20/08/2020 With Paul James and Group Pagham Harbour, West Sussex

For the second of our outings this year we were joined by Andrew, Jan and Chris, swelling our ranks to 10.  This time we were in West Sussex at Pagham Harbour on a glorious autumn day - lots of sunshine and a gentle breeze.  Paul had planned the walk, starting on the east side, looking for waders on the incoming tide, then heading out west along the North Wall and returning just as the water levels reached their peak.

There was a bountiful array of birds on show:

• Cattle egrets were the dominant species today with nigh on 30 seen, 14 immediately as we headed east and the rest from the North Wall and surrounding fields.  It is incredible to think that they are now breeding here; it is only in 2014 that I saw my first one in the UK after several failed but humorous attempts to find one in Sussex, Hampshire,/Dorset and Devon.
• There were plenty of waders to see including a bar-tailed godwit, several black-tailed godwits, knot x2, common sandpiper, whimbrel x2, greenshank x2, grey plover x4,as well as the usual suspects dunlin, oystercatcher, ringed plover, redshank, lapwing and curlew.
• We even managed to see another whinchat on the fences with 6 or so wheatear on the west side later on.

Just after 1 pm 7 of us relocated to Siddlesham Ferry where the sandpipers were the focus.

• A wood sandpiper was still there - although it took some time to find it; there was also a green sandpiper and 4 common sandpipers.  
• By way of a bonus at least one more whinchat was seen on the fences at the back of the pool.

At this point the group started to break up with 2 more going home.  Paul had alerted me earlier to an osprey sighting at nearby Thorney Island and his advice was for me to head off there next before the tide went out too far.  So I left the remaining group members as they moved around the harbour towards Church Norton.

• I tried  the viewing gate opposite Eames Farm but it was occupied by another birder, who obviously didn't want company so I headed off to the west of the island along Thornham Lane to the MOD entry gate.   
• After scanning the area with my scope I found the bird sitting on a post by the cows in the distant fields.  It dropped to the ground after a while but soon reappeared on an adjacent post enabling me to get some reliable but distant views.  
• I alerted Lyn and her husband to the osprey and we continued to look until it dropped down from the post again and out of sight.  At this point I had to leave but I noticed that they tweeted later on that they had seen the bird flying.

• Another excellent day out with the group - we are gradually getting back to maximum numbers.  
• Can't wait for the next one Paul!

14/08/2020 Glossy Ibis at Dungeness

Friday 14 August 2020

Dungeness, Kent

It was high time that I took a look at the glossy ibis that has been on the ARC Pit at Dungeness since last Sunday evening.  My chance came this afternoon after Sue and I got back from the vets.  The weather was looking unsettled as I drove down to the Kent coast but thankfully it was dry and calm when I arrived at 4.30 pm.

• The glossy ibis was showing well at the place where it had been seen regularly all week.  The only problem was the screen hide was closed and the only possible viewing area was a little further towards the cooling tower and then only after peering over the raised bank - something we should not really be doing.

I didn't stay long as I would have disturbed the birds and also because the car park was due to close at 5 pm!

courtesy of mike link and twitter

• I moved the car down to Dengemarsh Road and then walked onto the RSPB reserve hoping to see a bittern or a bearded tit from the raised viewing point.  Sadly I saw neither but I was compensated by the sight of a marsh harrier in flight and a close reed warbler as I followed my route.

Yet another successful late afternoon foray! 

13/08/2020 Wood Sandpipers at RSPB Pagham

Thursday 13th August 2020

RSPB Pagham

There was a glut of wood sandpiper sightings in my area today and I was spoiled for choice as to where to go to see them.  With heavy showers forecast after the really hot weather of late, I opted to make the long journey down to Pagham Harbour near Chichester where 2 were reported on the Ferry Pool.  I could get closer views of the birds there and if the weather did turn nasty I was only 2 minutes away from the car. As it turned out all the wet weather came during my journey down and it had gone through by the time I arrived at the Ferry Hide just before 4pm. 

