Celandines, Primrose and a Kestrel

Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus

to view a gallery with more photos, click here

I visited Angmering Woods yesterday and enjoyed the warm sunshine on the rides. The main woodland paths are still very muddy and Celandines and Primroses were flowering. Afterwards I visited Swanbourne Lake, where I saw a Red Admiral, and Arundel WWT where water levels appear to have returned to normal. The highlights a clutch of Mallard ducklings, a Reed Bunting and a Kestrel on a distant bush seen from the Lapwing Hide.

Lesser Celandine, Ranunculus ficaria

Primrose, Primula vulgaris

Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus

Bracket Fungus

Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs

Daffodil, Narcissus, pseudonarcissus

Coot on tall nest above the flood level

Greylag Goose, Anser anser

Magpie Goose, Anseranas semipalmata

Magpie Geese, Anseranas semipalmata

Magpie Goose, Anseranas semipalmata

Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos

This resting Mallard blinked its eye regularly showing the white nictitating membrane

Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos

Robin, Erithacus rubecula

Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus

Wood Duck, Aix sponsa

Wood Duck, Aix sponsa

Whooper Swans and a Red Admiral

Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta
plus Simon and Neil

to view a gallery with more photos, click here

On Sunday I walked round the east side of Pagham Harbour and saw Brent Geese, Curlews, a pair of Grey Herons, Lapwings, Shelduck, a Buzzard, a pair of white domestic geese and a pair Whooper Swans.

Yesterday morning I joined Neil, Simon and Rob at Houghton Forest to finish creating the large clearing which should enable violets to grow and attract Pearl-bordered Fritillaries in a couple of years. A Red Admiral has already taken up residence and flitted around the glade while we worked.

Buzzard, Buteo buteo

Curlew, Numenius arquata

Domestic Geese, Anser anser domesticus

Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea

juvenile gull

Lapwing (Peewit), Vanellus vanellus

Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna

Whooper Swan, Cygnus cygnus

Houghton Forest:

spot the Red Admiral on the side of the post dead centre

with Neil's camera shadow!

Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta

Little Gulls, Partridge and Curlews

Curlew, Numenius arquata

to view a gallery with more photos, click here

On Thursday I visited the Little Gulls again at Brooklands Park. I arrived early morning when they were swimming and feeding on water surface morsels, then when sun came out they started flying for insects.

On Friday after delivering Sue to the hospital for her knee operation, I went to Pagham Harbour and walked along Long Pool and the west side of the harbour. There were many Curlews and thousands of Brent Geese, 200 in a field near six Red-legged Partridge and the rest in a swirling flock on the east side.

Little Gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus:

Pagham Harbour:

Brent Geese, Branta bernicla

Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Brent Geese, Branta bernicla

Brent Geese, Branta bernicla

Curlew, Numenius arquata:

Red-legged Partridge, Alectoris rufa

Gorse, Ulex europaeus

Long Pool

Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna

 by the RSPB office bird feeder:

Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus

Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus

Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Woodpigeon, Columba palumbus