March s Outdoor Meeting Sandy Point / Black Point: 19 th. Six eventually gathered by the northern extremities of the Sandy Point Nature Reserve for the March Outdoor meeting, on a morning with weather more befitting an autumnal day; mild with strengthening south-westerlies, grey clouded skies and more than hinting at rain. The proximity to the reserve ensured that birds were immediately noted, Long-tailed Tit being heard among the dense Hawthorn growth flanking the adjacent residential gardens, where House Sparrow were also heard, Woodpigeon moving about both areas but more obvious about the latter with no vegetation to hide them there. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Walking towards Sandy Point Blackbird, Magpie, Greenfinch and Blue Tit were heard from the reserve whilst the first of the migrants, over-wintering Dark-bellied Brent, moved over in a small skein. A singing Chiffchaff lifted the mood a little, though eventually becoming the first of just two noted during the meeting, and the first of just two proper spring migrants recorded. Shortly after a Meadow Pipit moved north, the first of many noted heading in the same direction just where were they coming from, and going? A pair of Chaffinch moved from tree to tree in the reserve where a Wren was in territorial mode, belting out its song, a further flock flew over, this however of Racing Pigeon! Following the footpath through the reserve Greenfinch were very evident, calling and singing as they also moved from tree to tree, lingering atop the more distinct skeletal perches; a pleasing number compared with many more local sites, as commented upon by one of those present.
Greenfinch Chloris chloris Out on the shoreline overlooking Chichester Harbour the wind became ever stronger, though not seemingly affecting a female Harbour Seal that lingered offshore; an increasingly frequent visitor to Hampshire shores but always an unexpected bonus on any coastal trip. Looking further afield several Gannet were picked up as nearsilhouettes towards the horizon, gulls were seen coming across the channel from East Head and the Witterings and a Great Crested Grebe flew in, another bobbing up-anddown in the choppy water. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
A Sandwich Tern, another over-wintering bird rather than recently arrived, was seen offshore, but only by one lucky observer. Walking northwards, towards Black Point, a Linnet and further Meadow Pipit moved over, Oystercatcher being seen out on one of the disappearing sandbars in the harbour. The latter also held large numbers of the yachting fraternity, these and their increased action perhaps helping to explain the lack of waders along the shore and duck and other water-based birds out on the deeper waters. Redshank Tringa totanus
Curlew Numenius arquata The uncovered creeks inland of the points held single Little Egret, Curlew and Redshank and a family party of Dark-bellied Brent, House Sparrow being in the scrubby patches between here and the track to the sailing club, plus heard further afield in the gardens of the estate where Starling flew to-and-fro.
Dark-bellied Brent Branta bernicla
To the north, a breeding-plumaged Cormorant flew off towards Northney, a ghostlier Mute Swan heading the same way as the group walked towards the Black Point wader roost. Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Passing the dunes and fossil-holding rocks on the western side of the sailing club compound a Shelduck was seen dabbling about the wetter mud, shortly followed by a grebe, then two, very distantly diving. Further checking confirmed these as Little, their seemingly initial odd appearance presumably due to the need to stretch in to the wind as they tried to ensure that they were not taken away by the tidal waters. There were no waders at the point, in fact no birds at all! However, there were many yachts and their crews to watch, if you felt so inclined, and the Meadow Pipit continued to sip, sip as they moved north.
I was intrigued by this layering in a mini-sand-dune found when we were walking around the point, beyond the life-boat station. The bands of colour are wind-sorted, rather than by water Returning towards Sandy Point the waters of Chichester Harbour were ever choppier and even quieter, even the seal being unable to be relocated. Walking the southern shore / edge of the reserve added further Greenfinch, an unseen yaffling Green Woodpecker and small numbers of gull passing offshore, the more distant birds now being hidden by a haze that obscured even the larger objects out to sea.
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo The waves behind this bird showing how the south-westerlies were disturbing the water, and our meeting On the reserve a pair of Magpie was active, more Woodpigeon were flighting over the more distant trees whilst the Gorse, heath and other scrubbier vegetation appeared to be emptied of avifauna a Rabbit was however seen, by just one! A hint of rain became nothing more, thankfully, before the group headed back in to the relative shelter of the footpath through the reserve once more. This area was now lit by what sun the group was lucky enough to encounter, encouraging the first butterfly of the outing to sun themselves out on the still brown and gone-over Bracken; single Peacock and Comma. The final walk along the northern edge of the reserve had the group staring in to the ditch once more, this channel now holding a Moorhen, that had been heard earlier. More surprising was the appearance of two Little Egret, one in pursuit of the other.
Both were in their breeding finery and gave excellent views as they loitered, the pursued out on the grass, the pursuer remaining in the ditch. Little Egret Egretta garzetta This was the Little Egret which was chased out of the ditch. Notice the soggy, muddy primaries and plumes. I wonder if it had been in a more physical encounter with the other egret. Traces of the muck can still be seen but I think this "rousing" was to shake the stuff out. So, a disappointing day of weather, a lack of the anticipated migrants and harbour / sea-related birds that might have made the outing a little more notable, at least regarding avifauna. However, the half-a-dozen attending more than made up for this with what was present and each other s company, and a total of 73 Meadow Pipit did move north! The list : Blackbird Black-headed Gull Blue Tit Buzzard a bird seen distantly over the mainland treeline. Carrion Crow Chaffinch Chiffchaff two in song. Collared Dove Cormorant Curlew Dark-bellied Brent Dunnock Gannet several seen offshore. Goldcrest Goldfinch Great Black-backed Gull Great Crested Grebe two off Sandy Point. Great Tit Green Woodpecker Greenfinch Herring Gull House Sparrow Linnet Little Egret one in the creeks west of Black Point with two later in the drainage channel at Sandy Point NR. Little Grebe two to the north of Black Point. Long-tailed Tit Magpie Meadow Pipit 73 noted moving north between 10:18 and 12:29. Mistle Thrush Moorhen Mute Swan Oystercatcher Pheasant Pied
Wagtail Racing Pigeon Redshank Robin Sandwich Tern one off Sandy Point. Shelduck a singleton north of Black Point. Starling Woodpigeon Wren Harbour Seal a female seen several times in Chichester Harbour. Rabbit one on the Sandy Point NR. Comma Peacock Germander Speedwell Gorse Ivy-leaved Speedwell And from those that wandered elsewhere both before and after the Outdoor Meeting: Pre- Black-necked Grebe at least one seen distantly in Langstone Harbour, off the North Hayling LNR. Chiffchaff two at North Hayling LNR. Little Egret two at North Hayling LNR. Mediterranean Gull 130 + at North Hayling LNR. Post- Chiffchaff two at Drayton Farm, two at Avington Park Lake, singles in song at both sites, with several more at Sidlesham. Fieldfare 28 at Drayton Farm, one at Swarraton. Green Sandpiper one at Drayton Farm. Little Egret singles being seen at Droxford, Lea Farm Shop Cress Beds, Pinglestone Cress Beds, Drayton Farm, Alresford Pond, Northington, Swarraton and Totford. Marsh Harrier one over the fields north of Sidlesham Ferry Pool. Merlin one over the fields north of Sidlesham Ferry Pool. Raven one down to carrion on A272, just east of Cheesefoot Head. Red Kite singles both south and north of Nutley. Shelduck pairs at Alresford Pond and Sidlesham Ferry Pool with 113 in Pagham Harbour. Snipe six at Avington Park Lake. Water Pipit seven on Pinglestone Cress Beds.