Three days in Marrakesh

If you're thinking that's quite a long way from Sheepcote you'd be right ! In every sense !!
Flying in at night under cover of darkness was to experience the difference in the quality of the light. Not a mass of harsh lighting illuminating the city, but instead a gentle glow, a soft sort of desert orange, demarcated sharply at the edge of the city where it became black.

Having been transported to our Riad in the medina, I awoke to the unfamiliar sound of a noisy bird. Lying in bed as it got light I just couldn't put an ID to this bird; a slight warble but more "exotic" sounding, and much louder ! It and they (for there were many) turned out to be Common Bulbuls, which were indeed common all over the city, and very noisy.

At breakfast on the roof terrace I was introduced to House Buntings, very much like House Sparrows (with which they were frequenting) in their behaviour, hanging out around the tables for some discarded crumbs. Quite smart birds which I endeavoured to get some photos of whilst eating pancakes with jam and drinking coffee.

A low square tower with walls coloured in a beautiful earthy orange and  oxidised-Copper green roof tiles was home to a number of Pallid Swifts, which were flying so low and fast past me as I was trying to eat my breakfast that I was having trouble in concentrating on the task in hand (literally). I don't think I've ever seen them so close before, showing their scaly bellies and "saddle-back" darker mantles, and generally appearing much browner than the Swifts we know and love from the few brief months they call England home. I whiled away several hours trying to get some (any) half-way decent photos of them careering past and still failing.
Another species of Swift, Little, was easily seen from a roof-top café, as they dipped into an unoccupied building to a presumed nest-site. A slower-flying more compact bird, with a square tail and white rump extending around the sides so as could be seen from below quite easily.

White Storks were to be seen fairly widely around the city, but especially at the Badi palace (a ruin with surrounding walls) where I counted nine nests on the tops of the walls in something like 100 metres. With a backdrop of satellite dishes and TV aerials atop the flat roofs the nesting Storks looked quite incongruous; rather the snow-covered Atlas mountains in the background.

Undoubtedly the highlight in birding terms was a light phase Booted Eagle which drifted over the riad's roof terrace whilst I just happened to be searching the skies for anything interesting ! I did manage some fairly okay photos of this bird, whilst another presumed Booted Eagle being mobbed by a White Stork was too distant to photograph. These were locally nesting birds I assume.

Probably the next best sighting was a fast fly-past Lanner falcon whilst sitting in another roof-top café (handy view points), rather too briefly unfortunately. Other species noted included Spotless Starling and Collared Dove, the latter of which is a relatively recent colonist to Morocco.

Booted Eagle

Common Bulbul

House Bunting

White Stork

Pallid Swift

Sea-watching in Sussex

This Easter I have put some time in to pursuing the art of sea-watching. It's probably a real "Marmite" activity, you either love it or hate it. For myself I enjoy staring into the open expanse of the sea and then suddenly coming across a tadpole-like stream of Common Scoter (and trying to pick out a Velvet !), or finding a high-flying flock of Brent Geese majestically working their way steadily towards their Arctic breeding quarters. There's something quite magical in witnessing that for me.

So my Bank Holiday weekend started, er well last Thursday actually. Two and a half hours at Splash Point in a light SSW. A steady flow of birds, just about enough to keep an interest. Some of the birds came in quite close, including a nice flock of four (s-p) Red-throated divers and a single Black-throated. Still a few Brents passing east (24 in total), although the majority have already gone through earlier in the year. Most of the (Common) Scoter flocks were quite distant, including one flock of c30 birds containing at least one but probably three Velvet Scoter; but there were a few closer birds where the dark black males were more discernible from the browner females. Four Common Terns were the first for the year for me; Sandwich Terns were passing at a steady trickle. Two flocks of Whimbrel (4 and 5) east gave a bit of variety to the species composition for the day.

On to the Good Friday, where  forecasts earlier in the week were giving SE winds, which is what you want in Spring (theoretically at least). In reality the wind turned to NW and the birds....were not to be seen this side of the Channel. The highlight was a Willow Warbler on the end of the west arm of Brighton marina.

