You know when winter has arrived when the annual management tasks begin. One of the main tasks over the winter is the clearance of vegetation from Tern Island in order to maintain open shingle for the breeding terns and over the winter you may well see our volunteers out in all weathers carrying out the work. It does have it’s compensation with a unique aspect to see the birds of the harbour. This week the volunteers were greeted by a peregrine sat on the New Island, who spent the afternoon overseeing the work. A spoonbill was leisurely feeding in the centre of the harbour sweeping side to side amongst a myriad of waders. The presence of the now resident Marsh Harrier continued to throw all the waders and duck in to confusion as they attempt to avoid becoming lunch. Amongst the chaos was the first of the wintering avocets. These moments of activity are soon replaced by the serenity of the 100’s of dunlin, knot and grey plover settling down to feed, with the silence broken only by the cackling calls of the brent geese commuting in and out of the harbour for a brush up.
Rock Pipit -- North Wall
The red backed shrike continued to grace us with it’s presence until the 9th Nov, becoming the latest record for Sussex. Finally as the weather cleared on Saturday night/Sunday morning it was time to move on after a good feed up on our local wasps. During the monthly waterbirds count a guillemot reported on the sea towards the end of the day and as the sun set on a chilly but bright day, a red-necked grebe was seen going to roost near Tern Island. Other sightings during the week to catch the eye included a merlin (Pagham and Church Norton Spit), 4 rock pipits (North Wall), a unseasonal wheatear (Pagham Spit) and small flocks of siskin that are now feeding in the alders near the visitor centre.
Sunset From Visitor Centre
The Warden, RSPB Crook of Baldoon