any migrants would ensue.

I'd noted that Dave had recorded the first Ring Ouzel of the autumn a couple of days ago along with a sensational record of a probable Ortolan Bunting, which was unfortunately a fly-through, so I hadn't lost all hope that something new might be lurking.

A Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Raven were all seen before I encountered the flock of migrant birds, which  was indeed still around. A good number of mainly Chiffchaffs probably again around 40 birds, I only managed to see one Willow Warbler and one Blackcap. 2 Redstarts and 6 Spotted Flycatchers and I flushed a Woodlark which I hadn't seen since early Spring. Siskins were into double figures and 8 Linnets were seen and probably around 50 Swallows and House Martins, which were using a Rowan as a roosting tree. A small commotion alerted me to a Tawny Owl sitting out on one of the pines, which I managed to get Dave onto, who had seen much the same as me with the exception of a flyby Hawfinch, which I must have just missed, again a great record for here.

Raven

Tawny Owl - a bit obscured and into the sun

Sunday 6th September - Home

Slightly intermittent domestic duties this weekend meant I didn't get the chance for a trip out.  So on Sunday, which was exceptionally sunny with little wind, in between taking the girls places, I set up outside and took the opportunity to watch in the garden  A good haul by garden standards with a list of 36 species by the end of the day, not including the Tawny Owl that was calling last night.

A Greenfinch flock of c12 birds is around at the moment which is good given their seemingly recent decline in numbers. Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin with 4 Bullfinch made up the finch presence.

Many of the smaller birds are now in flocks, so it's a case of waiting for them to move through.  A Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcap were with  Treecreeper, Nutchatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker and the common tit species, which still includes a Marsh Tit.  Song and Mistle Thrush showed once .....and then for the birds of prey.

About a week ago I'd seen what I thought was probably a Goshawk being chased by the local Jackdaws and Magpies over the trees at the edge of the field, The view was briefed so my ID  was based on it wasn't a Buzzard and was too big for a Sparrowhawk with a unique flight pattern. This morning a similar fuss was being made by the Jackdaws and Magpies in the dense trees in the depth of the gully, I couldn't see anything and eventually they dispersed, about an hour later I saw a large raptor go over the chicken pen and landed near the top of one of the Alders but within the canopy. I managed to get a scope on what I could see of the bird and it was definitely a Goshawk, plumage made it a 2nd year female. It was big and barred with more brownsh than grey colouration. It had an odd stance in the tree sitting with drooped wings. It's shorter tail and pattern were clear enough and after about 5 minutes it flew off- so the first Goshawk I've seen perched in the garden.

6 Common Buzzards, 2 Hobbys and a Kestrel made up the other raptors, but surprisingly no Sparrowhawk, which is often seen most frequently . Then around 5pm I saw a bird fly into the Plum tree at the edge of the Chicken pen,and I was thinking it would be a male Sparrowhawk. , but to my surprise, despite the view being directly into the sunlight,  it was a young Cuckoo. It flew down into the veggie patch for a while before returning to the same fruit tree and stayed around for 15 minutes before vanishing. I'd only seen one hear this spring in flight and again never one perched in the garden so an unusual success to the day.

Juvenile Cuckoo

Not sure what it was finding in the veggie beds

Seemed to favour the Plum tree

Friday 4th September - Pagham

First week of September should be a great time of year for catching up with  returning migrants and bumping into something rarer. however, many factors are involved in where birds turn up and when, which can be weather related , not just here but elsewhere. Today can be best described as benign for both birds and weather.

I had to drop Hannah early at school in Petersfield so afterwards headed down to Pagham, The wind if anything was a slightly northerly, so I avoided Selsey and drove to the now RSPB visitor centre at Pagham, choosing to walk a circuit of the West side of the harbour up to Church Norton, the beach and back.

The scrub near the visitor centre held a common range of migrant passerines with plenty of Whitethroat and Blackcap and Chiffchaff and a Tree Pipit flew over calling. The harbour on a falling tide held  Curlew, Whimbrel a single Bar-tailed Godwit and single Greenshank plenty of Redshank and a Kingfisher flew past. The Ferry pool was quite empty with a a single Green Sandpiper and 4 Avocet a group of 7 Yellow Wagtail took off from the cows behind the ferry heading South.

A large flock of c100 House Martin and Swallow moved though in an easterly direction. A Garden Warbler and 2 Spotted Flycatchers in hedge gave me hope that better was to be found .A slow walk up the West side of harbour turned out to be very quiet,  with 1 Wheatear on the salt marsh, a Cettis Warbler and  Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plover in the harbour , 3 Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk appeared and  more Whitethroat and Blackcap were fairly common with 2 more Spotted Flycatchers around the hide and several Willow Warbler in the churchyard, but the morning lacked anything more exciting.

Garden Warbler

Thursday 3rd September - Blackdown again

The last couple of weeks have seen a similar routine to this morning when I've not had to travel to London and the weather hasn't been appalling. Arriving at Blackdown at 7am again it was distinctly chilly with a brisk NW wind, the cloud cover then thickened before it brightened up just as I left around 10.30.

Apart from the usual Goldcrest/Coal Tit/Nuthatch/Marsh Tit flock that is frequently around the Car Park, it felt very quiet as I walked the normal route. I was starting to think there had been a big clear-out of migrants as I only heard one Chiffchaff calling in the first 45 minutes. A Whitethroat skulked on the ridge and Stonechat and a Dartford Warbler were seen briefly but I didn't encounter a bird flock until I was on the Sussex border path ridge around the scattered pines. I first noticed several willow/chiffs and then several Spotted Flycatchers. In fact the number of Spotted Flycatchers was incredible (well at least for an inland site) - I could only estimate there must be at least 20 birds. They were very flighty and would vanish in the pines so accurate counting was fairly tricky. I then saw a female Redstart and after 15 minutes, the best bird of the day, a Pied Flycatcher which sat out on a pine branch before disappearing. I spent quite a time with this flock and added 3 Tree Pipits and a further male Redstart, c35 Chiffchaffs, with at least 5 Willow Warblers. Further around the trail I saw a single Crossbill, which looked like a young male just coming into plumage, and a flock of 10 Siskin , with a total of 18 Swallows overhead.

I bumped into Dave Burgess, who was excited about the Pied Fly prospect because as far as he was aware it was a first record for the site, we hadn't seen it again by the time I left but I understand he caught up with it later which was good news. So a pretty good list for this site.

A view south-east when I arrived - quite clear but fairly overcast

Pied Flycatcher

It remained brief and distant

one of the many Spotted Flycatchers

Tree Pipit

Crossbill

Stonechats are going through a plumage moult

A Fallow Deer