SELECTED
SPOTTED REDSHANK SIGHTINGS
FOR WINTER 2016-17
in
reverse chronological order
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Spotted
Redshank Home Page
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TUESDAY
MARCH 21 - 2017
Spotted
Redshank gone?
I returned to
the stream at about 15:15 where I found a Common
Redshank and two Oystercatchers feeding there, but no
Spotted Redshank. The Redshank has caught a small
crab in the photo.
The last sighting of
the Spotted Redshank was by Peter Milinets-Raby on Mar
16, so I have to assume the bird has probably left our
area and is now on its way to its breeding grounds in
Northern Scandinavia. Our last sighting in 2016 was
on this day - Mar 21. I will continue to check, but
my gut instinct is that it has gone. Maybe it will
return yet again in October for its 14th winter with
us in Emsworth?
THURSDAY
MARCH 16 - 2017
Peter
Milinets-Raby was at Nore Barn to see the Spotted
Redshank which showed obligingly to the camera - down
to 8 metres!
Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K6DG9h2sV4
TUESDAY
MARCH 14 - 2017
The tide was
right in by the time I arrived at Nore Barn at 11.30.
The ever reliable Spotted Redshank was still present
feeding on the edge of the stream, close to the path.
After 13 years this bird never ceases to fascinate and
amaze me. The photo shows the bird with a small
crab.
FRIDAY
MARCH 10 - 2017
I went over to
Nore Barn at 12 noon mainly to check on the Spotted
Redshank. The tide was still well in and the stream
fairly full of water. There was a heavy mist, almost
fog, over the water. I was delighted to find the ever
reliable Spotted Redshank feeding among the seaweed on
the edge of the stream. I had not seen it for a while
so took a few photos in a very grey light.
The bird is still
looking just as good as it did 13 years ago! Amazing.
This is still early days for the bird's departure for
its breeding ground in Northern Scandinavia. On the
basis of previous last dates, I reckon it will be here
for another week or so.
SATURDAY
FEBRUARY 18 - 2017
Last Thursday,
John Dickenson came down from Nottingham to see and
photograph the famous Emsworth Spotted Redshank. John
had previously e-mailed me to ask when would be the
best time and I advised him to come 2-3 hours either
side of high water. Well, he came he saw and he
conquered!
In John's words, "What
a superb day! The Spotted Redshank performed superbly
in beautiful light despite the continual procession of
dog walkers etc. Just amazing how tolerant it is and
what a pleasure to photograph. I initially located him
about 100 yards past the bridge at about 1.15 and he
then gradually made his way along the shore edge
towards the outlet. I spoke to several walkers etc who
wondered what a grown man was doing laying in the mud!
Overall, a fantastic experience to have a stunning
bird so close."
John sent a couple
of images.
Spotted Redshank
eating what looks like a small crab.
A classic Spotted
Redshank stance upright and alert.
FRIDAY
27 JANUARY 2017
Brian Lawrence
was at Nore Barn today and found the regular Spotted
Redshank and its friend the colour-ringed Greenshank
(G+GL) feeding in the stream.
SATURDAY
DECEMBER 31 - 2016
I paid a quick
visit to Nore Barn this afternoon to catch the falling
tide. The weather was dull and overcast. The place was
over run with people and dogs, but my day was
brightened by the presence of our ever faithful
Spotted Redshank in the stream.
FRIDAY
DECEMBER 16 - 2016
Nore
Barn
10:00-11:00
The tide was rising to high water at about 12:30 -
just right to visit Nore Barn. It was a misty morning
and one could not see the Hayling Bridge or the
Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth which are usually
visible from here.
Hundreds of Brent
Geese and Wigeon were milling around in the gradually
filling channels. I was pleased to see a small group
of 8 Pintail, 3 males and 5 females. There were also
lots of Black-tailed Godwits though I did not get time
to check them for rings before the incoming tide
covered their legs.
My best sighting of
the morning was two Spotted Redshanks feeding
close together for much of the time in the stream.
Maggie Gebbett arrived as I was watching them and we
both reflected on how lucky we were to get such good
views of these delightful, but scarce, winter birds.
Although we regularly
get one Spotted Redshank in the stream, having two is
not all that unusual. This was the 5th time I have
seen two here this winter, which is about the same as
in previous years. I managed to get a short video clip
of the two birds using my Lumix FZ18 on full zoom
which can be seen on YouTube at . . . https://youtu.be/k1KRFCK-FEg
THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 23 - 2016
The tide was
already well out by the time I got to Nore Barn this
morning (11.30). The stream was empty, but the usual
gathering of ducks, gulls and waders could be seen in
the low water channel drinking and washing in the
fresh water. What I assume was the regular Spotted
Redshank was among them, deep in the clear water.
