A Godwits Travels

 

There was a time when visits to the Breech Pool at Pagham Harbour would enable me to indulge in a favourite pastime of photographing ringed Black-tailed Godwits. Sadly the water levels in the pool are no longer managed, or at least are not managed in the interests of birds, and sightings of waders on the pool are now rare. Even if the Godwits are there, they are in deep water and the rings are not visible.

It was interesting then, a few weeks ago, to pick up a Godwit out in the harbour with rings on display. The picture is a huge crop but it is still possible to make out the colours.

Black-tailed Godwit

I sent these off to Pete Potts who is my go to authority on Godwits on the South Coast. I always get a history of the birds activities within a few days but this one was a bit longer than usual.

From the dates the bird is at least eight years old but is probably more than ten. It would have stayed in Africa after its first migration returning to England as a two year old. So probably at least two when it was ringed in 2012. They can live to twenty years of age but ten is probably a good age given high mortality rates in their early years and the risk of migrating through France in the hunting season.

29-Sep-12       Harty, The Swale, Kent, SE England
08-Jul-13         Pilning Reserve, Seven Beach, south Gloucestshire
09-Jul-13         Pilning Reserve, Seven Beach, south Gloucestshire
24-Jul-13         Lymington-Keyhaven NNR, NW Solent, Hampshire
25-Jul-13         Lymington-Keyhaven NNR, NW Solent, Hampshire
15-Aug-13       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
26-Aug-13       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
29-Aug-13       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
30-Aug-13       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
24-Mar-14       Fishbourne, Chichester Harbour, W Sussex, S England
13-Aug-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
18-Aug-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
25-Aug-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
28-Aug-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
29-Aug-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
30-Aug-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
01-Sep-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
04-Sep-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
10-Sep-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
16-Sep-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
24-Sep-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
28-Sep-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
26-Oct-14        Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
28-Oct-14        Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
05-Nov-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
07-Nov-14       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England

19-Jul-15        Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
28-Jul-15        Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
29-Jul-15        Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
30-Jul-15        Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
04-Aug-15      Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
07-Aug-15      Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
08-Aug-15      Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
10-Aug-15      Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
15-Aug-15      Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
17-Aug-15      Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
21-Aug-15      Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
30-Aug-15      Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
05-Sep-15      Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
18-Sep-15      Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
30-Sep-15      Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
08-Oct-15       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
10-Oct-15       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
17-Oct-15       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
18-Oct-15       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
15-Nov-15      Conyer, Swale Estuary, Kent, SE England
18-Nov-15      Conyer, Swale Estuary, Kent, SE England

28-Jan-16       Avon, Avon Valley, Hampshire, S England
07-Feb-16       Avon, north Sopley, south of Ringwood, Hampshire
16-Feb-16       Avon, Avon Valley, Hampshire, S England
22-Mar-16       Pagham Harbour, Chichester, West Sussex, S England
25-Aug-16       Titchfield Haven NNR, Fareham, Hampshire, S England
07-Sep-16       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
13-Sep-16       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
15-Sep-16       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
17-Sep-16       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
19-Sep-16       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
22-Sep-16       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
23-Sep-16       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
26-Sep-16       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
29-Sep-16       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
06-Oct-16       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England

24-Mar-17      Slimbridge WWT reserve, Gloucestershire, W England
01-Apr-17      Goldcliff Lagoon, Gwent, S Wales
13-Apr-17      Goldcliff Lagoon, Gwent, S Wales
14-Apr-17      Slimbridge WWT reserve, Gloucestershire, W England
04-Aug-17     Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
21-Aug-17     Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
10-Sep-17     Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England

17-Aug-18     Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England

08-Apr-19      Pagham Harbour, Chichester, West Sussex, S England
18-Apr-19      Moneycarragh, Dundrum South, County Down, Ireland
05-Jul-19       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
15-Jul-19       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
01-Aug-19     Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
10-Nov-19     Portchester Castle, Portsmouth Harbour, Hampshire

12-Jul-20       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
27-Jul-20       Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
06-Aug-20     Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
09-Aug-20     Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
20-Aug-20     Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, SE England
22-Mar-21     Pagham Harbour, Chichester, West Sussex, S England

A much travelled bird. It seems, based in England for eight or nine months through the summer and missing in December January and February, presumably on migration to Africa. It spends most of the summer based at Oare Marshes and the Swale area but with stopovers at the south coast sites on its inward and outward migration. I assume the sightings in Wales and Ireland are just part of this inward migration.

It would be interesting to know what happened over the winter of 2015/16 when it was recorded on the 18th Nov, 28th Jan, 7th Feb and 16th Feb. Did it migrate during the six week gap or did it stay in this country? Godwits are powerful fliers. Recent satellite tracking data has identified Bar-tailed Godwits as completing journeys from Siberia to New Zealand non stop over the Pacific, a distance of 11,000 miles in just eight days. A trip to Africa and back in the six weeks is clearly possible but why would it bother (or am I thinking like a human instead of like a Godwit?).

I have always had some doubts over the value of ringing birds, particularly with small birds where the recovery rate is so low. For example on studies of migrating House Martins I have seen figures quoted of 20 recoveries out of  1,029,107 birds ringed. I have also seen some really grose flags attached to waders legs that must seriously impact on their movement and comfort. However, when you see data like this you can start to see the value to researchers.

Note - I left off the names of all the individuals that recorded the bird and submitted the data as I am not sure where I stand on data protection. However I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their efforts and to encourage others to join in the fun.

Garganey

There have been a few reports of Garganey putting in appearances along the South Coast this spring. However, with restrictions on travel and with most stopping for no more than a day, seeing any of them was out of the question. Fortunately we then had one on the Ferry Pool at Pagham Harbour that stayed for three days. I couldn't make the first two but with pandemic restrictions being relaxed on the third I was able to take my daily exercise around the harbour area. Better still, with all the RSPB car parks being closed the only place to park was the lay-by just by the Ferry Pool.

This is usually a secretive bird that stays hidden in the reeds but this one was easy to spot, feeding out in the middle of the lake, amongst a good selection of other ducks and waders. I managed a couple of pictures but unfortunately it was a good distance away and spent most of the time with its head underwater skimming for food.

Garganey

Garganey

Always a nice bird to see but I couldn't stop, I had my daily exercise to complete. A quick picture of a Black-tailed Godwit, one of many on the pool and I was on my way.

Black-tailed Godwit

Just a quick birding session but it was good to see a some birds again and to be able to publish a blog. It will be a while until things get back to something resembling normal but I am at least making a start.

Pagham Breech Pool

There is still life in the the Breech Pool even if it's only during periods of drought. The pool, at the back of the North Wall Pagham Harbour, could always be relied on to produce something worth viewing even when all other sites were birdless. However for the past couple of years (since the RSPB took over responsibility for the area?) no one seems interested in controlling the water levels in the pool. First it was allowed to dry out completely, then through last winter and the first part of this year water levels were far too high. Waders could not feed or roost, mud banks and reed beds were under water and birds like the Water Rail just disappeared from the area.

It is difficult to believe that the landowners and bodies like the RSPB and the Environmental Agency were happy to sit back and see such a wonderful site gradually deteriorate.

I still call in occasionally, just for old times sake. Today it was like a blast from the past. Water levels were down and birds were using the shallower parts of the pool to feed and roost. Not in the numbers seen previously but it's better than nothing. Reed Warblers could be seen climbing around in the base of the reeds and the place looked alive again, although no sign of the Water Rails.

Greenshank and Spotted Redshank

Greenshank

Spotted Redshank

Black-tailed Godwit - one of twenty on the pool

Colour ringed Black-tailed Godwit

and a couple of other birds from recent trips out

Whitethroat

Young Song Thrush feeding well

Also a bonus from the visit to the North Wall, a Ruddy Shelduck out in the harbour although too far away for a picture.

Glossy Ibis

Went to Medmerry today, to have a look for the Glossy Ibis that has been present there for a few days.

It is frequenting a fenced off building compound, complete with workers and heavy machinery, on the Bunn Leisure Caravan Park just outside the South East boundary of the Medmerry Nature Reserve. It seems a strange environment in which to find the bird. There is a rough grassland area and a few puddles and it is obviously finding food but it is difficult to see why it would favour this over the vast wetland areas over the fence in Medmerry.

It seems to be completely unfazed by the work going on around it or by the birders and photographers that visit, so there are some good picture opportunities

This is a juvenile so it hasn't really had a chance to learn that it needs to be wary of people. Particularly as this is a popular dog walking area.

It spends most of its time searching for food in the long grass but we were fortunate to be there when it came out to drink at one of the puddles on the path outside the compound.

I am always surprised how large this bird looks in flight and in pictures. Perhaps we have a preconception based on the larger members of the Ibis family or perhaps it's all in the legs. It is actually quite a small bird but with large wings. Here is another shot taken a couple of years ago at Dungeness of a Glossy Ibis along side a juvenile Black-backed Gull.

Quite a few other birds around today but very little that was posing for a photograph.

Stonechat

Black-tailed Godwit

A good day out, nice weather lots of birds to look at and even a couple of decent pictures. Things are looking up.

Fledglings

I haven't been out birding much this past couple of months. A combination of a lot of wet weather,  a lack of any really inspiring birds in the Sussex area, and an unwillingness to get involved in any long distant twitches.

We did pay a visit to Cliffe Pools to see the Marsh Sandpiper and we did see it but it was very distant. I managed to get a picture although it is not one that I would care to put up on the blog. Frustrating really, it now moves on to my hit list, of nine birds, that I have seen but for which I did not manage to get a decent picture. Although I have to say that is a very subjective view. On a bad day I look at my pictures and think they could all do with improvement.

So today was a fresh start, the first days birding of the rest of my life. You just felt that Autumn was in the air and the migrants were on their way. Sad to say we failed to connect with them but there were a few fledglings around that will soon be migrating in the opposite direction.

The area around the sluice at Pagham North Wall is always a good spot to find baby Swallows at this time of year. Today there were probably three families in the area with about ten hungry mouths waiting to be fed.

Amazing to think that they are just a few weeks out of the egg and in a couple more weeks they will be on their way to Africa.

There were also a good number of Sedge Warbler fledglings in the reeds waiting to be fed.

They were probably just a little bit to eager, climbing to the top of the reeds and calling loudly for their parents. Good for me taking pictures but they are making themselves a bit of a target.

No Sparrowhawks about but there were a pair of Peregrines hunting across the area. These are probably the ground nesting ones from the island in the harbour. I doubt the Chichester Cathedral pair are welcome in the area any more.

Below are a few odd pictures taken earlier in the year. There weren't enough for a blog at the time but they are still worth recording.



The first a Black-tailed Godwit in Summer Plumage, again from the North Wall Pagham.

Ring-necked Parakeets taken at Kew Gardens from the high level walkway. So common in London but still a rarity just fifty miles south.

And two from a quick stop at Fairburn Ings on the way north. I had hoped to see Willow Tits. They were there but not showing in the short time I had. Consolation was from good views of nesting Sand Martins and a few Tree Sparrows.

Orange Tip Butterfly

A return Trip to Pulborough Brooks gave me my first Orange Tip of the year. So it looks as though Spring really has arrived. However looking at my records I would expect to see Dingy and Grizzled Skippers, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, and Duke of Burgundy over the next week. The first two look possible but the promised cold spell could delay the other two.

Orange Tip Butterfly

Nightingale numbers at Pulburough also look a bit low. I could still only see two or possibly three in adder alley and they were singing even less than on Monday. The one below gave a couple of short bursts of song but he stayed low down and deep in cover.

Nightingale

So again the best shots were whilst the birds were feeding.

The best find in adder alley was a group of Grass Snakes with one large female and at least three males. They were forming a mating ball but I could not get a picture of this without risking disturbing them. However, here is another male on his way to join the action.

Grass Snake

I also paid a return visit to Pagham North Wall in the hope of getting a better picture of the Cattle Egret. It is in full breeding plumage so would take a great photograph. 

Unfortunately it was clear, as soon as I got out of the car, that the wind was much stronger down on the coast and there was very little flying. There were Egrets in the roost but they had all descended into deeper cover and were mostly out of sight.

Interestingly there have been no reports of where the Cattle Egret is feeding. The one time I saw it leave the roost it headed out over the harbour rather than towards the fields holding the cattle.

On the positive side, it was good to see increased numbers of Black-tailed Godwits on the Breech Pool. I counted just over seventy although there was very little else of interest on the pool. Wader numbers in general have been low around the area this winter but the Breech Pool seems to have suffered more than most.

Black-tailed Godwits - part of the flock

Other birds of interest. A showy Sedge Warbler in the reeds to the west of the Breech Pool. It was very difficult to photograph in the strong winds. It was only coming about two thirds of the way up the reeds which were swaying through about forty five degrees. The only option was to manually focus on the bird and then take lots of pictures in the hope that you got one where most of the reeds had blown out of the way.

Sedge Warbler

And in the slightly more sheltered stables area a Green Woodpecker and Barn Swallows. The Swallows were already gathering mud to build their nests.

Green Woodpecker

Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow in flight

Nothing much new today but an interesting time wandering around the sites.

Spotted Flycatcher

Sometimes you go out with a plan and it works - yesterday. Sometimes you go out with a plan and it doesn't work - today. I had wanted to see a Merlin. It's been at the top of my list for a long time now, a bit of a bogey bird. The only Merlin that I have seen were a couple of dead ones that we picked up off the road near Scotney Pit.

There was a Merlin reported at Farlington Marsh yesterday so I though I would give it a go. No luck, the best I could manage was a Kestrel. Still I had a good day, I saw a lot of birds and even got a few good shots.

Linnet - rather dull at this time of year

Linnet

Sedge Warbler

Wren

The Bearded Tits were seen at Farlington today but not by me. They are probably still feeding on insects and will be easier to see once they change over to the reed seeds in the winter. There were also Yellow Wagtail in with the cattle but the grass was long and I could not get a clear shot of them.

Next stop was Church Norton where I got some close views of the Spotted Flycatchers from the hide.

Spotted Flycatcher

Then round to the North Wall. The water in the Breech Pool was back to a reasonable level and with mud showing again the waders were back. I missed the Spotted Redshanks so the picture opportunities were limited to the Black-tailed Godwits and Snipe.

Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

Snipe

Swallows and House Martins were hawking over the pool and gathering on the overhead cables. It will soon be time for them to leave. 

To finish off I had a Long-tailed Tit flock moving through. For some reason they always raise the spirits.

Long-tailed Tit

I didn't get the Merlin but it still turned out to be a good day. Nothing really exciting but a lot of good birds to see.