A 7:30am start and a full car, on what promised to be a challenging day: what a good way to be off for some coastal birding! The forecast was for stiff winds, with moderate cloud and dry all day. Gray Burfoot was driving and leading and Elaine and Ralph were with us. We were to be joined at the coast by Paul Briggs and Doug, a friend from the Wokingham and Bracknell RSPB Local Group.

The advantage of being a small group was soon felt as we all fitted into a sheltered spot at the end of the wall at Selsey Bill. Sea viewing was a real challenge the moment anyone stepped out of the lee. The wind was gusting from the west and the waves reared a couple of metres or more high, with wing-jagged tops. Not easy, but promising! Surprisingly, Sandwich Tern obliged first and regularly. I can’t get used to seeing them here in winter. It was some time before anyone got a glimpse of a passing Diver. Eventually we saw several Red-throated and just one distant and unidentified Auk (markings indistinguishable but wing-beats frantic). A passing Merganser was our only duck. The odd Cormorant raised our hopes of Great Northern, but we were out of luck. A couple of people picked up very distant Gannets, but large gulls often caused false alarms.

There is a limit to masochism, so the thought of warm cars eventually dominated and we repaired to the relative shelter of Church Norton. The calm of the enclosed churchyard produced very little, so we aimed next for the benches on the harbour shingle. Out of the wind it was not that chilly. With the tide well out, we watched an assortment of waders and other birds. There were Lapwing, Golden Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Curlews Oystercatcher, some in large numbers, but only one Ringed Plover and not a single Godwit of either species. Teal was plentiful in the gullies and there were one or two Shelduck. Cormorant and Great Black Backed Gull were at roost and we found a small flock of nine Common Gull.

Such was the general scene as I started to scope up towards the North Wall, attracted by a flock of about 1000 Brent Geese on the wing. Suddenly the nearer sky was full of Lapwing and Golden Plover, a real raptor flush. I scanned the skies above and around them and could not spot the expected Peregrine; but I suddenly noticed a smaller brownish bird flashing like lightning through the top of the flock – a Merlin, and from its colour and apparent ineptitude, a young bird. It was too far off to see in detail, but was unmistakeable in size and style. Soon the others were onto it, but then things calmed down for a while. The scene was re-run two or three times as the little raptor rested and tried again, so everyone had time to enjoy the interaction.

We next walked round to the shingle ridge to check the sea, realising as we did that wind was still very strong. Sea-watching seemed even harder there and our main targets, Slavonian Grebe, were so tiny in the walls of water. One or two were glimpsed by some of the group, while others spotted the odd Merganser, and some found a Grey Seal. It was impossible to see well in the dull grey light which now prevailed. With vibrating scopes and unable to hear each other, we soon retreated. I love sea-watching, but there is a limit!

After a snack, we drove up to check Ferry Pools and the creek. With all the recent rain, the pool was very full and there were relatively few birds – Teal, Shoveler, a couple of Tufted Duck and a couple of Little Grebe. Wigeon were grazing in the rough grass behind, a Heron stalked along a gully and a pair of Stonechat showed briefly. The creek had several Redshank and Moorhen, but nothing else.

We stopped on the way home at Emsworth, where a Spotted Redshank is almost guaranteed. Gray and I had seen one there before and we had been assured by several eminent Hampshire birders that it was there ‘all the time, year after year’. This time it had left a Common Redshank on duty and gone to bed. When no-one else saw my Rock Pipit my day had gone really flat!

The final stop was at Warblington to seek out the Cattle Egret. We found two or three among a few Little Egret, but these all had to be spotted among a flock of several hundred large gulls. Under normal circumstances I would have been scouring the gulls for interest, but the light was going fast and, frankly, I was now too exhausted to bother.

It had been a great day out, thanks to Gray’s planning and thanks to his generosity in doing the driving.

Ray Reedman

The delayed Monday trip to Pennington Marsh took place on November 28th with nine members in attendance.

After a slightly delayed start due to heavy rain, we walked down the eastern edge of Fishtail Lagoon finding amongst other things: Pintail, Teal, Wigeon, Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Rock and Meadow Pipit. A Great Black-backed Gull was feeding on a carcass and we heard Cetti’s Warbler and Curlew.

Due to flooding we were unable to reach the seawall and turned back and inland to traverse the northern edge of Butts Lagoon. Not much to see here on the water save for a Snipe but in the surrounding shrubs we found a group of Song Thrush, Dartford Warbler, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Stonechat, Goldfinch and a Kestrel.

Two of the group decided it was easier to slide down the muddy embankment rather than walk down and spent the rest of the trip “a brighter shade of brown.” The path to Pennington Lagoon became very difficult but we reached the seawall with judicious use of our tripods as a third leg.

On the corner of the lagoon and the seawall, by the jetty, we had tremendous and prolonged views of a Dartford Warbler feeding in the gorse. The bird was out in the open for at least five minutes and many photos were taken. Unfortunately, I had forgotten my camera.

