Thursday 31 December 2009

mainly Sussex (July-December 2009)




Another selection of digital images taken mainly in Sussex before I started a blog.  These are for the second half of 2009.
Mediterranean Gull at Rye Harbour on 4 July
juvenile Mediterranean Gull at Rye Harbour on 4 July
Green Sandpiper at Pett on 4 July

very young Ringed Plover on Southwick Beach on 12 July
and proud parent
Black-tailed Godwit on Sidlesham Ferry on 18 July
approaching full-sized juvenile Ringed Plover on Southwick Beach on 20 July
a bit on the large size to be brooded!
Spotted Redshank at Pagham in 15 August
Melodious Warbler trapped at Whitbread Hollow on 22 August
note appearance of a steep forehead
and left wing appearing longer than the right
Reed Warbler at Beachy Head on 23 August
American Black Tern on Farmoor Reservoir (Oxfordshire) on 29 August, a rare twitch outside Sussex with Martin Casemore
Pied Flycatcher at Beachy Head on 30 August


Spotted Redshank at Pagham on 6 September
Whinchat and Wheatear along the sea wall at Thorney on 6 September
early attempts at digiscoping were not that successful
Long-tailed Tit at Thorney on 6 September


Firecrest at Beachy Head on 10 September



Yellow Wagtail at Beachy on 12 September
Wheatear at Birling on 20 September
Ringed Plover on the Adur on 20 September doing its best to look like something better, it didn't need to as I've become very fond of the species after witnessing their trials on Southwick Beach
Yellow-legged Gull on the Adur at dusk on 21 September
House Martins near the cliff edge at Beachy Head on 26 September
Chiffchaff at Beachy on 26 September
Glossy Ibis from the North Wall at Pagham on 26 September

Pectoral Sandpiper on Hayling Island on 26 September
those I''d seen recently had been distantly at Pulborough so it was nice to see one as well as this.
Tawny Owl at Beachy on 17 October
Lapland Bunting on Pagham North Wall on 31 October
it was exceptionally tame
Black Redstart on a beach hut roof at Lancing on 8 November
local Herring Gull A6AB on the Adur on 15 November
Jersey Greater Black-backed Gull C on the Adur on 21November
Whooper Swans roosting on Ivy Lake on 22 November
light not ideal for photography even if the subject is
leaving roost
Long-eared Owl roosting at Stump Bottom on 22 November
Herring Gull A4AH at the University of Sussex, where it was ringed, in late November
Grey Phalarope at the entrance to Pagham Harbour on 28 November
it didn't linger
Grey Phalarope at Amberley Wildbrooks on 6 December
this one gave amazing views





House Sparrow at our house, 18 December
on our old gutters, 19 December
Water Pipit at Coldwaltham Sewage Works on 20 December
gull on the Adur on 24 December, identified at the time as a Yellow-legged it seems to be at the more interesting end of the spectrum