Sussex and Cornwall (March-May 2010)

Some digital images taken before I started a blog:

Black-necked Grebe in the entrance to Shoreham Harbour on 13 March 2010

just in case anyone thought it was actually a holiday photo this should remove any doubts (untrustworthy individuals do try it on)

an early afternoon trip to Piddinghoe where I successfully saw the pair of Garganey present on a small lake.  They were busy feeding and shutter delays meant that they had their heads down in all of the images I took 

Back to the Adur at low tide on 13 March where this fine Mediterranean Gull was digiscoped

Another Mediterranean Gull on the River Adur at low tide.  This one (AHTK) on 21 March had been ringed as an adult at a colony in the Elbe Estuary at Niedersachsen, Germany in May 2009 and had returned there again in April 2010.

Also on 21 March another colour-ringed Mediterranean Gull.  This one (R10A) at Pagham Harbour.  It had been ringed in Belgium in June 2008 and was seen there, on the Isle of Wight and in Pas-de-Calais that year and at Icklesham, Pas-de-Calais and the Isle of Wight in 2009.  It was also back at Icklesham after his sighting.

Moorhen by Shoreham Lock-gates on 24 March.  I was unable to turn it into a more exotic gallinule even if its location would have suggested ship assistance

A low tide evening visit to the River Adur on 29 March produced this very unusual looking Common Gull

White-winged Common Gull, new to science?

This fine Woodchat Shrike on the Lizard on 4 April was the best bird seen on a week's family holiday based in St Ives

it was good to see Choughs in Cornwall too, also at the Lizard on 4 April

the jewellery on some was rather distracting though

spring Wheatears are usually brilliant and this smart male at Shoreham Fort on 17 April was no exception 

Colour-ringed Common Gull (JEA7) on the Adur, also on 17 April, had been ringed as a pullus in Norway the previous summer

Also on 17 April and also ringed in Norway as a pullus the previous year was this Greater Black-backed Gull .  Like the Common Gull above there have been no further sightings of this bird posted by July 2013.

Ringed Plover's nest on Southwick Beach on 23 April.  Two young were raised from this clutch which is a better than average success rate for this very disturbed site.  I'm not sure if the nest was built around the dark lump of rock or that was added later.

Grasshopper Warbler at Greatham on 27 April

Willow Warbler singing in Atlas Square TQ01L on 3 May

Red-rumped Swallow at Arlington Reservoir on 9 May

it gave excellent views but it was still all I could do to follow it with my camera

Nightingale at Pulborough RSPB on 10 May