Black Redstart

A Bearded Tit at Thorney today and c.20 Sand Martins over in a 3, a 7 and a 10+. Yesterday the Black Redstart was showing nicely, if a bit flighty, in Church Norton churchyard.

A couple of others from Medmerry:

Painted Lady

A Peacock, Red Admiral and early Painted Lady were at Church Norton near the hide on another rare warm, sunny day last week. I put the pic of the PL on Facebook where it was duly enjoyed by c.45 people but alas a couple of party poopers spoiled the enjoyment of others by 1. with incredibly stupid & thoughtless comment 2. being pedantic and incredibly patronising and I had to delete the post...oh well, it was ever thus. Still good to see the butterfly!

Black Redstart

A nice sunny day last weekend was a rarity but it did bring out the Black Redstart and a few Wheatears at Medmerry "cliffs"; a singing Linnet was at Church Norton.

Little Ringed Plover & Red Kites

A tweet from Paul James last week (or before, lost track) put me onto two Little Ringed Plovers at the Ferry Pool along with a Water Rail. At Church Norton, two Red Kites went over heading North.

Goshawk

Hastily snatched Goshawk:

Selsey & Chichester

A few pictures from around Selsey/Chichester in the last few days.

Long-tailed Duck on Ivy Lake, year ticked Tench as well thanks to a Cormorant!

Yellowhammer at Medmerry in the fog:

Avocets, ditto:

Didn't expect a Ringed Teal on the Stilt Pools! Thanks to HR & AG for the identification:

Skylark at Medmerry too:

..and Ringed Plover:

Water Rail at the Ferry:

Distant Little Ringed Plover at the Ferry, one of two:

150 up for Sussex this year.

Hen Harriers

Both ringtail Hen Harriers were around the old dew pond at the Burgh on March sixth, showing closely but not for long periods of time, in and gone, back and gone as it were. Caught up with the less rufous bird from the triangle later in the day which gave prolonged scope views as it hunted around the hedgerows. Pics & video to follow.

Hen Harrier at The Burgh

Hare at The Burgh:

Hen Harrier & Buzzard:

Later at a different venue, find the Alder, find the LSW...not today!:

Redpolls & Bramblings & Kites

I'm not one to moan about the light usually as my pics are bad enough already but today it was abysmal and made photography nearly impossible, ho hum...

First stop was Burton Mill Pond: c.50 Lesser Redpolls, 20 Siskins & Marsh Tit; second, Waltham Brooks for ten minutes, no sign of the Shrike for me with minimal effort it has to be said; third, Rackham Woods, daftly quiet with only one Great Spotted Woodpecker, been very poor here this year. Having checked this site and others regularly over the last month I'm left wondering if LSW has had it in West Sussex (though having said that I expect/hope one will pop up at Pulborough or some such place). Fourth and last was West Dean: more Lesser Redpolls and two decent size flocks of Bramblings, mainly around the cut maize on the right half way up the Monkton track. Plenty of Buzzards and Red Kites but no other raptors today apart from a Kestrel.

Red Kite:

(Lesser) Redpoll:

Siskin:

Brambling:

Waxwings & House Martins

A trip to Suffolk last week in which I didn;t manage to get much birding done unfortunately but did catch up with the two early House Martins at Lowestoft sea front and c.35 Waxwings in Pakefield.

Scaup & Long-tailed Duck

Both the Scaup & the Long-tailed Duck were still present on Ivy Lake on Monday.

Hare

A Hare at the Burgh a few weeks ago whilst watching the Hen Harrier disappear into a valley (grrr..) & the Bewick's Swans (and a Mute as well I think) circling the Arun valley from Burpham Church.