Migrant Hawker

Today was our first birding trip of the autumn, great hopes of getting to grips with some of the migrants that would of course be passing through the Pagham area. The only problem is that no one has told the birds that his should be happening. Breech Pool, White's Creek, Ferry Pool and Church Norton could almost be described as devoid of birds. Not a single wader on Breech or Ferry pools, where are they all? At least it was good to find some Whinchats at the back of the pool, albeit at a fair distance.

Out on the mud from the North Wall we found a colour ringed Black-tailed Godwit, Blue Lime + Orange. I nearly always report these and as this one had been ringed by Pete Potts I snapped a record. When I got home I was amazed to find that I had recorded the self same bird exactly six years ago, and again five years ago on Farlington Marsh. I sent off a report and would be interested to know if this bird has done any travelling since I last saw it.



Captured same place 12th September 2011

And again on Farlington Marsh/Langstone Harbour 13th September 2012

Photographically speaking it would have been a poor day save for the bramble patch at the top of Ferry Creek, several interesting dragonflies to be seen. The usual Common and Red Darters and a couple of obliging Migrant Hawkers. I couldn't leave without recording the Red Admirals which appeared to be half drunk having gorged on ripe blackberry juice.

 

Church Norton produced only a Spotted Flycatcher and a trip to Medmerry, where we normally find Clouded Yellow, produced nothing either. It looks as though the Fleabane , which is a favoured nectaring plant, is not so plentiful as in previous years

And three from the garden, a nice, but worn Painted Lady followed by a Southern Hawker and a Red-legged Shield Bug, Pentatoma rufipes, sometimes known as a Forest Bug, which had landed amongst the laundry.