Almost predictable that today, Thursday, would see an improvement after yesterday's weather and, despite being mostly 'off reserve', urban and suburban birding, no worse for species.
So a walk round Petersfield Pond (with breakfast!) produced first singing Willow Warbler of year and a Swallow in with half a dozen or more Sand Martins. Plenty of Chiffchaff and Blackcap song, single Reed Bunting and Grey Wagtail. Lots of aggressive Egyptian Geese and a loud Nuthatch but sadly (and not unsurprisingly) the Little Gulls had moved on. Every low bough dipping into the water seemed to hold a Coots nest.
Shopping in Chichester produced just the male Peg on the opposite turret with the female now down on four eggs, a Grey Wagtail on the roofs near H&M and two Buzzards over the A27.
A lunch stop on the bench at the Oysterbed's carpark gave five mergansers, twenty odd Great-crested Grebes, an indeterminate number of Med Gulls and a point blank ground level juvenile female Peg which came within inches of a Redshank just in front of me before powering off down the harbour. More distantly, two of four Sandwich Terns put on a great high level flying display.
Thursday 30 March 2017
Wednesday 29 March 2017
Wednesday curse strikes yet again
Yet again a birdless, grey drizzly Wednesday with highlights being catching up with Pete, Dave S and John D plus John B and his B.o.c Peregrine action plus one of the ChiPer volunteers. Just two noisy Curlews, one Blackcap and a few Chiffchaffs. Needless to say no insects other than one Peacock and no photos. Waste of petrol money!!
Monday 27 March 2017
Mixed Bag
Long and slightly misty wait for Gos action. A single bird perched up distantly before eventually two displaying birds. Two Woodlarks, at times singing, four overflying Redpolls, an invisible calling Crossbill, one Raven, ten or more Sand Martins and finally, just as Mike and I were getting ready to go, a 'tic-ing' Hawfinch sat up and showed well.
A big smoky gorse burn by FC along the road through the heart of the forest; wonder what happens to basking reptiles ??
Lunch in Tern hide produced three LRPs, six or more Med Gulls and a first winter Little Gull. Similar numbers of Goosanders to last visit, but no Raven action and no sign of the Scaup. Just Brimstone and Peacock butterflies.
Camera stayed in bag today.
A big smoky gorse burn by FC along the road through the heart of the forest; wonder what happens to basking reptiles ??
Lunch in Tern hide produced three LRPs, six or more Med Gulls and a first winter Little Gull. Similar numbers of Goosanders to last visit, but no Raven action and no sign of the Scaup. Just Brimstone and Peacock butterflies.
Camera stayed in bag today.
Sunday 26 March 2017
Home
Today just two moths, a Hebrew Character (NfG) and this splendid Oak Beauty which, yet again, didn't make it into the trap.
Greeted on arrival in Portsmouth with two calling Med Gulls over the garden going east.
Finally, a female H-fFB in the garden at teatime plus a typically black and yellow parasitic wasp.
Yesterday at Blashford mostly chatting to John and Keith and enjoying the sunshine in the picnic area. Still the odd Brambling, Scaup and 22+ Goosanders.
The two deer carcases were attracting Ravens, possibly 5-10 different birds over the reserve as a whole, a single distant kite at Ivy South along with two Sprawks.
Long-tailed Tits still quietly active in and around nest.
Back on Ibsley Water one smart White Wagtail with the Pieds and two or three LRPs on the newly scraped shingle. Sadly, nothing in camera range other than this Lapwing.
Greeted on arrival in Portsmouth with two calling Med Gulls over the garden going east.
Finally, a female H-fFB in the garden at teatime plus a typically black and yellow parasitic wasp.
Yesterday at Blashford mostly chatting to John and Keith and enjoying the sunshine in the picnic area. Still the odd Brambling, Scaup and 22+ Goosanders.
The two deer carcases were attracting Ravens, possibly 5-10 different birds over the reserve as a whole, a single distant kite at Ivy South along with two Sprawks.
Long-tailed Tits still quietly active in and around nest.
Back on Ibsley Water one smart White Wagtail with the Pieds and two or three LRPs on the newly scraped shingle. Sadly, nothing in camera range other than this Lapwing.
