Turtle Dove

A half hour sea watch from The Point in the rain this morning was not particularly rewarding, a Little Egret flew west as did a party of 15 Gannets, c8 Common Terns and 4 Sandwich Terns were feeding up and down the beach and a bedraggled Pied Wagtail kept me company. 

At the ARC with the rain came c200 Swifts with smaller numbers of Swallows and House Martins over the lake. 2 Cuckoo's were chasing around the Willow Trail, a Marsh Harrier there and the usual reed bed warblers.

I started to walk down to Scotney Farm but turned back as the rain got heavier, driving towards the double bends I spotted a Turtle Dove, I pulled up, took a couple of quick shots as I could see a police car in my rear view mirror. Most of the rest of my day was taken up with domestic stuff, at least I shouldn't have to go to London any more. 

 Turtle Dove

A few images of last nights moth catch.

 Bird's Wing

 Barred Red

Burnished Brass

Doldrums.

Swallows in the Screen yesterday.

At last yesterday evening was calm and warm, just right for a stroll around the Scotney GP complex. As I walked through the farm a Spoonbill appeared from a creek in the NE corner, it's probably the bird I saw there a few days ago. In the paddocks running around among the cows and sheep several Yellow and Pied Wagtails were collecting food for nestlings. Several more Yellow Wagtails were in the crop fields along with Corn Buntings. On the islands a minimum of 15 sitting Avocets and a single pair of Common Terns. While wandering out near the wind turbines scanningf for Barn owls, I picked up a party of 4 Great White Egrets heading SE. Also 3 Barn Owls and a Little Owl were seen.

 The Viper's Bugloss along the causeway is superb at the moment.

 Barely a ripple at The Patch this morning meant no birds, hopefully the power station will soon have boiling again. 2 Black redstarts were singing in compound and 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths were sunning on perimeter wall. 2 Cuckoo's and 5 Hobby's could be seen around the ARC, along with usual Warblers ans Wildfowl.

 Whats left of the old farm house at Dengemarsh 

 Alder Moth fairly rare down here.

A Dark Sword-grass was the best of the 32 species of macro moth last night, though not very photogenic.

 Privet Hawkmoth

A summers day at last!

At The Patch this morning with AJG an adult and 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, c25 Common Terns and the usual Black-headed and large Gulls. We next walked around the Trapping area and southern Long Pit, noting 2 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler and several Common Whitethroats singing.

Next stop the Willow Trail where the trees and bushes were absolutely dripping with Cuckoo Spit, also a Grasshopper Warbler had been reported there earlier, sadly all I could find was a family of Wrens, Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings and another Cetti's Warbler.   

 Juvenile Wren in the Willow Trail

Lunch time at the ARC car park a Hobby flashed over and Cuckoo was calling, in the screen hide the Swallows were feeding 4 young,

 This afternoon at Scotney of note a Spoonbill on the eastern back lake viewed from the conveyor belt, also good numbers of Yellow Wagtails were feeding young still in the nests as were several pairs of Corn Buntings. On the back lake there appears to be at least 15 pairs of Avocets trying again on a different island, after a complete failure first time round due to unknown causes. At least 2 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers there and 6 feeding Little Egrets.

 This evening on the marsh of note a distant Barn Owl, 3 Little Owls, a Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo's, a Sparrowhawk and a Marsh Harrier.

An Eyed Hawk Moth from last nights catch of a miserly 13 species.

Flaming June!

After emptying the moth trap, I took a stroll around the hayfields, the NE force 4-5 wind made an uncomfortable walk and totally unproductive stroll.

Over the Willow trail a flock of c70 Swifts were making light of the conditions. 

An hour sea watch from The point was not a great deal more productive, but at least it was sheltered and warm in the car.

09.50-10.50  

Common Scoter: 4W

Gannet: 51E   11W

Sandwich tern: c20 o/s

Common Tern: c30 o/s

Guillemot: 4E

Auk sp: 11W

Swift: 8 in

Swallow: 1 out

This afternoon from Hanson some islands have at last appeared and a Hobby was chasing Mouse Martins. A coot was trying to build another nest infront the hide, the last 2 being washed away. In the Screen hide the Swallows are feeding 4 young, nearby the Green Woodpeckers are feeding young. 

 From the entrance track to the VC 2 more Hobby's entertaining a few visitors, from Dennis's a Ringed Plover and a Little Ringed Plover.

 Shark, 1 of 23 species of macro in this mornings catch.

Another one just for you Steve. 

A few Moths

This mornings haul of 32 macros and 7 micros, plus some unidentified as yet from the moth trap was the biggest so far this year for me, although very modest against some of the catches elsewhere today.

Unfortunately most of my day and evening was spent in London, not a place I willingly go to. 

 Pine Hawkmoth

 Bordered Straw

Iron Prominent

I have been tied up the last few days with domestic stuff and probably will be for a few more days. 

Once again today the relentless wind dominated the birding. although thankfully not cold it was still uncomfortable.

The post/non breeding duck flock at the south end of the ARC is building up though I could find the drake Garganey, there were plenty of Swifts and Swallows over the lake and Cuckoo calling there. 

