Red-crested Pochard

Out early this morning in Stygian gloom and rain of diluvian proportions. The optimistic forecast on the BBC predicted that it would brighten from the west - so what did we do? Ventured east of course, mainly to see if the drake Goosander was still present at the Widewater. Unfortunately not, but a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers were close by. The female, perched on a block of concrete, gave an unusual pose. Oh that the light had been better.

We could see some brighter weather on the western horizon so we made our way to Chichester Gravel Pits. A second go at the Dusky Warbler. Finding the bird would have been nice and photographs even better. As we arrived another birder indicated that he thought he had the DW in front of him. Unfortunately, try as we might, nothing materialised except for an obliging but extremely active Cetti's Warbler. Not quite nailed but at least some pleasant shots in some really welcome sunshine.

 

An all too frequent view of Cetti's Warbler

 We met Owen Mitchell who kindly informed us of the whereabouts of the female Red-crested Pochard, not only that, he accompanied us to the location so that we would not miss it. Of course we duly arrived and there it was - gone! Only a few minutes later we discovered it swimming across Triangle Lake, getting closer all the time. In fact it posed perfectly for us before disappearing with a few Mallards.

 

Finally, I convinced Martin that a trip to Pagham North Wall would be a most rewarding experience.  Yet again I have to admit that I was wrong, apart from Wigeon, Teal and several flocks of Lapwings, very little was out and about in the increasing westerly winds.

Common Scoter

With the wind speed increasing towards a predicted gale, but with just a hint of sunshine brightening things up, I decided to seize the opportunity to visit the Widewater at Shoreham. Just to record the Common Scoter that has taken up residence. When I arrived it was nowhere to be seen but another birder alerted me to its presence - cheers - I am sorry I don't know your name. The duck was somewhat distant but it was good to get some record shots. Nice to meet Phillip and Ron who were also in attendance, good to put faces to names. Finally Martin arrived and after a few records the bird disappeared, going to roost out of sight on the island. I know it is a common bird but it is not often that you can get so close.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesser Yellowlegs

Another cracking day out, 2015 really has started with a bang. Today it was the Pett Level Lesser Yellowlegs, an obliging bird that has favoured one of the pools close to the road. So, in cool and windy conditions, with just a hint of sunshine, we parked on the road in what we thought would be the best spot. Like minded birders had done just the same, ahead of us was David Gardiner scanning the venue. We didn't have to wait long before the bird arrived and then it was a scramble to get the cameras sorted out. Just a short opportunity to capture some reasonable shots as a passing Turnstone spooked the bird and it retired to the back of the pool, taking refuge in some reeds. However, it wasn't long before it reappeared and it gradually worked its way to a position close to the road.

 

Having captured some really good shots of what can be a difficult subject we bade farewell to David and made our way to Scotney Pit.  The drake Scaup was found remarkably easily and not only that, it was swimming strongly towards the west, well into Sussex!! I dutifully scanned the mass of Greylags but could not turn up anything unusual. Amongst the host of Tufted Ducks and hordes of Wigeon there were some splendid looking Pochards, alas a bit far away for a photograph.

Next we visited Denge Marsh for the long staying Cattle Egrets. I had been fortunate to have them close last Friday and was confident that Martin would have the same opportunity. Sod's Law prevailed, when we arrived there was only one bird present and at quite a distance. Martin took a few record shots and as we started to return to the car, sure enough two Cattle Egrets took to the air and landed within 10 yards of the roadside fence - right in front of where we had parked - so close that I couldn't resist a few more records. The  afternoon light enhancing the orange tinge that both birds were displaying on their heads.

I guess the "softness" comes from shooting through a chain link fence!

Next up had to be Boulderwall Farm at RSPB Dungeness, well how could you venture into Kent without paying the Tree Sparrows a visit. Oddly there were quite a few Reed Buntings about in the cottage garden and they were quite distracting. I spotted and counted six Tree Sparrows but by the time other birders were scanning the brambles the birds had melted away into the scrub. I could tell by their looks that they thought I was mistaken and that I had been conned by the Reedies.

