Pulborough and the Adur (5-6 July 2014)

Sunday 6 July.  Megan and I visited Pulborough Brooks RSPB reserve.  There was a prolonged clay pigeon shoot near the South Brooks which unsurprisingly were almost birdless but the North Brooks were excellent with 12 Little Ringed Plovers (including 2 juveniles), 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Greenshank and 2 Green Sandpipers.  Other highlights were two Nightingales hopping about on the path.

one of the two Greenshank at Pulborough Brooks

The Migration Atlas (2002) states that for Scottish breeders at least the females typically depart in late June or early July leaving the male to care for the young.  My assumption that these early returning summer-plumaged birds might be failed breeders would therefore seem likely to be wide of the mark.

Saturday 5 July.  I woke late to find a surprisingly strong wind which had me thinking of a seawatch.  A look at the pager to discover a Black-browed Albatross had flown east past Portland Bill reinforced that view although the reality from Widewater was just Gannets and a few Sandwich Terns.  There was perhaps not enough south in the wind to bring anything else into view of the coast.  A low tide visit to the Adur added two more Sandwich Terns, not that regular, and 3 North Thames colour-ringed Herring Gulls.  5 Carrion Crows, a pair with 3 young, were the most I've seen in our back garden.

one of two white-winged Crows seen on the Adur.  These or similar birds have been seen regularly on the eastern side of the Adur for almost as long as I can remember

North Thames Herring Gull AU9T.  Ringed as a 1CY at Rainham Tip in December 2011, it was seen at Pitsea (Essex) the following month and on the Adur 3 times between May-July 2013.

North Thames Herring Gull TM9T.  A well travelled bird first ringed as a 1CY at Pitsea (Essex) in September 2010 and seen on the Adur in March & July 2013 and now May & July 2014

the wanderings of TM9T (from North Thames Gull Group, http://www.ntgg.org.uk/)

North Thames Herring Gull GY1T.  One I've not seen before - the 98th colour-ringed gull I've seen on the River Adur (between the old Toll Bridge and the harbour entrance.

Monday 30 June- Friday 4 July.  Mainly just Swifts over our road/house with up to 20 daily.  A Peregrine was on the Power station chimney on Friday evening and a Great Spotted Woodpecker seen or heard in St. Anne's Well Gardens, Hove a couple of times while visiting mum and dad.