Selsey Bill + Thorney Island- 03/11/25

At the end of my last post, I mentioned how well things had been going and that surely they couldn't keep on going so well for much longer. Well, I stand corrected, at least for now. 

I had a bit of a dilemma about where to go. There had previously been two Snow Buntings at Thorney, so when only one was seen on the Sunday, I was sceptical the remaining bird would stay. I also wanted to go to Selsey Bill at some point to try and pick up Guillemot, a species I needed on my year list. So it was as I was thinking things through, that a thought struck me- I could do both. Maybe. I had to be back home by 13:30 for a live Environmental Management lesson, which was a bit of a spanner in the works. After a long time of mulling over the train times, I figured out I might just be able to do it. I would need to take my bike with me to Chichester, lock it up at the station, catch the bus to Selsey, do some seawatching there, then take the bus back to Chichester, get my bike, get on a train, get off at Emsworth and bike to Thorney, try and find the Snow Bunting before rushing back to catch a train that would get me back just before my lesson. Quite complicated. So much depended as well on what was seen. If it's a great morning at Selsey, I may not want to go to see the Snow Bunting if it's not reported, and vice versa. Presuming I took the 6:45 train from Petersfield, I would have a total of 6 hours birding before I had to be back- sounds like a lot.... well, it isn't. The journey to Selsey takes about 2 hours, and is similar back, leaving only 2 hours of actual birding. And that's without actually walking/biking to the places I want to be. 

So basically, I was very tight for time, and was completely winging it- as you'll soon see.

After a relatively uneventful journey to Selsey, I got off the bus and started walking to the beach. The waves were ferociously pounding against the sea wall, soaking me as the spray flew into the car park. I didn't mind it much, though, as I knew the strong winds from the South may well be pushing birds much closer in. Already, I could see plenty of Gannets moving through, and a few small flocks of Razorbill. 

After making it to the other birders, which turned out to be quite difficult because of the high tide blocking my way along the beach, I set up my scope and started looking longingly out to sea, hoping something good might turn up. The past few days have had some likely Pallid Swifts, Long-tailed Skua, Balearic and Manx Shearwater. So there were many possibilities, and a decent unexpected bird would be yet another big boost in my push for 200 birds this year. Currently sitting at 194, if I manage to get Guillemot and the Snow Bunting, it would be 196- nearly within touching distance... but more on that later.

More and more Gannets flew through (really great birds imo), and plenty more Razorbill. No sign of anything interesting, though. 

Two Common Scoters flew through very distantly.

I was starting to wonder if anything would turn up, and if there was much point in me staying much longer. Everything promising out at sea just turned out to be a gull. 

I spotted another "gull" way off in the distance, but all the same, as is mandatory, put my bins up just to make sure. Hmm. I got my camera out; this looked interesting. After getting my camera onto it, I was nearly certain what it was. Big, brown, skua-like and had the right plumage- surely? I was just about to shout it out when the birder beside me pipped me to the post, raising the other birders' attention to "a big bird flying west, probably a gull," as had been my first thought. But this was no gull. All the others got their scopes on it, and my high "suspicions" were confirmed. 

"It's a Bonxie" were the three words that sent my heart rate rocketing. Incredible.

I was thrilled. I've never seen Great Skua before. What a lifer. All of a sudden, the trip was well and truly alive. The unexpectedness of it was what really got me. 

One second, you're feeling cold and a bit glum, wondering what the point was of getting up at 5:45 to watch common birds, the next, you're absolutely buzzing.

 

I love birdwatching.

With blood pumping through my veins after the incredible experience, I reviewed my shots, feeling very happy with the ones I had got. 

It flew right along the skyline before turning south and flying away from us, battling against the winds.

The views were distant, but still very much good enough to satisfy. After all, who wouldn't be happy with an unexpected lifer that sends your year list to 195? And I still had time left today to see some more species... hopefully.

It wasn't too long after the incredible Bonxie that a flock of auks very distantly differed from the more common Razorbill that had been passing through. These were Guillemot- a year tick, and one I've been very much needing. Sadly, I couldn't get my camera onto them, but scope and binocular views were good enough. My year list pushed up to 196, and I was feeling very optimistic. 

