Monday 7th September 2026: Red-necked Phalarope at West Rise Marsh, Eastbourne

-

 After a morning of chores, I managed to persuade Tim to take a little trip out to West Rise Marsh where a Red-necked Phalarope had been reported. This is not a bird we see every year, with most of our previous sightings having been fleeting and distant, mainly in June.

When we arrived, I instantly spotted the tiny bird in the adjacent corner of the lake. It was quite windy, making the water choppy, and it had possibly been pushed towards the shore by these conditions. However, for us this was advantageous as it gave some brilliant close views, and good photo opportunities. As is often the case at this time of year, it was a juvenile bird, with beautifully coloured markings on the back and pristine white underparts save for a pinkish flush around the shoulders. The bill was thin and pointed, enabling it to dart at insects on the water surface. At times it stuck its head forwards to drive rapidly across the water. We were treated to just one flight view when a Herring Gull appeared overhead and chased it. Fortunately the Phalarope outpaced it, the gull lost interest and wandered off, leaving the Phalarope to return to its corner where it continued to entertain us until it was time to head home.




Red-necked Phalarope


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10th June 2024: Adur riverside walk

-
Image
 We took an afternoon stroll up the river towards the old cement works, in search of Common Sandpiper. We failed to find any at their favoured location, although possibly the tide was a bit too high still when we arrived. The river was generally quiet, with around a dozen Mute Swans noted drifting in a small flotilla. A couple of Little Egret were quite mobile around the muddy banks and a few Mallard dabbled in the river. In the hedgerows we found a Chiffchaff singing and briefly a Blackcap over the path. Approaching the road bridge, Chris ran past and stopped to point out a few Bee Orchids in the rough grass beside the path. By the toll bridge, there was a colourful display of wild flowers, making for a pleasant afternoon walk. Bee Orchid
Read more

Sunday 6th July 2025: Chapada dos Guimares, Brazil Day 8

-
Image
As always, we were up early, as dawn broke, to enjoy the birdlife when it is most active. We barely moved from our meeting point in the garden, but enjoyed a feast of birds all around us. First up, Tony M pointed out a superb Amazonian Motmot sat quietly and unobtrusively in the tree, showing a bright blue crown and long, shuttlecock tail.  In another tall tree behind the dining area, Blue-headed Parrots flew in, giving excellent scope views. A stunning Yellow-tufted Woodpecker with superb, bold colours was a real treat as it inched along a branch, then a group of Lettered Aracaris, with distinct bill patterning, landed in the secropia tree just above our heads. Next a Boat-billed Flycatcher appeared, then at a feeding trough, White-lined Tanagers mingled with doves and blackbirds. On the flowers a Black-throated Mango hovered, and a Yellow rumped Cacique landed nearby. On the ground a Creamy-bellied Thrush hopped energetically.  Back in the secropia, a pair of Blue Dacnis dar...
Read more

Friday 17th January 2025: Pagham Harbour

-
Image
We enjoyed a lovely day out at Pagham yesterday with Sue. We started with a circuit from the visitor centre, but the water levels were high at Ferry Pool and there was little of note. In the channel a few Redshank and Curlew were the best we could muster. We relocated to Halsey’s Farm and walked across the field to North Wall. There were plenty of Wigeon whistling noisily as we passed, and out in the harbour swathes of waders, creating a tremendous spectacle when they all took to the skies, a murmuration of Golden Plover swirling above flocks of Lapwing, and groups of Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit dropping in to the nearby fields. Lines of Brent geese headed further west, calling softly as they passed over.   Wigeon In the area we were thrilled to find a Long-eared Owl roosting, showing surprisingly well near the front of a bush. Long-eared Owl In White’s Creek we were treated to great views of a Spotted Redshank which wandered in very close, allowing us to note its key features. ...
Read more