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Ivy Lake, Chichester Gravel Pits, Chichester, West Sussex.
I finally caught up with one of my favourite birds today and another year tick. Up to three Black Terns were counted on Ivy Lake this morning after Daniel and I dropped off Nathan at work and we headed through the drizzly rain along the A27. Fortunately, we left the awful rain in Hampshire though it was overcast and threatening with rain in West Sussex. Pulling up by Ivy Lake, the lake was teeming with Hirundines, mostly Sand Martins with the odd House Martin amongst them. The three adult Black Terns were showing very well around by the ski ramp and photographing them was near impossible as they flew up and down over the water. There were at least six Common Terns present over the water also, but no Arctic Terns unfortunately. Daniel and I didn’t stay too long as I wanted to get to the Ferry Pool for possible waders etc.
The Ferry Pool wasn’t too bad, with a fine adult Little Stint feeding on the north side of the pool and close to the road for me to take some photos. I wonder if this could be a good year for this species? This lovely little wader was joined by at least five Common Sandpipers on the Ferry Pool as well as eight Dunlins and around 40+ Black-tailed Godwits.
I checked the wildfowl, mostly Mallard and Teal, for possible Garganey, but I wasn’t in luck. However, I did find my first Shoveler of the month, a drake, amongst a group of duck by the waters edge. Not a great deal else and so I headed to Pagham Harbour to catch up on some waders. There were 200+ Yellow legged Gulls here last week in the fields opposite the Ferry Pool. Where had they all gone?
From the edge of the harbour, from the Church Norton entrance, the tide was coming up. So, while Daniel entertained himself throwing stones in the mud (sad!), I picked out a single Knot amongst a flock of Grey Plover (the Plovers mostly in summer plumage). A single Whimbrel was seen resting on the vegetation by the water which happily was added to my month total. I was now past the magic 100 species for the month and now I can relax. Good numbers of Common Terns, both adults and juveniles, were seen within the harbour along with several Sandwich Terns. There were some Black Terns seen here earlier in the week but no sign of any today. A couple of Great Crested Grebes swam were seen on the water within the harbour.
Within the sheep field south of the churchyard, good numbers of Willow Warblers and a single Chiffchaff were seen as well as a possible Lesser Whitethroat. Daniel and I then headed back home but not before we stopped off briefly at Thorney Island.
The weather was coning in bad and though we had reached Thorney Island, I didn’t fancy getting out of the car. So, I parked up on the roadside and scanned the Pony Field. Amongst the 40+ Black-tailed Godwits, a lone Green Sandpiper was seen and heard calling now and then. The heavy drizzle really closed in and so I headed off home.
Earlier today, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull was seen going past Selsey Bill this afternoon as well as several Balearic and Sooty Shearwaters!
Left, one of the adult Black Terns over Ivy Lake and right, the adult Little Stint on Siddlesham Ferry Pool today.
Siddlesham Ferry Pool and Pagham Harbour, West Sussex.
