SPOTTED
REDSHANK SIGHTINGS FOR THE 2013-14
SEASON
in reverse chronological order
Spotted
Redshank Home Page
MONDAY
NOVEMBER 10 - 2014 - Nore
Barn
For the first
time this season we had not one, but two Spotted
Redshanks feeding in the stream, along with the
regular colour-ringed Greenshank G+GL.
Interestingly, the
first time I saw two Spotted Redshanks in the stream
last winter was on 12-Nov-13 just two days later than
today. More than a coincidence?
TUESDAY
MARCH 18 - 2014 - NORE
BARN
Spotted
Redshank gone?
There
was no sign of the Spotted Redshank again today which
suggests to me that it has now left on its journey
back to its breeding grounds in Northern Scandinavia.
The last confirmed sighting was on Mar 13 by Peter
Milinets-Raby. This was a much earlier date than last
year (Mar 27), though much in line with previous
years. Generally, this has been a good winter for
sightings with two 'friendly' Spotted Redshanks being
present on many occasions along with the regular
Greenshank and Little Egret. Earlier in the season we
also had a regular juvenile Black-tailed Godwit in the
stream. I found nothing on the pond at the head of
Nore Barn Creek which is where a Spotted Redshank was
last year at this time.
For
full details of departure dates go
to . . .
Spotted
Redshank at Nore Barn
THURSDAY
FEBRUARY 27 - 2014 - Nore
Barn
12:00
- About 2 ½ hours after high water. Two
Spotted Redshanks were in the stream with a
Greenshank, no rings.
WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY 19 - 2014 - Nore
Barn
12:00 - 12:30 - Tide
well advanced and the stream was filling up. Spotted
Redshank and Greenshank were feeding together in the
stream. By 12:30 the stream was fairly full and the
Spotted Redshank was alone close to the bridge
where two ladies were standing watching it. They asked
me if I knew what the bird was. I replied, I certainly
did! I explained that it was the famous Emsworth
Spotted Redshank which has been feeding in this stream
for the past 10 winters. The ladies were so pleased to
hear all this and left saying that it had made their
day! How good that a little bird can bring such
pleasure.
MONDAY
FEBRUARY 10 2014 - Nore
Barn
I met Pam Phillips who
said she'd seen the Spotted Redshank about 30 mins ago
being stalked by a chap with a long lensed camera. The
stream was empty when I arrived at about 11:00, though
I could see a Spotted Redshank roosting at the point
of the saltmarshes with gulls. A little later I
watched two Spotted Redshanks feeding along the
seaweed shore at the end of Warblington Road along
with a Greenshank. None of the birds was ringed. I
stood still on the beach and they came to within 5
metres of me, quite unconcerned at my presence and the
constant traffic of people and dogs behind me. The
strong sun and the seaweed background did not make for
a good photo, but here's the best I could manage. The
second Spotted Redshank is half off the photo on the
right.
FRIDAY
FEBRUARY 7 2014 - Nore
Barn
14:45 - 15:30 - I
arrived at Nore Barn with the tide rising to high
water in about 2 hours. The Spotted Redshank was
feeding in the stream closely watched by two
birdwatchers, Dave Potter and his friend Martin.
We chatted for a while
about the Spotted Redshank and its 'friends' though
only the Little Egret turned up today. Dave reminded
me of the day in May 2012 when he detected 6 singing
Nightingales along Marlpit Lane, plus two Turtle
Doves. I was doing the official BTO Nightingale survey
at the time and was able to use his sightings.
MONDAY
JANUARY 20 - 2014 - Nore
Barn
I took the bike out
with the scope down to the harbour this morning mainly
to look for the ringed birds from Saturday's ringing
on Thorney. There was nothing much in the main harbour
but the situation changed dramatically when I got to
Nore Barn. The Spotted Redshank (without rings) was
already present in the stream when I arrived at about
10:30 along with a Little Egret. They were joined by
an unringed Greenshank at about 11:15.
Two
Spotted Redshanks
This is when I met up
with Peter Milinets-Raby and his young son, Alexandre.
We chatted for a while and watched the birds when
Peter noticed a second Spotted Redshank further out in
the channel and in a few minutes it had made its way
into the stream to feed along with the regular Spotted
Redshank which did a bit of chasing to begin with, but
soon came to tolerate the second bird's close
presence.
Here
are the two Spotted Redshanks feeding with the
Greenshank
It was immediately
clear that this second Spotted Redshank was also not
ringed, which meant that the Spotted Redshank ringed
by Pete Potts on Saturday on Thorney was not either of
these two birds. This means we have at least four
local Spotted Redshanks, ie the two ringed birds G+GY
(ringed in Oct 2008) and G+GR (ringed on 18 Jan 2014)
and the two in the stream today.