Friday 24 March 2017
Southsea Castle
A quick visit in typically cold grey windy Spring conditions, an hour or so after high tide, produced a dozen Purple Sandpipers - six feeding down in the surf and the rest roosting high up the wall in their usual little hollow making them surprisingly difficult to find.
Two of three Rock Pipits in and around the castle and moat and about 10-20 Meadow Pipits in-off; sadly no Wheatears.
Two of three Rock Pipits in and around the castle and moat and about 10-20 Meadow Pipits in-off; sadly no Wheatears.
Wednesday 22 March 2017
Tuesday 21 March 2017
More lens testing
Despite blue skies the strong and cold wind made it uncomfortable and nothing was posing within range of the camera. The two Marsh Harriers plus 6-8 Buzzards and two Kestrels kept typically distant. This Chiffchaff below was distant and unobliging (so a massive crop).
Too choppy to bother with the sea and too 'gull ridden' on the west side.
Probably best moment was watching 50+ very vocal Turnstones surrounding two fighting Mallards, almost egging them on like schoolboys in a playground fight!!
Sad to see (for TH birders!) that Selsey had an in-off Osprey!! Ggggrrr!
An Andrena bee spp (maybe bicolor), Meliscaeva auricollis, Episyrphus balteatus, Eristalis tenax and male Syrphus spp (below) were all doable with new lens. A diptera ID outstanding. EDIT - Calliphoridae, Pollenia spp.
No Common Lizards out basking today.
At home still only male Anthophora plumipes; no females yet.
And the view from Meonshore.
Too choppy to bother with the sea and too 'gull ridden' on the west side.
Probably best moment was watching 50+ very vocal Turnstones surrounding two fighting Mallards, almost egging them on like schoolboys in a playground fight!!
Sad to see (for TH birders!) that Selsey had an in-off Osprey!! Ggggrrr!
An Andrena bee spp (maybe bicolor), Meliscaeva auricollis, Episyrphus balteatus, Eristalis tenax and male Syrphus spp (below) were all doable with new lens. A diptera ID outstanding. EDIT - Calliphoridae, Pollenia spp.
No Common Lizards out basking today.
At home still only male Anthophora plumipes; no females yet.
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| Syrphus spp |
And the view from Meonshore.
Monday 20 March 2017
Blashford outing and new toy
At Woodland hide at least four Bramblings and at Ivy South two Kingfishers chased each other around; little activity from the Long-tailed Tit's, presumably because the female is on eggs. One or two Chiffchaffs around the site singing.Nice to speak to Glyn and his wife from Somerset who had met up with John 6x4 in Mull last year and were asking after him.
The Pulborough volunteers turned up and it was nice to catch up with a few people I don't get to see very often.
Lunch at the picnic area with more/the same overflying Racens and a singing Mistle Thrush, but sadly, in the absence of Bob and Jim, no moth trap so no MFD subjects for the new lens.
Back at Tern Hide much the same, with the group able to catch up with all the species above although I think the Red Kite was too brief and distant for most. Later, after they had left, the Water Pipit reappeared calling and I was able to get the last three visitors onto it.
Then chatted at length to a Landscape Designer who had worked on the grounds of Croom Park, a NT property near Pershore with gardens by Capability Brown. Not sure if Sue and I ever went there , either on our own or with Chris and Helen or if we'd just passed signposts for it on the way to Cropthorne.
The yearly Blashford report was in my inbox on getting home and then forwarded it to John.
Tuesday 14 March 2017
Another digest
Sunday, the start of a new week, saw a trip to WWT, ostensibly to speak to Keith at Infocus about a binocular upgrade. Sadly, I couldn't get on with Leica's offerings at Pulborough, nor the HT, wouldn't go back to the Swaro 8.5 as it didn't work for me back in 2007, which left the SFs. Nice wide view but not flat field and with some edge CA. Mechanically, the eyecups and click stops felt poor as did the diopeter adjuster. So they were a no-go!! The Swaro 8x32 seemed the best compromise but its close focus isn't brilliant so I decided to walk away. Still, saved me lot of money!!
Bird wise just singing Chiffchaffs, three Snipe, six Pochards and three Med Gulls.
Richard had some nice indoor theatre shots on his tablet and Mike had managed to capture Peg 84 coming in to land at Pulborough nicely.
Brief catch-up with Paul as I was enjoying my Bacon butty.
Good to catch up with an old friend, Black-headed Gul white 28D8 - waiting for John Wells or Tim Ball to reply to see if he/she has been seen since last at Arundel.
Monday, off home where two Buzzards were enjoying the warm blue weather and later at QECP 8 more with a female Sparrowhawk doing the same. A single Brimstone flew by and another zipped over the A3 on the way to the dentists. Back home a Med Gull over, calling.
Tuesday, the overnight moth trap overnight produced just two moths, one micro (female LBAM) but an NFG Oak Beauty was nice, albeit outside the trap in the conservatory.
Another Med Gull over, presumably from the 500+ on Hayling.
At Titchfield a bit of variety with Common Seal, six Eider close in, many Bombus spp, first Episyrphus balteatus, Slow Worm and Common Lizard of the year. Bird wise just two harriers, Kingfisher, 8 or so Buzzards and two displaying Sparrowhawks. Avocets up from single figures to 23+
Wednesday at PB was probably the warmest and sunniest day so far with good numbers of Peacocks and Brimstones plus a glimpse of one of a pair of Grass Snakes which had been chasing around just feet away from visitors - this one being a couple of feet up in some brambles. A pair of Long-tailed Tit were lining their finished nest with large white down feathers. A distant Red Kite was having a scrap with another raptor which turned into a Marsh Harrier through Carey's scope. Both then dropped down onto the north brooks landing for a while before going their separate ways. Just singing Chiffchaffs to represent migrants.
On Thursday morning the moth trap had just four moths, an Early Grey, two Common Quakers and a Small Quaker identified via Hants Moths Fb (all three spp being NFG). Hairy-footed Flower Bees typically hyperactive on pulmonaria.
Friday was a shopping day in Chichester with a major 'self-present' - a new 100-400! A tweet by Lauren, on her last day for the RSPB in North St, said both Peregrines were perched up above the nest turret - just one, I presume the male, was visible from inside the cathedral cafe. Hopefully egg laying not too far off. Just one Buzzard soaring over the bypass.
At Hayling, a brief chat with Bird Aware Solent, 150+ Med Gulls, one Chiffchaff, two Goldcrests, four Ringed Plovers and twenty odd Redshanks. Too cold, windy and choppy to pick out much on the sea with just binoculars other than GCGs and RBMs.
Bird wise just singing Chiffchaffs, three Snipe, six Pochards and three Med Gulls.
Richard had some nice indoor theatre shots on his tablet and Mike had managed to capture Peg 84 coming in to land at Pulborough nicely.
Brief catch-up with Paul as I was enjoying my Bacon butty.
Good to catch up with an old friend, Black-headed Gul white 28D8 - waiting for John Wells or Tim Ball to reply to see if he/she has been seen since last at Arundel.
Monday, off home where two Buzzards were enjoying the warm blue weather and later at QECP 8 more with a female Sparrowhawk doing the same. A single Brimstone flew by and another zipped over the A3 on the way to the dentists. Back home a Med Gull over, calling.
Tuesday, the overnight moth trap overnight produced just two moths, one micro (female LBAM) but an NFG Oak Beauty was nice, albeit outside the trap in the conservatory.
Another Med Gull over, presumably from the 500+ on Hayling.
At Titchfield a bit of variety with Common Seal, six Eider close in, many Bombus spp, first Episyrphus balteatus, Slow Worm and Common Lizard of the year. Bird wise just two harriers, Kingfisher, 8 or so Buzzards and two displaying Sparrowhawks. Avocets up from single figures to 23+
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| Grey Wagtail and Wren |
Wednesday at PB was probably the warmest and sunniest day so far with good numbers of Peacocks and Brimstones plus a glimpse of one of a pair of Grass Snakes which had been chasing around just feet away from visitors - this one being a couple of feet up in some brambles. A pair of Long-tailed Tit were lining their finished nest with large white down feathers. A distant Red Kite was having a scrap with another raptor which turned into a Marsh Harrier through Carey's scope. Both then dropped down onto the north brooks landing for a while before going their separate ways. Just singing Chiffchaffs to represent migrants.
On Thursday morning the moth trap had just four moths, an Early Grey, two Common Quakers and a Small Quaker identified via Hants Moths Fb (all three spp being NFG). Hairy-footed Flower Bees typically hyperactive on pulmonaria.
