Waders in Pagham Harbour.

Last week I made a visit to the coast and wandered around a small part of Pagham Harbour between The Spit and the North Wall for a couple of hours. With high tide some hours away the only species that really came close enough for a photo was one of many singing Greenfinches.Most of the waders were distant views through the bins but it didn't stop me trying .... so here are a few cropped images.

Oystercatcher

Spotted Redshank

At least the stationery and over flying Gulls made things a little easier.

I even attempted to slowly creep closer to a group of preening Black-tailed Godwits, all resplendant in their breeding plumage but just as I settled down they decided  it was time to move on before I had time to change the camera settings!

Oh well ... better luck next time.   FAB.

Night Birding.

On two seperate evenings while on holiday in North Norfolk recently I walked out onto a nearby heath with large areas of conifers to listen and wait for the unmistakable 'churring' of the Nightjar. While I waited the sun slowly completed its disappearance over the treetops for another day. The air temperature dropped considerably and a Woodcock flew overhead but too fast for me to react with the camera.  

A small flock of Gulls headed out towards the north Norfolk coast as the sky slowly got darker and darker loosing its pinkish tinge and then the reeling 'churring' began. First one individual from some distance and then another and another much closer.  

During the next 30 minutes or so with a darkening curtain as a background their 'krruit' call heralded movement above the conifers.......shapes began to appear as several Nightjars fluttered overhead accompanied by wing clapping as they performed their nighttime arial acrobatics. Just a pity the camera couldn't cope with the conditions but it's always a wonderful sight to experience......FAB.

For more SkyWatch images...click this link.

Wildlife in the Park.

Last week I made a return visit to Richmond Park on a very cold and icy morning. My stroll started through one of the enclosures mainly planted with rhododendrons; the branches hanging low over the dark and muddy path so I had to duck and dive my way forward.

I exited into a wooded area with the constant sounds overhead of Parakeets squawking and Jackdaws 'kyack..kyack..kyacking' as they moved from treetop to treetop. A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers appeared but only one of them rested briefly above for a moment or two.

A Wren sang out and quickly disappeared deep into the brown bracken. I spied a Meadow Pipit on a

distant perch while attempting to capture these Parakeets high above me.

Then the silhoutte of a Blackbird and a Jackdaw.

No evidence yet of nest inspection but I bet this hole will provide a comfy location next spring.

A misty view across the frosty common as I started to walk towards the ponds trying to maintain my equilibrium on the icy pathway while admiring the shapes of the dead trees still reaching for the sky.

Not totally surprising, most of the water was frozen apart from a small area where Coot, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Pochard and a pair of Red-Crested Pochard plus the Gulls were hanging out. Now to find a safe spot to take some photos.

A family arrived nearby and started throwing small pieces of ice across the frozen pond towards the wildlife who were not impressed. Then the family started shouting at their very large dog who had walked out onto the ice. I was so gobsmacked, waiting for the inevitable to happen, that I forgot to take any pictures! Fortunately the dog eventually responded to its owners pleading calls and gingerly returned across the creaking ice to firmer ground and then they departed.

During this interlude a young man arrived and after a brief verbal exchange we both settled into our firing postions just as another family arrived and their daughter asked "Is it alright to feed the ducks?" We looked at one another.......how could we refuse and the Coots quickly responded by making there way towards us.

This actually enabled us both to get a few close ups as many of the Coots and then a single Moorhen headed for the shoreline plus Mallard and Black-headed Gulls slipping and sliding on the ice.

After a brief chat with Ganesh, my new companion, we headed for the smaller pond which was practically all frozen over. Shoveller and Mallard occupied the only free piece of water.

More ice-walkers were a Mute Swan and this Egyptian Goose who promptly joined his mate on the grassy slope quite close to us.

I then suggested that we head uphill to track down the small group of Red Deer stags peacefully lying on the grassland above the pond. We spent some time slowly moving in closer to get some decent shots despite the darkening sky and the hint of rain in the air.

Red Deer - I have lots, lots more pics that I will share in a future post.

Checking my watch, it was time for us to return to the car park so we walked and talked on the return journey. If you get to read this Ganesh, I enjoyed your company and wish you well for the future and your search for suitable employment.  FAB

Rye Harbour N.R.

On Sunday Anita and I ventured to the south coast for a gentle four hours walk at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. A sunny, clear day but with a fairly strong SW breeze and lots of people visiting the area as part of the RX Wildlife Festival. First sightings were lots of House Sparrows around the car park, Collared Dove and the sounds of Skylarks ascending above the tidal marsh. With high tide fast approaching the water enthusiasts were heading down the channel towards the sea.

We heard a wagtail calling and eventually got onto this single Yellow Wagtail who moved from perch to perch very frequently but I eventually managed a half decent record shot.
On the other side of the roadway we had distant views of Oystercatcher, Redshank, Black-headed, Common and Herring Gulls plus a single Mediterranean Gull flying around while a pair of Kestrels appeared overhead.

Kestrel

At the Lime Kiln Cottage Information centre there are various posts with mosaics depicting the various flora and fauna that can be found on the reserve. These are two pics of 'Tern' (a summer visitor) and the ‘Bittern’ (a winter visitor). As we headed towards the shingle beach we added Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Crow and Lapwing. Anita caught sight of a pair of distant Wheatears while I was watching a pair of Ringed Plovers guarding their nest site. We headed out onto the shingle ridge overlooking the sea and watched Common, Sandwich plus a single Little Tern flying past.

Not ideal light as the sun was on my left but here are two shots of a Sandwich Tern [note the yellow tip to the black bill] searching for a meal.

Sandwich Tern

After scoffing our packed lunch we headed for the Ternery Pool which has been very busy with around 1600 pairs of Black-headed Gull, 90 Pairs of Mediterranean Gull, 500 pairs Sandwich Tern and Common Terns gradually finding space as the Black-headed Gull chicks disperse to the margins.

Black-headed mum & chicks.

Herring Gull (the predator?)

Whilst scanning the colonies on one of the islands the noise level increased dramatically as a large opportunistic Herring Gull flew in and snatched a Black-headed chick for its dinner! Other inhabitants around the pool were Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Redshank, Dunlin and Starlings. Redshank & female Mallard

A short detour behind the pool produced Linnet, Whitethroat, a hidden Reed Warbler rhythmically singing from within deep cover of the reeds plus a distant calling Cuckoo and a fly past of a pair of Cormorants and Swallows. The most colourful flora was Yellow Horned Poppy.
We also saw a few butterflies; Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Common Blue and Painted Lady so I've kept a few photos back for a future post.

Dungeness.....a very bleak day.

After a one and a half hour drive I arrived at Dungeness, Kent where the predominant landscape is wild and weird! Mile after mile of shingle that juts out into the English Channel which makes it the ideal location in spring & autumn to watch migrant birds. However, today it was sporting it's winter coat - very cold with a strong on shore wind, overcast, misty and very bleak. The whole area is dominated by the Nuclear Power Station.

As you can probably guess the main local industry is fishing.

My first stop for birdwatching was the ARC pit and the main inhabitants appeared to be just gulls...Black-headed, Common, Herring, Greater Black-backed and a few Lesser Blacked-backed.

Black-headed Gulls

Then I located the ducks, mainly Wigeon & Teal plus Northern Pintail, Shelduck, Coot and a single male Goldeneye.

Wigeon, Teal & Coot

On my return walk to the car I watched a Snipe drop into the marsh and immediately disappear and then a long distance view of Marsh Harrier.

Next stop was a circular walk around the RSPB reserve after booking into the Info Centre to buy a new logbook and check the sightings board that included Bitterns, Firecrest, Smew & Slavonian (Horned) Grebe - But bearing in mind the weather conditions what would I see?

Denge Marsh

Well the list started off with Great-Crested & Little Grebes, Cormorants, Mallard, Coot, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted & Ruddy Ducks, Shoveler, Pochard and a single female Goldeneye. I scanned everywhere for a Bittern but not my day! However I did find a Slavonian (Horned) Grebe and a redhead Smew but they both dived for long periods and were too far away to get any photos. Large flocks of Starlings & Lapwings appeared in the air from time to time.

Resting male Northern Shoveler

While digi-scoping the Shoveler a Water Rail squealed from nearby but as usual didn't show itself. A pair of Wrens displayed, calling to one another, in nearby Salix. Another but longer view of a male Marsh Harrier floating over distant red beds and disturbing Wigeon & Teal into flight. Other sightings included Mute Swans, Canada Geese, one over flying Greylag, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robin, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Magpies, Woodpigeons and Stock Doves plus hovering Kestrel. Other animals were Rabbits and the resident sheep.

Who is looking at who?

I returned to the car via a new boardwalk which in the spring should produce a good location for migrant warblers.

My convoluted journey home via Scotney Pits, Camber then on to Pett Pools produced Redshank & Curlew on the roadside fields. Great-crested Grebe (20+) and Common Scoters on the angry sea at Winchelsea. A male and a female Bullfinch feeding in a bramble bush as I drove through Fairlight.

Weir Wood Reservoir

The last stop on the journey home was Weir Wood Reservoir but again very little activity on the water which was still partially frozen - a small group of Black-headed Gulls & Mallard. Whilst enjoying a much needed hot drink I was entertained by a Great-spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Long-tailed Tit and an unexpected Treecreeper only ten feet from the car but no time to get a photo...sorry folks!

So the total for the day was a creditable 57 species and has taken my 2009 year list to 96. Tony has just rung and wants me to take him to Farlington Marshes & then the old oyster beds on Hayling Island tomorrow so there is a chance we may add some new birds. If not it will be a day out in good company.