A lunchtime walk around Farlington Marshes

Thursday 28th August and in the morning a wryneck was found along the eastern seawall, so at lunchtime I went for a walk around Farlington marshes. I parked up and walked to the main reserve building, behind on the pool were Moorhen and Coot.

I then looked over the stream, reed beds and bushes seeing the following: Little grebe, Little egret, Mute swan, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Sparrowhawk, Black-tailed godwit, Greenshank, Black-headed gull, Woodpigeon, Wren, Robin & Cetti's warbler.

I then walked up to the eastern seawall to start the walk back around to the car park. A number of other birders also looking for the Wryneck, but no more sightings. Looked over the islands and water of this part of Langstone harbour adding, Great crested grebe, Cormorant & OSPREY.

 In with the cattle in the field near the deeps were Canada goose, Yellow wagtail, Wheatear, Magpie, Carrion crow and overhead Swallow.

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Further round the seawall there is a small island and on this were an Oystercatcher, a Snipe and four Whimbrel. Moving on to west side where there is a larger island, and on this I found a single Bar-tailed godwit, also Grey heron, Curlew & Redshank.

Then on to the main lake, and on the fence behind were six Whinchats, and nearby were Lapwing and a large flock on Starling.

2014 Year List = 215

Oops forgot about The Burgh

Friday 15th August, as traffic reports on the radio about the M23 & M25, were about long delays, I made my way home across country from Brighton to Farnborough. so on the way I dropped into The Burgh which is near North Stoke.
Seeing the following, Red kite, Kestrel, Peregrine, Ring-tailed Harrier (Species?), GREY PARTRIDGE, Pheasant, Lesser black-backed gull, Herring gull, Woodpigeon, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Whitethroat, Carrion crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch & Linnet.

 2014 Year List = 212

Farlington Marshes after work for the Whinchats

20th August, After reading the report on Goingbirding.co.uk about 7 Whinchats on Farlington marshes and recieving an E-mail from John Shillitoe. I went to Farlington marshes after work, seeing the following: Little egret, Grey heron, Mute swan, Canada goose, Mallard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Black-tailed godwit, Whimbrel, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Woodpigeon, Sand martin, Swallow, Meadow pipit, Robin, WHINCHAT (3 together along the fence behind the main lake), Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling and Goldfinch.
2014 Year List = 214

Pook Lane, Warblington

Wednesday 20th August at lunchtime I parked up at the end of Pook Lane Warblington, then had a walk down to view the salt marsh, and then up to view Langstone mill pond (LMP), seeing Cormorant, Little egret (15 in the trees at the back of LMP), Grey heron (2 in the trees at the back of LMP), Mute swan, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover (12), Dunlin, Black-tailed godwit, Curlew, Redshank, GREENSHANK (1), Black-headed gull, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Swallow, Yellow wagtail (7 in field with cows), Robin, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Starling, House sparrow and Goldfinch.
2014 Year List = 213

Southmoor Lane, Havant

Tuesday 19th August at lunchtime I parked up at the end of Southmoor Lane Havant, then had a walk around looking out over Langstone harbour, and then up to view the Budd's sewage farm pools, seeing Little grebe, Great crested grebe, Cormorant, Little egret, Grey heron, Canada goose, Mallard, Tufted duck, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Whimbrel (1 feeding near sewage farm outfall), Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed gull, Lesser Black-backed gull, Herring gull, Common tern, Woodpigeon, Sand Martin, Swallow, Meadow pipit, Chiffchaff, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling and Linnet.

Long-tailed Skua East Beach Selsey

I tried for the Long-tailed Skua on Wednesday 13th August, I parked in the church Norton CP and walked along to East Beach to join some other birders. One had seen the L-T Skua but only as it flew away, the other 3 had not. The birder then said how photographers were on their bellies crawling closer and closer when a low flying Black-headed gull, gave the Skua a reason to leave, chasing this gull. We looked and waited until 19:00, and then left having dipped.

On Thursday 14th I was again working down in Brighton, so as the L-T Skua was again been reported on East Beach Selsey, after work I headed straight there, but this time I parked up at the end of Park Copse. I walked straight out onto the beach, and to my surprise there were no others birders in sight. Out with the binoculars and scope and I started to scan up and down the beach, when I located the L-T Skua sat down amongst the groynes. I slowly walked up the beach towards the skua, took some photos, moved closer and watched the bird for a while and then took some more pictures. I was about to leave when it stood up and started to preen, so I stayed a little longer and again took some more photos as this was a new bird for my UK life list. Other birds seen, Cormorant, Little egret, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Great Black-backed gull, Common tern & Carrion crow.

2014 Year List = 211

Brighton Marina East Sussex Tuesday 12th August 2014

Birds seen on a lunchtime walk: Cormorant, Mute Swan, Ringed Plover, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed gull, Feral Pigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling & House Sparrow.