FIELD TRIP NOTES

2008
Sept 14 Pett and Dundeness Possibly one of the group's best days for rarities! The trip to Pett Level and a slight detour to Dungeness produced little gull, black tern, white winged black terns,2 common cranesand 2 ospreys. Buzzard, merlin, hobby, yellow wagtails, plus a good variety of waders and waterfowl - not forgetting marsh harrier supplying the supporting cast.
July 13 Elmley Elmley was the chosen venue for the Mystery Trip, 50+ species which included beautifully coloured yellow wagtails, a hobby sitting on a post next to the track and swallows nesting in the toilets! Plus PECTORAL SANDPIPER and 8+ spotted redshanks.
5 marsh harriers, a buzzard, sparrowhawk, peregrine and a small, paler harrier mixing it
with the highest marsh harrier at the same time. We also had 6 species of butterflies on the buddleia. A very enjoyable day's birding.
May 11 Minsmere Warm and sunny with slight breeze. Bitterns, bearded tits, little terns, little gulls, marsh harriers (5 in the air at one time!),wigeon, whimbrel, hobby and honey buzzard were the highlights of the birds that the group saw - nobody saw everything! But a good day was had by all - the weather certainly helped and most of the birds were obliging enough to stay in sight long enough! Cold in the coach though - the air conditioning was turned to 'Arctic' I think...
April 27 Pagham
The weather forcast was not very promising so we went to Sidlesham to begin with... not very inspiring! Saw whitethroat, whimbrel and cuckoo. As the clouds were getting blacker,Selsey was considered the next best option. 3 great northern divers,1 blackthroated diver, a great skua, common and sandwich terns. Then at 11am OSPREY IN OFF THE SEA right over head! Thunder storm so took shelter for lunch; 4 pomarine skuas and 20 plus gannets, 18 little terns. Then back to Church Norton to finish off with a female redstart and a female pied flycatcher - good trip!

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