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