Woodchat Shrike and Hoopoe!

The writing was on the wall with the news of two Black-winged Stilts at Pulborough early morning so I went over to check Ferry and the Tramway for any overshoots. 74 species in about 2 hours HERE did not include any overshoots with highlights including 5 Wheatears, 1 Common Sandpiper and 3 LRP on Ferry and plenty of warblers including Willow Warblers and Lesser Whitethroat. There was also a singing Corn Bunting in the Long Pool field which is an unusual record for there. 

I then decided to go home to get on with family weekend stuff and within minutes news broke of a Woodchat Shrike at Pagham Rife found by Jim Weston. I headed over there and was soon enjoying cracking views of a fine male Woodchat Shrike with Marc, Andrew, Bart, Adam and Courtney. There was also Little Ringed Plover and Wheatear in the the same field. 

Before I met up with Holly and the kids at Runcton Cafe I had a quick look at Pagham Spit for any more Wheatears- no more Wheatears but 7 Little Terns fying around and 6 Whimbrel out in the harbour. 

Later in the day Ian called to ask if I wanted to join him in going back to see the Woodchat (he hadn't seen it yet as he had been at football) so we walked from Halseys across the fields to Pagham Rife. The Woodchat was still there now with 3 Little Ringed Plovers and a Wheatear. On the way back we tracked via Owl Point Field where a male Whinchat and 5 Wheatears had been found early on in the day. That was now 11 Wheatears I had seen today and there were a further 5 at the Windmill, 7 at Medmerry and 4 at the Bill seen by others so at least 29 on the Peninsula today. 

As Ian and I were walking past Halseys, a Hoopoe started calling. Immediately I said to Ian is that your phone ring tone? It's a Hoopoe. He said no it wasn't and the bird carried on calling again. We went round the back of the wood to see if any other birders had been playing the call but there was nobody there so we put the news out. We both had to get home but looked for it for about 20 minutes and then Andrew and Bart arrived so we left them in the area so hopefully its pinned down. My Hoopoe jink has finally lifted although I still haven't seen one, so not fully lifted yet. 

Woodchat and Hoopoe are both Peninsula lifers for me and the Whinchat also a Peninsula year tick. Now on 210 for my Peninsula list and 154 for the year list. An excellent day! It was a light NW wind today and I wasn't expecting much in the 'worst wind' but it was very light, almost calm and a high pressure which must have facilitated the overshooting birds. Still very much a surprise and proves you don't need a tail wind for birds to overshoot- they will even overshoot in a light headwind as proven today.  

Male Woodchat Shrike (above) The first on the Peninsula since 2007. 

Male Wheatear- a nice fall of these today 

Whimbrel- a small arrival in the harbour today with 2 in the Ferry Channel and 6 out in the harbour 

Singing Corn Bunting at Long Pool field 

Dunlins in summer plumage at Pagham Spit 

The moth trap was also lively last night with highlight this Puss Moth (above) and Mullein (below). Also NFYs included Iron and Pebble Prominet, Ruby Tiger, Sharp-angled Peacock and Dark Spectacle. Now on 57 for the year.