SPOTTED
REDSHANK SIGHTINGS FOR THE 2012-13
SEASON
in reverse chronological order
Spotted
Redshank Home Page
MONDAY
APRIL 1 - 2013
I arrived at Nore Barn
at 14:00 about two hours before high water. The stream
was empty of birds. However, as yesterday, the dark
Spotted Redshank (with developing breeding plumage)
was on the pond at the top of the creek feeding with a
unringed Greenshank. Other birds in the creek included
about 30 Brent Geese and a few Wigeon and Teal.
SUNDAY
MARCH 31 - 2013 - NORE
BARN
I arrived at Nore Barn
at about 13:00 which was two hours before high water.
There was no sign of the regular Spotted Redshank in
the stream and I think we can now safely assume that
it has gone. My last sighting of it was on Mar 27
which was the latest last recorded date for the bird
since it was first seen at Nore Barn in Dec 2004. For
all the previous first and last sightings go to . . .
Spotted
Redshank at Nore Barn
The second Spotted
Redshank which now has rapidly developing breeding
plumage was on the pond at the top of the creek
feeding with a unringed Greenshank. I do not recall
having seen a Spotted Redshank in such advanced
breeding plumage here in Emsworth before.
Spotted
Redshank developing its black breeding plumage - in
the Nore Barn pond
SATURDAY
MARCH 30 - 2013 - Nore
Barn
16:00 - 16:30 - About
3 hours after high water. There was nothing in the
stream nor on the shore at the end of Warblington
Road, not even the Greenshank. However, the second
Spotted Redshank with the dark breeding plumage marks
was on the pond in the field at at the top of the
creek. I got the impression that the bird had been
roosting there during the high water.
FRIDAY
MARCH 29 - 2013
I got down to Nore
Barn at about 10:30 by which time the tide was well
advanced and the stream filling up. The
Greenshank was feeding alone as it was
yesterday with no sign of the regular Spotted
Redshank. I met Ian and Helen at Nore Barn who told me
they had just seen the second Spotted Redshank
(with partial breeding plumage) feeding in the pond at
the top of the creek. This was surprising since I had
not seen this second Spotted Redshank since Mar 24 and
assumed it had moved on, but there it was with the
distinctrive black breeding marks on its belly and
flanks.
The presence of this
second Spotted Redshank makes determining the last
date for the regular Spotted Redshank is not quite so
simple as in previous years. However, I am fairly sure
that my last sighting of the regular Spotted Redshank
(without the partial breeding plumage) was on Mar 27.
However, I shall continue checking the area for the
next few days just in case.
THURSDAY
MARCH 28 - 2013 - No Spotted Redshank
10:00 - 10:30 - Tide
rising to high water at 12 noon. The tide was perfect
for the Spotted Redshank - but it was not there! The
Greenshank was feeding in the stream all alone!
I walked to the top of the creek to check the pond in
the field, but there was nothing there at all. The
Spotted Redshank was still not there when I got back
to the stream. So, has it finally left Emsworth? My
last sighting was yesterday (Mar 27) at about 14:30.
This is the latest last sighting in the 9 years I have
been monitoring this bird. See the Spotted Redshank
web page for all the previous first and last dates.
Here
is the lonely Greenshank
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 27 - 2013
Nore Barn - 14:00 -
14:30 - High water at 12:14 falling. The stream was
still fairly full but the regular Spotted Redshank was
present feeding among the seaweed.
TUESDAY
MARCH 26 - 2013
I got to Nore Barn at
about 12:30pm which was a about 2 hours after high
water. The tide was still well in and the stream full.
However, the regular Spotted Redshank (without the
black breeding marks) was feeding among the seaweed on
the edge of the stream. The very cold easterly winds
are forecast to continue for the rest of this week
which suggests it may be around for a while
yet.
I walked to the top of
the creek to check the pond, but the only bird feeding
there was a unringed Greenshank with no sign of the
second Spotted Redshank. Birds numbers in the creek
were well down with only 13 Brent Geese and 2 each of
Wigeon and Teal.
MONDAY
MARCH 25 - 2013
Spotted
Redshank breaks records
I got to Nore Barn
Emsworth at 12 noon which was about 2 hours after high
water. The stream was still fairly full but, what I
assume was the regular Spotted Redshank (without the
black plumage marks), was feeding in the muddy shore
much as usual. I got a couple of photos of the bird
catching what is probably a Common Ragworm. However,
the worm looked very hairy and I am including these
two photos just in case anyone has any other ideas as
to what it might be.
