Pagham North Wall

The opportunities for a birding blog have been slim just lately, not that the birding has been poor, the exact opposite in fact, the birding thus far this year has been excellent. Just that to blog you need some decent material to accompany the text. A birding blog without pictures is a diary.

Today was no exception, the BBC couldn't forecast anything, their predictions being consistently wide of the mark, yet gain we were out  and about under grey skies rather than sunshine.  After a fruitless foray in order to obtain improved shots of the Climping Hoopoe we found ourselves on the North Wall at Pagham in search of the elusive Water Pipit. To say the bird was in cover was an understatement but we managed to find it - far too far way for any sort of shot. However, we did manage to obtain what have been described on SOS as "embryo shots". Satisfaction multiplied by being able to direct other birders on to the target.

Very secretive - staying in the reeds for most of the time.

As the tide rose we expected more birds to arrive in  Breech Pool but, sadly, we could have waited a week before anything of note turned up. The Cetti's Warblers are very active at the moment, darting from the reeds and sitting for just a few seconds in a nearby bush. No hirundines present but I did hear the scratchy tune of a Sedge Warbler just twice, but confirmed by Ian. About forty Black-tailed Godwits were in attendance, some of them sporting that gorgeous rusty coloured plumage that indicates summer is on the way. Amongst them, three colour ringed birds that I duly recorded, one ringed in France, one in Montrose and the other in Portsmouth - they do get about!

B+GR - A Solent bird - denoted by the lower left Red

O(f)L +RY a bird ringed in France

OB+WG - a bird ringed in Montrose - reported previously in the same location
last November by yours truly

Finally as we departed Martin spotted a Curlew in the horse field, seemingly delighted to be rummaging for grub in the large expanse of horse poo -  that is the Curlew not Martin.

Heaven is a pile of poo!

Not wishing to give in too easily we decided on a visit to the Burgh, again disappointment, just two Stock Doves being the notable spots.

 

 

 

 

 

Eider it is or it isn't

Within the birding fraternity nothing creates more discussion than a single specimen of wildfowl in an unusual place. Experienced birders, without even seeing a bird, will dismiss it as an escapee or "plastic" should it be behaving oddly or be out of place by just a few miles. So it was with today's bird, a male Eider in breeding plumage has been consorting with the Mallard flock in Fareham Creek. This bird is just several miles away from the Solent, where it would be considered perfectly normal.

Visually this bird is correct in all respects, full of wing and no visible rings. It just happens to be giving a female Mallard the full Eider works, head bobbing, wing flapping, sky pointing and above all else, the "Awoo" at considerable volume. Anyway, if you want to see it for yourself, it is currently residing in Fareham Creek either close to the marina or off Bath Lane recreation ground, high tide being the best time to visit. Plastic or not this bird gets a tick from me for its stunning good looks and eccentric behaviour. However, it must be a bit thick if it hasn't realised that the Mallard is just not impressed.

On the way to Fareham we had dropped into Nore Barn Stream where, with a rising tide, we expected to get close to both Spotted Redshank and Greenshank. Unfortunately we were a tad early and only found the Spotshank at distance so left intending to return later when the tide would have brought the birds closer.

Our third venue was a return to Farlington in the hope of catching the Short-eared Owl that had been reported. Unfortunately we dipped, probably because of the brisk onshore breeze. No sign of the Bearded Tits either. On the lake a single Avocet and out on the mud several Knot active amongst the Oystercatchers and Grey Plovers.

Back to Nore Barn and at high water all the birds had disappeared from the stream area, probably due to the excessive amount of dog walkers in the area, most of whom could not control a dog as long as their rear end points downwards.

Next stop was the Ferry Pool at Pagham, nothing much to report, just the long staying Ruddy Shelducks, themselves the focus of contention during the annual bird race. Again their credentials questioned by another birder who hadn't even seen the birds. On down the road to Church Norton where a visit to the beach was kept very short, just a few Black-headed Gulls loafing in the surf which was doing its best to spill over the shingle. Perhaps it might be a good thing if the shingle spit was breeched by the tide and a new exit/entrance to the harbour recreated where it once was.

With the sun still shining we couldn't wrap up and go home so we decided to have another go at the Slavonian Grebe on Pagham Lagoon, again lots of pictures but the bird remained wary and at a distance despite our best efforts at concealment amongst the bankside gorse bushes. I would think, considering the amount of Sticklebacks that it is catching, this bird will remain for some time.

Finally a visit to one of my favourite venues - the North Wall, where the water levels appear to be even higher. Plenty of birds present on the flooded fields and I noticed that there were several ringed Black-tailed Godwits present. I had set up the camera to record some of these birds when suddenly everything took off, great wheeling flocks of Lapwings and Godwits filling the air. Try as you might the camera never catches the drama, but some of the photographs show the panic induced by the proximity of a raptor. Sure enough, on the ground where these flocks had been was an adult Peregrine tucking into a hapless wader.

Two into One

When birding doesn't go your way it is hard to put together a blog - much easier to let it go. Well, just lately the birds we have chased have not been present or a long way off. There are only so many ways to get material and after a while it all looks a bit repeated - no apology - this is how it is. However, I have a new solution - combine two days into one.

Yesterday was Farlington Marsh, Martin and I needed the White Fronted Geese as a year tick. It was deja vu as we stood on the sea wall of the north marsh, watching every single goose that flew in off the mud as the tide rose. Just the same as searching for the Red Breasted Goose earlier in the year.

Only this time we dipped - so I resorted to photographing colour ringed Black-tailed Godwits and some amenable Meadow Pipits. I shan't stoop to publishing the picture of the scruffy Crow that sat on a fence post in front of us, although I notice there are three frames of it - well I was desperate.