The lagoon itself did not provide us with much save for a group of 12 Snipe and a few Redshanks. Turnstones were on the beach as usual and a pair of Eider were offshore with some Great Crested Grebes. A few more Stonechat and another Dartford were found on the water’s edge at Oxey Lagoon. We spent some time here looking in vain for the day’s “rarity”, but no luck. By this time we were getting hungry so we completed the circuit via Oxey Barn.

On Pennington Marsh, by the car park, the field was awash with birds: Canada and Greylag Geese, Golden Plover, Pintail, Teal, Lapwing and Shoveler. A Great Black-backed Gull appeared to kill a “duck” by continually dunking it in the water before feasting on it.

After lunch we drove round to Normandy Marsh. On Eight Acre Lake we found a small group of Little Grebe, and Maiden Dock provided a “gulp” or “flight” (depends which book you read) of Cormorants in fishing mode.

We are now coming to the most productive area, Normandy Marsh. You name it, it was here. Hundreds of Dunlin and Ringed Plover, Avocet, Greenshank, Redshank, Red-breasted Merganser, Shoveler, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Black-tailed Godwit and Spotted Redshank.

On the corner of the lagoon and sea we found the “promised” bird, a Slavonian Grebe which conveniently fished alongside a Great Crested Grebe so that a size comparison could be made. Out on the sandbars there were more Dunlin and Grey Plover with more Lapwing.

Highlights of the day were five or six different sightings of Dartford Warbler, Spotted Redshank, Slavonianand mud. Approximate total of species seen 61.

Bob Lyle

A forecast of strong winds and heavy showers meant that we had to be mindful of the weather (rather than be deterred altogether) as the six of us set off for a birdwatching walk from the Bury Down car park. As it turned out we enjoyed sunny but fresh conditions until the final stretch when we got somewhat wet.

The Berkshire Downs in autumn hold many of the resident farmland species that you would expect plus there’s the chance of seeing wintering species such as birds of prey, owls, winter thrushes and flocks of finches. As we walked westwards along the Ridgeway path, we encountered Kestrel, Yellowhammers, Corn Buntings, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. A covey of thirty Red-legged Partridges moved through the stubble and a large flock of Starlings wheeled around. With a menacing cloud approaching we headed for the wooded car park at near Cuckhamsley Hill just inside Oxfordshire. Two Stonechats were on the fence line and a small flock of Chaffinches also held a Brambling. We had several fleeting glimpses of Bramblings around the edge of the copse and in the treetops. In the end we followed the course of the Ridgeway through the copse and were surprised to see large numbers of Chaffinches moving along the hedge and every so often a Brambling, maybe as many as ten of these handsome finches in total.

We then turned back and followed the path that heads down to West Ilsley village for a short way. The hawthorns were full of Yellowhammers and a few hundred Fieldfare but we had to look hard to find a single Redwing. Red Kites came close overhead and several Corn Buntings perched on top of the bushes. We completed our return leg by dropping down the north side of the Ridgeway and taking a path through the Chilton Downs.

Robert Godden

Members from the two clubs met at Starveall, west of Aldworth, for an evening walk along the track to Roden Down and back. Some eighteen members set out on a lovely, sunny, clear evening with a fresh south westerly breeze. This didn’t help my hay fever though, with all the grass pollen in the air at this time of year. Several Red Kites and a few Buzzards hung in the breeze over the large fields of wheat and barley. The breeze kept the passerine activity subdued but eventually several of the expected species were seen; such as Yellowhammers, Skylarks and Corn Buntings. A pair of Stone Curlew were picked out at about a kilometer distance, standing in a large square of bare ground “cut out” within a wheat crop. These squares provide a suitable habitat for Stone Curlews to breed. With the very clear air and sunlight, viewing conditions were perfect for seeing the birds at this range, through scopes. A juvenile was also picked out alongside the two adults. A slight detour from the Ridgeway allowed for a closer view of the Stone Curlews, providing more detail, albeit still at half a kilometer distance! We were also able to pick out Grey Partridge, which were heard calling later in the evening.

Further along the Ridgeway a bare strip of land allowed for good views of Hare and Stock Doves. When we reached Roden Down we heard distant Quail singing to the south of us, which became louder as we walked west. We were distracted by a Barn Owl which flew over the track at close range giving superb views. It hunted in the fields either side of the Ridgeway and further along the track was joined by another Barn Owl. They were both successful as we saw both pass over us carrying small rodents. Meanwhile, on further listening to the Quail we determined that its song was oddly truncated. There was zero chance of seeing the Quail of course. However, as were turned around to retrace our steps, a second Quail was heard singing nearby with the more familiar song.

As the sun went down some members made their way back to their cars, while the rest stood around quietly, hoping to see a Long-eared Owl, a species that usually only appears when it’s nearly too dark to see them. It wasn’t to be our lucky night though, but we did hear two juvenile Tawny Owls calling fairly close to us. As we made our way back to the cars, a scarce plant, Spiked Star of Bethlehem, was pointed out to me. I was really pleased to view it under the torch light of my phone!

Andy Tomczynski