Contributors

Sunday 25 November 2012

Sunday 25th November - Quality of Pics

Disappointed with some of the pics on here I have now upgraded my lens, the first picture has been reduced and takes 5 secs to upload onto the blog.
The second one not reduced took about 1 minute is there any difference in quality

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Sunday 18th November - Dipping in West Sussex

After last weekends bad decision I made another this. Saturdays forecast was not good and Sunday's was very good so I put off the trip to West Sussex until the Sunday. Only to find that the rain didn't happen on the Saturday and the Common Crane at Amberley flew mid morning. Still it left the Hooded Merganser at Pagham and the Red Breasted Goose at Farlington.

I decided to stop first at Pagham, and despite the number of birders after an hour and a half the Hoodie couldn't be found. The Black Brant was a consolation. So set off to Farlington Marshes at the junction of the A3 and A27

 An hour and a half of searching through the 100s of Brent Geese drew a blank, only to be told the Red breasted Goose hadn't been seen today. (came into roost after I left) However the numbers of Dunlin and Knot that were pushed up by the tide was impressive. 
Brent Goose
 A return visit to Pagham only to be told still no sign of the Hoodie (Hasn't been seen since) I set off to West Dean Woods where the trees were in their autumn glory.
 Looking into the sun the Little Owl was in its usual tree
 Looking with the sun behind me the Owl wasn't visible only a crow
A walk along the road by Staple Ash Farm plenty of Chaffinches all the Tits except Willow, no Hawfinch, no Kites and even no Buzzards.

On the way home stopped off at Waltham Brooks hoping for another Owl and still hoping!

Sunday 11 November 2012

Sunday 11th November - Decisions

A chance to go out Birding for the day is it to be over to Pagham for the Hooded Merganser and Red Breasted Goose at Farlington Marshes or to to stay local. With no news of the Merg on saturday I opted to stay local - later to regret as it showed well on the Sunday.

Starting off to walk the dogs at Pett Level a Little Owl flew in front of the truck just past the Smuggler Pub.
Not much else about and later back on the sea wall after breakfast the usual birds and birders.

Heading off to Dunge I stopped off at the Midrips, my first ever visit as Remembrance Sunday there was no firing on the ranges, and also no birds other than 6 Redshanks, a dozen Mute Swans and a Kestrel.

Stopping off at Scotney around 70 Barnacle Geese and 


and 5 Emporer hybrids

 On the fence 4 Stonechats 3 Female
 and 1 male
 From here onto the beach at the point, walking over to the fishing boats the Glaucous was flushed by an angler, and after 2 hours couldn't relocate, however the Yellow Legged Gull posed for the cameras.


 On to the reserve 2 of the 3  Great White Egrets were on Burrows Pit but distant


 Very little at the ARC except the hundred of usual ducks including a couple of female Goldeneye.

At Midley the 2 Whooper Swans were distant with about 40 Mutes

At the Harrier roost 11 Marsh Harriers were over a distant reed bed but the finale was a Barn Owl over my head as I was walking back to the truck.