A few divers and grebes were about, including a Red-throated that had been on the sea before flying up.

Time was rapidly departing, and I had yet another difficult decision to make. 

I didn't mention this before, but there had been a Turtle Dove the past few days at Marin Drive, where it turns out, there is a bus stop. It was about 9:45 at this point. Not much else was going on around the bill, so I decided to head in that rough direction. Here was my problem. There was a 10:03 bus from Marine Drive that would get me into Chichester in well enough time to go and see the Snow Bunting before heading home, but I didn't want to just not try and find the Turtle Dove- I've never seen one in the UK before. There were buses at 10:23 and 10:33, but with the way the train times worked, they would only leave me 40 minutes in Emsworth- it's 20 minutes biking there and back, and a long walk to actually get to the bunting, so I may not have even had time to get to the right place if I took these options. 

It was 10:00 exactly as I was walking down Marine Drive, looking desperately for any sign of the dove. Apparently, it sometimes goes into gardens, making this task even more difficult. With no sign of it halfway down the road, I had to make a decision. Run back the way I had come to catch the bus that would leave me time at Thorney, or risk staying here for a bit longer in the hope the Turtle Dove would show, and that I could go as quick as possible to Thorney and still see the bunting. There was only one sensible option. I started sprinting back as fast as I could with camera, bins, scope and rucksack all slowing me down. I made it to the bus stop at about 10:02 and noticed a large gathering of Collared Doves in a tree. Well, if the Turtle Dove was here, surely this is where it would be? I put my scope down next to the bus stop and walked ten meters to get a better view of the doves. With the sound of the bus fast approaching in my ear, I snapped a few quick shots of the group to review on the bus. Circling round and running back to the stop to hail the bus just in time, I got on a bit breathless.

Slightly pessimistically, I reviewed the photos; I hadn't seen anything that looked like a Turtle Dove in amongst them. Indeed, nothing.

The bus was due to get into Chichester around 10:40, narrowly missing a train that left at 10:38. I was hoping to get the 11:03 train, which would leave me just enough time in Emsworth to see the bird. 

My bus ended up getting in on time, but the 10:38 train was delayed by 4 minutes, meaning I was able to catch it, but only just. 

After making it to Emsworth, I biked as fast as I could to Thorney Island, locked up my bike, and headed towards the pin. The walk took longer than expected. 

As I was walking as quick as I could, I noticed someone in the distance on the sea wall- maybe a birder? If so, I hoped he would be able to tell me if he had seen the bunting or not, and exactly where it was today. As I got closer, I saw him sit down on the wat sea wall and raise his camera- surely he was photographing the bunting? I couldn't see the bird anywhere on the ground in front of him. As I got closer, I had another scan of the rock in front of the birder, and still couldn't see the bird. It was only when I looked actually at the birder to see where his camera was pointing that I realised. There, incredibly just a few feet from the fellow birder, was the Snow Bunting. 

I was very excited.

I quickly walked closer and got some shots.

It was very windy, which made keeping the camera still difficult. 

I was absolutely stunned. Not only was I watching the bunting, but only a few meters away. The lighting was bad from where I was, so I moved around the bird to where there was better lighting. I really enjoyed just watching the bird with my naked eye as it was so close.

The bird was just not fazed one bit by me and the other birder.

Even though I had seen the bird and gotten some great shots, I was still reeling them off, as with the long walk, I knew I wouldn't be able to watch the incredible bird for very long.

It started feeding, giving brilliant views of it going about its everyday life.

A heavily cropped headshot

The images of just watching the bird feed with my naked eye so close are a memory never to forget.

The bird came so close at one point that, camera couldn't focus on it at full focal length.

I did some maths and reckoned I had about another 5-10 minutes watching the bird before I needed to hot-foot it back to my bike. 

The bird was literally so close I could have reached out and touched it. 

As I'm sure you can already tell, I was enjoying myself!

A lifer in incredible fashion, and number 197 on my year list. I should hope I will be able to get to 200 now. 

This is the 4th bunting species I've seen (I think), with Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, and Little Bunting being the others. This is by far the closest I've ever seen one. Although I guess that goes without saying!

The bird moved around a bit to a slightly better location, quickly filling up my SD card.

It then dropped off the wall onto the beachy bit below.

I was starting to make my way back at this point, but the bunting seemed to be following me!

It went back up onto the sea wall, and I got a few final shots.

In the end, I practically had to force myself to leave- I just wanted to stay there for hours. 

And so I walked off, passing by the bunting right at my feet, hardly a meter away as I did, feeling exceptionally pleased with the day's work.

And so the day comes to an end, with, somehow yet again, birds added to my list. And not one, not two, but three... Now I'm at 197, I imagine I should be able to get to 200... I still haven't seen Spotted Redshank, Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck and a few more that I should be able to get. I'm feeling unstoppable with the year list right now... we're only three days into November and I've had a whopping three lifers and four year ticks. Things seem to really have kicked off since Dad's birthday- Water Pipit, Black-throated Diver, Velvet Scoter, Great Grey Shrike, Isabelline/Red-tailed Shrike, Pink-footed Goose, Bittern, Crane, Bonxie, Guillemot, and Snow Bunting. That's 11-year ticks and 8 lifers. At the start of October, I was pretty sure I wouldn't make it to the 200, with another 15 birds needed. Now, hardly into November, it seems more likely than not that I'll make it. What birds will get me there, I don't know. It would be nice to try and go somewhere great for number 200. I keep on saying it, but we'll have to see. I'm sounding like a broken record at this point! 🤣

Ouse Washes RSPB- 01/11/25

 If you read my last post about my trip at Titchwell, (which, if you haven't, firstly why not, and secondly you should), you will remember I mentioned a "pretty reliable place for Cranes nearby," but I said we wouldn't be visiting, as we only had one day left on our holiday before heading home today on Saturday. Well, after I had done some digging, I found that it only added 10-15 minutes onto our journey on the way home, and we needed somewhere to stop to have lunch anyway, so I managed to get the family approval. 

As we set off towards Ouse Washes, I was feeling very hopeful. The Cranes seemed almost always present, and there was seemingly always over 20, so if they were there, surely it wouldn't be hard to see them? Common Crane is a species I have never seen before, and being Britain's largest native bird, it was one I was eager to see. Also, it would be yet another incredible addition to my push for 200 on my British year list, which currently sits at a tantalising 193. 

From looking online, it seemed as though Stockdale's Hide was the one to go to, with the most frequent reports of the Crane. I hadn't been able to find any maps online of Ouse Washes, so I was hoping that the Cranes would be within easy walking distance of the car park. Remember, all the family would be there, of which a few are not so into birds and aren't eager to walk miles upon miles to sit down and watch birds (they don't know what they're missing). 

And so it was as we were driving along the river with the visitor centre just 0.7 miles away, that a hide came into view next to the road over the river. The sign on the front with the name of the hide came into view. "Stockdales Hide" read the white letters on the big green sign. Brilliant. We would at least be able to get to the right place without too many difficulties. 

After parking and figuring out where we needed to walk, we set off along the very straight path with the hide just visible on the bank. Quite a few Whooper Swans were flying over, a species which I have seen a few times before, first at Welney in February, and then a self-found bird at Woolmer Pond in April. Of course, living in Hampshire, where Whooper and Bewick's Swan are virtually non-present (especially the latter), it's always a treat to see the swans with the bright yellow beaks. 

Plenty of Stonechats and Reed Buntings were in the reeds along the river, and a few Meadow Pipits were also calling. Another slightly rarer Hampshire species, Fieldfare, were present with a flock of over 20 birds. 

After finally making it to the hide (a deceptively long walk), I sat down and started scanning the vast area of fields and water. There was tons of activity on the water, with plenty of the wonderful Whooper Swans present, along with hundreds of Greylag Geese, Lapwing, Wigeon. Mallards and Crows visible. 