Two days later, Easter Sunday, the rain set in for most of the day; when it cleared, the wind had veered round to a light S/SE and it was sunny ! Don't you just love the English weather. Two and a half hours at Brighton marina were productive in quality rather than quantity. Several flocks of Whimbrel (18,20,4), two Swallows in/off the sea, 5 Brents, several Gannets, one Common Tern, 3 Commic and a steady movement of Sandwich Terns. Eight Purple Sandpiper were inside the marina as were 44 Turnstone. But pride of place goes to the close-in Arctic Skua (another was further out, both dark phase), giving great views, and an absolutely stunning summer-plumaged Black-throated diver which flew past really close-by. It's what makes the hours of sea-watching worthwhile !

The weekend was brought to a finish by a further two hours at the marina on the Bank Holiday Monday in a very light ENE. A good selection of species with reasonable numbers of Cmn Scoter, Sandwich Tern, and fewer Gannets. Two (pairs ?) of Shelduck made for a change; I always like watching them migrate over the sea as they're quite striking birds, contrasting sharply with a dark sea background. Four Little Gull were a bit distant but their black hoods and dark underwing were clearly visible. Two Med Gulls were much closer giving themselves away with their soft mewing calls; classy adult s-p birds. Two Razorbills flew close enough to be able to see that one was an adult s-p and the other was a first summer bird (retaining some juvenile feathers and having an overall browner appearance). Good views of a s-p  R-T diver were had not too far out. Finally three flocks of Whimbrel flew east (2,4,9), with two calling that beautiful fluty sound that they make (evocative of their more northerly breeding sites such as Shetland) and flying right over my head (fantastic views), whilst four did likewise before landing on Brighton beach.

Sometimes birding is about the expectation, the possibility of what might turn up; sea-watching accentuates that and you've often only got a fairly limited amount of time to get onto the bird, to check it's ID. It's challenging ! Now what's the weather forecast like for the next week or so......

Surveys, sunshine and beaches

Been a while since I posted anything so thought it about time to update.
I don't do garden birds really but I do keep an eye on the feeders. A male Blackcap has been a regular visitor throughout Jan and Feb , and now through most of March.  He's an elegant bird to watch and can be quite feisty, seeing off the Blue Tits in no uncertain terms.  A good number of Goldfinches have consistently been at the sunflower hearts, and there have even been a pair of Greenfinches. It's taken until 16th March for the first Chiffchaff to be heard singing from the garden.  Pride of place though has to go to the Firecrest I found making it's way through the Privet hedge on 3rd Mar. This was a first for the garden.
Probably the highlight of my February WeBS count at Newhaven was a Common seal loafing around close to the river bank. I also managed 2 kingfishers that day, always guaranteed to brighten up the survey.  March's WeBS count by contrast was fairly quiet, the most interesting observations being a pair of copulating Kestrels, a sparrowhawk being mobbed by the local HGs and 2 singing Cetti's Warblers.
Sadly, what the beaches have yielded is a lot of dead seabirds. On 4th Mar the beach immediately West of Brighton marina had 2 razorbills, 1 Guillemot, 2 unidentifiable auks and 1 Kittiwake. On 17th Mar at West beach, Newhaven, there were 7 razorbills, 5 guillemots, 3 unidentifiable auks and 1 Hg.
Some unseasonably high temperatures and sunny weather has really got the birds singing. During the first BBS training session at Pulborough on 15th Mar i listened to a Nuthatch singing, the first time i can recall hearing it's song, and a very beautiful one it is too.  I'll listen out for it again to see if I can get a sound recording next time. Loads of butterflies (Brimstones, small tortoiseshell and a peacock on the beach yesterday) and a sun - bathing Adder have helped to make Spring special this year.

