Pagham (14/08/11)

Started off with a seawatch at Selsey Bill but the only interest was lots of Gannets.

Met up with the RSPB group at Sidlesham Ferry and we had a brief look around the pool and hedgerows because there was a function at the visitor centre later.  We saw a Wheatear distantly in the field behind the pool, 2 Common Sandpipers on the pool and a Bar-tailed Godwit in the channel.

We then drove to Church Norton where the tide was coming in quickly.  Very few waders were showing but a Peregrine was sitting on one of the islands in the harbour.

Careful looking revealed a Whimbrel and 3 Mediterranean Gulls.  In the hedgerow was a Migrant Hawker and an Emperor Dragonfly.

We had lunch in the car park then drove over to the beach car park on Pagham side only to find it closed, so we drove to Pagham church and parked there.  We then walked out to the Breach Pool in a very strong SW wind.

Scanning the Little Egrets didn't reveal the reported Cattle Egret but there was a moulting adult Spotted Redshank on the pool along with a couple of Little Ringed Plovers.  I walked on a bit and spotted a wader on a piece of mud the others couldn't see.  I was just going to get them on it when it flew up calling and left - a Wood Sandpiper!  As I told the rest of the group a Yellow Wagtail flew over.

Still no Lesser Emperors (07/08/11)

Went to Blashford to try and see the reported Lesser Emperor but despite several visits to its favourite pond I couldn't find it.

Had some good birds though:

c10 Common Buzzards
female Red-crested Pochard
juv. Black Tern
2 Goosander
6 Ravens (family group?)
Sparrowhawk

Odonata:

Common Blue Damselfly
Red-eyed Damselfly

Emperor Dragonfly (including ovipositing female)
Black-tailed Skimmer
Brown Hawker

Warren Heath (31/07/11)

Yep, no Brilliant Emeralds here either, did see a Golden-ringed Dragonfly tho!

Basingstoke Canal (30/07/11)

Spent most of the late morning and lunchtime walking up and down the canal, but in all that time only found a couple of Downy Emeralds and one Brilliant Emerald which I nearly photographed but it spotted me and flew high up into a tree and wouldn't come down.

Also 3 or 4 Silver-washed Fritillaries seen.

Tundry Pond (26/07/11)

Followed up on a report of a Lesser Emperor but no luck - however, my first 3 Brown Hawkers of the year as well as some Red-eyed Damselflies.  A Spotted Flycatcher was flycatching by the boathouse and a eclipse Wigeon was in the Mallard flock.

Dungeness (23/7/11)

No sign of any Lesser Emperors despite lots of searching, the only highlight was about 10 Porpoises of Dungeness power station and a Pectoral Sandpiper on the ARC pit.

Fleet Pond (17/07/11)

As a Wood Sandpiper had been reported from the scrape for the last 2 days I decided to go and have a look.

I parked at the end of Chestnut Grove and scoped for a scrape - I could only see an adult Yellow-legged Gull perched on one of the posts in the pond.

I then walked around to Sandy Bay where there were a few Egyptian Geese and then onto the picnic site where I found the scrape, although it was difficult to see all of it.  At the northern end I finally located the sandpiper and as I got my scope onto it a Moorhen took a dislike to it and flushed it left.

I then searched for it again but it wasn't until the heavens opened that I found the bird preening at the southern end in the reeds.  As I and another couple watched it, it suddenly flew off.

Based on the brown spots on the back and diffuse grey brown mottling on the breast I believe it was a juvenile bird.

I dropped into Sandy Bay back on the way to the card and the sandpiper was feeding quite close on the muddy area in the bay. These are where these photos were taken.

Just as I reached the car a Little Egret flew off.