I walked to the top of
the Nore Barn creek to have a look at the pond in the
field over the seawall, but there was no sign of the
second Spotted Redshank which has been here on several
occasions over the past week or so. When I got back to
the stream at about 12:30 the regular Spotted Redshank
was feeding around the seaweed on the shore at the end
of Warblington Road in company with a Greenshank.
This is now the latest
last date for the Spotted Redshank at Nore Barn, the
previous one being 24-Mar-10. This bird has also been
present at Nore Barn for much longer period this
winter than in any previous year. I first recorded it
on 09-Oct-12 which means it has been present for
exactly 23 weeks. See all the first and last dates at
. . . Spotted
Redshank at Nore Barn
SUNDAY
MARCH 24 - 2013 -
NORE
BARN
12:00 - I got the tide
time wrong this morning due to the official Tide
Tametable having brought the start of British Summer
Time forward by one week! However, the regular Spotted
Redshank was present in the stream despite the low
water, thus equalling the record last sighting date in
2010. The other Spotted Redshank with the dark
markings on its chest and flanks was feeding on the
pond at the top of the creek. If this one stays any
longer we shall be seing it in full breeding plumage!
I
have arranged the photos side by side for comparison
with the stream bird on the left and the pond bird on
the right
SATURDAY
MARCH 23 - 2013 - Nore Barn
10:30 - About 2 hours
after high water. Weather dull with a very cold
easterly wind blowing. Two Spotted Redshanks were
together on the point shore to the west of the stream.
A Common Redshank was also nearby, though I think it
had been driven off. After a few minutes, one of the
two Spotted Redshanks took off and flew west up the
creek. I found it about 5 minutes later feeding in the
small outlet stream at the top of the creek.
I managed to get some
fairly close photos of this bird which was clearly
showing signs of its black breeding plumage coming
through on its chest and flanks. The bird has a clump
of mud stuck on its foot.
When I arrived back at
the stream, the other Spotted Redshank was feeding on
the shingle shore with a Greenshank. With this cold
easterly wind due to continue for a few more days, I
can see these birds remaining here well past the
previous last recorded date of Mar 24 in 2010.
FRIDAY
MARCH 22 - 2013
Spotted
Redshank still here
10:00 - Tide falling
about 2 hours after high water. The Spotted Redshank
was feeding very actively in quite deep water in the
stream, sometimes immersing almost its whole body
under the water.
I also have some
photos of the bird apparently 'spurting' water from
its bill.
THURSDAY
MARCH 21 - 2013
NORE
BARN
I did my daily check
of the Spotted Redshank at about 4pm this afternoon -
about 3 hours to high water. The weather was wet and
cold and conditions were nasty for photography. There
was nothing in the stream when I arrived so I made my
way up to the end of the creek to check the pond in
the field over the seawall. A Spotted Redshank and a
Greenshank were on the pond. When I returned to the
stream I found a Spotted Redshank and an unringed
Greenshank feeding together. I am not sure which
Spotted Redshank was which, but clearly they are both
still present.
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 20 - 2013
15:00 - I did my daily
check on the Spotted Redshank about 2 hours to high
water. Both of the Spotted Redshanks were
present, one on the shore at the end of Warblington
Road and the other first at the top of Nore Barn Creek
and then on the pond in the field. There was no sign
of the Greenshank today. Only twice in the past nine
years has the last sighting date of the Spotted
Redshank at Nore Barn been later than this; 22-Mar-07
and 24-Mar-10.
Spotted
Redshank in Nore Barn stream / / / / / / / Spotted
Redshank in Nore Barn creek
MONDAY
MARCH 18 - 2013
14:00 - The tide was
well in when I arrived with about 2 hours to high
water. The regular 'dark' Spotted Redshank was
feeding on the edge of the stream. Interestingly, the
birds feathers were fairly well in place today, unlike
yesterday when there appeared to be distinct signs of
moulting. Maybe the loose feathers have been shed?
I walked to the top of
the creek where I found the much paler plumaged
Spotted Redshank feeding in the pond in the field
in company with a Greenshank. These two birds have
been seen here for the past three days.
SUNDAY
MARCH 17 - 2013
Spotted
Redshank moulting?