No big flock of Crane. Hmm. Worrying.

Obviously, we didn't have very long here. We had a three-hour journey ahead of us,  we were just eating lunch, and, surprise, surprise, traffic was building up on the M25. So if the Cranes weren't here or didn't fly in quickly, not only would it be a very bad dip, but also a bit annoying for the family, as the site was out of our way, even if just by a little.

I continued scanning, but there was still nothing. Then, Mum asked me about some birds off in a field in the distance. I had briefly scanned the field before, and all I had seen were deer, so I imagined this was what she was talking about, as she didn't have bins. All the same, I did scan around again. 

There were the deer. But there wasn't only deer. There were also three grey lumps moving around, incredibly, standing as tall as the deer. There was no doubt, these three birds were my first Common Cranes. 

They were very distant, but because of their size still offered reasonable views through bins and scope. 

As with the Bittern, they were much larger than I had imagined, even though I knew they were huge. Truly incredible birds. They are one of the species that look as though they should live solely somewhere more like Africa, but here they are. Stunning. 

Cranes are relatively scarce British birds, with East Anglia being one of the best places to see them. They were once extinct in England due to hunting, and were so for about 350 years, but have made a great comeback and are now again breeding birds in Britain.

Two Whooper Swans flew right by the hide.

More and more continued flying in, making almighty splashes on the water as they landed.

A Marsh Harrier flew past, sending everything up.

The Crane seemed very happy where they were, preening and walking about. Every time I looked back at them, I was taken aback at their size.

The others left at this point, leaving Dad and me in the hide for a further ten minutes before we had to get back and hit the road. 

I took some zoomed-out photos of the view from the hide.

Here you can see the Crane in the distance, the three grey dots in the field, about 5 o'clock from the biggest building.

Sadly, our time was up, and the others were probably waiting at the car, so we had to leave. I took a final few photos of the Cranes from outside the hide.

Truly, truly incredible birds. I was very, very pleased to see them.

On the walk back to the car, a Kingfisher flew across the path, before perching somewhere by the river. Dad didn't manage to get onto it, which he was sad about, as these are his favourite birds. 

We continued walking until we got to the bridge over the river, where I spotted the Kingfisher again, this time perched. Dad got onto it. Incredibly, the bird then proceeded to fly straight towards us, and flew up and perched hardly three meters away from us. I silently lifted my camera, adjusting the settings, trying not to scare the bird away- this was the closest I had ever seen one.                                 

"Oh WOW!" Was the exclamation from Dad.                                                                                          

The bird proceeded to fly away. A very funny moment. Whether or not Dad actually scared the bird away, we will never know, but I imagine it had a part in it. We were both very happy with the sighting, who wouldn't be, seeing the bird at such close range. Luckily, the lighting hadn't been good, so I doubt I would have gotten good photos even if the bird had stayed, so the stunned exclamation from Dad goes down in the clumsy and hilariously funny category.

We got back to the car, mentioned our encounter with the Kingfisher to the others, and drove off. 

It seems to be rather a formality at the end of these posts now, but another incredible trip! Things can't keep on going so well for much longer, surely, so I'm savouring it while I can. Back to school next week, so I won't have as many chances to get out, but there are quite a few things about at the moment which I am hoping to try and see. Year list up to 194, and life list up to 205. I just added the Crane to my list, and can't help but notice the wonderful scientific name of the bird- Grus Grus. Rather comical sounding. I was aware of this name, but had forgotten it. A great day in the end, everything went well. Saw the Crane, and Chelsea beat a rather sorry Tottenham in the afternoon. The aim of the 200-year list is growing ever closer, with still a few common species missing from it, so I might just make it. As is always with birding, though, we'll have to see. It's the great unknown with birding that makes it so addictive I feel. It also really helps that the species we have all over the world are so incredible. The variety is crazy, and each bird has its own special way of doing things, making each species so unique. Each new bird seen is a whole new and incredible experience. Experiences to remember, savour, and most of all enjoy.

Oh, before I forget, what a start to November!