Franklin's Gull

The Franklin's Gull in Hampshire showed early to two of us on site but there was no sign after that for me (got bored lol) annoyingly so no photos... but at least it did show well later for the throng that subsequently arrived. 

I don't have a particularly good track record with these, it took me ages to see the one at Blashford Lakes in 2014 (see that blog post...) so first try with this one was quite satisfactory.

Over 2000 Wood Pigeons went east and there were good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares over, full list:

35

Species Observed

2,429 individuals

Observations

1. Mute Swan

   Number observed: 1

2. Gadwall

   Number observed: 1

3. Stock Dove

   Number observed: 4

4. Wood-Pigeon

   Number observed: 2233

5. Collared-Dove

   Number observed: 1

6. Black-headed Gull

   Number observed: 15

7. Franklin's Gull

   Number observed: 1

   Details

   still in field as reported

8. Herring Gull

   Number observed: 1

9. Red Kite

   Number observed: 1

10. Great Spotted Woodpecker

    Number observed: 3

11. Green Woodpecker

    Number observed: 1

12. Jackdaw

    Number observed: 14

13. Rook

    Number observed: 16

14. Carrion Crow

    Number observed: 4

15. Common Raven

    Number observed: 1

16. Blue Tit

    Number observed: 2

17. Great Tit

    Number observed: 2

18. Skylark

    Number observed: 1

19. Long-tailed Tit

    Number observed: 5

20. Goldcrest

    Number observed: 1

21. Nuthatch

    Number observed: 1

22. Wren

    Number observed: 2

23. Starling

    Number observed: 5

24. Song Thrush

    Number observed: 2

25. Redwing

    Number observed: 66

26. Fieldfare

    Number observed: 22

27. Robin

    Number observed: 1

28. Stonechat

    Number observed: 1

29. Dunnock

    Number observed: 1

30. Pied Wagtail

    Number observed: 1

31. Meadow Pipit

    Number observed: 1

32. Chaffinch

    Number observed: 6

33. Greenfinch

    Number observed: 3

34. Linnet

    Number observed: 4

35.     5   Goldfinch

West Dean & Chichester GPs

A marvellous morning out at West Dean: Hawfinches among six other finch sp. (I missed Siskin & Bullfinch), loads of Redwings & Fieldfares, Marsh Tit, Firecrest, Bramblings and Ravens, full list here:

EBird list

Hawfinch, one of 16:

Raven:

Fieldfare:

At Chichester GPs (whole lot inc. Westhampnett 1 & 2 but not the three Drayton Lakes) the highlights were three Kingfishers,100+ Shovelers, 20+ Little Egrets but Coot and Tufted Duck numbers were well down and Ivy Lake in particular was barren. Details of Ivy Complex here:

EBird list

Again c.6 Little Egrets and c.10 Cattle Egrets opposite Drayton Gates.

Some pictures...

A few pictures from the last few weeks: Kingfisher in the fog opposite Bluebelle wood, Red-throated Diver at Selsey Bill, Little Gull at the Bill, Barnacle Goose at Pagham Hbr, Greenland Wheatear at Church Norton and Snow Bunting at the Bill. 

Also had a Water Pipit over at the Bill (97% call accuracy on BirdNet & Chirpity!!!) which was unfairly slept on IMHO...it was ever thus lol..Anyway, nice flock of 53 Skylarks over at home, c.30 Cattle Egrets at Drayton and a good number of Fieldfares around. Plenty of Goldcrests and two Firecrests in the conifers and a big charm of Goldfinches on the thistles. 

Viz-mig

A few bits overhead at Selsey and at home recently, the best being two Hawfinches at the Bill, two over at home and also plenty of Redwings and a Tawny Owl at the latter. A Snow Bunting was at the Bill, on the east side, a Spoonbill flew over and the next day so did three Great White Egrets.

Along the shore were plenty of Spider Crabs and a large cartilage "backbone" possibly from a large Ray.

The SOS report 2025 came out and I made a few small and largely insignificant contributions to what was another nice tome, worth keeping it in this format IMHO rather than the considered abridged version.

On Sunday the highlight after a poor seawatch was a ringtail Hen Harrier into the WWT roost. Also four Marsh Harriers in, two Hawfinches over, a Tawny Owl and c.50 Cattle Egrets.

Sea Mouse

 One at the Bill today, only really see them after storms.

Also plenty of Sand Hoppers: 

Little Owl

 One tonight in the South Mundham/Honer area, also two Tawny Owls and a Barn Owl.

Little Stint

A Little Stint was on the Ferry Pool on Sunday (found late Saturday), otherwise it's been very quiet on the Peninsula, we are surely due a decent scarcity offshore! At home prepped the ground for autumn planting onion sets to fill up any spare ground and picked lots and lots of apples, pears and quinces as we have an event on Saturday in Chichester. The boy and I are also in the Squid Chase at East Beach Selsey at the weekend so that will be fun!

Little Stint: