As October draws to a close, the main bulk of the summer migrant have finished their southwards journey, leaving our chilling shore for warmer climes. The Atlantic depressions have started to sweep across the country heralding the onset of wintering, bring with them large numbers of wintering waders and ducks. Over the last few weeks the numbers of wigeon, pintail and teal have started to swell, bring their whistling chorus over the harbour. But just as these winter visitors arrived summer had one last surprise to bring, the discovery on 1st Nov of a juv Red-Backed Shrike at Hasley’s. This intriguing little bird often known as a butcherbird for it’s habit of impaling insects on to thorny bushes certainly upset the local and had to spend a lot of time fending off the local robins, blue tits and reed buntings.
A spoonbill which has been frequenting Chichester Harbour over last month was probable the same bird present on site for the last week up to the 1st. With the change in the weather along with the arrival of the ducks and waders a number of other winter birds were present. A dartford warbler was present on the tramway on 1st Nov making a coastal outing from one of the Heathland sites inland. The first hen harrier of the year was noted patrolling Halsey’s Farm joining the long staying marsh harrier which was taking advantage of the plump redshanks out on the saltmarsh. With the mild weather in October the familiar winter sight of the dark bellied brent geese were few and far between but the beginning of November has seen more small skeins arriving from the east with numbers in the harbour now over a 100.
The Warden, RSPB Crook of Baldoon