Nightingale pilgrimage...a disappointment.

This is the time of year that Pulborough Brooks is THE place to go to listen AND see Nightingales at their best. Arriving at just before 8.00am I made my way down the zig zag to Fattengates and waited and listened. After a while of silence, suddenly a Nightingale struck up....for a very brief phrase or two. Then, there it was...a couple of shots ...

.....and then it disappeared never to be seen again during my visit!

I made my way to adder alley where I was pretty certain I would enjoy more success but on my way  met a couple of photographer acquaintances neither of whom had had much success.

However,  I waited a while and heard a few snatches of song and then a bird flew onto an exposed branch...snap,snap,snap...

..it was a dunnock!

So that was it....no more Nightingales today!

However I did record some other species and I was particularly pleased with a couple of Long Tailed Tits feeding near West Meads hide.

Pretty little birds.

Now for the 'not so pretty birds'!

Rook

A flyover Raven....with its diagnostic wedge shaped tail and long fingers.

Apart from that a Shelduck at West Meads

...and a lone Canada Goose

...and two bunnies

A bit desparate...yeah!

Juvenile Robin and a Scavenger incident.

The first juvenile Robin turned up in the garden yesterday and today I was ready with the camera. The light wasn't good and the double glazing was not crystal clear but nevertheless he/she posed nicely whilst I lay flat out on the floor trying to get some ground level shots!!

..and, as if not to be outdone, a cheeky House Sparrow hopped into view!

As I wandered around the Lagoon later, I noticed a Black Headed Gull tracking a Great Crested Grebe. As I watched the Grebe caught a small fish and immediately the Gull sprung into action and went into the attack. 

Just as the Grebe was swallowing its prey  

 ... the Gull plunged at it and the Grebe was forced to choke up the fish

 ...whereupon the Gull snatched the fish..

...gobbled it down

...  and then hung around, waiting for the Grebe to get another.

What a scavenger!!

******************

A Whitethroat was singing on a nearby branch...why do twigs invariably spoil a photo!

So that's it for another day.

Another newcomer!

Whilst this bird has been seen during the past few days in the harbour this was my first opportunity to get a shot of it. It was acting quite furtively by the harbour entrance....

But, with caution, I approached until I was within range, albeit a little distant. Nevertheless I was pleased to record a couple of shots before it flew off with its typical shallow wingbeats.

On the beach a couple of Ringed Plovers have nests and in the sunlight this morning, the birds looked really great as they kept a watchful eye on dog walkers and passers by!

I just hope they survive the constant interruptions!

Summer is on the way!

A really dire week for weather with wind in the north east and few good birding days. However, there were a few good times when I did get out with the camera, so for this blog just a few photos as reminders. There was one morning when the sun shone so I took advantage of the good light but it was still cold...

Linnet

Ringed Plovers nest on the Spit

Starling ...unsure which way to go.

Such charismatic birds!

Chaffinch in full song...dog walk...Slipe Field 

Goldfinch...dog walk...Slipe Field  

Whitethroat ...singing for a mate.

Great Crested Grebe...Whites Creek

Whimbrel...one of several in the harbour,currently.

Oystercatcher in the mud.

 All three Terns are now here...great news!!

Little Tern

Sandwich Tern

Common Tern

Little and Common Tern fishing in the 'new' channel.

...but best of all and hence the title to this blog....The Swifts have arrived!!!

Not the greatest of photos but never easy birds to capture let alone on a dull miserable morning. The last of the summer visitors to arrive and always a real pleasure to see the first ones...great!