• Exactly as reported, there were 2 wood sandpipers showing well at the far end of the pool.  I watched them for a good length of time, including a lovely period where they were having fun chasing each other around before they flew across the pool from right to left and settled again.

courtesy of Andy Wilkes and Twitter

• I also got a bonus bird - a kingfisher - as I scanned down the channel from the pumping station.  The bird was flying in towards me and landed on a pole just a few metres away.  It didn't stay long as it was disturbed by a couple of approaching walkers on their way west towards Church Norton.

A most enjoyable experience.

12/08/2020 With Paul James and Group near Birling Gap, Sussex

Wednesday 12 August 2020

Birling Gap, Sussex

My first outing with Paul and the group, for over a year, turned out to be most enjoyable and very rewarding, with plenty of the migrants around. 7 of us made the trip to the Sussex coast near Beachy Head -  it was so good to meet up with everyone again.

 An early, 07.30 start was called for to maximise our chances of encountering the birds.  It also meant we could start with temperatures of 19C and get most of our birding done before things got too hot - around the 30C range by midday.    

We parked at Birling Gap before heading east, up the hill past the Belle Tout Lighthouse and on to Shooters Bottom before crossing the road, ascending the hill before turning and returning to the car via Hodcombe Farm and Horseshoe Plantation. 

• The tone for the morning was set right at the start when I found Paul, Ian and Brenda watching a lively cluster of corn buntings, whitethroats and goldfinches, as I arrived at the car parking area.  
• Pick of the sea birds was the fulmars which we saw as we neared the top of the hill.
• Many swallows were present but not in the vast numbers that will be here in a couple of weeks time when migration is in full swing. 
• We saw a peregrine early on and then another on the return leg of our journey.  A kestrel and a buzzard were also seen.
• At Shooters Bottom we saw several lesser whitethroats in with the many common whitethroats.

Julie and Malcolm had to leave us at this point to attend to matters at home.

• What was a very good morning got even better when we crossed the road at the half way point.  Just over the hill, in the valley, we saw 10 wheatears on the fence and they were joined by a stunning whinchat, my first this year!
• Paul also saw a raven and a redstart.

Paul got a call from his son Gareth telling us about a couple of sightings of pied flycatchers just up the road from where we were parked.  Thankfully the car park by the Old Trapping Area was empty and we were able to go looking for this migrant.

• Paul soon located the bird but it disappeared before most of us could get on to it.  However Alan and Paul found it again and we enjoyed really good views.

• A great day out with the group - I have to admit that without the invite I would have remained at home to avoid the sweltering heat. 
• Some smashing sightings; I was particularly pleased to see the pied flycatcher, a bird I normally see in Cumbria in May but not possible this year of course.

07/09/2020 Arundel WWT and Pagham Harbour

 Friday 7 August 2020

Arundel WWT

Sara and I braved the sweltering heat to go round the WWT centre at Arundel. We were very impressed with the way they were operating in this Covid 19 era; the one-way system worked well, the limits on numbers in the hides were adhered to generally and the eating/toilet facilities were excellent.

We were quite lucky with the birding too:-

• There was a distant cattle egret on one of the islands on the main lake as well as the more common little egrets.
• As always, this is a good place to see sand martins.  We saw dozens flying overhead.
• It was nice to see some reed warblers from the hides.  Several sedge warblers flitted about in the reeds as we moved along the paths.
• Bird of the day for me however was a captive bird.  Several black-necked grebes, in wonderful summer plumage, swam within 1 metre of us, enabling us to enjoy superb views.

courtesy of Richard Steel

 

courtesy of Stephen Govan and Flicker

• We had a couple of sightings of kingfisher, the last one being a close view of one perched on the bare branches of a tree in the water.

A very pleasant couple of hours, rounded off with a superb vegan pasty from the canteen.

 Church Norton and Pagham Harbour

As we had some time to spare, we decided to visit Pagham Harbour, just before high tide.  Alas, there were no car parking spaces at all at Church Norton so we parked at the RSPB Visitor Centre and walked to the Ferry Hide - my first chance to see this new facility.  

The hide was closed but we did some birding from the balcony and the adjacent banking area:-

• The usual suspects were showing well, including black-tailed godwits, black-headed gulls, lapwings, and a greenshank. 

Can't beat birding in the company of your daughter - thanks Sara!