When I picked up Martin this morning neither of us had a clue where we were going; at the moment we are both crocks and long walks or arduous climbs are out of the question. So, it had to be somewhere flat and a short walk to be amongst birds. Initially it was going to be a trip to the Sussex commons but in the end, as the weather was so good, we decided on a return trip to Pennington Marshes for another crack at the Long-billed Dowitcher.
When we arrived a tractor was engaged in cutting both the grass and gorse hedges in the fields adjacent to the marsh. This seems to be a developing trend, everywhere we go someone wants to be "gardening". Anyway, shortly after our arrival the driver must have knocked off for a tea break as it went very quiet. On the way down to the sea wall Martin spotted a likely candidate roosting on one of the back pools, all we could see was the bird's back, the bill was tucked away and the legs obscured by vegetation - highly possible! From what we could see we were never going to get a positive ID, then the tractor started up again and everything took flight - well at least the bird had moved. On reaching the sea wall we took a right turn and just as we reached a position opposite the island, there was the bird in the open - ID no problem - the Long-billed Dowitcher. As it was the only bird of interest I suspect our blogs are pretty much the same but at least we had better shots than the ones from the previous bird that inhabited this place a couple of years ago.
The usual routine feed, preen and snooze.
Another Canada Goose showing dubious parentage - crossed with what I have no idea.
Feeling smug with satisfaction from getting such a great result we dashed back to Farlington for another go at the Bearded Tits, this time in better light. Unfortunately a stiff north easter was blowing and no self respecting Beardies were going to come out and play.
Yesterday I put in a three hour vigil at Beeding cement works, hoping for an emerging Long-tailed Blue. Unfortunately a negative result but I did entertain myself with shots of an Ivy Bee and an unknown wasp, possibly Mellinus arvensis.
And finally....... one for Dave Shepherd.
The long staying Long-billed Dowitcher at Pennington Marsh had become a bit of a bogey bird for me. My three previous trips were "dips", too little water, too much water and too late and yet again too much water. Martin had elected to do the Great Grey Shrikes at Waltham Brooks but for me they were just a photo opportunity when the LBD would be a life tick - no brainer. I left before 0600 and was at Keyhaven Marshes, the latest location for the bird, just as the sun rose.
When you are on your own, searching for a shy bird over a large expanse of ground is difficult, after a couple of hours I was rather disheartened. All I had found was a single Redshank, a dishevelled Shelduck, two hen Pheasants and a distant Roe Deer. On my slow trudge back to the car park I met a local birder who said "wrong place mate - you want to be on Butts Lagoon". So I picked up the pace but as I reached the car I met two other birders who reckoned they had the latest gen - "you want to be on the second lagoon(Fishtail) mate". So I got in the car totally confused and drove round to Sturt pond to try and locate the Red Breasted Goose - no chance.
Back to Pennington Marsh and Fishtail lagoon - another negative. The water levels are still very high so using my rather twisted logic I searched all the lagoons looking for a bit of dry land and a wader of any description. Finally on Butts lagoon I located about 10 Common Snipe and several Lapwings so I decided to stake out this patch in the hope that the LBD would be here. After about half an hour the commotion of squabbling Snipe attracted my attention and sure enough a grey bird with yellow legs dashed through and hid in the reed tussocks. Finally I had enough of a view to confirm it - at long last a Long-billed Dowitcher. The bird was reluctant to come out, happy to snooze in deep cover, suddenly all the birds took flight, possibly spooked by a raptor. I managed to track the bird in my viewfinder as it made a rapid flight out and an equally rapid return to its favourite cover.
Not a surprise, when this bird arrived it was in summer plumage and it is now well and truly in its winter grey garb.
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| In its favourite roost |
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| "Snipe sized" |
All the right ID points: Long bill, grey-green in colour, slightly decurved
White trailing edge to wings.
White "cigar".
Prominent supercilium.
Greenish yellow legs.
At one stage this was all I could find!!
