Glaucous Gull at Goring Gap.

I was sitting at home feeling sorry for myself and regretting the fact that I hadn't joined Martin for a day's birding when I saw a tweet from Nick Bond. "Glaucous Gull at Goring Gap" and it was sent only five minutes previous. Another five minutes and the car was loaded, a further five minutes to get there and the first photo was in the camera in next to no time. Although the light was good and the bird posed occasionally between extensive bouts of sleeping it was still a good way off. Anyway, with it duly recorded on a day where the falling temperatures were no incentive to hang about, it was time for home. It is amazing what restorative powers the presence of a year tick on the local patch can have, by the time I reached home my aches and pains were much diminished - I always said birding was good for the health - that's why I go so often.

Well hidden amongst the other gulls.



When it stood up it was like the proverbial sore thumb.

 



Living in close proximity to other gulls has its downside.

Many thanks for the tweet Nick - keep 'em coming!

Nice to see a Black-headed Gull coming into summer plumage already.

 

 

 

 

 

Mediterranean Gull at Goring Gap

I started out after the morning rush hour and made my way to the Widewater at Shoreham for the drake Goosander that was reported yesterday. Several other birders who were in attendance showed that glum face that indicates an absent bird.  I hung around for about an hour and apart from four Red-breasted Mergansers there was precious little to record. On the way home I decided to give the gull roost at Goring Gap the once over. For once conditions were ideal, high tide, strong winds and lots of overnight rain to create some decent puddles. I parked opposite the one nearest to the roadside and scanned the whole field. Apart from the obvious Herring, Great Black-backed, Common and Black-headed Gulls there were hordes of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderlings and Turnstones happily searching the muddy field for some form of food.

Then it finally dawned on me that one of the gulls was a tad different, even though it had its bill between its wings it was obvious that it was a Mediterranean Gull.

 

The other birds were taking advantage of the fresh water and having a bath and I spent an hour or so snapping away. I felt duty bound to inspect Groyne No.4 and wasn't surprised to find only a few Turnstones, the wind was whipping the sea into foam and salt spray, that isn't an ideal environment for birds or for that matter my camera - time for home!

One of the Sanderlings, rather distant, was carrying colour rings.

Siskins

Following a post on SOS by Jake Everitt that Siskins and Redpolls were in attendance at Warnham LNR we decided to make a quick visit. Sure enough when we arrived the Siskins were on the feeders, plus all the usual suspects of course. Just before we left, as we were beginning to think that they wouldn't show up, three Redpolls duly obliged. Of course they perched only on the feeders, so apologies for the record shot - I really don't like feeder shots. Nice to have the ticks and some record shots - cheers Jake.

Usual suspects.

Later a visit to RSPB Pulborough Brooks left us a tad windswept and birdless so it was home for a cup of tea.

White-fronted and Barnacle Geese



 

Today was a visit to Dungeness with stops at Pett Level and Scotney, both on the way there and on the return journey. I was hoping to catch the Glossy Ibis but another no show. However, Martin managed to find our first Grey Heron of the year and Scotney gave the ever present Barnacle Geese. Dungeness never fails to provide entertainment and today we came up with:- Tree Sparrow, Smew, Long-eared Owl, Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Pintail, Great White Egret, Slavonian Grebe, Reed Bunting - all of which were ticks.

 

Local birders were excited by the presence of three Shags on Burrowe's Pit.

 

Down on the beach we found a ringed Herring Gull, A3BJ, a bird that has been in the area for some time. No Caspians on show so we started for home.

 

Back at Scotney the goose numbers had increased so we stopped off to have another scan and we were treated to a fly by of  some handsome White-fronted Geese that appeared to be about to land in front of us. Then the whole congregation was put to flight by the farmer rounding up his sheep. Quite spectacular - the geese that is, not the sheep.

 

Then to  Pett again but sadly no Ibis  and to compound the disappointment a reported Penduline at Dunge where we had just come from!!

Yellow-browed Warbler

The second outing of this year was a bit of a tick collecting exercise, taking advantage of available scarcities that are currently in the region. First up was the easiest tick of them all, the Yellow-browed Warbler  at Eastleigh Sewage Works. We had visited this venue on the last day of the year and whilst the bird was most obliging, we still failed to get reasonable shots. So in some sunshine we hoped to do better - well just -  is the verdict.

Next up were the Penduline Tits at Titchfield Haven, unfortunately they were missing, so we visited most of the hides on the reserve capturing what was on offer. A Pochard feeding in the mouth of the river posed well and a Common Gull was  perched out offering a reasonable shot. On one of the foreshore groynes a juvenile Shag posed. On the western side of the reserve a Stonechat demanded to be snapped. In front of the Spurgin hide we counted at least 47 Common Snipe with the probability of many more hiding in the rushes, more than I have ever seen in one go and quite remarkable. Sadly not a Jack Snipe to be found - I live in hope.

A "wisp" of Snipe

Finally, the garden Sparrowhawk  managed to catch a Goldfinch for his Christmas Dinner - much to Liz's annoyance - but everyone has to eat.