Kumlien's Gull

Many thanks to Bola for the post about the Kumlien's Gull in the river at Littlehampton. This morning found us stood on the beach at the mouth of the River Arun searching for the bird. With the sun shining it wasn't too bad although a slight breeze was sufficient to keep the ears cool. There were surprisingly few gulls about and as the tide was making we were entertained by the presence of a Kingfisher, several Turnstones and a small band of hyperactive Sanderlings. A couple of other birders were in attendance, and whilst they went in search of the gull I managed to capture a few shots of the Sanderlings foraging in the tideline. Suddenly we were alerted to a suspicious gull's presence by a kind birder, it had been found up river near the IRB station, so without further ado we walked briskly along the riverside. What followed then was the usual ritual - "Is it?" - "No it's a Herring Gull" - "It might be" - "Not sure". Anyway the upshot was that when we left, I convinced myself that I was unconvinced - if you know what I mean. At home processing the photographs I feel pretty sure that we got the right bird.

Next venue was Farlington Marsh. Spoonbills had been reported but we really wanted to find some Bearded Tits. As we reached the viewpoint on the west side several "year ticks" were accumulated in the shape of Avocets (50+ birds), Pintails and Common Snipe, alas no sign of Beardies. Whilst we were sat scanning the marsh, two birders arrived and informed us that two Spoonbills were out on the lake and that some birders were photographing a Snow Goose.  A nod is as good as a wink and we were away.

The Spoonbills were a cinch, sticking out like the proverbial thumb, in the usual sleeping pose and not looking as if they were going anywhere.

 

  Next on the agenda was the single "Snow Goose" mingling with a small flock of Canada Geese. As soon as I got the bird in the viewfinder I doubted that it could be a SG, I had photographed the mini flock at Scotney and Dungeness three years ago and at least knew how they should look, The bird in front of me could only be described as a "Sumo Snow Goose"  or a bird on steroids. I have no idea of its lineage but I imagine its DNA would make interesting reading. Anyway, I think it should be called "Heinz", at least 57 varieties in there somewhere.

The Scotney Group

Now as I have said before Martin has a canny knack of picking a venue. So, at his suggestion, we visited Baffin's Pond, usually the home of some obliging Water Rails, sadly not today. However it did give me the opportunity to capture the numerous Shovelers that are in residence. If you want to get close to these birds then this is the place.

Baffins Pond

I have always thought of Boxing Day as a day to be out in the fresh air, anything to relieve the stultifying effects of an over indulgence in rich food and the banal unimaginative products on the television. There must be an inverse law in the fact that the more television channels you have available there is less to watch.

So, not too early this morning, I made my way to Baffins Pond in Portsmouth. Russ Tofts had made a Christmas Day posting on HOS that two Water Rails were present along with a bonus Chiffchaff. Earlier in the year the Water Rails had proved very obliging and given the amount of rain we have had recently, the park paths were more inviting than the muddy bridle paths of Sussex and I can't resist Rallus aquaticus.

I used to fish Baffins back in the 1960's when it was just an uninspiring concrete bowl - what a difference today. Someone with a bit of foresight has added several areas where willow, rush and reed have been able to grow, providing a haven for wildlife in the middle of the city. Good numbers of Tufted Ducks are present along with a few Shovelers and some Mallards of mixed parentage. Mute Swans, a Grey Heron, Coots and Moorhens together with a host of Black-headed Gulls were the supporting cast.

Sure enough, I found a Water Rail but it was somewhat reluctant to pose in the open, lots of people enjoying the sunshine might just have deterred it. The Chiffchaff had found a companion and both were feeding in the reedbed in front of me, one even managed some weak calls. Thanks for the sighting report Russ - a pleasant morning birding



Plenty of Tufteds.......

.....expecting to be fed.

The occasional Shoveler

The ever present Grey Heron

A Day at Dungeness

 

Today the plan was to go east and at 0700 we departed under cloudless skies for Dungeness. As always we made a quick detour, this time to Pevensey Bay to view the site of the recently reported Red Breasted Flycatcher. Of course we had no illusions that we would see the bird but as we parked next to the bushes a Robin flew up and we both nearly had a heart seizure. Continuing east in ever increasing traffic the next stop was Scotney Pits, huge numbers of Greylags were grazing on the banks but it was the usual flock of Barnacle Geese that held our interest. As I had previously recorded, in the flock were seven hybrids. On the sightings board at the visitor centre at Dunge they had them as Bar Headed x Barnacle crosses. I believe them to be Emperor x Barnacle crosses, confirmed from photographs on my January 3 2012 Blog by two independent sources in Sweden and Germany.

We were tempted to stay and examine the Greylags in detail for something exotic but instead we pushed on to Dungeness and promised ourselves that we would return later.

Arriving at the ARC side we parked up and were treated to a flyby of two Marsh Harriers - the only ones we saw all day. The view from the screen was pretty depressing as the water levels are very high and just a few wildfowl were present, very little real estate being available for waders. Giving up here we motored down to the beach, parking by the power station. A walk across the shingle to the outfall was rewarded by masses of gulls but sadly no Little Gull. A quick visit to the Obs site and we were off back to Boulderwall Farm for a glimpse of the Tree Sparrows, a lightning call to the visitor centre to confirm nothing exotic was about and back to ARC. From the hide we had great views of Water Rail, Kingfisher, Glossy Ibis  and Great White Egret and a full supporting cast of the usual suspects.

 

 

The supporting cast

 

 Finally we decided to return to Scotney Pits to scan the Greylags, we made it half way along the road to Camber and we had to turn back as the road ahead had been closed. As we did the U-turn we noticed on the road, two dead birds. What followed really put a damper on my day. I investigated the two bundles of feathers and found them to be female/juvenile Merlins and they had not long been dead as both were warm. I am a fairly hard bitten old b****r but this was not a pleasant sight.

As for the Greylags - we didn't bother.

Snow Geese

Today was a visit to RSPB Dungeness. again a before sun up start to avoid the traffic and as I always say the "early birder gets the photograph". Although the sky was blue and the sun was out there was a wicked easterly wind whipping across Dungeness straight through the window of the Hanson Hide. Not surprisingly there was little about, all the ususal suspects of the duck world and a speculative visit by one of the many Marsh Harriers stirred things up a bit and ducks were soon in front of the hide in numbers - by far the most numerous were the Shovelers.



Marsh Harrier



Shovelers

My enthusiasm soon wilted and I went back to the car after about an hour. I was in the car park enjoying a nice cup of tea when I heard "Clang clang clang"  repeatedly. The sound had a familar rhythm but the note was definitely different. It didn't take long to find the source - my first ever Great Spotted Metalpecker. He obviously thought that the post was a tree but beak on metal can't have been doing him any good. By the look of the post this isn't the first visit - plenty of scars.




Great Spotted Metalpecker

Next stop was Denge Marsh hide, and again the water was sparsely populated, the major species being Greylag geese, but on a field at the back of the lake - 7 white dots, feral Snow Geese! A wandering harrier flushed them on to the lake but before they landed I was treated to a fly past.




Snow Geese




Snow Geese



Snow Goose

The Visitor Centre offered little to raise the pulse - lots of birds recorded during the week but nothing of note today. On my way home I passed Scotney Pit and just 100 yards into Sussex there on the grassy bank - 7 white dots - the same Snow Geese grazing peacefully.




Snow Goose



Snow Geese