A male Red-backed Shrike at Church Norton.

Saturday 7th September 2024.

The gorgeous male Red-backed Shrike at Church Norton this morning.

I picked the guys up a little later than normal and on reaching Andy’s house, the first port of call was going to be his Moth Box. Due to a lot of rain overnight over the past few days, I have relented in putting my Moth Box on and thankfully, Andy had his on overnight. Our day was going to be spent firstly in the West Sussex area, for a superb male Red-backed Shrike had been found by the Paddocks at Church Norton yesterday and was still present this morning. Subsequently, a Wryneck had been found near Manor Farm, Hamble and though tempting, the weather really didn't improve as the rain got steadily heavier as the day wore on. So, as Andy still needed an Osprey for his Hampshire year list, we finished the day off at Broadmarsh for a superb Osprey on the North Binness Islands, within Langstone Harbour.

Andy’s Moth Box, Cowplain Marsh:

My first Burnished Brass moth for the year.

A total of 29 moths of 12 species were counted this morning and some quality moths were among them too. My first Burnished Brass moth of the year was a real stunner and a Portland Ribbon Wave was a ‘first’ for both Geoff and Andy. There were good numbers of both Large Yellow Underwings and Square-spot Rustics and a really tatty Old Lady moth was a nice moth to see too.

This Portland Ribbon Wave was a great find in Andy's garden.

The moths recorded in total here included the following:

MACRO MOTHS:

• Light Emerald
• Burnished Brass (New for Year)
• Portland Ribbon Wave
• Large Yellow Underwing 8
• Lesser Yellow Underwing 3
• Square-spot Rustic 8
• Pale Mottled Willow
• Old Lady
• Silver Y
• Double-striped Pug

MICRO MOTHS:

• Light Brown Apple Moth
• Common Plume 2

Church Norton & Offshore, West Sussex.

The male Red-backed Shrike.

A Red-backed Shrike, especially a male, is a quality bird and I expected the car park at Church Norton to be packed; but fortunately, there were a few spaces left. I met fellow ‘Lazee’ Grahame Loader within the car park as he showed us a superb photo on his camera of the said Shrike; though he had to wait an hour or so for the bird to reappear earlier this morning. Thankfully for us, the bird remained in situ where he told us it would be and got my camera ready………..bloody disaster! The bird was showing extremely well just below where we stood overlooking one of the Paddocks, but hey ho, the battery in my camera was completely flat! While I spent the next five minutes throwing a right verbal ‘paddy’, I decided to try my luck in digiscoping it and thankfully, I think it paid off. The bird did show very well and used various perches until flying off distantly to perch again on some bramble by the reedbed further west.

Above and below, the male Red-backed Shrike.

Happy with my photos and seeing such a superb bird (only my third time ever I have seen a male bird in the UK), we decided to check out the huge Gull flock offshore. Grahame had told us that a juvenile Sabine’s Gull (seen around 7am and seen to fly off west), several Black Terns, an Osprey and an Arctic Skua were offshore at Selsey Bill; therefore it was worth checking this large group of Gulls. When we got to the beach overlooking the sea, the Gulls had nearly vanished, but Geoff picked out a large flock on the beach further west. In fact, there must have been at least around 70+ Gulls here and 75% of them were all Mediterranean Gulls. In fact, scanning the sea behind them, there were even more on the sea; easily 150+ it seems.

A large number of Med Gulls and several Black-headed Gulls were on the beach and also on the sea.

Then using the scope, I looked towards the harbour entrance where there was yet another large flock of Gulls and then I found a Great Skua chasing some of the Gulls to disgorge their food. I quickly got the guys onto the bird and though distant, I got a good look at the bird to rule out a dark-phased Arctic Skua; the said Skua being a much bulkier bird with dark all over body and flashing white patches on the wing. This was yet another new bird for the year; my 210th species of the year.   

Broadmarsh, Bedhampton, Hampshire:

The Osprey on North Binness Island with a passing Black-headed Gull. All my photos today had to be digiscoped.

The Wryneck was seen earlier today and no subsequent sightings it seems and as the weather was looking decidedly wet, I said to Andy and Geoff about trying for the Osprey on North Binness Island. We parked up at Broadmarsh car park as we took our grub (bought earlier) and telescope and quickly checked out the islands. It only took me a few seconds to pick up Andy’s first Osprey of the year, quietly perched on a tree branch on the island. Nearby, I saw a large Egret fishing on the edge of the island and Geoff quickly confirmed through the scope it was in fact a Great White Egret. Two superb birds in a matter of seconds. A little while later, I remembered that fellow ‘Lazee’, Garry Fennemore had seen a Peregrine on the island here during the week and it didn't take too long for me to pick up, not just one, but two Peregrines perched on two different islands!

The Great White Egret by North Binness Island.

I also pointed out a large gathering of Little Egrets on one of the smaller islands with a few Grey Herons among them. Geoff exclaimed that this little island was in fact Round Nap Island. I counted at least 40 Little Egrets on the island, roosting on the island while it was high tide, but that was only on the side of the island facing us. Who knows how many more were on the other side of the island? I did a slow scan over Langstone Harbour and counted at least 22 Great Crested Grebes here on the water. Several flocks of Swallows were flying low over the islands and large flocks of waders, notably Curlew, Oystercatcher and Black-tailed Godwit were seen heading towards Farlington Marshes. As the rain got heavier, I decided to call it a day and took the guys back home.