Monday 26 January 2015

Sanderlings, owls and a murmuration

Sanderling, Calidris alba
On Thursday I joined our weekly work party at Heyshott escarpment. Afterwards I called in at The Burgh and saw three Short-eared Owls.
On Friday I visited Arundel and wandered along  Mill Road and saw coots battling. Later at Arundel WWT I watched the starling murmuration which started with six birds and ended with hundreds of birds swooping around. Their wings made an amazing sound when they came close. They dived into the reeds to roost in small groups.

On Saturday I journeyed to West Wittering and watched a flock of Sanderlings on the beach and found Sea Spurge among the dunes.
Heyshott work party
view from Heyshott escarpment
Bracket fungus - id needed please

The Burgh:
Corn Buntings, Emberiza calandra
Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus
Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus


Arundel:
Blackbird, Turdus merula
Domestic Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos var. domesticus
Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
Greylag Goose, Anser anser
Robin, Erithacus rubecula
Coots battle for dominance, Fulica atra






dusk approaches over Arundel Castle
Starling murmuration starts small, Sturnus vulgaris
and builds up









West Wittering:
Sanderling, Calidris alba



Dunnock, Prunella modularis
Oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
Sea Spurge, Euphorbia paralias
dune pond
Sanderlings, Calidris alba



Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus

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