Pagham and Farlington

[Adam Cheeseman]

Had a trip down to Pagham Harbour and then Farlington Marshes this afternoon. Got a total of 79 species.

Went to the Breach Pool first and picked up 3 Spotted Redshank amongst the Black-tailed Godwit. Plenty of Yellow Wagtail around and a few Wheatear too. The sea at the Bill was dead thanks to a rolling sea mist. Sidlesham Pool held little other than 3 Curlew Sandpiper and a couple of Ruff. The harbour held a good selection of the commoner waders at high tide roost plus a few Common and Sandwich Terns and a pair of eclipse Pintail.

Toddled along to Farlington where there was large numbers of Yellow Wagtail and Swallow over the reedbeds. Raptors were evident with a Buzzard and Kestrel in the grassland (I missed a Peregrine and Marsh Harrier) and out in Langstone Harbour an Osprey sat on top of a post. Several noisy Whimbrel were among the waders on the mudflats, while large numbers of Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit held at least 25 Greenshank, 5 Ruff and a Curlew Sandpiper on the Lagoon. In the side channel there were more Ruff, 3 Green Sandpiper, Bearded Tit pinging in the reeds, a fly through Kingfisher, Cetti's Warbler calling plus several Teal, Mallard, Coot and a lone Dabchick. All around the site, Wheatear perched on top of fence posts. Just before sunset large flocks of Swallow and Yellow Wagtail rose up and swirled over the reedbeds. Fantastic sight to end the day with a beautiful sunset to boot.

Cheers,

Adam

[Adam Cheeseman]

3 Spotted Redshank and a Black-tailed Godwit


Spotted Redshank


Wheatear

[Jason Claxton]

Lucky you Adam,I tried to get into the Farlington carpark the other day and a certain building or gravel extraction company? wouldn't let us in ,so we were stuck half out on the Farlington roundabout.

Just being nosy really did you see what they were up to on your visit,maybe sea defences or laying down a track,filling holes in the carpark maybe?.We went off to Hayling Island in the end.


Jason.

[billybirder]

Originally Posted by Jason Claxton

Just being nosy really did you see what they were up to on your visit,maybe sea defences or laying down a track,filling holes in the carpark maybe?.We went off to Hayling Island in the end.


Jason.

Been avoiding the car park there for a while now.. no idea what's going on! Hayling was wonderful today although I am a little bit biased . I still haven't spotted osprey this year, but of the birds perched on the posts I dreamed one was an osprey.. now a friend tells me she has seen a large grey bird perched on the posts.. her description matches a grey heron but I have never seen one on a post.. what do you think??

[Jason Claxton]

Originally Posted by billybirder

Been avoiding the car park there for a while now.. no idea what's going on! Hayling was wonderful today although I am a little bit biased . I still haven't spotted osprey this year, but of the birds perched on the posts I dreamed one was an osprey.. now a friend tells me she has seen a large grey bird perched on the posts.. her description matches a grey heron but I have never seen one on a post.. what do you think??

Ah Billy,I think it was Hayling Billy? that we were at,nice name then Billybirder,I saw some Yellow Wagtails in with the horses ,down to the left from the car park.

Yes Grey Herons can sit around on posts,it could be.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by billybirder

Been avoiding the car park there for a while now.. no idea what's going on! Hayling was wonderful today although I am a little bit biased . I still haven't spotted osprey this year, but of the birds perched on the posts I dreamed one was an osprey.. now a friend tells me she has seen a large grey bird perched on the posts.. her description matches a grey heron but I have never seen one on a post.. what do you think??

Ospreys on a post viewed across the width of the harbour through a 'scope look dark brown and white, surprise surprise. Even the breast band stands out.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by Jason Claxton

Lucky you Adam,I tried to get into the Farlington carpark the other day and a certain building or gravel extraction company? wouldn't let us in ,so we were stuck half out on the Farlington roundabout.

Just being nosy really did you see what they were up to on your visit,maybe sea defences or laying down a track,filling holes in the carpark maybe?.We went off to Hayling Island in the end.


Jason.

Definitely sea defences, but I suspect they are doing the surfacing as well as it seems to have improved. Kamikaze cyclists rode towards me along the drive making little effort to avoid becoming bonnet decorations on my car.

Cheers,

Adam

[Jason Claxton]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Ospreys on a post viewed across the width of the harbour through a 'scope look dark brown and white, surprise surprise. Even the breast band stands out.

Probably the same even with a rush of blood to the head whilst standing on it,yes it can't be an Osprey

[Jason Claxton]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Definitely sea defences, but I suspect they are doing the surfacing as well as it seems to have improved. Kamikaze cyclists rode towards me along the drive making little effort to avoid becoming bonnet decorations on my car.

Cheers,

Adam

Thanks Adam
They are excused for not letting us in then,those tipper trucks will be the downfall of the cyclists there.

[billybirder]

Originally Posted by Jason Claxton

Ah Billy,I think it was Hayling Billy? that we were at,nice name then Billybirder,I saw some Yellow Wagtails in with the horses ,down to the left from the car park.

Yes Grey Herons can sit around on posts,it could be.

Glad you enjoyed my back garden Will look out for the yellow wagtails.. they do like to be around horses! Went on a brief osprey hunt today.. only had about half an hour but saw a wheatear on the shore and in the trees along the Billy (about a mile further south) a lovely view of a spotted flycatcher being somewhat buffeted in this wind..