A Chichester Harbour Fisherman

A Common Seal in Chichester Harbour the other day munching on a Bass of approximately 5lbs in weight. The Bass hot-spot used to be opposite the yellow buoy at Copperas Point, popularly known as Coppice Point and old Jock used to bag a few from here when he was still about. Also saw the largest Flounder that I know of caught there, the "bin-lid" weighing in at 4lbs 1oz.; sadly most of the Flounder have gone the way of the Bass pictured now!  

Common Seal & Bass:

A Tale of Three Creekies (!)

Whimbrel, Fishbourne Creek:

Redshank, Snowhill Creek:

Red-breasted Mergansers, Ellanore Creek:

Pink Goosander

I've had no luck at Petworth Park for Goosanders recently although four, 3 m & 1 f, were there on the sixth of January but the news wasn't put out by someone who should have known better...Also no definitive sighting at Church Norton for me (see previous post) so I was pleased when Paul James tweeted that the drake Goosander was back at Widewater this morning. An absolute cracker of a bird it was too, superbly pink of hue.


Goosander:

Better pics of today's bird here: martinsbirdingblog.blogspot.co.uk


Red-breasted Merganser, also present at Widewater:

Windy Days & Birthdays

A few from the last few days. Spoonbills taken in gale force winds at Church Norton. I was told & shown the Goosander redhead that has been present but for me poor weather made IDing it and photos too difficult to be 100%-a calmer day required for that one. A Little Gull was along the beach.

Spoonbills:

At Ivy Lake, an Egyptian Goose hiding in the island bushes and at least 79 Pochards, a great sight.


Pochards:

At Church Norton the next day the Whimbrel was by the bench as usual.


Whimbrel:

The missus came out with me on my birthday, I think she enjoyed it!!!


Debbie:

A Red-Neck on Hayling, y'all

Or two Red-necked Grebes to be precise, one from the sea wall by the entrance to Northney Marina & apparently one from the oysterbeds with six Black-necked Grebes. I only saw the Northney bird which stayed distant but did give fair scope views-not great for photos though!


Red-necked Grebe:

Over the Border

As I had to do some deliveries in Portsmouth & Southampton on Monday I called into the Yellow-browed Warbler in Eastleigh again and made another attempt to catch up with the Purple Sandpipers at Southsea Castle. At Eastleigh, the dynamo that is the YBW showed all the time but, as is its forte, was constantly on the go. Slightly better pic though. At Southsea, the Purple Sandpipers showed well on the nodules beneath the castle path (thanks to the birders who pointed me in the right direction). An Iceland Gull had been spotted the previous day and I refound it flying over South Parade Pier and then again on the sea the other side, smart bird. Also present 5 Little Gulls, and back at the castle two Shags.

Yellow-browed Warbler:

Iceland Gull:

Shags:

Purple Sandpipers:

Bully's Star Prize

No Goosander on Petworth Park lower lake where it had been reported yesterday but a mixed flock made up for it: Lesser Redpolls, Coal Tits, Goldcrests, Siskins, Blue Tits, Great Tits and even a few Nuthatches all milling around together; smashing! At Coldwaltham, a brief glimpse of a Siberian Chiffchaff  and two brilliant male Bullfinches but no Jack Snipe. At Pulborough RSPB, a male & female Bullfinch and a (the?) Dartford Warbler on the brambles at the start of the path (a fluke I admit!). At home, another male Bullfinch in the orchard.



Siskin:

At Satern's Way in terrrible weather on Sunday, a Little Gull was still showing well.


Little Gull: