SBC Fieldtrip to Farlington Marshes.

As a follow up to my previous post 13 hardy souls joined me on Sunday morning, with the temperature hovering just a few degrees above freezing point and a very strong north-easterly wind, for the scheduled Surrey Bird Club walk around Farlington Marshes LNR.

Due to the weather conditions I didn't find many opportunities for additional photos during this walk so some inclusions are of those species seen but captured during my recce visit last week.

A scan over the extensive mudflats produced our first sightings, albeit distant, of six different waders.

Views around Farlington Marshes LNR.

The inland pool was nearly devoid of any water fowl but it did enable us to get much better views of the elegant male Northern Pintail in all it breeding finery.

Male Northern Pintail.

Trying to unsuccessfully get out of the gusty wind we followed the stream which enabled us to get reasonably close to the Brent Geese and plenty of Black-tailed Godwit, many beginning to show signs of their breeding colours.

Black-tailed Godwit with Teal. Brent Geese, Black-headed and Herring Gulls

Moving on to the eastern sea wall with the tide well on the turn provided more views of waders including Dunlin, Turnstone, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher. 

Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin and Turnstone.

Scanning the inland marsh when a flock of Lapwing and other species took flight I spotted a very small falcon, probably a Merlin, but it disappeared before any of the group could see it!

Lapwing.

Brent Geese, Pintail, Oystercatcher and Shelduck.

Along the western sea wall a couple of Pipits tested our ID skills as they flew up briefly and then disappeared back into the waterside vegetation. With perseverance we eventually identified them as Rock and a Water Pipit ... nice additions to the day list.

Finally a couple of images of the most numerous species seen throughout our walk the Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

List of my sightings:

Blackbird, Common Buzzard (2), Coot, Carrion Crow, Curlew, Dunlin, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Canada Geese, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Magpie, Mallard, Red-breasted Merganser, Merlin, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Northern Pintail, Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Robin, Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Skylark (heard), Common Snipe, Starling, Stonechat, Teal, Turnstone, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren. [44].

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday.

Farlington Marshes LNR.

On Sunday (28 Feb) I will be leading a field trip for the Surrey Bird Club (SBC) to Farlington Marshes LNR that comprises around 300 acres of coastal grazing marsh, reed beds, scrub, with both freshwater and brackish pools. The land was first reclaimed from Langstone harbour between 1769 and 1773 by building a clay and timber wall to provide grazing land for cattle. The sea wall has been much improved and provides an ideal route around the reserve to view the wildlife both within the marshes and on the sea or extensive mudflats at low tide. 

On Tuesday I made a recce visit to check out the wildlife and to get some images of the species that can be seen here just in case the windy weather that is forecast for Sunday doesn't provide me with many photo opportunities.

During the winter months one of the main attractions are the very large flocks of Dark-bellied Brent Geese that feed on the grazing marsh.

At this time of year the marsh also supports good numbers of Curlew, Northern Pintail, Oystercatchers, Lapwing and Teal plus I was also fortunate to get several sightings of two Short-eared Owls.

During my recent visit I also saw three species of Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Shoveler, Wigeon, Gadwall, Dunlin, Redshank, Grey Plover, Knot and Turnstone plus good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits (see below) disturbed from feeding by a low flying Common Buzzard.

At high tide I also watched the spectacle of many hundreds of Dunlin streaming close above the water seeking out a suitable spot to roost and wait for the mud to reappear while inland there is always something else to capture one's attention such as ....

a perching Stonechat, one of many Northern Shoveler in their full breeding plumage and the various gull species including the Black-headed Gull. The site also hosts reasonable numbers of Little Egret (see below).

During my wandering I logged about 50 species but with more eyes on Sunday it is possible to add a few more including Kingfisher, Peregrine, Merlin, Water Rail, Rock Pipit, and the elusive Bearded Tits. FAB.

Linking to: Saturday's Critters, I'D-Rather-B-Birdin' and Through My Lens.

Around Pagham Harbour.

A fairly early start on Sunday morning saw me again driving the 60 odd miles southwards towards Pagham Harbour to join a field outing with the Surrey Bird Club (SBC). 

Arriving well before the appointed meeting hour allowed time to scan the Ferry Pool at Sidlesham [point 1 on the map] where I logged Avocet, Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Moorhen, Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwits, Golden Plover, one Dunlin, a single Mediterranean Gull amongst the many Black-headed Gulls, Rook, Crow, Magpie, Starlings, and several flocks of Pintail and Wigeon flying overhead out into the harbour.

As on previous outings our morning walk would take us from the Ferry Pool [1] skirting the harbour along its northwestern boundary to the North Wall [4] and return by the same route as there is no way of crossing the harbour entrance between the shingle spits. After lunch we would drive around to Church Norton [5], visit the beach [6] and walk the southern spit [7].   

In my experience ideal conditions for birdwatching on an estuary are to arrive at least 2 hours before high tide so that the wildlife is always pushed closer to the watcher. Unfortunately for this outing the tide was on the turn so a scope was essential to pick out distant species. With hedges and high brambles bordering our initial route I spotted Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Goldfinch, Chiffchaff and a female Blackcap gleaning insects while Curlew called as they flew to different feeding locations. Little Egrets also occasionally uttered their distinctive hoarse 'aaah' as they moved about.

 

At point [2] a brief stop to check out the large pond in this property's garden.

In the past we have heard Water Rail calling from within the reeds here but not on this occasion. We did however get decent views of a couple of Little Grebe diving and nearby saw several Mistle Thrushes who were disturbed from their late morning feeding session.

A Grey Heron crossing one of the few remaining stretches of open water.