Gulls, Gulls, Gulls

Just occasionally I manage to get out to see something that isn't part of one survey or another. So, when on Friday I had a window of opportunity to leave work early, I thought I'd pop down the road to Shoreham harbour to have a look for the long-staying 2nd calendar-year Glaucous Gull. The light was particularly good so I grabbed my camera and off I went. The bird had been reported recently to have been frequenting the area around the fish shop at the far eastern end of Southwick canal; luckily a couple of other birders were also hanging out there, otherwise I think I would've felt a bit silly. Whilst waiting for the bird to put in an appearance an adult Kittiwake flew around and I managed some quite nice shots of the bird in flight. After about half an hour the Glauc appeared, flying around and getting pretty close, giving me the opportunity to get some close flight shots. Those translucent primaries are so obvious when the bird flies above you in good light. Once on the water, however, it somehow looked a whole lot less elegant.
After  a while  the Glauc Gull settled on the water and I decided to depart for Brighton marina. The west arm was shut, so I concentrated on taking photos of the mainly Herring Gulls dancing over the rough sea and gliding up past me at the base of the west arm. The light was fantastic and it was just a joy to watch their agility in the air. So, back home to upload the photos, a quick bit of editing and post a few images to accompany this script. Kittiwake (ad winter), Glaucous Gull (2nd cy) and Herring (2nd cy).

Early Birds and WeBS

Carried out the BTO's Early Bird survey on Saturday 11th Jan. With feeders topped up I was in place  to catch those early risers, which proved to be Blackbirds. In fact more in my back garden than on some of my Winter Thrush survey sites ! With sunrise (officially) at 08.00 I'd had three species visiting by then and the next half hour was fairly busy. The Goldfinches have gone mad for the Sunflower hearts with a max of 7. It was pretty much all over by around 9am, with Woodpigeon being a late-comer at 09.12. The real star of the morning, however, didn't put in an appearance until elevenses; Great spotted Woodpecker at 11.02 and the first time I recall one actually on one of my feeders (for some reason they seem to favour the neighbour's !). So the running order was: 07.46 Blackbird, 07.47 Blue Tit, 08.00 Blackcap (the regular male), 08.10 Chaffinch, 08.20 Goldfinch, 08.32 Robin (a pair), 08.39 Dunnock, 08.49 Great Tit, 09.12 Woodpigeon and lastly 11.02 Gt Spotted Woodpecker.  Whilst this weekend a pair of Long-tailed Tits have passed through the Beech hedge at the back; I never get bored of their calls, always brightens up the day.
This weekend was my WeBS count, so today I trudged over to Newhaven. It's not the most glamorous place on earth and my walk takes me through the industrial heart of the place. But...that is usually where the "highlight" of the count reside; a high tide roost of waders (often only Redshank) nestled down on the river bank below the incinerator !! Today though there were only 26 Redshank, whilst there are often more like 50; but there were 30 Dunlin looking splendid with the sun shinning brightly on their smart winter plumage. Today's prize went to the Kingfisher which darted out from almost below the banks of the river, flying across to the concrete and wire fences which aesthetically enhance the area, showing electric blue and vivid orange. The first time I've been able to record this species during my WeBS count.
After taking a few photos of the Herring Gulls near the bridge over the river I suddenly saw a seal swimming along. Of course as soon as I moved my camera it completely disappeared not to be seen again. All the same a very enjoyable afternoon with not a hint of any wandering Glaucous Gulls !

A handsome 2nd winter Herring Gull.




Some Black-headed Gulls beginning to acquire the "black" heads (actually brown hoods).

Early nesting Robin !

A not very good photo of an early nesting attempt by Robins in a central Brighton garden.  They've managed to build a nest inside an electricity meter cupboard which is outside fixed to a wall.  The door seems to stay open but won't fully open due to a wisteria branch preventing that happening.  They have therefore got some kind of security as long as the door stays ajar ! No sign of eggs yet but I'll update next week.

Photos of Grey Phalarope !

A few photos of the Grey Phalarope that's been frequenting Hove paddling pool these last few days. A truly stunning bird.