Saturday.
The last weekend before the kids go back to school found me joining Jenny and the boys at Grandma's on the coast in Sussex, at Elmer near Littlehampton. It's a lovely spot with the back-garden a patio backing onto the beach -see below!
It's the sort of place where you suddenly find that you're witnessing migration having just stumbled out of bed, and that was pretty much what happened today. A cup of tea in hand I stepped out into the sunshine and light westerly winds and found Swallows flying very close overhead, around the houses, along the beach and all heading east. There was the odd House Martin or two but it was predominantly Swallows that were moving. It was a steady trickle. I was tempted to check out Pagham but I had n't seen much of Alex and Ed for a few days and they wanted me to play on the beach so the day developed into a sort of "big sit" or rather a "big play on the beach occasionally watching the sky" event.
The movement died down around the middle of the day but picked up again in the late afternoon. I saw several Wheater too including one male which landed on the roof of the house before moving off east.
On the beach small numbers of Sanderling and Turnstone have returned and Ringed Plover numbers have increased. In the evening several Common Sandpipers were present. A few Common and Sandwich Terns were ever-present with a least 2 juv Sandwich Terns involved.
Turnstone and Sanderling
Early evening several Little Egrets flew east and at least 3 Yellow Wagtails flew over. A flock of around 20 Pied Wagtails headed off to roost late on. My tally for Swallows was over 1000 and c100 House Martins though doubtless that's an understatement.
Sunday
Best described as wet and miserable though the rain only fell in the morning but the mist and cloud lifted just briefly around mid-day. I got to Sidlesham Ferry before 8am and just before a deluge. It was very quiet, just a few Chiffchaff and on the pool c40 Black-tailed Godwit.
Moving onto Church Norton a sweep of the churchyard yielded a single Spotted Flycatcher and a couple of Chiffs but little else of note. In the harbour the tide was rising but it was still well down. A smart Whimbrel and perhaps 40 Grey Plover, most still in summer plumage, were a nice sight but wader numbers were low; a single Greenshank, 30 Dunlin and 50+ Ringed Plover. As the rain returned I fled the scene.
After lunch came news that there were 3 Spoonbill at Pagham so I returned with Jenny and the boys and we spent a couple of hours mooching about but aside from the Spoonbill, which were at least awake and displaying their spoons for a change, it was not much better than the morning session. You can't get much more contrasting weather in a weekend than that. Yesterday felt like July and today like November.
Saturday afternoon was spent raptor watching in "East Kent" with reasonable success- 6 species of BOP's recorded including over 10 Hobby's. At least 2 family groups of Hobby's were involved and it was good to see several Common Buzzards; they really seem to be getting well established in the county.
I rounded off the day with a visit to Oare Marshes as high tide was early evening. There was no star bird but there were several Little Stints, c10 Greenshank, c10 Ruff, 40 Dunlin, around 400 Black-tailed Godwit, 250 Golden Plover and 120+ Redshank.
Dunlin -Oare Marshes
Lydden Down in East Kent is a great spot for butterflies and we'd planned a family day out there on Sunday weather permitting. Despite the overcast and dull start we headed east but the weather quickly deteriorated into light rain and mist! It called for a change of plan so we spent the afternoon at Dover castle instead and it was brilliant if rather wet and windy. We didn't leave until after 6pm and heading up the M20 diverted to Samphire Hoe for a walk in the now windy but dry conditions. An Arctic Skua harrassed terns offshore and a few Rock Pipits were found at the northern tip of the reserve but otherwise it was quiet but a pleasant walk.
Monday dawned dry but overcast and though we were going to friends for lunch I was still set on seeing some butterflies. I suggested Queendown Warren near Sheppey and only a short drive from our friends in Maidstone. It turned out to be a good choice and despite the gusty conditions we found one end of the down was fairly sheltered and in the occasional sunny intervals we had good numbers of Adonis Blues, a few Chalkhill Blues, Common Blues, Brown Argus and a selection of commoner species. I grabbed a few photos - please see the gallery. The kids soon wanted to explore further and we walked a good part of the reserve. I lagged behind and then noticed an Adder moving slowly up the down towards me and managed to obstruct it's progress sufficiently so that Jenny and the boys could dash back and see it. It slithered into the bole of a small tree and after telling the boys about it being poisonous and to avoid cornering snakes I felt unable to dive in and persuade it to show itself for photos which I would have done in different circumstances ! Walking back I found a single Silver-spotted Skipper - James Hunter had mentioned seeing them there recently so it was not a total surprise. Great spot, I'll try and get back next spring for the orchids.
The annual Birdfair at Rutland Water celebrated it's 20th anniversary this year and whilst I was n't there at the beginning I have attended most years since the mid 90's. The event seems to get bigger each year and there were 7 marquees this year selling a bewildering aray of goods and services. It's a great place to get ideas about trips, meet friends and shop.
I went up with Barry Wright, Andy Lawson and Gordon Allison. Andy set about comparing scopes with a mind to a purchase. The new Leica was on display and soon enough with characteristic bare-faced cheek Andy had borrowed a Leica and was trying it out alongside a new Kowa in the In-Focus tent! We were duly summoned to give our opinions and it was all very educational - and subjective- but I felt that the Kowa won by a nose and by going-home time so had Andy and bought one - very smart, got me wondering how I might justify an upgrade..........
Barry, Gordon and I wandered at will and took in a slide show or two. I was not tempted by any of the art this year, or rather any of the art in my price range. I bought a few books and took away a ton of leaflets.
Nice to catch up with Barry Walker - over from Peru, Tim Fisher -over from the Philippines, Chris Collins, Nik Borrow et al.
After the Birdfair closed at 5.30 we drove up the road to Manton Bridge and watched a couple of Ospreys - 1 perched eating a huge fish. Also a Peregrine and a couple of Buzzards present.
Sunday ..........
After a long day and 250 miles of driving I was rather late-up. In fact Jen rang at 9.30 expecting me to be en-route or birding and I was still in bed.
Driving down to meet her and the boys at her mums in Middleton on Sea in Sussex I was pleased to see a Red Kite from the A24 nr Washington on the edge of the South Downs in an area I've frequently seen Buzzards in recent years.
Once on the coast a strong westerly wind dampened my enthusiam and put me off a trip to Pagham. There were a few Sanderling, Turnstone and Ringed Plover on the beach at Elmer but little passing.
