Shoreham and Lancing (26-31 May 2025)

Monday 26 May. Lancing Ring with Megan and Otis: Grey Partridge heard, Red Kite, 2 Buzzards, Kestrel, 7 Skylarks, 2 Swallows, House Martin, 6 Whitethroats, Meadow Pipit and 5 Corn Buntings.

Corn Bunting on Lancing Ring

Thursday 29 May 2025. Adur circuit with Megan and Otis: Great Crested Grebe, 2 Oystercatchers, Whimbrel, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Skylarks, Cetti's Warbler heard, 4 Whitethroats, Meadow Pipit, 2 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches.

Friday 30 May 2025. Lancing Hill TQ1806 Farmland Bird Survey with Otis: 4 Stock Doves, 90 Woodpigeons, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, 10 Skylarks, 2 House Martins, 2 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, 2 Lesser and 9 Common Whitethroats, 4 Song Thrushes, female Stonechat, 4 Linnets, 5 Goldfinches and 3 Corn Buntings.

Saturday 31 May 2025. Adur/Cuckoos Corner: 2 Oystercatchers (carrying worms into Ricardo), Grey Plover, Grey Heron, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Buzzards, Skylark, 15 House Martins (collecting mud), Cetti's and Reed Warblers heard, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Linnets and 3 Reed Buntings.

immaculate Grey Plover at Cuckoos Corner

Reed Bunting at Cuckoos Corner

GALAPAGOS part 7: Espanola (17 May 2025)

 GALAPAGOS part 7: Espanola (17 May 2025)

Saturday 17 May 2025. ESPANOLA. Albatross day. I was on deck before breakfast to find us anchored off Gardner Bay. Not much was evident other than Elliot’s Storm Petrels so I’d have to wait for an albatross. After breakfast a beach landing and we spent an hour walking around the bay, again not being allowed into the vegetation. Espanola Mockingbird was easily found but Espanola Ground Finch only gave brief views and I was told off by another group's guide for crossing a couple of bramble-like runners at the top of the beach trying for a better view. We were back on the Chacalote Explorer at 09:30 with a good panga ride around the bay from 10:30-11:30 while some were snorkeling nearby. Lunch was followed by a slow cruise along the coast to anchor off Punta Suarez where four other boats were waiting to land ahead of us (being the last to land was judged to be optimal although the wait was frustrating). At least Waved Albatrosses were flying over the island, although at some distance, and my time was spent hoping for a close flyby and taking just-about recognizable photos when one didn't materialise. Watching waves swamp the lower deck of Cormorant II, a larger cruise boat that had run aground in March (fortunately with no fatalities), brought home how dangerous the sea could be and the sensibility of Enchanted Expeditions running the Chacalote Explorer and Beluga in fairly close proximity on the same route. We landed at 15:45 and followed a marked trail around the coast and through the albatross colony. Absolutely amazing with the highlight being a pair of albatrosses displaying - head swaying and bill clapping with a bit of mutual preening thrown in. A magical place which exceeded all expectations. We left at 18:00 as the light was fading. Having the last landing slot was definitely a good call by Darwin. Birds seen on Espanola were 80 Galapagos Doves, 2 Wandering Tattlers, 38 Swallow-tailed Gulls, 4 Red-billed Tropicbirds, 60+ Waved Albatrosses, 8 Elliot’s Storm Petrels, 18 Galapagos Shearwaters, 20 Magnificent Frigatebirds, 155 Nazca and 16 Blue-footed Boobies, 3 Brown Pelicans, a lone Western Cattle Egret, Galapagos Hawk, 19 Espanola Mockingbirds, 2 Grey Warbler-Finches and 16 Small and 5 Espanola Ground Finches.

Espanola Mockingbirds at Gardner Bay

me photographing Espanola Mockingbird (photo: Phyllida Bolam)

the photo just taken

Galapagos Dove at Gardner Bay

Small Ground Finch at Gardner Bay

Grey Warbler-Finch at Gardner Bay

Cormorant II aground at Punto Suarez

taken soon after we landed, from the breakwater it had run aground on

Lava Lizard at Punta Suarez

Marine Iguana at Punta Suarez

those on Espanola are red and black

Espanola Ground Finch at Punta Suarez

much better views than those earlier at Gardner Bay

Galapagos Hawk on a nest at Punta Suarez

Blue-footed Booby at Punta Suarez

Nazca Boobies at Punta Suarez

juvenile Nazca Booby

ALBATROSS!!!

Waved Albatrosses at Punta Suarez

Waved Albatrosses displaying

this one was ringed

Swallow-tailed Gulls at Punta Suarez

young Brown Pelican in the surf at Punta Suarez

back on the Chacalote Explorer

Cormorant II taking another battering

sunset at Punta Suarez