AUGUST 16 2016 A date etched in my memory bank!

This was an exciting morning when the bushes around Owl Point were full of warblers...whitethroats,garden warblers and sedge warblers....and then this bird!

 Initially I wasn't sure of its i.d  but having, after some hours, tracked down Owen Mitchell I was delighted to learn that he confirmed it as an Aquatic Warbler. Initially it was only seen from the back view and it was against the light ...but what a great rarity to have chanced upon.

 ...but then it turned and these photos were the first few I managed to obtain. 

 Just sorry no other birders were around and even after a good search it was never seen again!

So setting out this morning I was slightly disappointed by the lack of avian activity in the bushes and apart from a few willow warblers the main interest was in waders along Whites Creek.  Dunlins,Ringed Plovers and Redshanks accompanied Curlews,Whimbrel and Greenshanks and were well spread throughout the mud banks.

Curlew

Whimbrel

Redshank

 Greenshank...'stumpy' is back for the third season!

Here are a few photos from last week...

Much activity in Owl Copse

...with a lot of squabbling with Cattle and Little Egrets

A fine adult Cattle Egret.

Canada Geese flypast.

Pagham Spit is certainly taking on that 'end of summer' feeling!

Whitethroat...one of four on Pagham spit.  

Willow Warbler in bramble alongside the Lagoon

Wheatear on the old car park fence.

Finally a few non birds

Teasles

Painted Lady

Sea Lavendar

...and finally a Great Spotted Woodpecker checking reception.             

p.s

 August 12 at Church Norton.....from the bench

A distant Curlew Sandpiper in summer plumage!

Escape to Suffolk for a few days.

 Six days in Suffolk and  brief visits to RSPB Minsmere resulted in a few photos. We were fortunate to be there for a couple of hours when a Gull Billed Tern was visiting one morning but our only view was through a wardens 'scope.

Just for the record here's a distant view of the Adur estuary Shoreham bird I saw on June 1 2005.

Our only other bird of note was a Great White Egret viewable from the West Hide one evening.

The Terns appeared to be doing really well with Common Terns feeding a good number of youngsters.

The dive!

Alas, unsuccessful!

Preening.

Feeding.

Begging for more!

Kittiwakes squabbling.

Avocets with many youngsters. This adult in late evening sun was a real stunner!

Several Ruff were present

Common Sandpiper. (Several Green Sandpipers were also  present with a couple of Wood Sandpipers.)

The usual feral Barnacles were present

Heron on the look out. 

A visit to Hen Reed beds resulted in seeing a distant Marsh Harrier having an altercation with the local Buzzard.

...and a Reed Warbler at close quarters from the hide.

...and a few non birds.

Bee wolf along 'Digger Alley'

...and a very unusual  but colourful insect which I understand is a Hedychrum nobile which is a species of cuckoo wasp. (please correct if this is wrong)

Gatekeeper

Ringlet

Looking forward to our next visit!

 Summer evenings are great for a quiet country walk ....Pulborough Brooks seemed an ideal venue and having arrived at about 6.30 we made our way to Fattengates and sat in perfect peace and quiet in the  children's study shelter. Not a sound and no activity until a small robin like bird appeared underneath a bramble  and showed itself for  a few short seconds on a huge tree trunk the other side of the path...a juvenile Nightingale. It hopped momentarily onto a post and quickly disappeared from view. 

Short and sweet but what a treat!

Apart from this little other birdlife was showing. It was very hot and any birds were either well hidden or, like this Song Thrush, were sunning themselves!

We only took binoculars but wished we could have had a closer look at the waders from the Hanger viewpoint but could only make out Black Tailed Godwits, Redshank and Lapwing.

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A Grey Squirrel was feeding in the wood

..and a baby Rabbit was completely unaware of us as we returned up the zig-zag path.

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A few photos from earlier in the week along the North Wall.

Coot with single chick.

Heron on a post

Small skipper.

Painted Lady

Nectaring close up.

Crow family....all with open gapes, panting! It was a very hot morning!

A Common Tern, fishing over the Breech Pool.

Reed Warbler... seen well, unlike a Cettis Warbler that was singing, but unseen!

A change to cooler weather forecast for this weekend with possible thunder and lightening Friday night.