Saturday 28th December 2024.
Sadly, the weather wasn't all that great today, with low overhead clouds, drizzle at times and rather cool at around 8 degrees centigrade. The good news is that there was no wind whatsoever as we headed into West Sussex for a change. Thorney Island was our destination today with a possible Short-eared Owl or Hen-harrier on the cards and we rounded off the day with a trip back into Hampshire over at Woolmer Pond.
Thorney Island, West Sussex:
More Golden Plover streaming over our heads on Thorney Island.
It has been a while since I have been to this superb site and we were in for a real treat when we made our way to the harbour wall over on the east side of Thorney Island. With no wind to hamper our hearing, we watched in awe the many waders present here out in the fields and by the Great Deeps and with a pair of female Marsh Harriers keeping watch, there was so much to look at. Arguably, the best sighting must surely have been the huge number of Golden Plovers flying overhead. Easily over 500+ birds, one could hear their wing beats as they passed overhead, swirling around and then returning back over the island.
Other waders present in large numbers included Dunlin, Grey Plover, Redshank, Lapwing and Curlew and also a flock of 30+ Avocets seen flying over the Great Deeps. A Greenshank was seen flying over the footpath and disappearing into the harbour while it or a second bird was seen further south near the harbour wall. While checking out the Greenshank through the scope, a Kingfisher was found perched on the harbour wall. I was too slow to digiscope the bird as it flew over the harbour and landed on rocks to the north.
The tide was up within Chichester Harbour as I checked out the water through the scope and found at least three Red-breasted Mergansers (a drake and two female birds) and up to four Great Crested Grebes on the still calm water. A couple of Rock Pipits flew over as did a flock of Linnets heading north over the site. Geoff found a female Peregrine sitting out in the fields, but again, too quick for me to digiscope the bird as it flew off north. Unexpectedly, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the bushes by the harbour wall and then flew off northbound. Checking the waders out over the harbour, I picked up a flock of Black-tailed Godwit containing at least 50+ birds flying close to the Chidham harbour wall and among them, a smaller flock of Dunlin were also present. To be honest, I could have stayed here a lot longer and who knows what would have flown in. However, there was the west side of Thorney Island to explore.
Parking up by the Water Treatment Works, we made our way along ‘dog-crap alley’, which is the footpath leading to the harbour wall on the west side, where one has to be very careful not to tread on the dog mess that so many dog-walkers blatantly just leave. Plus I could not believe how many dog poo-bags had been left behind here. I think it's time the Council actually closes this footpath and ban all dogs here or heavily prosecute the offenders.
On finally reaching the harbour wall, there was a large flock of Wigeon to greet us, with a few Brent Geese among them loafing on the water. On reaching the Little Deeps, we took a break for a cup of coffee and picked out a few Tufted Duck and a drake Pochard on the water. There was no sign of any Bearded Tits or even Reed Buntings within the reeds which was eerily quiet. However, a male Kestrel was hovering close to the harbour wall and then seen flying off close northbound with a Shrew in its talons! Looking south, I swore we saw a Diver species, that quite possibly have been the Black-throated Diver seen earlier this week nearby. It was most definitely a Diver and I was pretty sure it had white on the flanks; but when we got closer to the bird, it simply vanished!
On reaching the Great Deeps, while enjoying another coffee, the Great Deeps held a good variety of birds. On our way to the Great Deeps, a pair of Kingfishers were seen flying up and down and afforded some excellent views now and then. It was seen later on with a fish in its bill after a successful catch in the corner of the Great Deeps. From the Sluice, there were a large number of wildfowl present including three Mergansers that swam with the many Coots present. Along the watersedge and further east, there were Teal, Pintail, Mallard and Shelduck present in good numbers and a large flock of Brent in the field to the south and a small group of three Grey Lags were behind these.
A few Grey Herons were around here, either fishing or simply just standing there and one individual we watched actually caught a mouse/vole!!! Surprisingly, only one Little Egret was noted and no sign of any Great White Egrets here today or Cattle Egrets; normally good for these species here. A second winter Mediterranean Gull was a nice surprise swimming on the water here along with two Little Grebes. On our way back to the car, a Chiffchaff flitted about the brambles by the footpath briefly and then we had to run the gauntlet of that dreaded footpath back to the car, but not before meeting and chatting to both Barry and Margaret Collins; regulars to this wonderful place.
Woolmer Pond, Bordon, Hampshire:
The weather was still no better here at Woolmer Pond and a bit of drizzle had set in too, but it eventually stopped as we made our way from the small car park near Greatham village and crossed the road to make our way to the perimeter by the Pond. Blue Tits and a few Long-tailed Tits were seen in the Silver Birch trees, but there was very little on the Pond itself. A few Tufted Duck and a Canada Goose was all we could find on the water as we made our way north to the Cottage and then onto the heath through Woomer Forest.
After having lunch within the Cottage grounds, we made our way to the heath on the other side of the Forest, but there was hardly anything seen. A couple of Crows flew over and the odd Wood Pigeon, but simply no other birds were noted. Shame really, for it has always had something good to look at here, but not today. One could clearly see the damage caused by the fire here last year with the base of the Conifers all charred, but out on the heath where a lot of the heather was burnt away. Purple Moor Grass has replaced the heather, but I am sure the heather will come back again, for it is such a hardy plant.
Again, it was rather quiet on the way back, but we eventually found a lot of bird activity where we came across a large group of Goldcrests. In fact, a particular small conifer held over 15+ Goldcrests and with more nearby, I can safely say that I have never seen so many Goldcrests in one spot! Even a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew out of the trees here and headed off north. To round off our trip here, a pair of Egyptian Geese were flying over the east side of the Pond heading south. Yes, the weather was pretty naff, but it was quiet and peaceful here as we bid farewell to this superb site.
