Tuesday 3 June 2008

Pulborough - Spoonbill

The rain was easing and in thick mist I decided to have a look at Beachy Head. This is an awesome site for migrants when conditions are right....

Every Warbler got a second look, there were plenty of Common and Lesser Whitethroat singing - one individual of the latter species actually showed as well!!










Amazing that I could actually get some pictures here, visibility was down to less than 50m which led to this milky white background and constant underexposure problems! This male Stonechat came close enough to capture......









The juvenile Spoonbill at Pulborough Brooks RSPB reserve was my next target as I headed North in the general direction of Surrey.

Walking around the reserve a couple of Nightingales were singing - this one showed well but sadly some mishap had resulted in an absent tail!!












After a long walk around the reserve rewarded with only distant views of the sleeping Spoonbill from Hanger viewpoint, I finally got news - it was showing well from the West Mead hide....

















Now, apart from searching for food, what is that big bill useful for? Well, how about giving those parts other bills cannot reach a good scratch......








Running out of time the Shopham Bridge Shrike would have to wait until tomorrow!!