Monday 26 October 2015

Acronym Day

Not often you get to see LTB, WRS and SEO all in the same day!

I'd been after the Long-Tailed Blue at Beeding for a while and hearing that one had been seen on for a few days there I went up there on Sunday morning to check it out. On arrival I found 12 other butterfly enthusiasts gathered around a clump of Everlasting Pea and sitting on the top of it was a female Long-Tailed Blue! After an impromptu camera lesson from Dave Potter, I managed a few half decent shots. After I'd left a male was found so I may go back up for that time permitting.

On the way home I popped into Waltham Brooks to try to find the Great Grey Shrike that Lee Beadell had found earlier in the day but no luck for me although it was seen subsequently. Whilst mooching around, a Birdguides alert went off saying that there was a White-Rumped Sandpiper at Farlington Marshes, a good bird for the south coast so off I went. On arrival at the marsh I went to where I thought the bird was, only it wasn't...fortunately I spotted Steve who seawatches at Selsey and he pointed me in the right direction. This was on the other side of the marsh...so a route march later and no bird as it had flown out with the other waders on to the mud. I sat down and took a few snaps and generally chilled as it was such a nice day when someone shouted that it had flown back in. The juvenile White-Rumped Sandpiper subsequently gave great views!

My last jaunt of the day was up to Barnham Brooks to see if the Short-Eared Owls were back which they were. At least two and maybe three present from 16:30 onwards. I'm looking forward to seeing them a few times over the winter months. No photos as it was a bit too dark, next time...


Long-Tailed Blue:































Video here: Long-Tailed Blue



White-Rumped Sandpiper: