Birdseekers Trip Report

Sussex - 17th January 2010

Despite the recent heavy snow, it soon thawed on the roads so this trip was never in doubt (despite the main news channels predicting the end of the world just because of a bit of snow!). An early start was planned due to the long drive down. This didn't put people off, as all places filled in a record five and a half minutes on the morning bookings were taken. In fact, an extra car load decided to tag along for the ride!

Before we had even met up, some of the group had ticked off Barn Owl, Badger and Fox! Twenty of us met in Apuldram churchyard, including Bernie Forbes our local leader for the day. Two stunning Firecrests joined us in the car park and gave crippling views: what a start! Even the weather was perfect.

We next walked through some flooded fields to view Fishbourne Creek, part of Chichester Harbour. Wintering Whimbrel, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Bewick's Swans and many more waders and wildfowl were scanned.

We received news that a Smew had been found nearby, so we headed off to Chichester Gravel Pits. The dazzling drake was at the back of the pool. Some ice was still present even though the tracks and pavements were completely clear. A drake Red-crested Pochard also showed in the perfect light.

We next checked out a part of Pagham Harbour in search of the Hen Harriers I had seen here earlier in the week. No luck but ample compensation came in the form of a showy Dartford Warbler in the pathside gorse. What a cracking bird! Also in the harbour were Avocets, Pintails and many other rafts of wildfowl. We moved to Selsey to eat our lunches on the beach while looking out to sea. A couple of Great Northern Divers flew fairly close inshore but the numerous Red-throated were further out. We couldn't tempt the local Mediterranean Gulls with our sandwiches: they obviously don't like northerner's food!

We made the short drive to another part of Pagham Harbour (Church Norton) and again scanned the sea. An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen along with Common Scoters, Red-throated Divers and Red-breasted Mergansers.

Our final port of call was Hayling Island. The huge expanse of water seemed daunting but we were soon watching twelve Black-necked Grebes, distant Long-tailed Ducks as well as displaying Red-breasted Mergansers, a large roost of Grey Plovers, a Spotted Redshank and the first Ringed Plovers and Common Sandpiper of the day.

As we made our way home, List-keeper Extraordinaire Richard came to a final tally of 103 species on the day!! Firecrest was voted Bird-of-the-Day but Dartford Warbler gave it a run for its money.

Our thanks must go to Bernie for showing us around his local patch even though he failed to get the Hen Harriers to perform for us. It was generous of him to give up a Sunday to show we “Common Northerners” around.

I have updated the list of birds seen on minibus trips and you can view this on our website. Members who take the newsletter in electronic form will now see some pictures taken of the trip by Lynne and Ron Demaine.

The Day's List

Birds

Key

• FC: Fishbourne Creek
• CG: Chichester Gravel Pits
• PH: Pagham Harbour
• SB: Selsey Bill
• CN: Church Norton
• HI: Hayling Island

1 Red Throated Diver	SB, CN several distantly.
2 Great Northern Diver	SB 2
3 Little Grebe	FC, CN, HI. Several seen.
4 Great Crested Grebe	CG, CN, HI several seen
5 Black Necked Grebe	HI about 12
6 Fulmar	SB 1
7 Gannet	CN, SB several out at sea
8 Cormorant	Seen at all sites
9 Shag	SB 1
10 Little Egret	FC About 5
11 Grey Heron	FC, PH 2
12 Mute Swan	FC, CG, PH Many
13 Bewick's Swan	FC 2
14 Greylag Goose	CG 5
15 Canada Goose	CG 2
16 Brent Goose	FC, CN, HI Small flocks
17 Shelduck	FC, PH, CN, HI Large numbers.
18 Wigeon	Seen at all sites in large numbers.
19 Gadwall	Seen in most places
20 Teal	PH, CN Small numbers
21 Mallard	Seen in most places
22 Pintail	Quite large numbers in most places
23 Shoveler	CG 2
24 Red-crested Pochard	CG 1 male
25 Pochard	CG c10
26 Tufted Duck	CG c10
27 Long-tailed Duck	HI 2 very distant
28 Common Scoter	CN c20 on sea
29 Goldeneye	Several in most places
30 Smew	CG 1 male
31 Red-breasted Merganser	FH, SB, CN, HI several on sea. ! Close at FH
32 Sparrowhawk	HI 1
33 Buzzard	PH 1
34 Red Kite	Seen from car on M40
35 Kestrel	A few seen around
36 Pheasant	PH 2
37 Moorhen	Several around
38 Coot	CG 30+
39 Oystercatcher	Many at most places
40 Avocet	PH 7
41 Ringed Plover	HI 1
42 Grey Plover	100s in most places
43 Lapwing	Several flocks about
44 Knot	HI 4
45 Little Stint	FC 1
46 Dunlin	Several in most places
47 Snipe	PH 4
48 Black-tailed godwit	FH 4
49 Whimbrel	FH 1
50 Curlew	Many in most places
51 Spotted Redshank	FH, HI 1each
52 Redshank	At all places
53 Greenshank	FH, HI 1 each
54 Common Sandpiper	HI 1
55 Turnstone	Several in most places
56 Mediterranean Gull	CN, HI 1 each
57 Black headed Gull	Everywhere
58 Common Gull	A few around
59 Lesser Black Backed Gull	FH and elsewhere
60 Herring Gull	Fairly common
61 Great Black Backed Gull	A few about
62 Guillemot	SB 1
63 Stock Dove	FH
64 Woodpigeon	Common
65 Collared Dove	Only a few
66 Barn Owl	1 neat Thrumpton
67 Feral Pigeon	2 flocks
68 Kingfisher	HI 1
69 Green Woodpecker	Heard FH
70 Great Spotted Woodpecker Heard PH
71 Skylark	A few flying over
72 Meadow Pipit	A few flying over
73 Rock Pipit	FH, HI One or two
74 Grey Wagtail	FH 1
75 Pied Wagtail	A few around
76 Wren	Scarce only 2 or 3 heard
77 Dunnock	A few around
78 Robin	Many singing in the sunshine
79 Blackbird	Fairly common
80 Fieldfare	A few with one large flock CG
81 Song Thrush	CN 1
82 Redwing	A few seen
83 Mistle Thrush	FH 1
84 Cetti's Warbler	PH 1 HD
85 Dartford Warbler	PH 1 giving fantastic views
86 Goldcrest	CG 1 hd
87 Firecrest	FH A pair giving fantastic views in car park
88 Long-tailed Tit	Heard and seen in several places
89 Blue tit	several most seen PH in car park
90 Great Tit	A few seen and singing in the sunshine
91 Magpie	Several seen
92 Jackdaw	A few at service station on way down
93 Rook	Seen at service station and later in day
94 Carrion Crow	A few around
95 Starling	A few flocks around
96 House Sparrow	Only seen at PH
97 Chaffinch	A Few around
98 Greenfinch	Several around
99 Goldfinch	PH, CN small flocks
100 Linnet	PH 2
101 Bullfinch	FH 1
102 Yellowhammer	FH 2
103 Reed Bunting	FH 2or3

Mammals

• Mammals
• Badger
• Fox
• Rabbit