I did my daily check
on the Spotted Redshank at about 12:30. The tide was
rising to high water at about 15:00 and the stream was
already quite full of water. When I arrived the
Spotted Redshank was snoozing on the edge of the
stream, but it quickly moved into action and I was
able to get some good photos which show more evidence
that the bird is moulting with flight feathers being
shed from both wings.
Apparently, moulting
in birds is timed to coincide with periods of less
strenuous demands, such as after nesting or before
migration; so moulting in the Emsworth Spotted
Redshank is to be expected, though I do not recall
having seen moulting in previous years. This must be
the bird's partial pre-nuptial moult.
Ralph Hollins pointed
out to me that two of the famous 'Three Amigos'
birdwatching group visited Nore Barn yesterday (Mar
16). They saw both the local Spotted Redshanks, the
regular one in the Nore Barn stream and the other
Paler bird with a Greenshank in the pool behind the
sea wall at the top of Nore Barn Creek. Peter
Milinets-Raby also saw the birds at these locations
the previous day on Mar 15. Interestingly, I had to
look fairly closely at their photo of the Nore Barn
bird to see the moulting flight feather that was so
obvious today. See . . . http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/amigo/2013/03/16/glossy-ibis-at-warblington-and-the-nore-barn-spotted-redshank/
FRIDAY
MARCH 15 - 2013
Here is my daily check
on the Spotted Redshank. It was feeding with a
Greenshank in the rapidly filling stream when I
arrived. The Greenshank flew off, but the Redshank
continued to feed as the tide gradually filled up the
stream. It was right at the top of the stream near the
little bridge when I left at about 12:15. I asked it
to come back next year. I am sure it nodded in reply!
The
Spotted Redshank gave me a nice wave as I left
Moulting?
I was interested to
see from some of my photos that the Spotted Redshank
appeared to be losing some of its flight feathers.
This was also evident in some of yesterday's photos.
Consulting my BTO 'Guide to Moult in Birds', I learn
that Spotted Redshank has two moults; one complete
moult post breeding (Jul-Oct) and a partial pre
breeding moult in March to May. This latter one may be
what our bird is currently undertaking, though it does
seem to be an unusual time to moult just before a long
migration.
THURSDAY
MARCH 14 - 2013
Two
Spotted Redshanks
It was quite late by
the time I got down to Nore Barn today (12.00) and the
tide was almost fully in. The stream was full, but the
ever faithful Spotted Redshank was there all alone,
snoozing near the boats moored on the shore. I watched
it for about 30 minutes as the water crept higher and
higher; it was quite unfazed by people and dogs
walking nearby. As shown in the photo the bird's
plumage is darkening noticeably with the white tips to
the feathers starting to show as spots of the breeding
plumage.
Eventually at around
12.30 it flew onto the saltmarshes on the western side
of the stream. When I looked over to see where it had
landed I realised it had joined a second Spotted
Redshank that had presumably been snoozing on the edge
of the saltmarshes all the time. I left at about 12:45
and I assumed the two birds would be roosting there
over high water.
THURSDAY
FEBRUARY 28 - 2013
NORE
BARN
11:00 - 12:00 - Tide
rising to high water at 12:51. The stream was already
fairly full when I arrived at Nore Barn. No sign of
the Spotted Redshank, but the Greenshank was feeding
on the shore near the boats. A Common Redshank was
feeding on the shore around the point into the creek.
When I returned to Nore Barn at about 11:45 the stream
was full of water and Spotted Redshank was feeding at
the top of the stream near the small bridge along with
a Black-headed Gull. A couple of visiting birders
arrived at just the right time to see the bird at its
closest.
For all the gen on our
local celebrity go to the bird's own web page at . . .
Spotted
Redshanks
Spurting behaviour
As the Spotted
Redshank was nice and close I took lots of photos with
my trusty point-and-shoot Lumix FZ8. Three of the
photos showed the bird apparently spurting out water
through its bill. Here is one of them
I have mainly seen
this behaviour in Black-tailed Godwits, but it is
clearly fairly common in other waders, including
Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and Common Redshank. What
is surprising is that the wader experts I have
consulted have not seen or heard of this behaviour, or
know why it should happen. In order to resolve this
puzzling behaviour, at the request of the editor of
the Wader Study Group Bulletin, I have written a short
paper on 'spurting' behaviour with photos.
