Pied Flycatcher and Nightingales

Yesterday's birding started with good intentions, first up was a shot at the Black-winged Stilt reported on Ferry Pool at Pagham. Unfortunately a no show, we missed it by minutes. So, carrying on with the plan we made our way to Selsey Bill, after all the southerly winds were bound to be bringing something in.  There had been a mini "fall" in the garden, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler and a Blackcap plus an added bonus of a Wheatear on the next door neighbours roof. Not a lot in birding terms but for my garden definitely remarkable.  How wrong can you be - visibility down to 50 yards and not much hope of it clearing. A visit to Church Norton gave the usual suspects in the cemetery and again any scoping of the harbour was curtailed by the impenetrable mist. We returned to RSPB Pagham on the off chance of gaining some uplifting news. Sure enough Owen Mitchell and Bernie Forbes came up trumps, news of  4 Pied Flycatchers in Paddock Lane, so we left poste haste to see if we could find them. The initial searches revealed nothing but with other birders on the scene we finally had tremendous views of a stunning male Redstart  and two Pied Flycatchers. Unfortunately the pictures don't do it justice, but it was a bird to be seen in the flesh as it were.

News of other birds, gleaned from fellow birders, had us visiting Long Pool for Whinchat and a Gropper, unfortunately we found neither but managed to get on to a Short-eared Owl. The number of Wilchiffs in the hedgerows was immense, they seemed to be everywhere. Nice to meet Dave Shepherd again and really glad to know that the PF was a "lifer".

Today was somewhat different, time for a visit to Pulborough Brooks for a year tick in the form of a Nightingale. The birds here, apart from being vociferous, are more disposed to perching in sight. Unfortunately, today, the birds present were outnumbered by the birders and photographers. Of course, when the birds stop singing they start foraging, normally around the base of the same bushes and it was here I got my better shots. Perhaps a return visit when the hullaballoo has died down. Nice to meet Paul and David again, also Russ whose information is always invaluable.

And finally a Jay in an unusual pose....

... and a Song Thrush belting out his song.

Pulborough Nightingales

Today was a slot to catch up on the Nightingales we missed a couple of weeks ago. So we started with a quick visit to Waltham Brooks just in case anything exotic was in residence. It was far from quiet, many birds singing their heads off, particularly Sedge Warblers. I expected a Cuckoo, the Brooks is normally a banker for these birds, but not today.

On to Pulborough where we immediately came across Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and, of course ,very vociferous Nightingales that were happy to perch out in the open and sing their heads off. Fattingates was particularly good. Eventually we decided to do a circuit and set off for "adder alley" where more Nightingales had been reported. Sitting on one of the benches we sighted some fresh in Swifts accompanied by several high flying House Martins.

Having visited several hides and one of the viewpoints we decided to return to Fattingates to try to get some shots of a resident Garden Warbler and of course some more records of the Nightingales. Eventually we made our way back to the Visitor Centre, where, as we were enjoying a nice cup of tea, Paul "icemelter4" ( take a look at his stunning flickr site)  kindly informed us of a White Stork flying high above the North Brooks. We considered going back to the North Brooks viewpoint to try for a record shot but the bird was reported as flying south towards Amberley. So we tried to chase it, calling in at Waltham Brooks again and then down to the viewpoint at Amberley and finally a scan of the fields from Amberley Castle - unfortunately it had vanished. Never mind, we ended the day on a life tick, what more could you ask for?

Usual suspects.....

And a few shots taken this week that didn't make a blog.  The Duke of Burgundy butterflies from Heyshott escarpment and Kithurst Meadow and the loving couple from Breech Pool.

Just Nightingales

I arrived at RSPB Pulborough Brooks mid morning and the car park was jam full. I was just about to go somewhere else when a little voice said - persevere!. I'm glad I listened as I had a great day with the Nightingales - judge for yourself.

Pulborough Brooks

The sages say - "Always have a Plan B".  Well Plan A - photographing singing Nightingales failed miserably. There were plenty of birds but most of them not willing to be seen.


Secretive Nightingale



I think I get the message

Met Jim and Dawn on the trail, good to see them again - fresh back from their travels - look forward to the photos. Also bumped into Dorian and Dave, twice. 

 Plan B was to find a Common Lizard on the heath which, amazingly, was successful. At a recent class for macro photography the lecturer could not stress enough the importance of getting down to the same height as your subject for eye to eye contact. Well all I can say is he has never tried to capture a Common Lizard on a hot day, it was all I could do to keep up with him, the lizard not the lecturer.



Common Lizard



Common Lizard

Near the mound there was a terrible din, hoots and screeches as two Jays did battle with a Tawny Owl. The Jays eventually left but were still screeching. A Cuckoo appeared on the scene and did a circle round me, calling all the time, suddenly two females appeared, and one of which I was certain was a rufous. However, since arriving home and consulting the internet I have just a few doubts. Shame I didn't get a snap.

Jay

Continuing on the trail I came across a couple of 'bugs' worth capturing, first time for me - a green beetle with purple legs and a nattily dressed wasp. Also, a Beautiful Demoiselle, unfortunately the pictures were not good, a shame as it really is good looking.



Green Tiger Beetle



Wasp?? Sirex?? Help appreciated

By the time I returned to the Visitor Centre the customary 'Pond Dippers' and the bus load of people who have the same status as me  - OAP - had arrived - time to go. I called in to Waltham Brooks on the way home but it was very quiet, just a few Damsel Flies and a lone Small Copper.

Blue-tailed Damselfly, Ischnura elegans



Small Copper