Temminck's Stint brings up the 200.

Tuesday 9th August 2022.

A record shot of the Temminck's Stint on the Ferry Pool this afternoon despite the heat-haze. It brought up my 200th species for the year before it was eventually flushed by a Sparrowhawk. 

A Temminck's Stint was reported again on Sidlesham Ferry Pool late morning on Birdguides and so needing just one more species for the 200 for the year, I made my way early afternoon along the A27 eastbound to view the bird. The best time to get a look at the bird was probably in the morning, for when I arrived, all I could find were a small flock of four Dunlin. It took a fellow birder to find the bird and trying to photograph the Temmincks in that heat haze at the back of the Ferry Pool proved challenging.

Above and below, Black-tailed Godwit were in good numbers still on the Ferry Pool. Water is somewhat scarce due to this heatwave we are all now experiencing.

 

The good news was it was still there and although not quite at the back of the Pool, it was still a bit distant and the heat haze was a problem. After watching it for around ten minutes, a male Sparrowhawk flew low over the Pool and put up all the waders, including the Stint and that was the last we saw of it. A few old birders joined me and this other chap and asked if the Stint was still there and to their disappointment, we told them that the bird had been flushed. Apparently, it did return a lot later in the early evening along with a juvenile Cuckoo.

Blue-tailed Damselfly were the only species present this afternoon on the small pool.

There were at least 75+ Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Lapwing, 4 Redshank and 4 Dunlin still present, though this morning, there were 3 Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper, but they had gone. The male Sparrowhawk remained at the edge of the Pool within a small bush, but soon disappeared. Common Buzzards numbered at least four birds, including one that landed in the same bush as the Sparrowhawk earlier. I gave the bushes within the fields a good look for a possible Whinchat, but no diamonds.

A Grass Snake showed briefly on the pool.

I soon got a bit restless and hot (creeping up to 30 degrees again!) and so made my way back to view the small Pool again and though there were no Dragonflies around this time, there were a few Blue-tailed Damselflies flying around. One of the Grass Snakes came out of hiding briefly and swam across the water until hiding behind some vegetation. Whirligig Beetles were present close by as were a few Pondskaters on the calm water, but no sign of any Marsh Frogs today. Never mind, I was more than happy with what was there. 

One of the Common Buzzards by the Ferry Pool.

The Squacco Heron was present again in its usual place along with 60+ Cattle Egret nearby in the roost. A Great White Egret had joined the roost later in the evening. Back in Hampshire, a Roseate Tern and two Black Terns were off Hill Head this evening.