Friday was a shopping day in Chichester with a major 'self-present' - a new 100-400! A tweet by Lauren, on her last day for the RSPB in North St, said both Peregrines were perched up above the nest turret - just one, I presume the male, was visible from inside the cathedral cafe. Hopefully egg laying not too far off. Just one Buzzard soaring over the bypass.
At Hayling, a brief chat with Bird Aware Solent, 150+ Med Gulls, one Chiffchaff, two Goldcrests, four Ringed Plovers and twenty odd Redshanks. Too cold, windy and choppy to pick out much on the sea with just binoculars other than GCGs and RBMs.
Saturday 11 March 2017
Close W'ipit
Very foggy in Pompey (with a calling Med Gull overhead as I loaded the car) but pretty much cleared by arrival at Blashford. No sign of the Tawny Owl, and two or more calling Kingfishers remained hidden but a pair of Long-tailed Tits with a well advanced nest was nice to watch - non-stop activity!!
In the moth trap Dotted Borders, Hebrew Characters, Quaker spp, Chestnut and Clouded Drab.
Woodland Hide spoilt by noisy well-settled togs.
At Tern Hide the Water Pipit eventually popped up in front, the Scaup was still distant as were three Kites and a Raven.
The second spit from Tern Hide has now been turned into an island to reduce fox predation. Sadly, no martins nor LRPs nor any summer migrants although one Chiffchaff was singing.
Gull wise now lots of BHGs setting up territories, and single Med Gull and nice clean adult Yellow-legged.
Back home a surprise calling Curlew headed east in the murk.
In the moth trap Dotted Borders, Hebrew Characters, Quaker spp, Chestnut and Clouded Drab.
Woodland Hide spoilt by noisy well-settled togs.
At Tern Hide the Water Pipit eventually popped up in front, the Scaup was still distant as were three Kites and a Raven.
The second spit from Tern Hide has now been turned into an island to reduce fox predation. Sadly, no martins nor LRPs nor any summer migrants although one Chiffchaff was singing.
Gull wise now lots of BHGs setting up territories, and single Med Gull and nice clean adult Yellow-legged.
Back home a surprise calling Curlew headed east in the murk.
Tuesday 7 March 2017
Change of plans
With tomorrow's weather looking damp it seemed a better option to go to Pulborough today. Unfortunately, the weather turned out far too good being warm and sunny - rather wished I'd sat out Gos'ing. Strangely, no hovers, butterflies nor adders though lots of midges being hawked by Black-headed Gulls.
A Red Kite was over the car park on arrival and another (or the same one) was high over the tea room terrace early afternoon being chased by a crow.
Just one Peregrine perched up in the usual tree on South Brooks.
Two each of Bullfinch, Treecreeper and Goldcrest around the trails.
Highlight of the day was catching up with a variety of people I've not seen for a while, Peter C, Miles H, Nick Goulden, Rob Collins, Tony Stead, Clive Hope and later, at a shrike-less Coldwaltham, Dave Sadler and partner.
On the north brooks 15+ Buzzards, probably five more from Winpenny, three en route and a couple at Coldwaltham, say 25 in total.
On the way back a quick stop at Broadmarsh produced ten or more Med Gulls and 13 distant Black-necked Grebes fishing in a tight flotilla but no sign of Long-tailed Ducks.
A Red Kite was over the car park on arrival and another (or the same one) was high over the tea room terrace early afternoon being chased by a crow.
Just one Peregrine perched up in the usual tree on South Brooks.
Two each of Bullfinch, Treecreeper and Goldcrest around the trails.
Highlight of the day was catching up with a variety of people I've not seen for a while, Peter C, Miles H, Nick Goulden, Rob Collins, Tony Stead, Clive Hope and later, at a shrike-less Coldwaltham, Dave Sadler and partner.
On the north brooks 15+ Buzzards, probably five more from Winpenny, three en route and a couple at Coldwaltham, say 25 in total.
On the way back a quick stop at Broadmarsh produced ten or more Med Gulls and 13 distant Black-necked Grebes fishing in a tight flotilla but no sign of Long-tailed Ducks.
Thursday 2 March 2017
Tawny rooted to the spot
The Blashford Tawny Owl was still roosting on the same branch.
