A real migrant

Finally got a proper summer migrant today, the first Northern Wheatear found by the Vicar this morning at the Windmill Beach. I spent most of the day looking for other migrants but seems like we were lucky with the Wheatear as not many other summer migrants across the UK today and I certainly couldn't find any.

I started the day off at Birdham Pool after dropping Jacob off at school. No Sand Martins. I then went over to North Wall and walked along East Side to Pagham Spit. 81 species of nearly 3000 individuals HERE but no summer migrants. Seemed like Med (about 30 mainly adult summers calling overhead) and Black-headed Gulls were moving and also had a flock of 60 Black-tailed Godwit go over high towards the east. Other highlights there included Spotted Redshank, a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Marsh Harriers, the Long-eared Owls, Kingfisher, Stonechat, quite a few singing Chiffchaff and a nice littoralis Rock Pipit. Brent numbers continue to fall with about 800 today across the whole of Pagham Harbour, down from about 3500 to 4000 during the winter. These birds are presumably moving out over night as no coastal vis-mig during the last couple of days. 

I then quickly checked Chichester Gravel Pits but no Sand Martins there either. Just Canada Goose and Pochard for the day list. 

Then onto Mill Lane and then Ferry Pool where I added Avocet and Gadwall to the day list and then finally over to Windmill Beach to twitch the Wheatear where I also had 5 Corn Buntings which are unsual there and also a couple of Greenshank at the Breach. 

So 86 species in total, not bad. 

Over 30 individual moths in the trap this morning, the most this year so far. Unfortunately getting cold again tomorrow but enjoyed this first wave of Spring activity. 

 

Northern Wheatear- the scout, the first proper summer migrant this Spring for the Peninsula 

Scandanavian Rock Pipit littoralis (above and below) . Suspected the Rock Pipits along North Wall were littoralis in the winter HERE and now showing a nice peachy throat and upper breast. 

A quite striking male Stonechat with extensive warm underparts , maybe a European migrant of the continental race

Black-tailed Godwits going over high, presumably a migrating flock 

Reed Buntings in odd places was a theme of the day with a single on Pagham Spit and three on the Breach rocks at Medmerry- presumably migrants 

Second-calender year Marsh Harrier

Male Red-breasted Merganser on Pagham Lagoon

Kingfisher at Pagham Spit

Green Woodpecker- at least five of these around North Wall and East side including four together

Long-tailed Tit nest building- it's all go out there. Unfortunately the cooler conditions return tomorrow which will presumably put the knackers on Spring for a bit. 

Lichen Button Acleris literana- a nice surprise in the trap this morning. An out of season adult that has woken up from hibernation.

Early Grey- another new for year