Collected a few bits and bobs and ended up at PHP where, for the first time since Spring, no sight/sound of Chiffies nor martins; in fact mostly birdless barring a calling Firecrest in the Ivy patch and a Red Kite in from the north.
Pretty noisy today, mostly down to a continuously circling police helicopter trying to locate a dementia patient in the area helped by a few bike officers.
Sadly, no Yellow-brows although, with birds on Hayling and at Titchfield today, hopefully one will pop up somewhere this month. Insect wise lots of Hornets at the 'alley' heading determinedly right to left either from or to a nest; earlier one was buzzing around the car at Hazleton lights. A fresh looking Comma was on Water Mint near the car park and the heat encouraged a few Migrant Hawkers up. No Ivy Bees today.
Subsequently, a brief binocular-only visit to Farlington in gorgeous weather, and at high tide, was very pleasant with the lake being full of birds, mostly Dunlin, Black'wit, Redshank and Grey Plover but also a few Knot, four Bar'wit, twenty or so Ringed Plovers, three Snipe and a Curlew. Amongst fifteen Pintail were a couple of males still well short of winter plumage. A Water Rail was just below the viewpoint in deep shade, a couple of Beardies pinged in the distance and a Kingfisher called from behind whilst dashing across the harbour towards the dock.
The point field was home to a big bonfire with three Kestrels in attendance and two others distantly off the reserve. A final flurry of raptors, with a Sparrowhawk flushing things on a run through the RA and lastly a distant inbound Osprey which circled a few times before heading towards North Binness.
PS
Got home to an email from Camille regarding last weeks 'new' Med Gull at Arundel:-
White 3157 right Bruxelles E946506 >3CY 12/05/2018 Total, Antwerpen, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,15N 4,19E Pauwels, André
White 3157 n 20/05/2018 Total, Antwerpen, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,15N 4,19E Flamant, Renaud
White 3157 c 22/06/2018 Sint-Amands, Antwerpen, BELGIUM 51,03N 4,13E Pauwels, André
White 3157 v 03/10/2018 WWT Arundel, West Sussex, GB 50,52N 0,33W Tofts, Russell
