Great White Egret - Arundel WWT - 1st September 2014

News filtered through whilst I was at work that a Great-white Egret was present at Arundel wetland centre, apparantley found on Sunday afternoon. Having started my new shift, I was free this afternoon to head over and have a look and after a bit of searching, we were in luck. 2 Kingfishers showed reasonably, many Gadwall and a couple of Teal on site too, large flock of hirundines gathered over the Arun attracting a local Sparrowhawk.

 



Long-tailed Skua - Selsey - West Susex 15th August 2014

Seeing a Long-tailed Skua on the deck is not something you witness very often! Having gained flight views last week, I was more than happy to go back and try again for this fantastic bird and a very welcome one in Sussex. The bird has a habit of returning to the same beach on the east beach of Selsey just up from the lifeboat station at high tide. I decided to head there before and stake the area out as my daughter Robyn was with me too, I was keen for her to see the Skua too.

Upon arrival, I could see some birders in the distance all looking down onto the beach and I could see the Skua on the shingle...surely it would stick until I got there...nope! The Skua flew out into the bay chasing some terns and that was that. We walked down to the area and hoped the Skua would make a quick return, which it didn't! Whilst scanning, a Peregrine was causing havoc flushing small waders off the beach, hirundines were passing through with Sand Martin's moving in number along with Swallows. Little, Common and Sandwich Terns were noted offshore and a Great-crested Grebe was on the sea..Robyn amused herself picking blackberries!

A lady in front of me picked out a interesting bird that dropped onto the sea, I was soon onto it and watched this bird very distantly, banking round harassing a Sandwich Tern, it was the Long-tailed Skua! I followed it as it flew further out before banking around and heading inland before turning towards us. I managed to get the other gathered birders onto it and we followed it as it came closer, eventually plonking itself on the sea in front of us! Stunning ! It soon flew again and landed on the beach right underneath me, no need to move ! Plenty of smiles all round by the people present and Robyn got to see her first Long-tailed Skua!

A few photo's were obtained not having to move, nor sneak up on my hands and knees! The bird was close enough ! One word to describe this bird....AWESOME

 



And finally....a Ross's Gull

For what has been a really good year for gulls for me, the one gull that was left for me to really want to see was a Ross's Gull, a species I have always wanted to see for many years now, although I just did not expect to see one in July, nor in Devon for that matter! Work commitments meant it took me a while to get down to this individual and really pleased I made the effort...

Leaving Worthing at 5am, picking up Garry and Glen en-route, we finally made it down to Bowling Green Marsh for around 9am to take our place in the hide and ready for the stakeout...a little later Gary 'the boiler' joined us alas forming, according to my wife a seventies throwback band named 'Nick and the 3G's', she really must get out more!

Anyhow, around high tide is good for this bird to arrive from feeding on the estuary, we thought we had timed it right but were a couple of hours early, which wasn't too bad as we managed to get a decent spot in the hide and allowed us to see Spotted Redshank in partial summer plumage, Green Sandpiper and a Hobby. Slowly the gulls started to arrive and settle on the marsh, but apart from a couple of Meditteranean Gulls they were all Black-headed Gulls....things were starting to look promising, then something, maybe the local Buzzard or the Hobby flushed the gulls and all flew back towards the estuary. ...the wait continued, the gulls nervously started to return, this time in greater numbers. A shout went up that a smaller gull was flying overhead, but no conclusive features were seen! Then a Little Gull that flew in was originally called in as the Ross's Gull..then several minutes later, the Ross's Gull was called and watched it fly in and join the other assembled gulls, the bird was very quick in it's feet as it went about feeding on the edge of the pool, having a pop at any other gull which got in it's way! We watched the Ross's Gull as it tried o settle but wouldn't and eventually flying off to the other side of the pool, before eventually leaving the reserve. A local birder suggested the bird may have gone over to 'goosemoor' and that the walkway and viewing screens were no open...we gave it a try and paid dividends as the bird gave closer views here and appeared more settled. The light was not great but managed a couple of record shots of the bird on the deck, it did eventually fly over the screens and over us but my camera rather frustratingly did not lock on !

 

Ross's Gull - Bowling Green Marsh - Devon



Getting brighter everyday! - the long staying Kumlien's Gull

I suppose being fairly local, It has been a privilege to spend a fair amount of time with this scarce seagull and seems to have made Littlehampton it's home now. It is interesting how the bird is moulting and appears brighter everytime I pop back to see it.
All those that saw it earlier in the year, may want to re-visit! High tide will give you your best bet to get close views and happily comes to bread, has been sitting on the wall and beach on the west side of the river the last few visits



Time to pay the Duke some respect!

Having only spent minimal time in previous years both looking for and seeing the Duke of Burgundy butterfly, I decided to spend some time with these special little gems of a butterfly on the South Downs in West Sussex. They did not disappoint and was also a new butterfly species for Robyn. There was also many Dingy Skippers around aswell as 1 or 2 Grizzled. A few orchids were in flower...they were purple and I took some photo's but will name them later! A Tree Pipit was singing and displaying nearby...top day out!