From right hand window of Ivy South Hide, look directly over Kingfisher perch to far shore OR locate the the large obvious globe of Mistletoe(?) high up on the horizon , use it as the centre of a clock and come down to the seven o'clock position. Bird sitting 6-8 ft up.
Three Brambling and a few Reed Bunting by the feeders and at Tern Hide, the White-fronted Goose, singles of Black-necked Grebe, Raven, Red Kite and Peregrine plus 15 Goosanders.
Earlier in the day the cold westerly made Goshawk watching an eye-watering experience but two birds eventually gave a nice prolonged display and good scope views before slipping away into the trees.
From right hand window of Ivy South Hide, look directly over Kingfisher perch to far shore OR locate the the large obvious globe of Mistletoe(?) high up on the horizon , use it as the centre of a clock and come down to the seven o'clock position. Bird sitting 6-8 ft up.
Three Brambling and a few Reed Bunting by the feeders and at Tern Hide, the White-fronted Goose, singles of Black-necked Grebe, Raven, Red Kite and Peregrine plus 15 Goosanders.
Earlier in the day the cold westerly made Goshawk watching an eye-watering experience but two birds eventually gave a nice prolonged display and good scope views before slipping away into the trees.
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| Distant make Brambling |
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| Goosander on Ivy Lake |
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| Grey Wagtail, Tern Hide |
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| Reed Bunting, under feeders |
Wednesday 1 March 2017
Bit of a digest of previous fortnight
A third visit to Whiteley, ostensibly for shopping, turned into a people watching exercise; and watching people watching Waxwing watchers!! A coffee and toastie at Costas while the five Waxwings were being 'papped' outside Wagamammas.
Peregrines much in evidence at Pulborough where the male and (presumed) young female 84 were again paired up. Will they try to find a nest site for this season or loiter around the Arun valley?? At Blashford two Peregrines appeared singly and made gull watching hard going as they flushed everything. Finally a male Peregrine scattered all birds including eight Golden Plover from Titchfield's scrapes.
In Langstone Harbour 14 Black-necked Grebes, the most I've seen in a while, and a sudden appearance of stacks of Med Gulls on the oysterbeds, 100+ on my visit and 170 ish on the next day via Goingbirding.
Blashford produced some nice Kingfisher sightings including one from the classroom and photographed across the pop up picnic's table, through a three inch gap in the open window!! The White-fronted Goose again came in with Greylags and the two Black-necked Grebes were tough to find in choppy grey conditions. Just the odd Yellow-legged Gull but no Ring-bills; maybe they've moved on. A day roosting Tawny Owl from Ivy South was distant but just doable with a scope and earlier in the week a distant drake Scaup, another new bird on the reserve for me. Rather more, and better developed, Scarlet Elf Cup this week.
Back at Titchfield, two Marsh Harriers (one a young male) and a distant brief fly-by Bittern, although I left too early for Amy's three Spoonbills.
At Chichester Ivy Lake the Scaup still present, although venturing down the road to Church Norton was fruitless.
Still no hoverflies and no further butterflies.
Peregrines much in evidence at Pulborough where the male and (presumed) young female 84 were again paired up. Will they try to find a nest site for this season or loiter around the Arun valley?? At Blashford two Peregrines appeared singly and made gull watching hard going as they flushed everything. Finally a male Peregrine scattered all birds including eight Golden Plover from Titchfield's scrapes.
In Langstone Harbour 14 Black-necked Grebes, the most I've seen in a while, and a sudden appearance of stacks of Med Gulls on the oysterbeds, 100+ on my visit and 170 ish on the next day via Goingbirding.
Blashford produced some nice Kingfisher sightings including one from the classroom and photographed across the pop up picnic's table, through a three inch gap in the open window!! The White-fronted Goose again came in with Greylags and the two Black-necked Grebes were tough to find in choppy grey conditions. Just the odd Yellow-legged Gull but no Ring-bills; maybe they've moved on. A day roosting Tawny Owl from Ivy South was distant but just doable with a scope and earlier in the week a distant drake Scaup, another new bird on the reserve for me. Rather more, and better developed, Scarlet Elf Cup this week.
Back at Titchfield, two Marsh Harriers (one a young male) and a distant brief fly-by Bittern, although I left too early for Amy's three Spoonbills.
At Chichester Ivy Lake the Scaup still present, although venturing down the road to Church Norton was fruitless.
Still no hoverflies and no further butterflies.
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