For an hour or so
Peter and I had the great pleasure and privilege to
watch these four iconic birds actively feeding in the
stream, often in close proximity to each other, two
Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank and a Little Egret.
Fantastic! I also got some nice photos.
Where
do they roost?
The fact the Spotted
Redshanks that were at Nore Barn today were not caught
on Thorney on Saturday clearly suggests they do not
roost on Thorney Island, but possibly on the
saltmarshes in Emsworth Harbour. Today, after they had
finished feeding in the stream the two Spotted
Redshanks settled down on the edge of the saltmarshes
to the west of the stream where they were when I left
at about 12:30.
MONDAY
JANUARY 13 - 2014 - Nore
Barn
11:15 - 12:15 - The
tide was still well in when I got to Nore Barn (high
water was at 09:30). The stream was full of water, but
the ever faithful Spotted Redshank was present,
feeding on the foreshore. This was my first visit to
Nore Barn since Christmas, so I was pleased to see it,
though most of its 'friends' had gone.
It had moved into the
upper reaches of the stream when I returned about 30
mins later allowing me some nice photo opportunities.
The bird was feeding in the centre of the stream which
involved it dipping its head well below the surface.
I got one shot of it
apparently 'spurting' water from its bill.
See the special
'spurting' page for more details . . .
Spurting
behaviour
FRIDAY
DECEMBER 6 - 2013
Nore
Barn
11:30 Tide well in.
Spotted Redshank and Greenshank feeding close together
in the flooded stream.
WEDNESDAY
DECEMBER 4 - 2013
As the incoming tide
filled up the stream two Spotted Redshanks were
feeding in company with a small group of Mute Swans.
The redshanks appeared to be fairly friendly, though I
did notice some half-hearted chasing from one of them
(presumably the resident) - the one on the left in the
photo. They both flew off together when the stream was
full.
THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 28 - 2013
Nore
Barn
09:30 - About 2 hours
after high water. Tide falling fast. Hundreds of Brent
Geese, Wigeon and Teal were on the calm water. Two
Spotted Redshank were in the stream, plus the
Greenshank. I think one of the Spotted Redshanks was
subsequently chased off.
SATURDAY
NOVEMBER 23 - 2013 - Nore Barn
I walked along Western
Parade to Nore Barn in the warm sunshine this
afternoon at about 14:00. I was surprised and
delighted to find the Spotted Redshank still present
in the stream despite the fact that is was almost high
water. I was interested to see it swimming, which I do
not often see.
As expected, the bird
was not at all disturbed by the close proximity of
lots of people walking past with dogs and children. In
fact, while I was there two unruly dogs rushed into
the swollen stream chasing the swans, but the Spotted
Redshank hardly turned a hair (or a feather). What an
amazing bird. It was still present when I left at
about 14:30, clearly intending to sit out the high
tide.
TUESDAY
NOVEMBER 12 - 2013 - Nore Barn
Two
Spotted Redshanks
Nore Barn - 09:30
About 3 hours after high water. Two Spotted Redshanks
were feeding together in the stream. At times they
were very close, giving the impression they were
enjoying each other's company. This is the third time
I have seen a pair of Spotted Redshanks in the Nore
Barn area, though the first time feeding in the
stream. We had a a number of sightings of two Spotted
Redshanks last winter, so this is not unexpected.
FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 8 - 2013 - NORE
BARN
The Spotted
Redshank, Common Redshank and Greenshank were
feeding in close proximity in Nore Barn stream along
with a few Wigeon. A Little Egret was feeding in the
upper stream near the bridge.
I was pleased to meet
Katie and David a couple of birdwatchers from
Manchester who were staying in Southsea where their
daughter lives. They were delighted to see all three
'shanks' in the stream.
WEDNESDAY
NOVEMBER 6 - 2013 - NORE
BARN
10:00 - 11:00 - Tide
rising to high water at 12:45.
Birds in the stream were
much the same as yesterday with the Spotted Redshank
and a Common Redshank again feeding closely together
and seemingly enjoying one another's company, unlike
in previous years. It now seems that the Spotted
Redshank is getting back to its old feeding routine
after a couple of weeks away and should be a reliable
sighting 2-3 hours before (and after) high water.
Other birds feeding in the stream were Greenshank,
three Black-tailed Godwits, the usual Little Egret.
