The Juvenile Spoonbill continued to frequent the harbour most likely being observed on Tern Island or in the centre of the harbour at high tide and was still present at the time of writing. An extra splash of colour was seen on Ferry Pool when a Ruddy Shelduck showed up. First located at Medmerry it soon made the move across the peninsula to associate with the shelduck on Ferry. However it proved to be very elusive regular having trips out and about.
Ruddy Shelduck on Ferry Pool
Spoonbill in the Rain on Tern Island
There continues to be a stream of migrants through the reserve with Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail and Swallow throughout the period, whilst wintering waders and waterfowl are becoming more prominent in the harbour. As the month comes to an end, the first of the late migrant species start to show up these include Ring Ouzel a mountain version of the Blackbird. The first winter thrushes arrived with the plaintive call of the Redwing sounding out above the Visitor Centre. Near by the excitement of a scarcity finally brought the local birders to the peninsula, with a Yellow Browed Warbler in Selsey.
The search continued on the reserve for the first of the autumn’s rarity but the closest anyone got was a fly over large Pipit which was almost certainly a Tawny.
The Warden, RSPB Crook of Baldoon