Wednesday 1 February 2017

Extinct birds, a heron, kingfisher and teal

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
On January 21st Mike Edwards gave a fascinating talk at Binsted Church about the insects of the area.
On January 28th I attended the 38th Annual Conference of the Sussex Ornithological Society. The talks were varied and excellent, as usual:
Chris Corrigan "The RSPB in Sussex" including the Medberry Reserve.
Ken Smith "Bars and spots - varying fortunes of our woodpeckers" Ken spent 30 years studying woodpeckers in Herts before moving to Chichester.
Michael Blencowe "A guide to extinct birdwatching" a hilarious and interesting account of some extinct birds, including the New Zealand Huia.
Martyn Kenefick "Birding Trinidad and Tobago from the Asa Wright Nature Centre"

At Arundel WWT I have watched a Heron and a Kingfisher fishing.

Littlehampton sunrise January 17

Mike Edwards talk at Binsted January 21st
Arundel WWT January 27
Coot, Fulica atra and Black-headed Gulls, Chroicocephalus ridibundus on ice

Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea

Robin, Erithacus rubecula

Shoveler ♀, Anas clypeata

Teal on ice, Anas crecca

Teal on ice

Teal on ice


On January 28th I visited the Littlehampton Lifeboat station again hoping to see the black swan family (adults and 3 cygnets). Instead I watched some Turnstones on the launch slope.
Turnstone, Arenaria interpres
Rampion Wind Farm construction rig, January 28
Arundel WWT, January 28:
Mink spraint

Buzzard, Buteo buteo
 Plenty of Snipe landed in the pond in front of the Scrape Hide
Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago


Snipe landing among Teal

Grey Heron landing, Ardea cinerea

Grey Heron feeding





On a boat trip we followed a male Kingfisher around the reed-beds
Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis




Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus

Mallard ♀, Anas platyrhynchos


Mallards

Tufted Duck ♀, Aythya fuligula

Woodpigeon, Columba palumbus

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