It was an exciting morning when I stumbled upon this bird 9 years ago. The date is etched on my memory so today I decided to at least visit the site this morning in the vain hope of a repeat performance. Alas it was a not to be with just 3 Whinchats in the field behind Owl Point where this Aquatic Warbler showed up!
I couldn't resist putting these photos of the two Hoopoes showing well yesterday on the Selsey peninsula.
Initially showing at a distance in a field behind the North Wall stables but not easy to see in the long grass.
Not one but two birds but both difficult to see!
One of them took flight and flew west behind a line of trees out of sight. A few minutes later and the other took off and flew east behind the path behind the now gathering admirers. As we approached its approximate whereabouts it started calling and we could have been in Mallorca or the south of Spain...a wonderful Mediterranean 'hoop,hoop' sound! It was well hidden amongst the higher branches when it was spotted at the far side of a tree. Not only was it was partially hidden by the branches it was back lit so photographing it was tricky.
A diminutive wader, a Least Sandpiper, was reported at the end of last week at RSPB Medmerry but due to numerous commitments I was unable to get there. On Tuesday this week I was at last able to find time to track it down. As I approached the Stilt Pool where it had been seen the previous day I met two visiting birders who pointed out four birders who I could see very distantly crouched down by the breech a long way off along the beach. I set off clambering over the huge protective rock groyne and made haste but as I approached, the four birders got up and disappeared from sight. Another birder made his way towards me only to say that the bird had flown and in his view had probably returned to the Stilt Pool, one of its favoured spot. About turn therefore and a long trudge back. A total blank. I'd dipped, as they say!!!
However there was a report of a Hoopoe on the reserve somewhere but it was proving elusive. Suddenly a shout went up on Whats app...found it! To my delight I was heading in the right direction and located the bird in tall grass and vegetation but regrettably photography was difficult and I failed to get a shot. A great bird to see!
However the Yellowhammers were a joy to see and a non birder came and watched for a while and remarked he'd never seen one before and could hardly believe it was a British breeding bird...it was looking brilliant in the sunshine!
....but it did come a little closer and the sun lit it up rather well...I was pleased!
A splendid lifer!
The Brents are getting restless in the harbour.
It was reported that 200 birds an hour were flying East past Selsey Bill by 10.00a.m. this morning, so these too will be on the move soon.
I have recently been attempting to capture photographs of the Kingfisher which has taken up winter residency on the spit and has been seen by many admiring Pagham locals. However, although seen quite regularly, it is a wary bird and not usually easy to approach before it darts away like an emerald jewel. Today was no exception but the light was good and I watched it firstly on one of his favourite perches on the rusty metalwork.
As I watched it suddenly flew off and hovered momentarily before plunging into the water immediately returning to its perch. It did this a couple of times but it happened so quickly that I missed it both times! It was a fair way away and I didn't have the 800mm lens with me so the following photos are very heavily cropped and lacking in detail but it did give me the satisfaction of capturing these flight pictures.
