Black Redstarts and Caspian Gull

November has been a bit of a lean month, not just on the birding front but for blogging too. Our usual haunts have, at times, seemed to be devoid of birds and the camera has often remained in its case. Not that we haven't been trying  - our efforts have included three trips to Dungeness in search of a Caspian Gull and  only yesterday did we find our target.

We started at the ARC side of the Dungeness reserve, normally there is something out on the water worth photographing. As we parked we met up with David Gardiner, last time we saw him was up in the Highlands back in March, so we swapped a few birding stories. Out on the water the wildfowl were sparse and the only interesting bird was a distant Marsh Harrier perched in the bushes, so we decided to make our way down to the beach.

Compared with our earlier visits there were few gulls on the roost., perhaps the better weather has enabled them to get out to feed. A quick scan revealed that no Caspians were about so we moved on again. Martin had learned that there were Black Redstarts present on the wall around the power station wall and as we parked at the end of the road they were easily spotted. The power station has its own sewage treatment plant and this is a magnet for all insect eaters as there are clouds of midges available.

There were three Black Redstarts present and two females perched obligingly, the male did show but only fleetingly, preferring to stay inside the compound. Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were also taking advantage of the bounty.

 

 

Just as we had decided that we had captured sufficient pixels, Martin got news of a Long-eared Owl on the RSPB reserve so we departed at a leisurely pace. We arrived at the visitor centre and made our way to the "dipping" pool where one birder was snapping away at what I assumed was the owl. Try as I might I couldn't sight the bird, it was certainly well camouflaged, finally I managed to get the camera on it, lots of shots - all the same of course though it did move just once.

It moved!

Next up was a visit to the Scott hide, red top Smews had been reported and it would be a year tick. David had joined us again and both he and Martin located a Smew, albeit at distance and I managed to get a record shot.

The afternoon light was fading fast and we were going to end the day at  Boulderwall Farm as the Tree Sparrows had earlier been in evidence. However, I noticed that the loaf of bread, bought to attract the mass of gulls, had not been used so we decided to give the Caspian Gull one last go. We parked opposite the wooden tower and three birders were scanning the small flock, obviously something noteworthy amidst the Herring and Great Black-backed roost. As we approached they informed us that there was an adult Caspian present and then promptly departed. So we were left with the knowledge that our target was here but my gull identification skills are a tad limited, our strategy was easy - photograph every gull on the shingle and if we didn't spot it, post trip analysis would reveal all. As I photographed the flock one bird stood out but as Martin pointed out, it didn't have a black eye. Only one bird remained that we had not identified and it was fast asleep with its bill between its wings. Finally it moved - a Caspian Gull with all the ID features confirmed.
As we manoeuvred to get more side on shots it decided that the outfall of the power station was probably a better place to be and took to the air - I pointed the camera and pressed the shutter more in hope than anything else - I managed to salvage two shots from a train of twenty frames.  A life tick at last!

It's awake and it's the Caspo!!

On our travels I have managed to capture one or two shots.

Sitting in the ARC hide on a previous visit a Great White Egret appeared from nowhere and it was fairly close. Usually views of these are across an expanse of water.

 

 

We were entertained by two Short-eared Owls at Newhaven Tidemills, both being mobbed mercilessly by the local Crows.

A Snow Bunting at Selsey Bill was very obliging and a shy Slavonian Grebe on Pagham lagoon, both would have been improved by a pinch of sunshine.

Finally, I recorded my 78th garden tick with a Red-legged Partridge that visited my garden feeders, a bird somewhat out of place and whilst not in danger of being shot it was certainly at risk of being predated by the plethora of neighbourhood moggies.

 

 

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.