TheFinancialBirder

I was up early this morning and done a dawn walk to the Great Deeps. The Great White Egret was still present here yesterday and with a few more migrants; I was hoping to get some more month ticks under my belt. In fact, I have been left tantalising on 99 species for the month after this mornings walk. I was expecting a clear sky this morning but it was overcast and cloudy though bright. There was a little chill in the air so I wore my fleece as my dog ‘Scruff’ and I took a slow stroll to the Great Deeps.
As I walked along the footpath leading to the harbour wall, a pair of Common Snipe was flushed and a Grey Wagtail flew high overhead. The footpath leading to the seawall produced my first Cetti’s Warbler of the month, seen sitting in a tall leafless bush after giving a burst of its loud song. Chiffchaffs showed well with at least 10 birds seen along the hedges and bushes. As I write (10.30am), a Chiffchaff is in my back garden, calling away! Both male and female Blackcap was also seen in the bushes area. Up to two Song Thrushes were seen as well as around six Blackbirds but no sign of any Ring Ouzels again. I doubt I’ll see one this year I expect!
Emsworth harbour was fairly quiet and with no wind, the rising tide was very still. On the water swam a couple of Little Grebes and someway out, a pair of dark bellied Brent Geese were seen on the water with another bird flying north low over the harbour. A Red-breasted Merganser was seen in Pagham Harbour yesterday but none present here yet. A Greenshank was heard calling and soon picked up flying towards me and then flying south over the harbour.
The Little Deeps produced some more month ticks as I neared. Firstly, after watching around four Reed Buntings go about their business, I heard some Bearded Tits calling within the reedbed. Up to four birds flew over the reedbed but around 15 birds were seen on the return journey quite close to the footpath. Also, my first Tufted Duck of the month was seen diving on the water. The creek adjacent to the seawall held around 10 Little Egrets and a couple of Grey Herons, with a lot of Black-headed Gulls in attendance. There must have been a small school of fish in the water for all this activity. A Kingfisher then flew upstream along the creek to disappear onto the Little Deeps.
In the field south of the Little Deeps, a Roe Deer popped out of the reeds and walked slowly over the field. Overhead, a flock of 12 Skylarks flew high in a southerly direction, and another flock flew north on the return leg back. Up to four Wheatears were seen along the footpath with one bird out in the fields but could have been one of the birds seen originally. Meadow Pipits were literally everywhere with many more flying high overhead.
Nearing the Great Deeps, I was watching the Little Egrets on the small stretch of river before the Deeps when I caught sight of a large white Heron. It was the Great White Egret but it saw me then flew off onto the Great Deeps, but up the far end. I saw Barry Collins then, and so I pointed the bird out to him as he was on the other side of the restricted area. There was an organised ‘game bird’ shoot this morning he said and wanted to see the bird before all the disturbance. I was pleased to get the Egret as another month tick and so took some more photos of this elegant bird. After Barry had left, the Osprey returned and circled the Great Deeps several times until chased off by Crows etc. A pair of Common Buzzard flew by also, one over the Deeps and the other flew high over the harbour heading west.
The return leg produced a pair of Yellowhammers flying north over the fields and also closer views of the Bearded Tits by the Little Deeps and the Kingfisher flew back down the creek also. A pair of Jays was seen along the footpath by the bushes and a small flock of three Lesser Redpolls flew overhead heading east. Scruff enjoyed his walk, especially sniffing some dog’s bum whilst talking to a dog walker! I wonder what goodies will turn up this weekend.

Piczo