A Pheasant poses

Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus

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On Wednesday we had another work party at Heyshott. On the way back a herd of 13 Fallow Deer stood in a field and watched us, then dashed off. The winter work parties are nearly over and in another week I will be searching for butterflies again provided dry weather returns. This morning we had a work party at Rewell Wood where I joined Nigel and Neil and we moved piles of brush further into the wood by the wide rides to provide more territory for the Duke and Pearl Bordered Fritillaries to move into. By the time we had finished at 2pm the rain had started so no side trip to Arundel WWT on the way home.

Neil attempting to remove Excalibur

The challenge still awaits a champion

The yew half removed

These have to be removed as they are poisonous to the cattle which will be grazing the area as part of the reserve management.

it's on its way

its gone

Fallow Deer, Dama dama

Mike the woodman

Arundel WWT:

Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus

Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus

Barrow's Goldeneye, Bucephala islandica

Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus

The Water Rail was feeding again in the same place as Tuesday. Unfortunately it was overcast.

Water Rail with worm

Bracket fungus

Rewell work party:

Neil working

Nigel, our working chairman

tidy piles after moving the brush

the ride

Goldfinch, Kingfisher and Water Rail

Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis

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On Tuesday I returned to Long Pool, Pagham Harbour but the Bearded Tits did not put in an appearance. Instead I saw Little Egrets and a Goldfinch. At the bird feeder by the visitor centre there was a Greenfinch feasting. At Church Norton a Redshank was feeding  on the mudflat. By  Ivy Lake, Chichester I saw a Kingfisher fishing and two Great Crested Grebes. At Arundel WWT the Water Rail was feeding by the reed bed where the Red-breasted Geese live. 

Long Pool

Little Egret, Egretta garzetta

Little Egret, Egretta garzetta

at the feeder:

Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris

Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus

Blackbird, Turdus merula

Church Norton:

Redshank, Tringa totanus

Ivy Lake:

Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis

Kingfisher ready to strike

He dived into the water, but did not catch anything

Arundel WWT:

Red-breasted Goose, Branta Ruficollis

Emperor Goose, Chen Canagicus

Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna

Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus

An Edward penny and a Unicorn

Edward penny, obverse

On Sunday we had a club dig on wet soil. I found my earliest hammered coin, an Edward penny minted in Canterbury. I think it is Edward I, but need confirmation. I also found a copper alloy horse mount in the form of a Unicorn, a copper clasp, a lead Spindle whorl or Loom weight and two buttons.

Edward penny, reverse

Edward I penny? (1282-1289)

Obverse Legend: [EDW R?] ANGL DNS HYB (Edward King of England Lord of Ireland)

Reverse Legend: CIVITAS CANTOR (City of Canterbury)

diameter : 17mm, thickness: 0.57mm, weight: 0.96g

copper clasp

Copper clasp: weight: 3.14g, height: 16mm, thickness: 0.92mm, length: 24.5mm

Unicorn horse mount

Unicorn horse mount: weight: 40.1g, height: 54.2mm, thickness: 5.6mm, width 64.8mm
At first I thought it was a Griffin, but Muike pointed out that it is a unicorn that has lost its horn.

Spindle whorl or loom weight

Spindle whorl: weight: 26.25g, height: 11.6mm, diameter: 22.6mm

Bearded Tits and a Goldcrest at Pagham Harbour

Bearded Tit, Panurus biarmicus

To  view  a  Slideshow,  click  here  then  choose  Fullscreen  (top  right)

I visited Long Pool, Pagham Harbour at midday yesterday and found a pair of Bearded Tits, male and female. Unfortunately they were on the far side of the reed bed, too far even for my 300mm lens with 1.4 teleconverter. The results were not as good as a month before when they were 18 metres away and I used my zoom at 300mm:

http://colinknight.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/bearded-tits-at-pagham-harbour.html

A pair of Reed Buntings had a dogfight along the path and I was surprised when I processed my photos later and found a Goldcrest. I shall return!

Goldcrest, Regulus regulus

Goldcrest, Regulus regulus

female Bearded Tit, Panurus biarmicus

female and male Bearded Tits

male Bearded Tit, Panurus biarmicus

Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus

Little Egret, Egretta garzetta

Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos

Redshank, Tringa totanus

This Redshank was intent on dragging its prey from the mud. 

Mill Road, Arundel:

male Mandarin Duck, Aix galericulata

female Mandarin Duck, Aix galericulata

Coot, Fulica atra