On the ever increasing areas of mudflats we added Lapwing, Redshank, Grey Plover, a few Brent Geese plus Common and Great Black-backed Gulls while overhead there were Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. On reaching the North Wall [4] I watched a Water Rail move quickly between two stands of reeds and had much closer views of several Black-tailed Godwits preening and feeding on the inland pool.

Black-tailed Godwits.

You can view more of my images of this species on FABirding.

Close to the sluice a Kingfisher zipped past while scanning across the bright sunlit mud produced a Spotted Redshank plus more Golden Plover, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Dunlin and increased numbers of Wigeon. 

On the return walk the water level was still falling exposing greater areas of mud further up the harbour.

I added Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Swallow and a single Pheasant.

Butterfly species seen during this part of the morning were Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and a Clouded Yellow.

During our afternoon stroll along the shingle ridge I managed to catch a Clouded Yellow resting amongst the pebbles.

At Church Norton we added a few more waders to the day list; Ringed Plover, Turnstone, a leucistic (albino) Curlew and after much ID discussion a solitary Bar-tailed Godwit. Beyond a group of distant Cormorants we also located one of the resident Peregrine Falcons.

A bit of sea watching produced a few Great Crested Grebes and I eventually locked onto a an adult Gannet feeding way in the distance which was a much wanted species for the life list of one of my colleagues and a nice addition to my year list.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying westwards along the coast.

A Little Egret resting on the rusted remains of part of the old harbour wall supports.

We trudged out along the open shingle spit in an attempt to get closer views of a large white blob on the far side of the muddy harbour. This shape eventually gave itself up as a Spoonbill with a blue/green leg ring but still too far away to read its number.

Due to the extensive winter storms the shingle spits on both sides of the narrow harbour entrance have dramatically changed shape.

At around 5pm after 8 hours of birding with a personal tally of 66 species seen it was time for me head home. FAB.

Linking to WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

S.B.C. Fieldtrip to Pulborough Brooks.

Anita and I spent a very enjoyable and sunny day at Pulborough Brooks RSPB Reserve today in the company of members of the Surrey Bird Club (SBC). I personally logged 48 species and added a few to my year list including Avocet (4), Garganey, Nightingale (5), Swallow and Marsh Harrier (2).

Chiffchaff

Chaffinch

Dunnock

After our lunch break we headed over the heath to the watch point overlooking the South Brooks where we managed scoped views of a male Garganey, a single Redshank and a few more Lapwing plus soaring Common Buzzards and a pair of hunting Marsh Harriers. 

Common Buzzard

On the return journey to the car park a Red Kite drifted overhead but I only managed a quick shot taken through a gap in the branches. After cropping I noticed that it was looking down at us as it flew over!

Red Kite

 Peacock butterflies were fairly numerous plus Brimstone and Orange Tip were also seen.

Peacock Butterfly

Peacock Butterfly

Tomorrow we are driving into Kent to meet up with friends for a walk somewhere so who knows what wildlife sightings hold in store for us.  FAB.

Bird Walk - Advance Notice.

For anyone who may be interested I have agreed to lead a walk at Pagham Harbour for the Surrey Bird Club on Saturday 20th March. (Please click the SBC link for more details).

Whether you are a beginner or an avid birder, everyone including non-members are welcome to join me for a stroll starting at 10am from the reserve car park. We will check out Sidlesham Ferry Pool (1) and follow the path overlooking the estuary and fields (2) to Church Norton (3) arriving on a rising tide for waders etc. Seawatch from the beach plus a look over The Severals (4) and nearby woodland and farmland before returning by the same route.

Favourable  conditions should provide the opportunity for good views of wildfowl and waders with many of the winter visitors still around plus there is always the possibility of a few early returning migrants.  FAB.

Cetti's Warbler at Stoke Lake

Today's Surrey Bird Club meet was a walk at Riverside Country Park, including Stoke Lake & River Wey led by Jeremy Gates. Four people turned up and we were later joined by Steve Chastell.

The most interesting find was a Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti) first located moving through a bramble bush then it flew into the bottom of the reeds along side the lake. This is considered a rare winter visitor and passage migrant. As this individual made no effort to utter its usual explosive song Jeremy believed it was a female. This is only the 2nd record for Stoke Lake, the previous record, also a female, was trapped and ringed by JG on 5th May 1998. Near Stoke Lock we also found 5 Chiffchaffs plus the resident pair of Grey Wagtails. Siskin were often heard but difficult to locate high up in the Alders. Back at the wet meadows were the usual Canada & Egyptian Geese plus one Greylag Goose, a single Common Snipe & at least 6 Meadow Pipits. Lots of Black-headed Gulls but only a single Herring & Lesser Black-backed Gull.
After a quick chocolate fix back at the car I decided to follow the tow path for about a mile and a half towards Send. There wasn't very much activity apart from locating a Nuthatch and a pair of Rose-ringed Parakeets but I enjoyed the peaceful solitude plus a chat with a local lad who was fishing and had just caught and was returning a Brown Trout into the river.

So today's sightings are as follows (in no particular order): Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Cormorants, Great-crested Grebe, Little Grebes(4), Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Gadwall(6), Tufted Ducks(5), Shovellers(3), Greylag Goose, Canada Geese (14+), Egyptian Geese(8), Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, CETTI'S WARBLER, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest(3), Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Jay(3), Magpie, Green & Great-Spotted Woodpeckers, Skylark, House Sparrows, CHIFFCHAFF(5), Grey Wagtails(2), Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Treecreeper, Siskin, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gulls, Meadow Pipits(6+), Common Snipe, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Rook, Woodpigeon, Starlings, Wren, Pheasant, Nuthatch, Rose-ringed Parakeets, Teal [heard], Reed Bunting [heard] and Water Rail [heard]. A total of 52 species.

Mallard Preening