Nearly Halloween

Little going on this week after some wet and windy weather and a couple of named storms.

A brief stop at QECP on Tuesday produced 3-5 Marsh Tits, three of which gave long, extended views in glorious light. Red Kite and heard-only Firecrest.

Red Admiral, Common Darters, single Migrant Hawker and this Vernal Shieldbug (below).

Wednesday at TH was a bust with MF's two Shorelarks and single Purple Sandpiper disappearing before anyone could get there. 

To add to that disappointment, whilst sitting in MSH, a message popped up to say that PV and others had the first Bittern of the winter from reception building; apparently it flew off upriver but with the east side closed for the rest of the year there was no chance of looking for it.

Kingfisher, Sandwich Tern, one Marsh Harrier and 75+ Sanderlings were about the best-of-the-rest.

Several large and mostly chewed Fly Agarics were on the path side just before Darters Dip.

Arundel and Pulborough

An hour at Arundel whilst the worst of the weather blew over produced one or two Great White Egrets, two Cattle Egrets and a Marsh Harrier from the restaurant.

Further round an obliging Kingfisher and both Peregrines on the usual tree.

Cettis and Water Rails heard and still several Chiffchaffs.

On the way out the Cattle in the field south of the reserve held half a dozen Cattle Egrets.

Late and early (after closing and at dawn) produced a three figure count of Egrets, eight Marsh Harriers and a ringtail Hen Harrier for the staff.

At Pulborough a catch up with Ian, PW and CL and a quick anti-clockwise circuit found some water on the north Brooks with plenty of duck including my first Pintails of the year here. South Brooks, or at least that part visible from Westmead still dry. A single Marsh Harrier and the usual kites and Buzzards were all that was on offer. I couldn't find the two White-fronted Geese from a couple of days ago but noticed today (Thursday) that  twenty plus were at Amberley and a late Osprey (the Wblrs) was over the south Brooks!! Ggrrr!

(Great White Egret from restaurant)

(Still very dry South Brooks)

*

QECP Fungi walk

Led by Yvonne with Kate as 'tail-end Charlie' and two other rangers plus a dozen or more visitors. One visitor was a pro photographer looking to build up fungi stock photos.

Walked up from reception, out to top level pond (much overgrown) and back down to my usual return path.

All birds heard only with 4-5 Firecests, Treecreepers, Marsh Tit (2) etc etc.

Plenty to see but lots gone over. Not sure about IDs.

Some pictures below, all handheld with TG7.

(?, Magpie Inkcap,?, King Alfred's Cakes, ???, Common Puffballs,?)

Bat walk

A local walk with Sophie (HIWWT) and ranger Donna plus about 14 guests.

Common and Soprano Pipistelles seen and heard plus possible sounds from Noctule and Leislers(?).

Interesting info from Arundel WWT and Sussex bats regarding trapped Nathusius Pip disappearing down river to Littlehampton and on to Northern France!! Stunning use of trackers and technology.

SHP briefly

Yesterday a nice fry-up before it got too busy followed by a walk up West Field.

A Kestrel put on a nice display directly overhead, a Stomorhina lunata along the path and a Clouded Yellow in the field. The very open, tall dead tree at the start of the Conservstion Area path had a noisy female Great Spotted Woodpecker at the very top. A few heard only Siskins, Meadow Pipits and Goldcrests. Sixteen Pied Wagtails were on the lawn in front of the house. The cafe garden plants were only being used by a few bees; no Hummingbird Hawkmoths today.

Today, locally, just five flyover Skylarks - can't remember when I had one here last.

Fifty or more Black-headed Gulls were pursuing a 'rise' of some unknown flies.

Thursday Titchfield

A walk on the east side produced a cream-crown Marsh Harrier having a spat with a Buzzard whilst both were egged on by crows but, unlike last week, no Firecrests.

Chatting to TH we watched the two Glossy Ibises head north towards Posbrook.

A few Stonechats failed to point to any Dartford Warblers.

On the beach a few Ringed Plovers and Sanderlings, probably totalling 25+ birds.

At the entrance to west side another helice Clouded Yellow.

MSH was busy, mostly togs, but little of interest. The sunny Ivy adjacent to the carpark was full C. hederae, a few Eristalis hovers, wasps and various diptera.

On the bright side the rebuild of Suffern hide is due to start soon; the downside being weeks (months?) of no access to the east side. Will the 6-monthly permit be reduced accordingly?

Butser R'ouzel Hunt.

With mist and fog predicted, an early start seemed fruitless and so I arrived a little before 10:00 am when the radio mast was still hidden - but the mist was being burnt off very quickly.

A look around the usual area and down the southern slope produced nothing but M'ipits, Skylarks and plenty of Chiffchaffs in tit flocks. The first three Redwings of the autumn included one bird perched up nicely and later a couple of invisible Siskins flew over.

But no Ring Ouzels.

Down to QECP for coffee and a walk with lots more Chiffs and a heard only Marsh Tit.

Just about to leave when JD posted the male Ring Ouzel was showing, so back up to Butser where I had to wait until 12:15 for the smart male to show himself albeit briefly. A female type left the same patch of scrub and flew low to the right and vanished. A little later another 'black bird' did the same but was too quick to see if it was the male Ring Ouzel. Unlike most ouzel hunts these didn't utter a peep. 

Three kites put on a great display in the glorious light and were joined by two Ravens and a Kestrel. Two or three Stonechats, a couple of flyover Yellowhammers and another Marsh Tit near the parking meter were it for the day.

Oh, and for the first time no Clouded Yellows!!