05/07/2014 Into West Sussex.

Saturday 5th July 2014 - afternoon
3 sites in West Sussex
Cloudy with a hint of light showers




Pagham RSPB Reserve
Siddlesham Ferry Pool

Quite a reasonable amount of activity here for this time of year.  The star attraction was the Spotted Redshank in it's dark summer plumage.



Spotted Redshank
Library picture

There were also 20+ Avocets, even more Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks and a host of Shelducks, most of which were chicks.


4 Little-ringed Plovers were good to see as were the 5 Green Sandpipers and a single Common Sandpiper, surprisingly, my first of the year. 




Common Sandpiper
Library picture

 

 

Add to this a couple of Lapwings and Teals in the pond, with Swifts flying overhead and Goldfinches adorning the nearby bushes and you have a lovely cocktail to start the visit to the Chichester area.





Fishbourne Creek

My main reason for going to the creek was to try to see the Yellow-legged Gull that had been seen there amongst the Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls.  Unfortunately there were not too many gulls around and no sign of my target.  There were a few Great Black-backed Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls but they were outnumbered by the Black-headed Gulls.


A couple of Redshanks, 50+ Curlews, 50+ Mute Swans, 20+ Little Egrets, some Swifts and Swallows and a couple of Whitethroats and Goldfinches completed my sightings at this lovely inland creek to the south west of Chichester.





The Burgh near Arundel

On the way home I wanted to get on to the high ground to get a different set of birds. 


I was lucky to get excellent views of the Red Kites flying overhead including one pair approaching very close, totally engrossed in each others company.  Several Kestrels and a single Buzzard accounted for my raptor count.  Gulls were also present, including Herring, Black-headed and Great Black-backed varieties.


There were lots of Linnets and Goldfinches around but, alas, no Corn Buntings or Yellowhammers this time. 


I was just lamenting not being able to see any Partridges and putting in down to the long crops and grasses in the field when I came across a family of Grey Partridges consisting of mum, dad and 10 chicks on the edge of the growing crops. 





Covey of Grey Partridge
Library picture

 

 What a lovely sight as they moved serenely along before disappearing into the safety of the growing field. 


Soon after I came across a family of Red-legged Partridges on the edges of the growing crops -  again with a large number of chicks.

Red Legged Partridge Covey
Library picture





On the way back to the car I encountered my third family - this time Grey Partridges and 4 chicks.  What a delightful way to finish the day!



Addition to 2014 UK Bird List
Common Sandpiper   (239)