Shoreham and Pulborough (29 March 2013)

29 March.  Two hours from Shoreham Harbour from 06.35 in the company of Dick Eye-Walker (who'd been there since 6) produced a full summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe on the sea although it soon flew off.  Also 2 divers and 20 Common Scoter on the sea, 9 Curlew, 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 47 Black-headed Gulls and 61 Sandwich Terns east and an adult Little Gull offshore.  The tide was still quite low and Greater Black-backed 04J was present amongst not many gulls on the Adur.  There was no sign of the Avocet although it had been there on Thursday when last I looked.

full summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe off Shoreham Harbour

a rare shot with its head side on

most were like this

Red-throated Diver off Shoreham Harbour

Normandie Greater Black-backed Gull 04J

Shelduck on the Adur, not as common here as one might think

A walk up Stump Bottom with Megan was very quiet and hearing but not seeing two Mediterranean Gulls was frustrating.  A text from Paul James to tell me of some Garganey at Pulborough had me heading that way for the afternoon.  Pulborough was as good as I can remember it being with 7 Garganey (4 males & 3 females), 2 Little Ringed Plover, 14 Ruff, Barn Owl and a pair of Bullfinches.  As the sun was out I finished off at Greatham where a March Harrier, another Barn Owl and 5 Chiffchaffs were seen.  A very enjoyable day all told. 

Little Ringed Plover

Garganey and Shoveler

male and female Garganey

male Bullfinch, one of my all time favourite birds that I don't see anything like as often as I used to, or would like to

not the best shot but it shows how beautifully the colours blend

sleepy Barn Owl at Greatham

unfortunately it seems as if one of the Greatham Barn Owls wasn't as careful crossing the railway line as it should have been