Paul Matson's Birding Blog: Thursday 15th May - Spring 25 has been warm and dry

It's been a rapid 4 weeks since the last blog update. We've had no rain in that period with mostly warm sunny weather but cold mornings. It has been a busy period for Spring birding although interspersed with several days where domestic chores prevented me me from doing so.

On April 22nd An early morning visit to Stanley and Lynchmere common, yielded my first Tree Pipit and Garden Warbler of the year, after which I went to Pulborough Brooks where as well as decent views of signing Nightingale, there was also Sedge and Reed Warblers, Greenshank and a smart male Ruff on the brooks and for rarity value a Green-winged Teal, although it spent the whole time asleep on an island.

On the 25th I was back at Selsey, hoping for a large Spring migration. It was a decent morning without anything exceptional with highlights being a single Garganey in a Common Scoter flock, 100+ Bar-tailed Godwits, c50 Whimbrel, 20+ Common Terns, Arctic Skua, Yellow Wagtail and my first House Martin of the year and later in the day I saw my first 2 Swifts fly over the house.

Another Black Down bird survey on the 26th saw all of the expected species with some in reasonable numbers such as Dartford Warbler, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Redstart and a Cuckoo, with others such as Stonechat, Woodlark, Willow Warbler and Crossbill in lower numbers than previous years.

Monday 28th and the winds had moved to a promising E/SE direction although fairly light and a visit to Selsey was in order, rewarded with 2 Pomarine Skuas, although movement of other birds was fairly light with highlights being 5 Arctic Skuas, 20+ Little Tern, 3 Velvet Scoter , 3 Yellow Wagtails and a Wheatear.

Tuesday 29th, back at Selsey for another sea-watch, with a slightly more E/NE wind but the promise was there but not really delivering in the morning, highlights were 5 Little Gulls, c50 Whimbrel, 10 Grey Plover, 3 Arctic Skua and 2 Swift. News that the Least-Sandpiper was re-found last night at Medmerry had me heading in that direction with a stop on the way at the Ferry Pool to see 4 Common Sandpipers and a quick route-march from the car park to the Stilt Pool and the Least Sandpiper was indeed on the Stilt Pools. I though this one had passed me by as it hadn't been seen for over a week and was presumed departed and even though I'd seen c200+ in Puerto Rico only a few weeks ago this was the first UK bird for me.

I then had a spell of days when other things meant I couldn't get out birding although enjoying a few of the birds at home. highlight of which was a Turtle Dove on May 1st, purring away for 10 minutes in an oak just outside the back door, it remained out of sight at the top of the tree until it took off on a display-type flight and then disappeared and as yet not seen again.

I returned to Selsey on the 3rd May (having missed a fair few Poms during the week). The winds were North East so not a huge expectation of movement but we had 3 unexpected birds. A distant Puffin then a summer plumaged Red-Necked Grebe and finally 3 Manx Shearwaters made for a worthwhile morning. Other than an early group of c 20 'commic' Terns there was no sea movement.

On May 4th I saw my first 2 Hobby from the house and May 7th another visit to Black Down, repeated what I had seen previously with the Cuckoo very vocal and visible. However, the days highlight was a house list first in the form of a female-type Marsh Harrier which was seen through the scope moving in an Easterly direction over Fernhurst, 2 Goshawk, a Kestrel, Several Buzzards and 2 Red Kite made for an interesting raptor list from the house.

On the 8th May another visit to Selsey produced very little at all so on way back a diversion to Amberley where a Red-footed Falcon had been reported over the brooks earlier in the morning. A couple of hours scanning and only 4 Hobbies were seen plus the 2 resident White-tailed Eagles.

I lead a bird walk on Black Down on the 10th for the local village community hub, where 14 people turned up. There was nothing unusual for me but a bright warm sunny morning was ideal for getting people on the birds where we saw Woodlark, Stonechat, Dartford Warbler, Willow Warbler, Redstart, Crossbill, Whitethroat, Linnet and heard Garden Warbler, Firecrest and Cuckoo.

Another Selsey Visit on the 13th with very light winds from the East, where a nice male Serin performed, albeit briefly, on the Oval field. 5 Black Terns were the main highlight from the sea where there was also c350+ Med Gulls, 3 species of Diver, Arctic Skua, 30+ Sanderling and 7 Brent Geese. News of a Collared Pranticole at Medmerry had me dashing there and again doing the route-march to the Stilt Pools but after Pete's initial sighting the bird had disappeared and there was no further sign and was almost certainly the bird that had been at Farlington 2 days ago.

Another bird survey to Stanley and Lynchmere on the 14th and finding 3 Spotted Flycatchers was a highlight along with the Tree Pipit, Woodlark and 3 Redstart,.