This morning I made a brief excursion out of Hampshire for a spot of birding in West Sussex. Yesterday it was reported that a Black-winged Stilt was present on the Ferry Pool at Sidlesham; this morning it was still there and had been joined by a Red-necked Phalarope. Red-necked Phalarope is not a species I see that frequently and certainly not in summer plumage so given that it was only a 25 minute drive away I decided to go.
When I arrived the bird was feeding in middle of the pool about 50 metres away, and was typically spinning and twisting as it delicately picked tasty morsels off the surface. It was occasionally chased by Black-headed Gulls that seemed intent on bullying it, but it always returned back to its favoured spot to feed. Looking at the plumage I am inclined to think that it was a male, the bird was generally quite dull and and the colouration less intense than on a female. The patterning was also more diffuse and not as neatly defined as I would have expected for a female.
I have seen Red-necked Phalaropes on the Ferry Pool before but not since the 1980's and when I got back home I checked to see just what the status was. According to the Birds of Sussex, which was published in 2014, there have been about 85 recorded with the majority in August and September. Between 1962 and 2011 only four have been recorded in May and four in June, five of those have been between the last week of May and the first week of June, as with this bird.
 |
| Red-necked Phalarope - Sidlesham Ferry Pool, West Sussex |
 |
| Red-necked Phalarope - Sidlesham Ferry Pool, West Sussex |
 |
| Red-necked Phalarope - Sidlesham Ferry Pool, West Sussex |
 |
| Red-necked Phalarope - Sidlesham Ferry Pool, West Sussex |
 |
| Red-necked Phalarope - Sidlesham Ferry Pool, West Sussex |
 |
| Red-necked Phalarope - Sidlesham Ferry Pool, West Sussex |
 |
| Red-necked Phalarope - Sidlesham Ferry Pool, West Sussex |
 |
| Red-necked Phalarope - Sidlesham Ferry Pool, West Sussex |
 |
| Red-necked Phalarope - Sidlesham Ferry Pool, West Sussex |
I was so intent on watching the phalarope that I almost forgot about the Black-winged Stilt. It was not as obliging as the phalarope and spent all of its time at the back of the pool feeding amongst the Black-tailed Godwits and Pied Avocets. This species bred and the RSPB's Medmerry reserve last year and so is a bit devalued now, but still a nice bird to see in the UK. This individual appeared to be a 2cy bird as its legs were dull pink, its back was also dull and blackish rather than jet black of an adult. The top of the head, back of the neck and nape were also smudged brownish. Up until 2011 there were 25 records but some of those are considered to involve the same individuals. As I mentioned earlier the species bred in the county in 2014, and it is of course entirely possible that this bird was one of last years juveniles.
 |
| Black-winged Stilt and two Black-tailed Godwits - Sidlesham Ferry Pool, West Sussex |
No comments:
Post a Comment