Tuesday 13th October: Grey Phalarope on Widewater Lagoon

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 One of the members of Shoreham District Ornithological Society lives alongside Widewater Lagoon and he emailed the group this morning to alert us to the presence of a Grey Phalarope on the lagoon. We dropped everything and rushed over, to find this gorgeous, tiny bird just a few feet away from the causeway which crosses the lagoon. These seabirds have not learnt to be wary of humans and frequently allow extremely close views. This was certainly the case today, when the only disturbance causing it to take flight was the sudden appearance of gulls venturing a little too close. 

The bird stayed for the rest of the day and it remains to be seen if it is still present tomorrow. They can sometimes hang around for several days, as has been the case with the bird at Lytchett Fields, Poole which no doubt sister Sue has rushed out to see as it is on her doorstep!?!

Attached are a few shots which Tim took. The pink flush indicates a juvenile bird.





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