Kithurst Meadow

 

With the Pearl-bordered in the bag I needed my second spring priority, the Duke of Burgundy. Kithurst Meadow was an all but guaranteed location and it would give me some of the other spring butterflies.

It fills you with confidence when you walk into the meadow and see Cowslips the preferred egg laying plant and Bugle a good nectaring plant growing everywhere.

The Dukes were soon found with probably a dozen flying in the sheltered part of the meadow.

There were also lots of other species flying

Brown Argus

Dingy Skipper

Green Hairstreak

Grizzled Skipper

Orange Tip

Common Blues, Large and Small Whites, Brimstones, Red Admirals and Peacocks were also seen but were not stopping for a photograph.

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

 

I have seen a few butterflies during the January to March period, mostly Brimstones and Peacocks, but for me the butterfly season does not really start until I see a Pearl-bordered Fritillary. That usually means a trip over to Rewell Wood at the end of April.

This year, with a cold and wet spring, everything seemed to be two to three weeks late. I made trips to Rewell Wood in the last week of April and also the first week of May but there was no sign of the Pearl-bordered. Even on the 13th May I was not having much luck. Four hours walking around the wood had not given me any sightings and it was only late afternoon walking back to the car that I took a detour down a previously unvisited track and came across some signs of Spring beginning to happen.

Three Pearl-bordered seen, only one of which I managed to photograph.

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

The track also gave me views of a couple of moths, the Speckled Yellow which had shown at various places in the wood and the Treble-bar with about a dozen flying in one small area.

Speckled Yellow

Treble-bar

Also seen whilst searching for the Pearl-borders were Painted Lady and Orange Tips

Painted Lady

No Duke of Burgundy butterflies in the glades or in Fairmile Bottom but they are usually a week later than the Pearl-bordered. I will have to give Kithurst Meadow a visit.

White-crowned Sparrow

 

This blog is a bit late and the pictures are not particularly good but I thought it was worth recording my visit to Hope Gap, back in April, to see the White-crowned Sparrow.

There is not much kudos in adding this to my UK list. I didn't find it, I just tagged onto the back of the twitch and it was probably only staying in the area as people where putting bird feed down to keep it there.

Perhaps I should have gone back another time and tried for a better picture but the more I see of twitches the less I like being there.

Here is one from Canada last year. Unfortunately the picture is not much better but at least I had that bird all to myself. So, self found (not difficult in North America!), no twitch, and a life tick. That one was really well worth celebrating.

I also went to see the putative Iberian Chiffchaff on the Downs Link Footpath just north of Shoreham but I don't think the experts were convinced. I see there is now another being reported from Abbots Wood north of Eastbourne which is making a better case for acceptance.

Greenshank and Green Sandpiper

 

A trip along the coast to Pagham Harbour and Medmerry delivered some good birds. Pride of place goes to the Greenshank, always the most elegant of birds. This one on the Stilt Pool.

There were also Avocets on the pool and a Black Redstart on the rocks at the breech, neither of which were within camera range. Fortunately there were also three Black Redstarts by the windmill on the eastern side of the breech. Also, just inside the breech, a Purple Sandpiper on the shore with a flock of Ringed Plover . Good scope views but again too far away for a picture.

Moving round to Selsey the Green Sandpiper was showing well in the roadside pool close to the Ferry Pool......

......with a Spotted Redshank in the Ferry Channel.

Not many smaller birds around, just brief sightings of a couple of Dartford Warblers and a Cetti's heard but not seen. The usual birds around the feeders at the RSPB visitors Centre and another Long-tailed Tit posing for its picture to be taken.

Dartford Warbler

 

It is always good to see an unusual bird turn up close to home and a Dartford Warbler within walking distance, in a local park, was an opportunity not to be missed. 

The location Brooklands was unexpected. It is a run down recreation park and small lake on the seafront in Worthing although in fairness it is in the process of being converted into more of a nature park. An "outdoor interactive classroom and science learning resource" I think they will be calling it.

There is a small area of rough grass and low vegetation close to the lake that has attracted a couple of Stonechats and a Dartford Warbler. There is not much cover and there are a lot of dogs about but the birds seem quite happy in the area.

The birds displayed typical behaviour with the warbler following the Stonechats, staying low in the undergrowth and feeding low and on the ground, whilst the Stonechat stays high and prefers to perch on top of the undergrowth. It is typical of behaviour seen on the commons in the north of the county and is often the easiest way to find a Dartford Warbler.

The arrangement seems a bit one sided in favour of the warbler. It has the Stonechats providing an early warning system and alarm calls for any dangers and it has longer to forage for food as the Stonechats probably locate good foraging areas for it as well as providing a level of cover. I cannot see any advantage for the Stonechat and there must be an impact on their foraging from loss of food to the warbler.

There doesn't seem to be any attempt by the Stonechats to drive the warbler away although they do seem to move on a bit more rapidly when they have a Dartford Warbler in attendance.

As you would expect I took a lot more pictures but Dartford Warblers are not the easiest of birds when it comes to getting good images. They prefer staying in cover and it is difficult getting them in focus.

January has drawn to an end and it seems to have deliver a lot of rain but there were also some good birding days towards the end of the month. The highlight must be the Sabine's Gull which will probably also be the highlight of the year. I did go back for another look but I couldn't really improve on the pictures I had.

Sabine's Gull

Sabine's Gull

Other observations on the month - more Firecrests and Bullfinches than I usually see in a year.

Bullfinch - a female this time and easily a match for the more showy male.

Firecrest

More Wrens than usual but no Yellowhammers or Siskins and I only found a Corn Bunting on the last day of the month.

Wren

Corn Bunting

And who can resist a Long-tailed Tit.

Long-tailed Tit