More information and
lots of photos of 'spurting' can be seen on a special
web page at . . .Spurting
behaviour
THURSDAY
FEBRUARY 14 - 2013
I went over to Nore
Barn at about 12 noon and found the resident Spotted
Redshank feeding among the seaweed on the shore at the
end of Warblington Road. It seems to have taken to
feeding on the shore in preference to the stream. It
was disturbed by a dog and flew over to the stream
where I got this photo. I met John Hilton who was also
taking photos of the Spotted Redshank.
MONDAY
FEBRUARY 11 - 2013
Mike Wells got the
following shot of the Spotted Redshank at Nore Barn
before the snow arrived. One can see from the photo
how the bird's plumage is starting to darken as it
acquires it breeding plumage.
SATURDAY
FEBRUARY 9 - 2013
Peter Milinets-Raby
reports 2 Spotted Redshank at Nore Barn (the old
faithful was incredibly tame (less than 2 metres),
until dog nearly took it and owner just looked
dumbfounded and apologised profusely for scaring off
my photo opportunity!!!),
THURSDAY
FEBRUARY 7 - 2013
NORE
BARN - 11:30 -
12:30 I spent an hour or so at Nore Barn on a falling
tide with about three hours after high water.
The Spotted Redshank
was feeding in the stream when I arrived, but it was
alone.
SATURDAY
FEBRUARY 2 - 2013
The local Spotted
Redshank was showing very well on the shore at the end
of Warblington Road. Local wildlife artist Marion
Foster arrived and while we were watching the Spotted
Redshank a Greenshank turned up. I took some
digiscoped photos including this one showing them
feeding close together.
Marion was fascinated
to hear the story of the Spotted Redshank's nine
winters at Nore Barn and said she would like to do a
painting of the bird. I look forward to that. Marion,
of course, was the artist who created the wonderful
illustration for the Brook Meadow interpretation
board, the original of which is now on show in
Emsworth Museum. Marion also thought the bird needed a
name, so I asked her to come up with one.
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 30 - 2013
NORE
BARN - Two Spotted Redshanks
10:00 - 12:00 Tide
rising to high water at 13:13. I had a real struggle
to get along Western Parade this morning against the
gale force westerly wind with frequent squally
showers. I almost gave up, but please I did not as
when I eventually reached Nore Barn at about 10:15 the
sun was shining and two Spotted Redshanks were in the
lower stream to greet me!
I watched these two
birds for about 15 minutes feeding fairly close
together with no signs of any antagonism. They
eventually separated as, what I assume was the
'resident' bird moving into the rapidly filling
stream, and the 'visitor' settling on the point at the
edge of the saltmarshes.
Later on in the
morning Ralph Hollins, Brian Lawrence and I had some
excellent close-up views of the 'resident' Spotted
Redshank as it was gradually pushed further up the
stream and closer to the small bridge by the incoming
tide. The bird gradually came closer to where I was
standing, exploring the small channels made by the
flood waters from the fields.
I stayed on for until
12 noon during which time there was a constant stream
of people passing within yards of where the Spotted
Redshank was feeding, many with dogs off the leads.
Never once did the bird show any signs of concern and
certainly did not fly away. Fortunately, none of the
dogs went into the stream, which would have disturbed
the bird.
MONDAY
JANUARY 28 - 2013
This morning at
10:30am on a very high incoming tide, Peter
Milinets-Raby did his now regular walk from Nore Barn
along the foreshore passing Conigar Point, inland
along Pook Lane and then back along the Solent Way
passing Warblington Church.
"The Spotted Redshank
was performing down to TWO metres - utterly incredible
(mind you there was not a dog walker in sight for the
10 minutes I had the bird until it went off to roost).
SATURDAY
JANUARY 26 - 2013
LISA
AT NORE BARN
I was very pleased to
accompany Lisa, my 9 year old granddaughter to Nore
Barn this afternoon to take some photos of the birds
on the shore. Lisa is hoping to enter the Maurice
Broomfield Photographic Competition for local
schoolchildren, organised by the Slipper Millpond
Association. This year's theme for the competition is
'Water and Wildlife' and there is certainly plenty of
both on show at Nore Barn.
We arrived at about
13.30 with the tide falling. Plenty of Brent Geese and
Black-headed Gulls were on the water and as the tide
fell a couple of Black-tailed Godwits appeared along
with the ever faithful Spotted Redshank. It was an
exciting first ever harbour birdwatching experience
for Lisa. She loved seeing the geese on the water and
the elegant godwits. We had to chase around a bit
after the Spotted Redshank which was unusually mobile,
but managed to get reasonably close for Lisa to get
some shots.