Hobby over Hookers ramp

This afternoon a walk from Springfield Bridge round the Hayfields to Hookers and Burrowes was disappointing with the wind keeping most birds tucked in the bushes. 5+ Hobby's and 50+ Swifts were high over Dengemarsh and Hookers. There appears to be 4+ pairs of Common Terns on one of the rafts, the other 2 occupied by Common Gulls. Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Common Whitethroats and Cetti's Warblers were all singing unseen despite the wind.
Last nights moth catch at Plodland was the best so far this year with 26 species of macro and several micros including another Small Mottled Willow, 2 Bordered Straws and 15 Plutella xylostella. 

Hudsonian Whimbrel (just)!

 Swift over the Willow Trail

With N.E.wind still blasting over the peninsular this morning, it took only a couple of minutes to empty the over night catch of 9 moths of 7 species from the trap.
I then decided to give The Patch a miss and went straight to the ARC where at least 100 Swifts were tearing around doing what Swifts do, along with a few House Martins and Swallows. A SAparrowhawk mad a half hearted attempt to catch a Swift and a Cuckoo flew through. A few Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler and 2 Cetti's Warblers were singing in the shelter of the Willow Trail, but most things appeared to be hunkered down sheltering from the wind.
Burrowes held less Swifts, apart from a nesting gulls, couple of Lapwings, Oystercatchers and a Ringed Plover the emerging islands were empty.

Swift over Dennis's Hide

 As I had go to London this afternoon, I took the opportunity afterwards to go to Pagham Harbour to try and see the Hudonian Whimbrel. I drove into a very full Church Norton car park about 17.30 ,thinking that with so many birders present the Whimbrel would be pinned down, wrong! I was quickly informed that it had not been seen since 14.00 when it had flown to the centre of the harbour, the tide was fairly high and there was still at least another hour to high tide, also the wind was blasting across the harbour into our faces, things weren't looking good.I found a position to scan the harbour that afforded a little shelter, after nearly an hour and half the Whimbrel gave a distant fly past, but was harried by a Gull and flew a little closer before landing back in the middle of the harbour. I managed some very hurried flight shots that are just about recognisable as Hudsonian Whimbrel. As I am staying in West Sussex tonight I will probably try to to get a better view tomorrow if it stays.

 Husonian Whimbrel (not going to win any photographic prizes)

Blasting N.E. Wind!

 Mediterranean Gull in the melee.

Walking to and from the The Patch this morning I felt seriously under dressed even though I was wearing a T shirt, a sweat shirt and a fleece, as the NE wind blasted along the path to the hide.

While there an adult and 1st summer Mediterranean Gulls were the highlights, with up to 10 Sandwich Terns moving into Rye Bay and 12 Gannets moving east, also 3+ Harbour Porpoises off shore.

100s of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins were feeding over the lakes on the peninsular with at least 15 Hobby's. At the ARC c100 each of Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard and Coot, presumably non or failed breeders, also at least 2 Cuckoo's there.

Azure Tit, Kazakstan 2007

With the wind spoiling the day I spent a few hours transferring old photographs onto my new laptop. 

Hummers!

A quick stop off at the south end of the ARC on my way to The Point saw a drake Garganey virtually buried in the New Zealand Pygmy Weed. From by the sea watch hide in a 20 minute watch:
Great-crested Grebe: 4 o/s
Gannet: 1E
Cormorant: 5 o/s
Oystercatcher: 4E
Mediterranean Gull: 1ad at The patch
Sandwich Tern: 5 o/s
Common Tern: 1 at The Patch
Black Redstart: 1 singing behind hide.
Harbour Porpoise: 3
Grey Seal: 1

 Between the hide and the car park at least 7 Hummingbird Hawkmoths feeding on the Valerian by the wall.

 A Weasel ran across the road to the observatory by Lloyds

 Now where's that Green Woodpecker!

 How this Rook managed to fly over the ARC is a mystery to me.

On the ARC the islands will soon showing if this dry windy weather continues, Lapwings are already managing to use them. 3 Hobby's were hunting over the tower pits, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers were all to be seen around the lake, as well as a Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Swifts, Swallows and House Martins.

 From Springfield Bridge this afternoon up to 23 Hobby's over Dengemarsh, though most were stratospheric. 22 Common Terns were vying for position on the the only raft not occupied by Gulls.
On Burrowes 3 Greenshanks and 2 Avocets per MH.

 Another Bordered Straw in the Plodland trap this morning

One of several Plutella xylostella from last nights catch.

Spoilt by the wind!

The avian highlight this morning was a flock of 5 Herons that flew west low over the sea as I made my way to The Patch, where c30 Gannets moved east, 9 Swifts flew west, 3 Mediterranean Gulls were around but not a single Common Tern there. A Black Redstart was singing behind the hide, at least 10 Hummingbird Hawkmoths 2 of which were mating were around the car park and Lighthouse, also 3+ Painted Ladies.  

The strong wind today made birding very difficult today, consequently little of note was seen around the reserve or Scotney.

 Yesterdays Small Mottled Willow in the Plodland trap. 

 Hummingbird Hawkmoths mating!

A pair of Eyed Hawkmoths mating in the Heligoland trap yesterday.