The continued presence of the Hudsonian Whimbrel has maintain a steady flow of birders through the reserve and those who turn up on the 21st and 22nd would have also been greeted by the present of a Terek Sandpiper. So things become completely mad with two major rarities present at the same time. The Terek Sandpiper has not been seen on the reserve since 1969 so was a welcome opportunity for many of our younger birders to see this unusual species.
Hudsonian Whimbrel (Above -- North America) and Terek Sandpiper (below -- Asia)
With so much excitement at Church Norton a pair of breeding Nightingales almost passed unnoticed by many, but some of our regulars we patient enough to get a glimpse of this very secretive bird and confirmed that they had successfully fledged 3 young a first for the reserve and possible the Manhood Peninsula.
Common Tern (above) and Little Tern (Below)
Ringed Plover
The breeding season is in full flow at present with many of the resident birds are busily collecting food for their young.
Also with migrate butterflies arriving last time, this time the focus was on migrant moth with small number of Silver Y, Rush Veneer and Dark Sword-grass in the reserve’s regular trap it was out on the reserve which recorder the most interesting species. Four Bordered Straw were recorded around Pagham and Medmerrry over the last week, a unusually migrant from Southern Erurope and Africa.
Bordered Straw
The Warden, RSPB Crook of Baldoon