Saturday 8th October 2022.
The Lake in the sunshine was full of waders when we arrived.
The cold overnight temperatures saw off many moths last night with just four in and around my moth box this morning! Andy’s moth trap had NONE! One Feathered Ranunculus, a Light Brown Apple Moth and 2 Tachystola acroxantha was the sum total from my moth trap and I could only assume Andy’s box had done better at Cowplain Marsh. But, nope; bugger all! Thankfully, that wasn't going to be a premonition of what we were going to see today.
The last sighting of the juvenile Spotted Sandpiper on Farlington Marshes was on Thursday, but I felt we had to try our luck down the reserve today and what with it being a very warm, pleasant wall to wall sunshine sort of day, with hardly any wind (apart from Andy’s bottom!) and on a rising tide, Farlington Marshes came up with some cracking birds. We even managed a parking spot right by the main gate (a real rarity these days!) and then made our way to the Lake area, which was teeming with waders.
Out in the harbour, a large flock of Black-tailed Godwit were feeding on the mudflats and a few Redshank were joined by a Greenshank near the car park. Overhead, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were passing by all the time and a few Migrant Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies were skimming around the Bushes area as we passed by. Quickly checking the Lake, it was full of mostly Dunlin, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit, though I did see at least 5 Common Snipe at the far end of the Lake within the short cut reeds. A few Bearded Tits were heard then seen flying around the reedbeds as were a few Reed Buntings as we slowly walked along.
Making our way towards the Point Field, Brent Geese and Pintail were swimming in the harbour close by and then we bumped into fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ Graeme Loader, who was with a couple of other birders. He had got on the reserve a few hours before and hoped the Spotted Sandpiper was on show around the Deeps area, but to no avail. While chatting to him, a Stonechat was perched on the wire fence along with several Meadow Pipit which were simply everywhere. I checked out the harbour looking south and found good numbers of Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Curlew and Dunlin of which many took flight to probably rest on the Lake.
There were plenty more Stonechats around the Point Field and Deeps area and again, Meadow Pipits were abundant here as well as Goldfinch and Linnet. A lone Song Thrush flew past and the occasional Cetti’s Warbler burst into song. From the Point, we found a pair of Great Crested Grebes swimming offshore, but nothing else of note here. Grabbing one of the small benches, we waited a while to see if there was any sign of the Sandpiper, but all we found was a resting Black-tailed Godwit, a couple of Teal and a juvenile Herring Gull. We did, however, find a White Wagtail chasing insects along the waters edge on the Deeps and a couple of small flocks of House Martins flew over.
From the next bench, a female Sparrowhawk flew close past us and headed west over the reserve. More Reed Buntings were feeding on the seed-heads of the reeds below us and showed well in the bright sunshine. Meadow Pipits were even searching for food on the mud here as we then carried on our walk around the reserve. We came across Jason Crook with a birding pal and he told us that there was no sign of the Spotted Sandpiper today or yesterday, but that did not mean it wasn't still around. He kindly pointed out an Osprey perched on a post distantly within the harbour, which was another bonus, though it really was very distant.
When we reached the next bench, below in the reeds, I caught sight of an ‘Acros’ warbler of which I believe was a Reed Warbler; but at this time of year, one cannot be too sure as Marsh Warblers are very similar in appearance and so we stayed a while as I took quite a few photos of the bird when it eventually showed now and then. Other birds here included another pair of Stonechats and a Chiffchaff as well as a Cetti’s Warbler. Birdguides had put on their site that a Barred Warbler was in a hedgerow near Climping, West Sussex this morning; so checking all warblers seen this morning was paramount.
We were about to walk down the path leading to the Info Building when I quickly checked out something interesting circling the North Binness Islands and we honestly thought we had a Common Crane in our view! I quickly took my scope off my back and set it up as we watched the bird settle on the edge of the island. It turned out to be a Grey Heron and after speaking to Geoff Farewell, who we met a little later, he told us that they outstretch their necks when raptors are nearby! You learn something every day, as they say! In fact, not only was there a pair of Peregrines on the island busy feeding on their catch, but also the Osprey within one of the big dead trees with a fish in its talons!
A little while later, we met up with Geoff Farwell and had a good chat about recent sightings and life in general until we made our way through the Bushes area and to the car. A pair of Common Buzzards soared low overhead and a male Kestrel was seen perched on one of the brambles. Five species of raptor seen today, which wasn't too bad at all. I was tempted to check out the Lake again, but our favourite watering hole (The Chairmaker's Arms) beckoned and so we headed off to Denmead and dipped out on the Little Stint present there. While I am writing this up for my blog, I have just found out that a Baird’s Sandpiper flew over the Lake late afternoon, picked up by local birder Pete Gammage, but sadly, the bird did not settle.
From the Chairmakers Arms pub garden, we had another raptor fest here that included a total of 6 Common Buzzards soaring in one group together and up to 4 Red Kites were counted, including 3 birds together overhead (our 6th species of raptor for the day). Other sightings here included a pair of Ravens over, a small flock of House Martins, a Chiffchaff and a probable Spotted Flycatcher in a bush on the opposite side of the road. Enjoying a refreshing pint of Cider and Cheesy Chips while watching all this going on in the warm sunshine………..absolute bliss!
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