Patch Gold- Literally

I was up at 5am this morning and after doing the garden moths and a bit of garden birding (2 Curlew and a Yellowhammer flying over were the highlight) I headed out to Pagham Harbour for my first day's birding in the field on the new patch.  The theme of the morning was 'Golden' with the summer plumage American Golden Plover that was found yesterday still on East side and a Golden Oriole was heard singing by Church Barn which I fortunately relocated later in the morning while watching the AGP.  The AGP, I am told was only a third for Sussex, the second for the Selsey Peninsula and the first in 30 years. Not bad for a first's day birding on the new patch! Ebird list from today HERE.

Good supporting cast included 4 Whimbrel, Knot, 12 Barwits, 45 Grey Plover, a pair of Marsh Harrier, Cattle Egrets and Cuckoo.  Amazing stuff. What a great first day in the field. 

More locally on the Selsey Birding Blog HERE

Adult summer American Golden Plover- what a stunner! Full on summer plumage. 

Juvenile Cattle Egret, one of the young raised in the mixed Little and Cattle Egret colony (a Grey Heron) by North Wall 

Marsh Harrier over Breach Pool 

Brussels Lace (above) and Mottled Beauty (below) at the Little Oak Lodge light trap. The garden moth list is now on 78 (three nights recording so far and the weather hasn't been great either). 

Found this recently deceased Slow Worm on the tide line 

Golden Oriole singing on East side. It was typically elusive but did fly around on one occasion, looked like a first-summer male.  More recordings HERE