I had previously given
Lisa instruction on how to use my 12x zoom Panasonic
Lumix camera and she picked it up very quickly. I
suggested she should take plenty of photos and then
choose the best ones afterwards. Lisa took all the
photos herself and improved as she went on. Hopefully,
she will be inspired to return for more.
Spotted
Redshank striding purposively
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 23 - 2013
The Spotted Redshank
was feeding along the seaweed shore at the end of
Warblington Road all the time I was there. For part of
the time it was feeding with 3 Turnstone. There was no
sign of the second Spotted Redshank or the Greenshank
anywhere.
SUNDAY
JANUARY 13 - 2013
NORE
BARN - Two Spotted Redshanks
John Walton went to
Nore Barn this morning at about 09:30 where he found
two Spotted Redshanks feeding together in the stream.
A little further downstream the Greenshank was taking
a nap.
FRIDAY
JANUARY 11 - 2013
NORE
BARN - Two Spotted Redshanks
I had just finished
delivering my usual batch of Brook Meadow Conservation
Group Newsletters in west Emsworth and it was such a
beautiful morning with bright sun and barely a breath
of wind that I decided to go down to Nore Barn to
drink my flask of coffee. It was 10.30 and the spring
tide was fully in. From the end of Warblington Road I
casually glanced over to the stream, now completely
full of water, with my binoculars and my great
surprise there was what looked like a pair of Spotted
Redshanks roosting on the edge of the saltmarshes on
the west side of the stream. I have never before seen
two Spotted Redshanks roosting there at high water
before.
To make absolutely
sure, I rushed back home for my scope and confirmed
the sighting. Although I could not be certain the
Spotted Redshank on right appeared to have rings on
its legs and, if so, was W+GY which I have only seen
at Nore Barn once before on 27-Oct-12.
While I was there I
had the company of Wally and Rosemary Osborne for
coffee on the sea at the end of Warblington Road. And
Anne de Potier arrived just as I confirmed the
presence of the two Spotted Redshanks.
Ros Norton e-mailed me
this evening to say she was at Nore Barn about 2 hours
after me and saw a Spotted Redshank fly into the
stream at 12:46. Ros watched it feeding alone for half
an hour. So, presumably the second bird had gone.
THURSDAY
JANUARY 10 - 2013
Brian Lawrence was at
Nore Barn and got some cracking pictures of the
Spotted Redshank. Here is one Brian sent me for the
web site.
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 9 - 2013
I got to Nore Barn at
11:00 with the tide still fairly high though the
stream was gradually emptying. The Spotted Redshank
was already present feeding on the edges of the
stream with a Greenshank.
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 2 - 2013
I got to Nore Barn at
about 11:15 by which time the regular Spotted
Redshank was already present, waiting on the edge
of the lower stream as it its custom.
The Spotted Redshank
then ran quickly up the stream where it continued to
feed for the next hour or so when I got this
digiscoped image. Sorry for yet another photo, but I
have been deprived of one for the past two weeks.
The Greenshank
arrived a little later, though it spent much to
the time snoozing on the edge of the lower stream as
the tide pushed in.
SUNDAY
DECEMBER 30 - 2012
Trevor Carpenter took
this photo of the Spotted Redshank in the Nore Barn
stream today, as Trevor says "in appalling light but
still managing to look very smart". I agree. What a
great bird!
MONDAY
DECEMBER 17 - 2012
NORE
BARN
11:30 - 12:30 - Tide
rising to high water at 14:00 (4.7).
It was a lovely sunny
winter's morning and I was delighted to be able to get
down to the harbour (albeit in the car) for the first
time for a couple of weeks due to poor health. And how
I have missed it and what a great show the birds and
the bees laid on for me!
Spotted
Redshanks
There were no birds in
the stream when I arrived, but on the shore just
around the point I found two Spotted Redshanks and a
Common Redshank in very close proximity. Neither of
the Spotshanks was ringing, so I assume the second
bird was the one we have seen a number of times in
company with the regular bird this winter.
I watched them and
took photos for about 30 minutes as they variously
snoozed, preened, fed and ambled around. They never
once went into the main stream area. The Common
Redshank was chased on a couple of occasions, but
always returned and was clearly accepted by the two
Spotshanks.
THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 15 - 2012 - NORE
BARN
15:45 - 16:15 - Tide
falling from high water at 11:45. Weather overcast and
very dull with a November chill in the air.
Spotted
Redshanks
Stream was still quite
full of water, but the Spotted Redshank was already
present along with the regular Lapwing. A second
(unringed) Spotted Redshank arrived in the stream at
15:00 and was immediately confronted by the 'resident'
bird and they both flew off. I saw the resident
Spotted Redshank later on the shore around the point,
but there was no sign of the second bird.
WEDNESDAY
NOVEMBER 14 - 2012 NORE
BARN
14:00 - 15:00 - About
3 hours after high water. The tide was still well in
when I arrived, though the stream was emptying. The
weather was fine with bright sunshine, but too bright
for decent photography. John Hilton from Winchester
was already in place with his camera on the
saltmarshes. Ron from Emsworth was on the beach with
his brand new scope.
The first birds in the
stream were a Lapwing and a Black-tailed
Godwit, both regulars. The Spotted Redshank
followed fairly soon after, but there was no
Greenshank and no second Spotted Redshank. The
Spotshank and the Godwit fed together much as the
Spotted Redshank and the Greenshank usually do and I
got a nice photo of them together.
SUNDAY
NOVEMBER 11 - 2012 - NORE
BARN
11:15 - 12:15 - Tide
falling from high water at 08:38. The stream was still
full of tidal water when I arrived, but the 'resident'
Spotted Redshank was already present. It was
joined later by the regular Lapwing, the Greenshank
and 4 Black-tailed Godwits. But there was no sign of
the second Spotted Redshank. The sunshine created some
great reflections in the water.
MONDAY
NOVEMBER 5 - 2012 - NORE
BARN
12:15 - 13:00 - About
2-3 hours before high water.
Two
Spotted Redshanks
Two Spotted Redshanks
were already feeding in the stream when I arrived
along with a Greenshank, one with darker legs than the
other. Two other birdwatchers, Ann and Sylvia, were
also present and were particularly excited to see the
two Spotted Redshanks in the stream. I tend to get a
bit blasé, but it really is quite exceptional
to get such a good close view of two Spotted
Redshanks.
The
chase
Ann, Sylvia and I then
watched the 'resident' Spotted Redshank chase the
visiting, darker legged, Spotted Redshank along the
stream.
They had a mini
confrontation, beak to beak, before the visitor flew
off to the saltmarshes not to be seen again.
The chase was not what
I would call aggressive, but the resident bird seemed
determined to defend its feeding territory. The
resident Spotted Redshank then returned to feeding in
the stream with its 'friend' the Greenshank which had
carried on feeding while all this was happening.
Spotted
Redshank feeding
The stream was filling
up with the tide and I was interested to observe and
take photos of the Spotted Redshank feeding. The
feeding behaviour was active and fairly vigorous with
the bird frequently digging its head deep into the bed
of the stream searching for food.
Lymington
news
With one, two and
possibly three Spotted Redshanks in Emsworth, we still
have some way to go to catch up with the 14 that were
present on the Lymington shore on Oct 28.
SATURDAY
NOVEMBER 3 - 2012
Spotted Redshank and
Greenshank were already in the stream when I arrived
at Nore Barn at 10:30 and remained there until I left
about an hour later at 11:30. They were feeding close
together for a while. Then the Spotted Redshank moved
up the stream to feed near to upper bend, close to
where I was standing to the west. I had not seen it
feeding this far up the stream this autumn.
Spurting
The Spotted Redshank
was constantly digging deep in the stream and in one
of my photos I discovered that it appeared to be
spurting out water from its bill at the end of a
feeding episode.
I have previously seen
this behaviour mostly in Black-tailed Godwits, but it
appears to be also not uncommon in Spotted Redshank
and in Common Redshank. The experts are currently
puzzling over this behaviour which, very surprisingly,
has not been previously recorded. See the special page
on spurting . . Spurting
behaviour
Second
Spotted Redshank
While I was going
through the godwits for colour-rings, I came across
a second Spotted Redshank. It was not ringed
and had darker legs than the bird in the stream, so
this was probably the second Spotshank that I saw
earlier in the week. I was hoping it might join the
other Spotshank in the stream, but it remained with
the godwits and flew off with them when the tide
pushed in.
THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 1 - 2012
NORE
BARN
09:30 - 10:30 - About
3 hours to high water at 12:30. Heavy showers with
strong westerly wind made birdwatching a bit
uncomfortable. However, the scene was idyllic with a
good flock of Black-tailed Godwits and the calls of
Brent Geese wafting over the mudflats.
The stream was still
running fast when I arrived with the Greenshank
feeding. The Spotted Redshank did not arrive
until about 10:00. It remained on the shore at the
point, snoozing and preening. It finally walked round
the shore to the stream and by 10:15 it was feeding
with the Greenshank.
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 30 - 2012
NORE
BARN - 14:00 -
15:00 - About 2-3 hours after high water.
Spotted
Redshank and Greenshank
The Spotted Redshank
was already present in the stream with the Little
Egret when I arrived, even though the tide was still
quite high. At about 14:15, a Black-headed Gull chased
the Spotted Redshank, which went hurtling off over the
saltmarshes with the gull in hot pursuit. I have no
idea what prompted this behaviour, which I have not
witnessed before.
However, the Spotshank
did not go far and I found it a few minutes later on
the shore by the woods. It was joined there by a
Common Redshank, which prompted the Spotshank to do
some chasing of its own and eventually the Common
Redshank flew off to the far saltmarshes. The Spotted
Redshank gradually made its way along the shore to the
main stream which was by this time emptying fast and
for the next 15 minutes or so it was feeding actively
in the clear waters of the stream with its companion,
the Greenshank.
MONDAY
OCTOBER 29 - 2012
NORE
BARN - 13:30 -
14:30 - Tide falling. About 3 hours after high water.
One
Spotted Redshank
What
I assume was the regular Spotted Redshank arrived with
its usual 'chu-wit' greeting call at 13:30.
The Greenshank and the
Little Egret came in about 13:45 and all three fed in
the stream as the tide gradually ebbed. A small flock
of 9 Black-tailed Godwits also arrived and settled on
the shore in the lower stream - no colour-rings.
Also,
in the stream was a family of Mute Swans of two adults
and four cygnets.
Two
Spotted Redshanks
By 14:15 the stream
was fairly empty of tidal water and the Spotted
Redshank and Greenshank were feeding in the lower
stream where it merges into the main harbour.
I had almost given up
on a second Spotted Redshank, when it suddenly turned
up and was immediately 'greeted' by the first Spotted
Redshank, ie it approached it and came quite close. I
could then see quite clearly that the new arrival had
darker legs than the original one. The original
pale-legged Spotted Redshank also spent some time
chasing the new arrival in a rather half-hearted
fashion, suggesting it was his territory!
Sorry
about the quality of this digiscoped photo. The pale
legged Spotted Redshank is on the right
It is not easy to
compare photographs from different days, as the light
varies such a lot and my camera is not all that great.
However, I don't think any of the photos show the
regular Nore Barn bird's legs as dark as those of the
new arrival. Today's observations convinces me that
the regular Nore Barn Spotshank is the one with pale
legs. The dark legs on the other bird might be part of
its breeding colouration not yet worn away. Pete Potts
thought the pale legs might mean it was a juvenile,
but there is no other obvious plumage difference
between the two birds to justify that conclusion.
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 28 - 2012
NORE
BARN
13:30 - About 3 hours
after high water. The stream was already quite empty
when I arrived, though the mudflats were still covered
in water.
Two
Spotted Redshanks
As yesterday, two
Spotted Redshanks were feeding in the lower stream
with a Greenshank. However, unlike yesterday when one
of the Spotshanks was colour-ringed W+GY, today both
birds were unringed. So, clearly, we have at least
three Spotted Redshanks in the area, one ringed and
two unringed. The two unringed birds presumably
includes the regular Nore Barn bird. I was surprised
to see the two Spotted Redshanks feeding so close
together, almost snuggling up at times, or so it
seemed.
I met up with a
visiting birdwatcher who had travelled down from
Woking to see the Spotted Redshanks in the stream. He
was suitably impressed with the great view of the two
Spotted Redshanks with the Greenshank; hopefully he
got some good photos as did I.
I was interested to
see from my photos that the leg colours of the two
birds differed slightly, one being a much lighter red,
almost orange, not unlike that of the Common Redshank
while the other was a dark red. This is shown in the
following photo. This could be an artefact of the
camera, though the Birds of the Western Palearctic
states that Spotted Redshank legs and feet are
black-red when breeding and at other seasons darker
red than Common Redshank, only rarely orange.
