Diverless etc

Today, Friday, a brief trip at lunchtime after chores to see if any of the harbour's Great Northern Divers were on show.  Sadly not and, had I checked GoingBirding I would have seen three were off the Oysterbeds at the same time!! This juvenile Shag was on a channel marker and the Mulberry Harbour had about 150 (visible) waders roosting on it, nearly all Turnstones. And no colour ringed gulls today. Last week's BHG was a two year old ringed as age class 3 near Widnes.

Wednesday's PB outing had plenty of the usual suspects but with heavy flooding the birds were all well scattered. Five Pochard were probably the most I've seen there ever. PJ/BJ had the three White-fronted Geese and two of the eagles from Rackham which is why we couldn't find them at Pulborough!!

*EDIT February 2014 saw 20 Pochard at Pulborough but only recorded in single figures on two other occasions.

Despite the very sunny conditions and in response to that, lots of visitors, the best on offer were a few Redwings and Fieldfares and two calling Ravens which chased each other all across the reserve and off towards Pulborough village. Still Red Admirals, Common Darters and Buff-tailed Bees on the wing

The view north bound from Bury Hill was stunning with so much flooding.

Below, South Brooks floods from restaurant and Westmead.

A break in the weather...

Some better weather saw a brief outing to Arundel on Tuesday where the two resident Peregrines were perched up and well lit in the sunshine. Fifteen or so Cattle Egrets flew in and a similar number were in the fields south of the reserve on leaving for home so probably 25+ at least.

** EDIT Over 60 Cattle Egret and a dozen Marsh Harriers came in to the roost that night when late opening was available.

One heavily back-lit hovering Kingfisher and a few Chiffchaffs, some singing, were the best-of-the-rest but after the previous weeks of dire weather just being out in the sun was very pleasant and a few hovers, Red Admirals and Common Darters also enjoyed stunning themselves. A lone Marsh Harrier appeared but headed back northwards presumably to return to roost here later in the afternoon.

Titchfield, sunny day.

Monday was the first dry day for some time and warm enough for five species of hoverfly on warm, sheltered Ivy plus a few Common Darters, Buff-tailed Bees, Red Admirals and Vespula spp.

The flurry of south coast Leach's Petrels after Storm Ciaran had finished before I could get out although one was still present at Selesy Bill early today. Typically, offshore at Hill Head today was birdless. 

The water on the reserve was the highest I've seen with both North and South scrapes combined into one sheet of water and so too high for pretty much any birds; last week's Snipe count of 75+ was down to zero!

The Frying Pan and area to the south held most of the birds including plenty of the five common gull species and three Glossy Ibises, the first time I've seen them for a while.

Locally, no change with just half a dozen Shovelers going round in circles; and this was one of two patches of Armilleria (probably melea group, commonly known as Honey Fungus).

Last week a quick trip to the Oysterbeds produced the Long-tailed Duck fairly quickly although it disappeared frequently by diving before heading out into the north east corner of the harbour. Five Red-breasted Mergansers were the only other waterfowl and two Ravens were best-of-the-rest on the way back to the car.