Kumlien's Gull - Moulting nicely! Littlehampton April 29th 2014

Re-visited the Kumlien's Gull at Littlehampton river-mouth, really has moulted nicely and a much brighter individual now! How long will it stay??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The Savannah run-around

With spring approaching, the excitement of overshooting migrants turning up on our shores gives us re-newed hope to get out there and find some birds..including our first Wheatears of the year! Taking a shower before dropping the wife off to work, I started to get ready when I casually glanced at my phone....7 messages and a missed call! Panic set in as the realisation that a goodie had been found (locally) ! SAVANNAH SPARROW seen and photographed yesterday just north of Lancing Ring....bloody hell..less than 5miles from home! I had less than 2 hours spare before Robyn had nursery so just had to go for it...was soon on-site (cheers Harry for directions) and the search commenced. There was already a c20 birders gathered just above the car park and the initial info was that there had been no sign so far...with only a couple of birders actually looking through their bins and the rest talking we decided to look further down the track and the surrounding area looked good for the area described by the finder (Matt Sparkes),  no-one knew for sure that this was the right area. The finder had posted that he would be on-site a little later to show where he had taken the photo, but in the meantime we continued the search...all rather hopeful and optimistic. A couple of Linnets were scoped by Jake, another bird perched up proved to be a Chaffinch. In fact there did not seem to be many small birds around at all. A male Kestrel was over-looking proceedings and a Peregrine soared past in the distance. We started to disect the info on hand and agreed that we could quite possibly be searching the wrong area, so it was decided to spread out and see if the area and the bird could be tracked down. Robyn was with me so we headed off along a grassy path that took us out on the downs, the warm spring sunshine making the search pleasant. We walked quite a way to realise that we were probably on the wrong track to head back towards the car park, soon apparent that all the birders here originally had dispersed into other areas or to meet the finder. Either way we had to leave to drop R to nursery but I planned to return before work, I decided to call Harry to find out the latest and that is when the Hoax claim was being banded around and that the area we was scanning initially was the right area...just different fencing to that in the photo! Apparantley, once birders started questioning the photo Mr Sparkes swiftly disappeared! No need to return to the site but I for one cannot get my head around why another birder would do this? I did not have to travel so far this morning to get to this site, but many others did including some Hampshire birders that turned up as I was leaving...I am sure this story will develop further and the truth will be confirmed, but at least we tried and followed up this report...as for the finder..I here Butlins are looking for clowns for the summer...I suggest you apply

Coldwaltham - 2 Black-necked Grebes 11th March 2014

Travelled up to Coldwaltham this am in the hope of seeing the 2 Black-necked Grebes that had been reported there before the floods there finally disappear. Upon arrival it was soon apparent that the water levels had dropped drastically and all the birds were concentrated on the remaining water and there was a lot of birds here too albeit very distant.
I managed to pick out the grebes although very difficult as constantly diving and one individual is in it summer plumage already(something which I used to witness quite frequently at Staines reservoir). The female Scaup was easily found and I was rather pleased to see a female Goldeneye, all birds I had not seen at this site before. Good number of Wigeon, Pintail and a bitter wind were a reminder why the winter birds were hanging on, where would this large number of birds go one this water disappears? The camera stayed well in the bag today!

At lunchtime I checked the Goring area, the fields are also dried out here now and very little in the fields apart from the resident Skylarks and Pied Wagtails. Offshore several Great-crested Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers...at last some birds on the water here!

More February birds in Sussex

The storms that have battered our shores have produced some good birding locally, enabling closer views of birds(mainly gulls) that are normally only visible distantly offshore...here is a selection ....

 

Glaucous Gull - 1st winter bird on the Southwick Canal

 

Goosander - Found 2 birds originally but increased to 4 at Widewater - all Redheads

 

Kittiwake - this individual was on the Southwick canal - stunning in winter plumage

 

Red-breasted Merganser - Southwick canal, many were seen well on Widewater too

 

Siberian Chiff - Chaff - this individual was reliable at Steyning sewage works

 

Slavonian Grebe - another good bird on the Southwick canal

Little Gulls at Brooklands Park

Probably the most photogenic Little Gulls I have ever witnessed. These delightful birds have been gracing the southern end of the main lake at Brooklands Park in Lancing for the best part of a week now! Speaking to 2 other birders, there was a first winter bird present on the Thursday evening  only, just hope it wasn't a Ross's!

 

One of the birds present is sporting a fantastic pink flush and have also been coming to bread, there was also a Water Rail calling and several Teal. Other observers have recorded summer plumage Med Gull, whilst a Chiff chaff was heard singing on the morning of the 24th when I was there! spring is here??



Glaucous Gull Fight Night - Venue : Southwick Canal - Sussex 23rd February 2014

Our over-wintering 1st winter Glaucous Gull that has been frequenting the Southwick Canal/Shoreham Harbour since the new year was seen sitting peacefully on the water near the Fish outlet along the coastal road...I grabbed the camera and took these through the metal fence...light was not great, but noticed that the Glauc had found a dead fish to pick at.....then the following happened!! Some of the shots are not too sharp but help tell the story of this gruesome battle..enjoy!

GULL FIGHT NIGHT!!

Here is our Glaucous Gull with his find - keenly watched by a local Cormorant

 

 

Then the attack commences......who will win this one???

 

 

 

Notice how the Cormorant casually watches on...and probably necked the prize as both gulls drifted off empty handed!.....click on photo's to enlarge