SATURDAY
OCTOBER 27 - 2012
NORE
BARN
13:30 - 14:30 - About
3-4 hours after high water at 10:34 at height 4.7.
There was an amazing
gathering of waders in the lower stream when I arrived
including two Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank and a
good flock of Black-tailed Godwits. I suspect they
were sheltering from the very cold north wind.
I was pleased to meet
up with John Hilton from Winchester. John e-mailed me
on several occasions about the best time to see the
Spotted Redshank. Well, he certainly choose the right
day to visit, though he was disappointed that the
conditions were not good for photography.
Two
Spotted Redshanks
This was my first
sighting of two Spotted Redshanks in the stream this
season. It is not unusual for two to turn up, for I
have another 26 double sightings on record since 2004
and 5 triple sightings. The two birds were fairly
close together in the lower stream when I arrived, but
subsequently separated as the tide fell. The low sun
meant that conditions were not favourable for taking
photos. This is the best one I could manage showing
the two birds together.
I am fairly sure that
one of the Spotted Redshanks was the regular Nore Barn
bird. The other one was the colour-ringed bird
W+GY - ringed on Thorney 16th October 2008 by
Pete Potts and his team. It has been regularly seen in
the Thorney-Nutbourne area in the autumn-winter period
ever since. We have had only one previous sighting of
it in Emsworth Harbour on 24-Oct-11 by Richard
Somerscocks.
SATURDAY
OCTOBER 20 - 2012
13:00 - All the
regular birds were feeding in the stream with Spotted
Redshank, Common Redshank, Greenshank and Little
Egret. The Spotted Redshank and Common Redshank flew
off at about 13:15 and the Greenshank went about 5
minutes later.
FRIDAY
OCTOBER 19 - 2012
Spotted
Redshank returns!
Good news - the
Spotted Redshank was back in the Nore Barn stream
feeding with its regular companions, Greenshank,
Common Redshank and Little Egret, after an absence of
over a week.
Here
are the Spotted Redshank and Common Redshank feeding
together
Here
is the Little Egret waiting for fish to come to
him
MONDAY
OCTOBER 15 - 2012
Still
no Spotted Redshank
08:30 - 09:45 - High
water at 11:42. I decided to get down to Nore Barn on
the rising tide today. I stayed until the stream was
fairly full. The Greenshank flew onto the stream to be
followed by the Little Egret and a single Black-tailed
Godwit. But the Spotted Redshank did not show up for
the 4th day running. I was interested to see how
relaxed the Greenshank was in response a dog that
raced into the stream; it simply moved onto the bank
and waited for the dog to go. I also had a Cormorant
swimming in the rapidly filling stream and two Teal.
Here
are the Greenshank and the Little Egret feeding
together in the Nore Barn stream
WEDNESDAY
OCTOBER 9 - 2012
Nore
Barn stream
09:45 - About 2 1/2
hours after high water. Weather conditions were a big
improvement on yesterday with calm sea, light wind and
good visibility. A Grey Wagtail flew up from
the stream, heading for Maisemore Gardens - the first
one of the year.
Greenshank
was the only bird feeding in the stream when I
arrived
The
Spotted Redshank soon arrived with a typical 'chu-wit'
call
It was
followed by a Little Egret and a Common Redshank
For a while, all four were feeding in fairly close
proximity in the low water stream.
There was no sign of
the Spotshank chasing the Common Redshank as has
happened in previous years. However, the Spotshank was
itself chased out of the stream and into the harbour
by the Greenshank, something I had not witnessed
before. Maybe, they are all having to get used to each
other again.
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 9 - 2012
Spotted
Redshank is back
I have been checking
the Nore Barn stream regularly for the past week or
so, more in hope than expectation. I got there at
about 9.30 on a very murky morning with a light
drizzle in the air. The tide was falling - about 3 1/2
hours after high water. The mudflats were starting to
emerge and the stream was running well.
I was certainly not
expecting the Spotted Redshank to be back this early,
as my first sighting last year was on 21-Oct and my
earliest ever was 19-Oct the year before that. But
there it was, looking as sprightly as ever, feeding
actively in the stream along with its two 'friends'
the Little Egret and the Greenshank who have been
feeding there for the past couple of weeks. I have no
doubt that it is the same bird that has been coming
back to this area for the past nine winters.
I took a number of
photos both digiscoped and normal though with the rain
falling steadily I needed to keep wiping the lenses.
