Goldeneye

 

The end of year dilemma continues - where to go today? The weather was ideal, sunshine  forecast all day and the heavy winds of late have disappeared. Finally we made a decision to head west to Pagham Harbour - always a banker.  We started at the North Wall, the tide was in but few birds had relocated to Breech Pool, just a handful of ducks and the obligatory Snipe. As we walked along the path two birds caught the eye, the first a Yellowhammer feeding on the path and happy to pose until a dog walker flushed it.

Out in the harbour the second bird, an unusual looking Wigeon, considerable white on the flank and a much reduced crown stripe, couldn't make up my mind whether it was a hybrid or just a juvenile. Pictures of both normal and oddity provided.

Then round to the Lagoon to see if we could locate Bart's dark Herring Gull, looking a good candidate for the American species it was worth investing some time to see if we could obtain some photographs. Unfortunately a no show but the Goldeneye kept us entertained for a while.

We finished the day at WWT Arundel, unfortunately nothing much to record as the Shovelers steadfastly refused to come close to the hide. The Kingfisher remained on the far side of the lake and the resident Grey Wagtail did the disappearing act before I could get my camera out.

Several other photographs collected during our visits to Dagenham Chase and Rainham Marshes, a great day out in what was new territory for me. Unfortunately we dipped both our intended targets, the Ferruginous Duck had gone AWOL and the Water Pipits failed to show.

In the garden the unseasonal mild weather has resulted in unexpected insect activity. The winter flowering honeysuckle, Lonicera fragrantissima playing host to two species of hoverfly - Scaeva selenitica, Meliscaeva auricollis and White-tailed Bumblebees.
 

 

Some carrying mites.

Even a Honey Bee taking advantage of the late/very early season bounty.

 Thanks to Russ Tofts for the ID of the Hoverflies - will have to try and record some more.

Out in the Cold

I thought that the little grey cells had come up with a masterplan, with below zero temperatures most freshwater would be frozen, resulting in wildfowl and waders galore being out in the open. Somwhat similar to Eyeworth Pond on Monday. Where to go? A posting on SOS about Pulborough Brooks having numerous Snipe showing along with a friendly Water Rail and a stonking male Bullfinch clinched it. So, just after 0900 we arrived at PB and set off for the West Mead hide. At the bottom of the Zig Zag we encountered several Bullfinches but none were willing to stick around and in Fattengates Courtyard I tried, unsuccessfully, to record a highly mobile Goldcrest. It was at this point that it dawned on us that, yet again, we had been misled by the BBC weather forecast. The promised sunshine was nowhere to be seen, in fact it was downright gloomy. Also, I have doubts that the little grey cells can be trusted - in an ornithological sense.

Onward to the hide, where the improvements to the scrape are paying dividends. Just in front  of the windows was a flock of mixed ducks, probably 400 strong. Shovelers, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal and Pintail were all present. Out in the grass to the left of the hide at least 10 Snipe that were slowly moving toward us.

 

Sadly after this it was all downhill until we returned to the top of the Zig Zag, Winpenny and Nettley's hides returning virtually nothing. Nice to meet Russ out and about on the reserve. On the path back to the VC I managed to record Greenfinch and finally a distant but cracking looking male Bullfinch.

 

 

 Cutting our losses we departed for WWT Arundel to see if we could find anything there. At least a chance for Martin to get the female Bullfinches that were close to the Sand Martin Hide. From the hide, close views of a Grey Wagtail kept us interested.

After several attempts to capture a Water Rail we slowly made our way back to the VC. Just before the main path the peace was shattered by much wailing - two Moorhens were disputing either territory, partners or both.

A Day of Two Halves

First light found  me at the sluice on the North Wall at Pagham, Dave Shepherd had phoned me last night to say that he had found an "odd" diving duck in the creek and was seeking help in trying to identify it. Given Dave's track record I had no hesitation in going to have a look.  In the grey light I managed to locate two small diving birds in the channel, the first proved to be a Little Grebe, the other much more distant bird, was a small dark duck with the appearance of being "half submerged". However it beat a hasty retreat and I couldn't get any more identifying features, very frustrating. I hung around for four hours hoping for a return but unfortunately no more sightings, not helped by two inconsiderate "birders" walking out to the edge of the creek.

 I relieved the tedium of waiting by trying to get a shot of the very active Kingfisher which gave several flybys. In the rife there was a reclusive Water Rail which I tracked back into Breech Pool, quite a dark plumaged bird. On the pool itself there were the usual suspects plus two pairs of Shovelers and a single Snipe. The Wigeon that had relocated from the harbour went walkabout as if on cue.

One day I will get perfect light, distance and composition all at the same time!

Walkabout Wigeon

If you recognise yourself - thanks you inconsiderate *******

The second half of the day found me sat in the garden in pleasantly mild conditions with hazy sunshine. Just a few days of warmer weather has got the birds active. The Blue Tits are sparking and our nest box has been claimed but I am not sure of the tenants as there appear to be three at the moment - one will have to go. We have had a visiting pair of Coal Tits throughout the winter and as I sat on the patio they came to the feeders less than ten feet away. I have no idea of which is male or female but there appeared to be a pecking order, what I assumed to be the male visits the feeder first whilst the other bird perches a few feet away, moving in to feed when the other leaves.

The Goldcrests have reverted to their normal feeding behaviour, foraging for insects in the Christmas tree. The suet feeders definitely being a second preference, at least they have been sustained for almost four weeks since the snow came.