Selsey Bill (II)

Another unproductive sea watch at the Bill, starting at 0600 and finishing at 1000, there was little of note. A flat calm sea and sunny conditions were just right for a sea watch, however, the birds did not agree.Highlights were 5 Eider ducks going east and a solitary Hobby making his way up the channel.

On the beach a dozen Sanderling, just getting their summer plumage, foraged among the large piles of kelp thrown up by the recent high winds.

Entertainment was provided by several gulls squabbling over some discarded by-catch. A dominant 3 Winter Great Black-backed Gull was making sure it got the major share. When I processed the photographs I noticed that one bird was ringed "L60"

I subsequently sent a sighting report to Fabrice Gallien of the Groupe Ornithologie Normand (GONm) and received a prompt reply stating that the bird was ringed by himself at Chausey, Manche, Normandie on the 28th June 2012 and that today's report was the first sighting since then.

On the way back to the car I noticed a small flock of Greenfinches, close and in good light. One male in particular was very actively displaying to some rather distracted females.