Blast From The Past - Fulmar, Gulls & Terns.

Fulmar-Skomer, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Common Gull-Little Marlow GP's, Bucks.

Lesser Black-backed Gull-Skomer, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Mediterranean Gull

Herring Gull

Sabine's Gull-Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon.

Black-headed Gull-Selsey, W-Sussex.

Common Tern-Hambleden Lock, Bucks.

Farlington Marshes & Hayling Island, Hants. 2nd March 2008.

Mediterranean Gull.

I joined Roy Rose on the Berkshire Ornithological Club's day visit to Farlington Marshes, Hants, so after an early morning journey to Roy's we headed off to Farlington. We arrived at Farlington Marshes and waited for the rest of the group to turn up, although there were blue skies from time to time the blustery wind conditions soon saw us adding a few layers as we prepared to tour the reserve. As we left the car park a male Sparrowhawk drifted over the top of us giving everybody a good view before it headed out over the reserve. At our first stop we encountered the first Brent Geese and Black-tailed Godwits of the day as well as Wigeon & Teal feeding on the pools, further along the route a Peregrine was found perched on a fence post doing it's best to get out of the strong winds blowing across the reserve. Unfortunately the sea was so far out that many of the wading birds were almost out of sight but whilst scanning the mudflats I did find 2 Common Seals that were relaxing on the shore.

We then headed off to Hayling Island and followed the BOC group leader to a car park where we parked up and made our way along the beachfront. A good selection of Gulls were on display and the usual human offerings caused a melee between them as they fought for scraps around the car park, further along the beachfront 2 Mediterranean Gulls in adult plumage sat in all their splendor calmly watching the world go by, they gave me a good opportunity to get a few shots before somebody disturbed them and off they flew. Other than the Gulls it was quiet, not much activity at sea but 2 waders flying low across the water were later identified as Sanderling. By the time we had walked to what i believe to be "Black Point" we were all a but weary from constantly trudging along what felt like miles of pebbles and a few had to take the weight of their feet while we viewed the area. Looking out across the water we suddenly noticed a head looking back at us, a Common Seal was bobbing up and down in the sea watching us intensely before it disappeared under the water.

We were just about to head back to the car park when a Tern came in to view, I must admit I had to have a double-take as I couldn't believe what I was seeing, "seems a bit early for a Tern" I thought to myself but as it approached us it was clear to see it was a Sandwich Tern. It continued passed us and along the shore line, a big surprise for me to see one so early in the year and it certainly rounded off an enjoyable day.

Added To My Year List.

116. Sanderling

117. Sandwich Tern

Wishmoor Bottom,Berks & Pagham Harbour,West Sussex. 20th October 2007.

Great Grey Shrike.
Mediterranean Gull.
Pomarine Skua.

Little Egret.
Little Stint.
Curlew Sandpiper.

A late planned visit to Pagham Harbour was quickly aranged on Friday evening with one of my bird race team members Roy Rose, we discussed the local sightings and he informed me that he'd already dropped in to Wishmoor Bottom near Camberley to see the Great Grey Shrike that had been showing well since the 14th of October.I made a quick decision that we could probably drop in at Wishmoor on our way to Pagham and with Roy knowing the birds location hopefully we could get good views and be on our way.

On arrival at Wishmoor Roy led the way to where he had seen the Shrike on a previous visit, the sun was shining and with clear blue skies it felt more like spring than Autumn. We made our way from the car and within a few minutes we heard a Goldcrest calling from the conifers alongside the path, then came Coal Tit shortly followed by Stonechat. We arrived at the spot and after a couple of minutes searching we spotted the Great Grey Shrike perched on a small branch, we managed to get a bit closer and had very good views of the bird in fantastic light, a number of other birders where visible dotted around the landscape all looking for the Shrike. It then flew around us and we turned to walk towards where it had headed, Roy's famous last words~Watch out for that ditch!, to which I didn't disappoint~What ditch! Oh that ditch!, down I went disappearing in to the ditch below. After I hauled myself out of the ditch we caught up with the Shrike again which then began to chase a Stonechat across the heath, they both made haste across the heathland with the Shrike trying in vain to catch it's quarry, darting this way and that the Stonechat finally shook the Shrike of it's tail and headed off across in to the gorse. A Meadow Pipit showed well in a bush in front of us as did another gorse specialist!.

Next stop was Selsey Bill, West Sussex, along the seafront a party of a dozen Turnstones scurried along the waters edge, a couple of Pied Wagtails flew over, 2 Linnets were perched on a house roof with a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a single Med Gull was amongst a group of Black-headed and Herring Gulls on the water close to the beach. We made our way to the Lifeboat house and soon spotted a number of Gannets fishing offshore, Greater Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Black-headed Gulls all present. Back in the car and off to Church Norton.

At Church Norton 12 Curlew were feeding in the fields before the Church and on arrival at the church car park we were alerted that a Pomarine Skua was present in the harbour. We arrived to find the Skua still sat on the ground and although it was fairly distant we still had good views. Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Little Egret, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail all present around the harbour and after watching the Pomarine Skua fly off towards Selsey we headed towards the beach. At the beach the usual Turnstones were busy searching the along the incoming tide and out at sea 2 Red-breasted Mergansers drifted past towards Selsey followed by a small group of 7/8 Common Scoter.

We drove back to the Pagham Nuture Reserve and met up with the warden who we'd earlier met watching the Skua, he told us that a Little Stint was on the Ferry Pool so we headed off in search of it. It was still present and fed along the edge of the pool with 2 Avocet nearby. A quick look by the sluice before we headed home proved successful with a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper feeding in the mud.

Added To My Year List.

205. Great Grey Shrike (Wishmoor Bottom, Berks)
206. Gannet
207. Pomarine Skua (Church Norton, West Sussex)*
208. Common Scoter

Added To My Life List.

296. Pomarine Skua