Today was more of the same - down to Blashford Pits for the Red Crested Pochard, it showed well - with a head that colour it could hardly do anything else. I missed the Ferruginous Duck nearby and visits to other venues in the forest were frustratingly fruitless. However, I was thoroughly entertained by the antics of a pair of Ravens canoodling - unfortunately a long way off - again!!

Selsey Sea(l) Watch

Desperate for a few more ticks for the year I decided to do a sea watch at Selsey Bill. The wind was bitter and just a tad west of north as I hunkered down behind the concrete sea wall on the bill. Out of the wind it was pleasant - just a hint of warmth in the sun. Some of the usual suspects were about but distant, Red-breasted Merganser, Great Crested Grebe and several flocks of Common Scoter. A Great Northern Diver appeared close inshore so I returned to the car for the camera - you guessed it - gone when I returned. Two birders who passed by confirmed that it was still about further down the coast, having set everything up I chose not to relocate.

After what appeared to be a promising start things quietened down considerably. I was jerked out of my daydreams as I spied a large black object close in to the groynes. I wasn't sure what it was but when I saw the whiskers in the sunlight I knew straight away that it was a seal and a big one at that. It hung around for ten minutes and then disappeared. As the tide rose things got even quieter, a distant flyby of some Wigeon the only thing of note.

L

So it was up sticks and away to the north wall, where the wind was even more bone chilling. At least the water levels on Breech Pool have receded and at long last there is an expanse of mud for the waders. In residence was a single Ruff, Mallards, Wigeon and Teal. Several Snipe were loitering at the edge of the reeds and amongst the spread out Black-tailed Godwits a colour ringed specimen to record WG-OB.

White Green - Orange Blue.

Lots of lovely mud.....

.....and water.

One bonus was that due to the low temperature the air quality was superb for photography, just could have done with a few more targets 

Out and About

Birding on a Saturday is unusual for me, I much prefer to be out and about on weekdays when there are fewer people around. But! today there was a choice of two twitches, Farlington Marshes offering 95% chance of Ospreys and Saltdean offering a 5% possibility of Dotterel. Our strategy was to venture west to Farlington and to keep a weather eye on Rare Bird Alert just in case someone discovered the proverbial needle in the haystack.

Farlington was fairly quiet, a few cars in the car park, perhaps the dark grey clouds on the horizon, which promised squally heavy rain, were keeping people at home. Additionally, the temperature was noticeably cooler than of late. We made our way past the "shed" to the east side, few birds were about on the marsh and fewer flying. Arriving at  the harbour we scanned all the islands, particularly North Binness but no Osprey, we continued and completed a circuit of the marsh, noting Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit and a "charm" of Goldfinches. Luck was on our side as we caught the tail end of a shower leaving us only slightly damp. It must have been quiet as neither of us took our cameras from the case.

Next up was a visit to Budd's Farm sewage works, a place I have been intending to visit since last year. Scanning the lagoons gave all the usual suspects - Gadwall, Tufted, Mallard and sharp-eyed Martin picked out a single Shoveler.  One last scan of the harbour, all the islands from a different viewpoint returned nothing. A scan of port hand spars in the channel revealed a Cormorant and a rather dark bird eating something, just the jizz of the bird had me back to the car for the scope - success - an Osprey fairly distant, dining on a fish. No problems with the ID but a passing boat spooked the bird and it relocated to the grass of Long Island. Tick in the box but no photographs.

A visit to Hayling Ferry Point gave nothing of note so we relocated to Chichester Harbour just down from Northney Marina. Not a lot of activity except for some Black-tailed Godwits relocating on the high tide, as we walked back to the car park around fifty birds were jostling for ever decreasing real estate.

This was followed by a visit to Pagham North Wall just as the tide was peaking. On Breech Pool all the usual suspects, Common Snipe, Teal, Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Spotted Redshanks and a sprinkling of Lapwings. On the stones were Wheatears and several Yellow Wagtails occupied the path. A raptor flyby caused a quickening of the pulse but after a small chase it proved to be a Common Buzzard rather than anything exotic.

Plenty of Swallows over the pool, all looking well fed and in fine fettle for the upcoming journey.



Africa - are you sure Dad??

 

Glossy Ibis

Having been "grounded" for most of the week I awoke this morning feeling half well, so a quick trip to Farlington to get the Red-breasted Goose and a possible Spoonbill. Despite completing a circuit of the marsh, albeit fairly slowly, I ended up with two 'no shows'

There were plenty of birds about but nothing to get the heart pumping. However, if you carry a camera you feel duty bound to capture something. So, in appalling light, I snapped a pair of obliging Pintails. There were a few Black-tailed Godwits present, some carrying colour rings, so I recorded those too. The Brents and the accompanying RBG are usually on the point field, in innumerable quantities, not today, not a single goose to be seen.

 

 



L+RL



L+YW



Y+OW

R+GR

Feeling somewhat disappointed I left for the top of Portsdown Hill to check on the Ravens that have built a nest on an electricity pylon. Now, I wouldn't normally show a nesting bird on the blog but if you want to get close to this nest then you need your head examined. Both birds were absent when I arrived but the female appeared and was soon sitting, whilst the male disapppeared over the hill. In a bush nearby a host of Magpies, which I guess, make life difficult for the parents to be.



High risk approach to the nest

On the way home I called into Warblington Church to record the juvenile Glossy Ibis that has been present for a couple of weeks.  Sod's Law prevailed, when the sun was out the bird was distant and vice versa. Never mind, great to get out for a few hours.



Great colours when the sun shines