With no early reports of TD's late-in-the-day Red-necked Phalarope I foolishly assumed that it had departed overnight, similar to the recent Sidlesham bird and chose to pop over to Titchfield with insects and macro-photography in mind. The above Four-spotted Chaser and ovipositing Emperor were watched whilst looking for yesterday's reported Norfolk Hawker - potentially a reserve first. Phania funesta, also above, was the only insect which caught my eye.
Despite checking my phone it was only bumping into IC that alerted me to the RNP being relocated, again on the deeps at Farlington.
The water level on the lake was higher than I've ever seen it in summer, presumably a result of the flooding two months back or a fault with the sluice. It feels as if the powers-that-be might be inclined to sacrifice the reserve in the years ahead rather than fighting the inevitable inundation. Eight or nine seals were hauled out on their usual mud bank and visible from the south-west corner and, a little while later, I arrived at the Deeps where a small crowd of 10+ were watching the phalarope reasonably close before it drifted further out and was then being spooked into flight by an Avocet.
This was a reserve 'tick' and put the Farlington list to one more than Pulborough; maybe, if it's still present, the latter's Savi's Warbler will restore parity!!
