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Barry Collins had text me around midday telling me that a Spoonbill was on the Great Deeps. However, I was in the middle of some serious paperwork within my Office and therefore, it looked as though I was going to dip on it. I told Becky when she got home and she suggested in going for the bird and take ‘Scruff’ for a walk at the same time.
When we arrived at the small car park opposite the Pony Field, I was hoping the Spoonbill would be on the stream within the Pony Field and lucky enough, it was. A fellow birder was making his way towards the bird as we got out the car and walked across the road. The Spoonbill, an adult, was showing very well, feeding in a raking fashion similar to an Avocet in the small stream at the southern end of the Pony Field. I reeled off plenty of photos and eventually joined Becky, Hannah and Scruff as they walked near the Harbour wall. As well as the Spoonbill, there were three of the over summering Wigeon present amongst the wildfowl. Also, a couple of Med Gulls were seen amongst the Black-headed Gulls. Black-tailed Godwits numbered around a dozen birds all feeding in the small stream. Lapwings looked as though they have faired well as a juvenile bird flew in and landed just a matter of feet away.
The tide was out within Emsworth Harbour but nothing of real note seen despite a lengthy search. From the Little Deeps, several Tufted Ducks and Little Grebes were seen and good numbers of Swallows were seen hawking over the reedbeds. On the way back to the car, a dark-bellied Brent Goose flew high south over the Pony Field I have heard of a few birds in the south coast area but this was my first one of the summer.
No major surprises around the country but a Common Rosefinch was found in Wirrel, Merseyside today. Why aren’t they at Portland like they are most summers?
The adult Spoonbill in the Pony Fields, Thorney Island
