NT
1975
A Drive to Thorney Island in Chichester Harbour, where on a cold, wet, windy day, in a hedge in an orchard behind the church was a Yellow-browed Warbler, a new bird for me, from the greyish appearence and lack of a second wing-bar, together with the distinctive drawn out call, it was of the sub-species humei, which later became a full species Hume's Warbler.
Later we had a look around the harbour seeing a Spotted Redsank, 50 Redshank, 500 Dunlin, 6 Bar-tailed and 7 Black-tailed Godwits,
20 Red-breasted Merganser and 85 Brent Geese, and 2 Grey Partridges.
1980
A trip to Stert, where at high tide we saw around 1,000 Dunlin, 60+ Knot, 20+ Grey Plover, at least 10 Bar-tailed Godwits, 30+ Ringed Plovers, a Little Stint, an Avocet, 40+ Redshank, 200+ Curlew, 4 Pintail, good numbers of Shelduck, Shoveler and Teal, and a flock of 2,000+ Starlings.
1983
A late afternoon walk in Leigh Woods where we saw 2 Hawfinches, a Jay, a Nuthatch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1985
A very early morning start for a drive to Seaford in East Sussex, to see a female Little Crake, a new British bird for me. It was extremely tame, at times walking only inches away from peoples feet. Seen feeding in a narrow creek by picking at prey on the surface of the water and on the bank.
From there we went to Hilltop, seeing 3 pairs of Dartford Warblers, 2 pairs of Stonechats and 2 pairs of Meadow Pipits.
Then to Beaulieu Road, where we saw another Dartford Warbler, 3 Goldcrests, 2 Treecreepers, a Siskin, 8 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Fieldfares and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Photo: Little Crake.
1986
1990
2013
A visit to Portishead Boating Lake, where there was a male Scaup, a male and 2 female Pochard, around 30 Mallard, 2 Moorhens, 6 Canada Geese and 2 Mute Swans.
Later, I went to Aust Warth where the 2 Twite were still present and singing, also there was a Chiffchaff, a Grey Wagtail, 6 Redwing, a Raven and 60+ Meadow Pipits, many moving north.
Video of
and video and photo of
2021
A trip to Frampton, to Splatt Bridge, not much, a close Little Egret was best, and it was nice to hear Skylarks. Later in afternoon. at home, I saw 2 Red-legged Partridges under feeders, a site tick. Photo taken thro' window.
