A busy last week or so, most birding ending up a little off-piste. It
feels as though I've adopted two new patches, as I've been to both
Frensham and Pagham twice more since my last post. The first time, on
16th, was another great success with further excellent views of the
Elegant Tern and the
Red-footed Falcon but a repeat on 19th resulted in a double-dip. Frensham also produced a flock of 13
Crossbills (on 16th) and 'other wildlife' lifers in the form of a
Sand Lizard (on 19th) and
Silver-studded Blues. Both visits to the Common produced nice views and sounds from
Dartford Warblers,
Woodlarks and
Tree Pipits, while the same male
Redstart showed again nicely on 19th. Pagham was great for the tern and gull colony (including good numbers of
Meds), as well as a 2cy
Little Gull and a
Cuckoo on 19th, and the
Whimbrel again on 16th.
A fabulous evening at Leith Hill on 13th was rewarded with four
Nightjars, a couple of
Woodlarks, singing
Tree Pipits and several
Woodcock passes, as well as a hooting
Tawny Owl and a couple of
Siskins. That day, a
Kestrel was nice to see at home in Belmont. I've made a couple of visits to Sutton as a small contribution to keeping an eye on the
Peregrines as they fledge, enjoying lovely views of the two juveniles as they become more mobile - there is clearly a pair of
Grey Wagtails in the same area, with occasional fly-overs there. A trip to Oare Marshes for some easy birding made for a nice change on 14th and, though nothing unusual was seen, we enjoyed seeing
Bearded Reedlings, a couple of
Mediterranean Gulls and the usual gathering of
Black-tailed Godwits.
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| The 2cy male Red-footed Falcon spinning some moves over Frensham Common on Friday |
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| Seconds also for the Elegant Tern on Friday |
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| a lucky encounter with a female Sand Lizard at Frensham on Monday |
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| against migration: the Whimbrel at Pagham on Friday |
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| one of my first Silver-studded Blues at Frensham on Friday |
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| a challenge for the title in Sutton on Friday |
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| Perry and Gwen's progeny in Sutton on Friday |
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| A peaceful scene on the East Flood at Oare Marshes on Wednesday |
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| Sedge Warbler at Pagham on Friday |
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| 2cy Little Gull at Pagham (PW) |