Spotted
Redshank flanked by a Black-tailed Godwit and a Common
Redshank
TUESDAY
NOVEMBER 5 - 2013
NORE
BARN
09:00 - 10:00 - Tide
rising to high water at 12 noon. The rain was falling
steadily which did not help birdwatching, but the wind
had dropped. The harbour was gradually filling up with
water while I was there.
Spotted
Redshank
Birds in the stream
included Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Common
Redshank. It was good to see the Spotted Redshank back
in the stream after a short absence. Let's hope it now
resumes normal activity. I admit I was surprised to
see the Spotshank and Redshank feeding so happily
together, as the former has usually seen off the
latter in previous years.
SUNDAY
NOVEMBER 3 - 2013
Brian Lawrence told me
the good news that the Spotted Redshank was back in
the Nore Barn stream. This was our first sighting
since Oct 22. Hopefully, this signals a more regular
appearance from this familiar bird.
FRIDAY
OCTOBER 18 - 2013 - Nore
Barn
I paid two visits to
Nore Barn today, one before high water (10am) and the
other after high water (2.30pm). The birds in the
stream were much the same on both occasions with
Greenshank, Little Egret, juvenile Black-tailed
Godwit and four Mute Swans prominent, but no sign of
the regular Spotted Redshank. The same thing happened
last year when the bird was absent from the stream for
over a week after the first couple of sightings. I
suspect the bird has not yet settled down into a
feeding routine. I checked the pond in the field at
the head of the Nore Barn Creek where I did see a
Spotted Redshank occasionally last winter, but there
has been nothing there.
On the afternoon visit
I found two Spotted Redshanks quite a long way
out. I suspect these were the two I previously saw
here on Oct 7. I do not think either of them was our
regular Spotted Redshank as they made no attempt to
feed in the stream and stayed close together on the
edge of the mudflats. My apologies for a lousy
digiscoped photo, but they were a long way off and it
was dark!
A visiting
photographer was present in the afternoon, squatting
on the edge of the stream with a huge lens camera. He
got photos of the Greenshank and the Godwit. But, do
photographers with such big cameras really need to get
so close to the birds? Fortunately, these birds are
well used to people and were not disturbed.
Several local
residents saw two dogs attacking swans in the harbour
again this morning. They obtained photos and have been
interviewed by the police. Let's hope they can put a
stop to this unpleasant behaviour. (see entry for Oct
14).
THURSDAY
OCTOBER 17 - 2013
Barry Collins reports
that the colour ringed Spotted Redshank W+GY
was back at the Thorney Deeps. His first sighting
since March this year. Keep a look out for it in the
small stream that flows into Nutbourne Bay which is
where it likes to feed.
FRIDAY
OCTOBER 11 - 2013
NORE
BARN - Spotted Redshank returns for 10th
winter
14:30 - 15:00 - about
two hours to high water. It was pouring with rain when
I arrived at Nore Barn which continued during the
whole of my stay. But that did not dampen my spirits
at all, as the first bird I saw in the stream was a
Spotted Redshank.
But was it THE Spotted
Redshank? I watched it feeding and it began to look
more and more like the 'tame' bird that had been
coming here to feed for the past 9 winters. I became
more certain when the Greenshank arrived to feed in
very close company with its 'friend'.
Other birds arrived to
feed in the stream as I was watching, including the
now regular juvenile Black-tailed Godwit, the Little
Egret and a Common Redshank, plus a group of Mute
Swans.
Dog
disturbance
I managed to take a
few photos from under my umbrella before a boisterous
dog chased all the birds from the stream. I had a word
with the owners asking them politely if they would
consider putting their dog on a lead when passing by
the stream in future, as the dog had just disturbed
several migrant birds which had just arrived after a
long journey from Northern Scandinavia. They replied
that they were not aware of the presence of the birds
and would do so in future. Whatever happens they are
now aware of the birds and let's hope come to
appreciate the need to allow them to feed undisturbed.
Conclusion
I was finally
convinced that the Spotted Redshank was the regular
wintering bird when it returned about 5 minutes after
being chased off along with the Greenshank, Little
Egret and the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit. This
Spotted Redshank has now returned to feed in the Nore
Barn stream for the 10th winter running. This year it
is two days later than last year, but the second
earliest on record.
There is little doubt
in my mind that it is the same bird that has come back
each year; it arrives and leaves on schedule and
behaves the same each time. This year it was two days
later than last year, but is the second earliest on
record. See all the arrival and departure dates at . .
. Spotted
Redshank at Nore Barn
For last winters sightings go to . . .
Spotted
Redshank 2012-13