"50 Bird Day"

Today's alternative title was going to be "A Study of Stonechats" but that could be rather misleading as I managed to obtain lots of photographs of just two birds - male and female Stonechats. Just lately we have been gallivanting hither and thither, chasing birds to add to the year tick total. Lots of miles with frustratingly little return. So, we decided that today would be a "back to basics" day, birding fairly locally with only half an eye out for a tick. We arrived at Farlington with the early morning freezing fog being gradually banished by the sun rising in a clear blue sky. A gentle walk to the "shed" to try and locate some Bearded Tits - no luck. It was odd to note that the stream above the shed was frozen - evident from several Moorhens walking upon the thin ice, whilst the lake below was ice free.

On round the path, heading for the sea wall, a very obliging female Stonechat kept just ahead of us for some time, constantly being driven off by a pugnacious Robin. Martin paused to capture the bird whilst I continued to the wall to set up the scope to scan several flocks of Canada and Brent Geese, ever hopeful of an interloper such as a White Front. The early morning light served to soften the hue of the normally black Brents to a shade of brown, this meant that each bird had to be scrutinised carefully. 

Out on the marsh the ever present Buzzard was occupying one of the ant hills, totally motionless and obviously eyeing up some potential food source, though I have never witnessed it catching even a worm. On round to the viewpoint where I came across yet an even more obliging female Stonechat, this one foraging under one of the wooden benches, it was happy to pose on post or wire. Of course, what should arrive after a short time? another belligerent Robin - determined to protect his territory. Food must be still in good supply as whilst we were snapping away the bird caught at least two strange looking caterpillars.

Further round the wall we found Dunnock, Goldfinches and 2 Rock Pipits to add to our ever increasing list. On the pool, all the usual wildfowl and more scatterings of Brent Geese. In the reed beds just north of The Lake viewpoint the Beardies were "pinging" but each time the birds rose from the reeds they moved further away. Finally three birds came towards us but no chance of any shots before they retreated.

Next a visit to the North Wall at Pagham, a venue that on its own will provide 50 species in a day. As we walked along the wall we spied the familiar figure of Dave Shepherd peering into his scope. After a typically cheery welcome, Dave informed us that out on the mud were two Ruddy Shelducks. A careful check to make sure that they were not the itinerant pair of escaped Cape Shelducks, definitely the "genuine article" and without even trying - a year tick. After some time we were treated to a fairly close flyby of a Peregrine, unusually not spooking every bird present, flying low over the mud  it finally perched on a wooden stake in the gulley adjacent to White's Creek and as far as I know stayed there until we left.  

Standing on the sea wall with hawk-eyed Dave normally results in the sighting of a something unusual, and yet again we were in for a treat. A very rapid and low level flyby of a Merlin which came across the meadow at the back of Breech Pool, paused briefly on the wire fence, and then continued over the tops of the reeds performing several aerobatic turns before disappearing. Disappointment that I couldn't get Martin onto the bird but the visit was over in just a few seconds - another year tick. Water Rails are very active at Breech Pool and today was no exception, during the visit we were treated to squealing, a flyby and one bird appearing on the path several times, obviously unsure whether it should be in the harbour or the pool. We waited patiently for an owl to appear but none came and we left just as the upper limb of the sun was dipping below the horizon in the direction of Church  Norton.

Back at home I compiled the record of the day, I don't keep notes in the field preferring to sit at the computer to write a list, sure enough we ended up with a total of fifty one species seen and of course the ubiquitous Cetti's Warbler only heard. And now, without apology, a "Study of (2)Stonechats"