Then it was over the road to ARC and the Hanson Hide. As we entered the hide we were directed to an obliging and successful Kingfisher that was perched to the right of the hide.
Really nice to finally catch up with Mike Hook again - some four years after our first meeting in one of the hides at Rye. Somehow over the intervening years we have managed to miss each other by just minutes at several venues in deepest Kent.

Whilst in the hide we were treated to a distant views of Marsh Harrier and Bittern. Closer to the hide we managed to capture several active Chiffchaffs and an industrious Great Tit, pulling the reedmace heads to pieces.

A quick call to the visitor centre and the two closest hides in search of a Smew but by now the wind was whistling through and most birds had gone for cover. On the way out we stopped again at Boulderwall and we finally caught up with the Tree Sparrows, probably well into double figures present but again mixed in with the Reed Buntings. I knew I wasn't mistaken!

Dusky Warbler

My first twitch of 2015!. Martin and I visited East Lake at Chichester Gravel Pits to see if we could find the Dusky Warbler. Sure enough the bird was still present and thanks to Dorian Mason we were in hearing range as soon as we arrived. The bird was very vociferous, a strident "chakk" call was obvious. Hearing it was one thing, getting visual ID quite another. After several fleeting glimpses the bird finally settled half in the open for just a few seconds, the resulting photographs were more by luck than judgement but I am happy with them. A life tick and a reasonable record shot to boot.

Nearly a flight shot - just a bit quick for me.

Why do Little Egrets always look so miserable in cold grey weather, if they were that unhappy wouldn't they head south for the winter??

Cattle Egret

New Year's Day

A traditional start to another birding year, again we visited "Waldo" the Ring-billed Gull that faithfully returns to Walpole Park in Gosport. This is his thirteenth year and my third at this venue. The weather was awful, thick cloud, it hardly got light all day and to cap it all it finally rained on us. We journeyed along the coast towards Lee on the Solent and Hill Head but there was nothing to raise the spirits. A cool and strong breeze was coming off the sea and it was a good time to head inland.

Visits to Ivy and Drayton Lakes gave us the usual suspects - really nothing to write home about. A visit to the Burgh is always worthwhile and today was no exception, Red Kites, Buzzards and Kestrel on the raptor front and it was good to see Bewick's Swans from the viewpoint at the church in Burpham. Finally, in miserable conditions, we gave up and headed home, the conversation in the car turning to what we might see and do this coming year. If I was keeping a list this year, which I am not, it would have totalled 42. Things were a tad slow.

Today I was determined to get some better shots of a Cattle Egret, there have been two long stayers at Denge Marsh and Mick Davis had recently posted some excellent shots. Last year's Pagham bird had been a bit of a failure for me, Martin had got close but I never did. So I set off east, somewhat later than intended but traffic was light and I made good progress. As always, "mission creep" set in and I took a detour via Pett Level; just a possibility that the Lesser Yellowlegs was still about - it wasn't  and all I managed to photograph was a strange looking goose hidden amongst a vast number of Canada Geese that arrived on the pools. A good candidate for Greylag x Canada Goose hybrid, perhaps one of the pair should have gone to Specsavers!

I tried to ignore Scotney Pit as I made my way towards Denge Marsh, the place was buzzing with wildfowl, I succeeded in getting past but I made a mental note to return later.

Sure enough as I drove down Dengemarsh Road I spied two Cattle Egrets close to the fence, I hastily set up the camera and managed three shots before some local idiot flashed up a portable generator and the birds decamped to the end of the long field. I hung around for two hours until the local farmer visited the field on his tractor with feed for the cattle; just what was needed, both birds flew in close to the road and one posed perfectly. Not the easiest of birds to photograph in the sunlight, a devil of a job to get the exposure right, but I left very happy indeed.

 

 

On the way back I revisited Scotney and photographed the ever present Barnacle Geese along with the Emperor hybrids. They are getting to be as traditional and as reliable as Waldo, but not half as charming.