Wheatears again!

A bit of a chequered week on the birding front. Sitting on a park bench at Little Common paid dividends in the form of a high level fly by of the juvenile Black Stork - well worth seeing. Onward to Dungeness where I managed to locate one of the juvenile White-winged Black Terns plus several other Black Terns. Success which was paid for in the much delayed journey home. 

Wednesday was a visit to the North Wall at Pagham where things seemed to be very quiet, and just the opposite at Church Norton where the volunteers were cutting the grass in the cemetery and the RSPB gardeners were in the field next to the hide. A vigil on the beach, just in case the Wryneck was still in residence, gave no reward.

Thursday left me with a dilemma - where to go? In the end I returned to the North Wall at Pagham, not because I expected the birding to have improved, rather than face the diabolical traffic situation to the east. Also, on our previous visit, I had noticed a veritable cornucopia of blackberries and sloes and I couldn't miss the annual "forage".

When I arrived at the North Wall I met Owen Mitchell and Peter Callis, both reporting that there was little to be seen. Over on Halsey's there was a large herd of cattle and I thought there would be a good chance of Yellow Wagtails that would offer a photo opportunity. On the way I managed to capture a good looking male Wheatear on the seaward side rocks. In the pool the successful brood of Tufted Ducks watched me warily as I passed by on the upper path. One of the juniors displaying a wacky hairdo and had obviously found his voice.

At the western sluice I spooked a very bright Kingfisher that paused briefly before heading off west along the stream. Looking out over the fields I located the cattle, all lying down in one corner and chewing the cud. Yellow Wagtails were in evidence  and as I approached they flew off, very skittish indeed. I sat down in the middle of some 60 beasts, their digestive processes getting the better of their curiosity as they left me alone. The wagtails returned - three or four at a time but none came close.

I returned to the harbour via Owl Copse where I encountered a superb male Redstart, loads of Common Whitethroats and several Lesser Whitethroats. The tide was now on the up and birds were relocating. At Breech Pool I had a raptor show, one of the juvenile Peregrines doing two stoops from a tremendous altitude, both of which proved fruitless. A Hobby was leading the Swallows a merry dance above the stables, superb aerobatics through the trees but unfortunately no lunch for him. 

Then a "bird of prey" of an altogether different kind put on a display, Spitfire KJ-I performing aerobatics, but not quite the standard of the Hobby.

 

 Several Wheatears were now on the wall and of course I couldn't ignore them.

The previous day the Swallows had been perching on the rails above the sluice and I thought I might improve my shots, Sod's Law prevailed, they had moved on to some far more comfortable perch elsewhere.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Spotshank and Red-breasted Merganser

 

I made a leisurely start to the day's birding, letting most of the early morning rush hour traffic subside before visiting the Nore Barn Stream, a minor watercourse just to the west of Emsworth. This is the home of a very obliging Spotted Redshank which will pose for the camera at really close ranges. You just need to get the conditions right, a rising tide and some nice mid-morning sunshine. Today was perfect. A word of warning this area is very heavily used by dog walkers, most are fine but there are some pretty inconsiderate ones to be found. So if you want to get up close and personal with a Spotshank - pay a visit.

 

Another resident of the stream

 Inevitably the bird was spooked  by a dog so I packed up and headed for Farlington Marshes for another go at the Bearded Tits. Having parked and started out on the path, in an anti-clockwise direction, I was immediately treated to views of another Kestrel enjoying a meal, this time a male was pulling apart some unfortunate prey.  Just a tad disappointing that the action was happening on the wrong side of one of Farlington's large ant hills. 

 The incoming tide had pushed birds in tight on the patch of mud just to the west of the wall. I managed to record Dunlin, Grey Plover, Knot, Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwits. Then, thanks to another birder, I was treated to the sight of Avocets wheeling around the top end of the harbour, trying to find a piece of exposed mud upon which to land.

 

 Unfortunately no Beardies today, nary a ping, but lots of other birds about to keep me occupied whilst waiting for the little devils to show. Pintails starting the mating game early, lots of BTGs and Redshanks plus a host of usual suspects. Finally I gave up, had an early lunch and made my way to the North Wall at Pagham. The Ruddy Shelducks were still out in the harbour, although very distant and no shots possible. Back of the pool a Buzzard was working up and down the fence line but none of the wildfowl paid it any notice. Water levels are still high and with no mud the waders had moved to the flooded fields.

I met Dave Shepherd on the wall who informed me that there were two Red-breasted Mergansers about. Lo and behold as we retreated from the cool wind that had sprung up there was the female feeding busily in the sluice and as she wasn't bothered by our presence, giving the opportunity for some close ups in the fading afternoon light.

 

Usual suspects

Sparking Pintails

 

Some material for Peter Potts

"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"

 

 

Birding again

At long last an opportunity to get out birding, a definite choice between the Roseate Terns at Rye or the Turtle Doves at Honer Farm. In the end we decided to go for the TD as it is No.1 on the list of most wanted. The walk along the North Wall was eerily quiet with few birds out in the harbour or on Breech Pool. Following the footpath north to Honer we were distracted by Meadow Browns, feeding frantically on the bramble flowers, until we heard that distinctive purring, consequently the butterflies were soon abandoned for later.

Hearing the bird was no problem, locating one was fairly difficult but success with a sighting of a bird - at least two hundred yards away. After about an hour and a half we were no further on, the bird being very mobile but at least vociferous, was never going to be close enough for a shot. So accepting what we had we went back to the Meadow Browns and to plan for another day.

As good as I could get with 400mm.

Back at Breech Pool a few more birds had turned up, several juvenile Redshanks, one of which was stated by other birders as a putative Spotshank. From the photographs I managed to capture I remain unconvinced and reckon it was a Common Redshank. Judge for yourself.
  

 

A roosting Green Sandpiper was an added bonus but the dog days of summer prevail and there are few birds to be seen.

However, proceedings were livened up with a long display by the Red Arrows over Goodwood for the Festival.

Come on Eight - catch up - anyone seen Nine??

That's better!

The Black Arrows - not the same class

Before we left in the morning I checked the moth trap and found this nice example of an Elephant Hawk Moth,

 Yesterday I noticed that space for mating damselflies was at a premium in the garden pond.