Friday 27 November 2015

Pale Geese & White Swans

ARK had reported five Pale-bellied Brent Geese near Pagham Lagoon on Wednesday and they were still there on Thursday along with other assorted wildfowl and passerines:


Pale-bellied Brent Geese:










Wigeon:




Goldeneye:




Pintail:




Chiffchaff bathtime:




Stonechat:





On Friday the four Bewick's Swans were also still present, this time from the footpath near Burpham Church:


Bewick's Swans:









Friday 20 November 2015

Dartford Warbler

Success with the Dartford Warbler, or possibly Warblers as there may have been two, at Reedy Marsh on the West Side of Pagham Harbour today. Here's a map of the area if you're not sure of any of the locations:


Pagham Harbour:




Dartford Warbler:




At Medmerry East, a Kestrel:




and Brent Geese, Wigeon, Teal & Pintail:








Wednesday 18 November 2015

Birds vs. Cake

Suffolk was largely disappointing last weekend with not much on display really bar good numbers of Gulls at Walberswick and a few bits & pieces at Minsmere.(Not helped particularly by having to chaperone a birder who would prefer eat cake/toast/soup/you name it in the visitor centre/cafe/pub..ho hum...! ;-))


Barnacle Geese:




Stonechat:




Common Scoter:





Thursday 12 November 2015

Monday 2 November 2015

Slav(onian) to Love

The Pagham Lagoon Slavonian Grebe bird was my nemesis last year and I never did end up seeing it properly so I was grateful for today's prolonged if distant views. Now all I need to do is stop dipping the Dartford Warblers at Climping & the Severals...


Slavonian Grebe:












Sunday 1 November 2015

There's Snow Bunting like no Bunting I know...

A text this morning from Sarah Russell saying that she had found (or re-found) a Snow Bunting on the beach at Selsey Bill by the Oval Field had me jumping in the van early! On arriving I found many of the Bill regulars taking photos and admiring the confiding little bird; not as confiding as the Goring bird it has to be said but that was exceptional, still views down to six-ten feet though and you can't complain at that.


Snow Bunting:
















Presuming this is the same bird as the other day, and it looks like it is to me, then GAH has aged it as a 1st Winter Female, see his blog: georgeheathpatchbirding.blogspot.co.uk

Later on a trip to Barnham Brooks for the Short-eared Owls, two or three on show. Fog, poor light, flying birds are unfortunately the crap photographer & his bridge camera's nemesis!!


Short-eared Owl: