Black and White Birds

I am conscious that if two birders with cameras visit the same place and that if they both blog then there will be a lot of similarities.No apologies - just read both. However, my blog is a diary, not all photographs will be good but at least will record where, when and how I have seen birds. Also, Martin has encouraged me to work harder to rescue shots that I would have previously discarded. Thanks be to Photoshop and his skill.

Today we visited Dungeness and the birds were all at a distance, but Smew are difficult to find and even harder to record. We were delighted to find seven in view at the same time, five red tops and two fine drakes. We could have waited all day and they would not have come any nearer, in fact after about half an hour of frantic displaying they all went to sleep on one of the small islands.

Birds were thin on the ground and in the air, I suspect the chilly northerly wind being the reason.

 

A visit to Dungeness beach was like being in a vast wasteland and trying to find a single Glaucous Gull was akin to "mission impossible"

 

We returned via Rye harbour, visits to the hides at Ternery and Quarry pools confirmed that we were a tad early in the season. Plenty of vociferous Black-headed Gulls already occupying sites on the islands, but no early terns. On the way back to the car park we counted nine Avocets, a pleasing sight as they are obviously all paired up, bar one of course!!

Well this one has some grey in it. Finally a ringed Herring Gull at Pett Level, A4DC, which I suspect is a RSPCA Mallydams rescue bird. It would be intereresting to know when it was released. I have received advice on several occasions to report the sightings on the BTO website, fine, but I have yet to receive any replies.

Water Rail

Humble apologies for the delay in posting but having completed two circumnavigations of Farlington Marshes in one day I was just too knackered to put fingers to keyboard. We started the first circuit just after the morning rush hour, with a rising tide there were plenty of birds to be seen, especially Brent Geese relocating all over the marshes. We dutifully searched every flock, every individual bird was scanned, to no avail, the Red Breasted Goose was not there. However, just before Point field the Spoonbill put on a short display which meant one of our target species was in the bag. Other birders reported a no show too, so we left for Baffin's Pond and the Water Rails. For once I was "over lensed", using a 400mm on the Canon 7D meant that many of my shots of three obliging birds more than filled the frame.   Odd that such reclusive birds can be found in a reed bed of a park lake in the middle of Portsmouth, oblivious to dog walkers, passers by and birders. In fact the resident Moorhens and Mallards being much more of a threat than mere humans.

 

Next stop was Southsea Castle, where we had another go at improving the Purple Sandpiper shots. With a high tide and nine birds moving up the sea wall conditions would have been perfect except for the disappearance of the sun. However, I was happy with the results as they were much better than our last attempt.

We returned to Farlington for a second shot at the RBG, birders returning to the car park gave us a precise location and we commenced our second circuit. This time success, finding the bird in a huge flock of Brents. As a bonus, when the whole flock went aerial and relocated, we found the RBG closer to the footpath and managed a decent record shot.

A bonus - a true wild black rabbit - something I haven't recorded for ages.

 My original plan was to go to Baffin's Pond to photograph some amenable Shovelers that occupy the pond along with a host of Tufted Ducks and Mallards. Well calling them Mallards is stretching it a bit as they all seem to be of dubious parentage. However, I did notice these two handsome inhabitants, Call Ducks are a bantam breed of domesticated duck raised primarily for decoration or as pets, obviously someone has set a pair free.

Goring and Ferring

I hope my seven readers will forgive me, as today is not really about birding. After some twenty four hours of snow the sky brightened and as I was feeling much better I decided to take my camera for a walk. One of my favourite perambulations is via Ilex Way to Ferring beach, taking in Groyne No.4 of course and along to the Bluebird cafe. Here, I normally turn up the western side of Ferring Rife, today I had to take the eastern path as the footbridge where I normally cross over is closed for repairs. I then continue through Ferring Churchyard to the cricket ground and back along Ilex Way to home.

 
So first up was Ilex Way, a canopy of huge evergeen Holm oak over a carpet of snow. Holm oak, Quercus ilex, or Holly Oak is a native to the Mediterranean region and thrives in Sussex, I have no idea who planted these trees but I would like to thank him or her, they are host to lots of wildlife.





The information board only considers summer!

 

On via the turn for Goring Hall and The Plantation to the gull roost at Ferring. At first I thought the fields to be devoid of gulls then I realised the white lumps of snow in the north west corner were birds hunkered down to avoid the vicious easterly wind. A majority of the flock were  Common Gulls with a sprinkling of Black-headed Gulls. I did manage to spot a Mediterranean Gull, albeit after I had downloaded the photos at home.

 



 

From a distance - just like snow





Mainly Common Gulls



3 species of gull present



A single Med Gull

Groyne No.4 was almost devoid of birds, just solitary Turnstone and Ringed Plover with a few Black-headed Gulls loafing offshore.

 

By the Bluebird cafe the beach huts looked incongruous with snow in front of them and icicles hanging from the roof. Even the shingle strand looked different with a covering of drifted snow.

On to a snow covered footpath on the eastern side.

Along the rife just a few Meadow Pipits were struggling to find something edible.

 

These snow covered tussocks gave me the impression of some alien form of hedgehog!!

 Back into Ilex Way accompanied by dogs and walkers enjoying the sunshine

 

That's not a stick  - it's a log!!

Finally, home for a hot mug of tea!

 

 

Glossy Ibis

Having been "grounded" for most of the week I awoke this morning feeling half well, so a quick trip to Farlington to get the Red-breasted Goose and a possible Spoonbill. Despite completing a circuit of the marsh, albeit fairly slowly, I ended up with two 'no shows'

There were plenty of birds about but nothing to get the heart pumping. However, if you carry a camera you feel duty bound to capture something. So, in appalling light, I snapped a pair of obliging Pintails. There were a few Black-tailed Godwits present, some carrying colour rings, so I recorded those too. The Brents and the accompanying RBG are usually on the point field, in innumerable quantities, not today, not a single goose to be seen.

 

 



L+RL



L+YW



Y+OW

R+GR

Feeling somewhat disappointed I left for the top of Portsdown Hill to check on the Ravens that have built a nest on an electricity pylon. Now, I wouldn't normally show a nesting bird on the blog but if you want to get close to this nest then you need your head examined. Both birds were absent when I arrived but the female appeared and was soon sitting, whilst the male disapppeared over the hill. In a bush nearby a host of Magpies, which I guess, make life difficult for the parents to be.



High risk approach to the nest

On the way home I called into Warblington Church to record the juvenile Glossy Ibis that has been present for a couple of weeks.  Sod's Law prevailed, when the sun was out the bird was distant and vice versa. Never mind, great to get out for a few hours.



Great colours when the sun shines