A pair of Garganey on the Severals.

Saturday 2nd April 2022.

The pair of Garganey on the Severals this morning and eventually showing very well. 

Another very cold start to the day as I scraped ice off my windscreen before making my way north to pick Andy up. As expected, his moth box failed to pick up a single moth as I checked his egg trays thoroughly, but it drew a blank. I had made my decision to head east into West Sussex and try our luck first at Chichester Gravel Pits for there had been some nice birds of late reported this week there.  

Above, there were quite a few Chiffchaffs singing along the path by Ivy Lake. Below, Pochard were in good numbers too, with this lovely drake preening in the morning sunshine.

We were hoping for a few migrants along the footpath, for example some Hirundines, but we found none over the lakes, despite a good search. Andy managed to grab his first Blackcap of the year, with a bird flying out of a bush and flying away from us; so not really the greatest view for your first of the year. Chiffchaffs were in good voice with at least four birds seen singing along the footpath and a few Cetti’s Warblers put in an appearance also. An early Willow Warbler or Sedge Warbler would have been nice, but no sign of either this morning.

Above, a Great Crested Grebe also preening in the sunshine on Deep Lake. Below, a pair of Egyptian Geese swimming across East Lake. 

There is a pair of Red-crested Pochards that have been seen on either Ivy Lake on Copse Lake and apparently, one of the ‘Lazee Birders’ found them this morning on the latter site, though both Andy and myself never saw the birds. However, there were a good number of Pochard around today as well as Tufted Duck, Mallard and Great Crested Grebes and in this bright sunshine, they really stood out nicely. Other notable sightings here included a pair of Egyptian Geese on one of the Lakes and also a fine looking Black Swan, that surely will be on the British List soon? Both Grey-lag and Canada Geese were in good numbers still, with a pair of the former being quite approachable on the main path.

Above, so when will the Black Swans make it onto the British list? This bird was on Copse Lake this morning. Below, a Great Spotted Woodpecker perched up high on a tree above us and began drumming!

On Runcton Lake, off Peckham's Copse Lane, the Cormorants were nest building there in the bushes and trees, but apart from a few Little Grebes on the water, all was quiet here. However, the trees held a fine Great Spotted Woodpecker just above us and both Chiffchaff and Blackcap were present too. The walk back did not produce anything new on our way back, though we had a quick chat with Jay Bee (one of the Lazee Birders) and then got back into the car and headed to Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

Above, a Buff-tailed Bumble bee enjoying the Blackthorn flowers by Sidlesham Ferry Pool and below, does this look like Andy is enjoying sitting in the Hide overlooking the Ferry Pool, enjoying a cup of coffee and going for 3 'year ticks' today?

Even the Ferry Pool was quiet, with just four Black-tailed Godwit present among the Shelduck, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall and Mallard resting on the edge of the pool. The water level was high on the Ferry Pool, so that ruled out any exciting waders. Out in the fields, a Common Buzzard was seen perched on the radio mast and a distant male Kestrel flew around the field behind the Ferry Pool.

Above, Wigeon, Shoveler, a Black-headed Gull and a couple of Black-tailed Godwit resting beside the Ferry Pool and below, my first Marsh Marigolds in bloom on the large pool behind the Hide.  

Church Norton was our next destination however, the churchyard was very quiet with only a few Robins to look at. We sat on the old bench overlooking the churchyard, the same bench I sat on with old friends some 40 years ago and had my sandwiches on. God, it brought back memories. Where has all that time gone? We made our way to the harbour and the tide was slowly on the rise. The Tern Island held both Mediterranean Gulls and Black-headed Gulls, although I think the latter was the dominant species. A good number of Sandwich Terns were also present among them. There was a flock of around a dozen Black-tailed Godwits close in on the mudflats and good numbers of both Curlew and Redshank, but no other waders could be found. I really needed my scope to check the birds further out and although I did not have it, I got the phone call this morning from Cley Spy to say it is on its way back to me next Tuesday. Huzzah!

Above, Curlews were dotted around on the foreshore in Pagham Harbour. Below, good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits were in the harbour too. 

We took a walk south to the beach and I was very angry with a couple of dog walkers who let their dogs off their leads and duly ran out onto the mudflats to chase the birds. I think my language towards them had them hastily keeping their distance from me, but I shall be reporting this to the RSPB later. There is a petition going on to ban all dogs off leads on RSPB reserves and I for one, being a dog owner myself, will sign it post haste. We got to the comfy bench and chilled out for a bit overlooking the harbour, enjoying a pair of Linnets by the hedge. I did pick up what looked like a pair of Glossy Ibis some distance away flying high over the harbour, but too distant to be certain.

Med and Black-headed Gulls, Oystercatchers and Sandwich Terns in front of Tern Island within the harbour. Below, the drake Garganey on the Severals pool. 

There were no Wheatears on the beach, which was disappointing, but when we got to the second ‘Several’ pool, where there had been a pair of Garganey all week here, we checked out the pool thoroughly but only found a few Little Grebes and a pair of Mallard. However, a little while later, Andy gave the shout that the Garganeys were on show and sure enough, out popped a beautiful pair of our first Garganeys of the year, right out in the centre of the pool. Sure was a cracking sight. Earlier, a female Sparrowhawk flew low over the reedbed, heading towards the Priory. 

Above, a Roe Deer in fields from Grange Lane. A couple of late Redwing among a variety of Thrushes was a surprise in a garden along Rectory Lane. 

We then took a walk behind the reedbeds to Greenlease Farm, hoping for a Black Redstart lurking about by the building work, but despite a lengthy search, we could not find any (3 were reported earlier in the week here), but we did have a pair of Green Woodpeckers in the adjacent field and another Great Spotted Woodpecker. Walking back down Rectory Lane to the car park, the owner of a very large lawned garden held a variety of Thrushes that included 4 Blackbirds, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Song Thrush and even 2 Redwing! Just a shame a Ring Ouzel wasn't among them, but that's just being greedy! 

This Mistle Thrush was also on the same lawn as the Redwing. We found three Foxes in total in the same garden on Selsey Bill, all enjoying the sunshine.

For lunch, Andy and I made our way to a Fish & Chip shop in Selsey village and taking our lunch to the seafront, we enjoyed very close views of a Turnstone walking just a few feet away from my car! Over the very calm sea, an adult Gannet flew past, but our quest here was the Black Redstart that was in the gardens earlier this morning. Andy spotted it first, a flash of red tail that disappeared behind a hedge. We waited patiently for the bird to reappear and around 15 minutes later, it duly obliged, a fine female individual that showed very nicely for us. Other sightings here included another Chiffchaff and a possible Willow Warbler. I didn't see the leg colouring of the bird, but it was a very bright individual as it flitted around the gardens and then flew off north. Back over the sea, another adult Gannet drifted east low over the water, but little else and so homeward bound it was, but not before treating ourselves to a delicious ice-cream from the nearby van. Happy days. The Black Redstart was Andy’s third ‘year-tick’ of the year while it was just the one for me today; 161 species for the year.   

Above, the female Black Redstart finally gave herself up and posed nicely for us. Below, one of two Gannets that flew past the Bill heading east in the afternoon.