Its distinctive profile can be seen on the left of the
photo. The others are Wigeon and Black-tailed Godwits.
FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 11 - 2016
10:30 - It was
a beautiful morning at Nore Barn, calm sea, sunny and
quite warm. The tide was well in when I arrived, but
the Spotted Redshank was already present feeding in
the flooded stream.
THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 10 - 2016
The tide was
already well out by the time I got to Nore Barn this
morning at 10.15 and the stream was virtually empty.
The conditions were good, though the bright low sun
off the sea made viewing and photography difficult. I
was pleased to meet up with Malcolm Greenwood whom I
had first met at Nutbourne Bay on Nov 8 when we saw
the Avocets. Malcolm had hoped to see the Spotted
Redshank, but it was not there, but did turn up
later after he had left. Here it is feeding in company
with Wigeon and Teal.
MONDAY
NOVEMBER 7 - 2016
Nore
Barn
14:00-15:00 -
High water at 16:00 at 4.0 The weather was fine,
though there was a very cold north wind. Fortunately,
one can always shelter from a north wind at Nore Barn.
It was close to high water while I was there, but the
neap tide meant the water did not come right in, so
the birds remained in the stream area all the
time.
Two Spotted Redshanks and the colour-ringed
Greenshank (G+GL) were feeding together in the stream.
This is the third time this year I have seen two
Spotted Redshanks at Nore Barn.
Towards the end, all three came up the stream near the
small bridge, so close, one felt one could almost
touch them. A few people passing by stopped to ask
about the birds and I told them all about our famous
Spotted Redshanks and said they would never get a
better view of them anywhere in Britain!
THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 3 - 2016
The regular
Spotted Redshank was feeding in the stream as
usual, but today was alone, but for a single
Black-tailed Godwit. There was no sign of a second
Spotted Redshank or Greenshank which have been with it
recently. The famous Spotted Redshank continues to
attract wildlife photographers with their massive
long-lensed cameras at the ready. They were a bit
close but not too close to disturb the bird. But with
cameras like that why do they need to get so close?
I took some photos of
the Spotted Redshank with my trusty point-and-shoot
Lumix FZ18 much further away which were not
bad!
TUESDAY
NOVEMBER 1 - 2016
I got to Nore
Barn at 10am in time to catch the rising tide. What a
beautiful morning! The sun was shining and the water
calm and a good number of birds were gathering in the
stream. We had two Spotted Redshanks, as yesterday,
plus the regular colour-ringed Greenshank (G+GL) that
was not here yesterday, one Common Redshank, 3
Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Mute Swans and a collection of
whistling Wigeon, but no Teal. There were more Wigeon
further out in amongst which I found a small family of
Brent Geese comprising two adults and two juveniles. I
have yet to see any large Brent flocks at Nore Barn.
Left:
Greenshank and Spotted Redshank. Right: Common
Redshank
Spotted
Redshank with Black-tailed Godwit
MONDAY
OCTOBER 31 - 2016 - Two
Spotted Redshanks
The regular
Spotted Redshank arrived, but there was no sign of
its usual Greenshank feeding companion. After a few
minutes I noticed a second Spotted Redshank
further down stream, gradually making its way upstream
towards the first Spotted Redshank. Eventually, the
two met and fed quite happily almost side by side
until they were disturbed by a person walking along
the shore. This was my first sighting of two Spotted
Redshanks this winter session, though two feeding in
the stream have been fairly common in previous years.
Sorry about the lousy picture, but my camera can't
cope with bright sunshine.
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 25 - 2016
I called into
Nore Barn at 11:15 which was about 3 hours after high
water. There were a good number of birds feeding in
the stream, including Spotted Redshank, Common
Redshank, Greenshank (G+GL), 5 Black-tailed Godwits,
Oystercatcher and Little Egret. I was surprised to see
the Spotted Redshank and the Common Redshank feeding
closely together as the former does not normally
tolerate the latter. However, after a few minutes I
saw the Spotted Redshank chase off the Common
Redshank. There were 146 Wigeon in the main channel
with a few Teal mixed in and 40+ Black-tailed Godwits
in the creek, but too far to read any rings.
SATURDAY
OCTOBER 15 - 2016
The Havant
Wildlife Group walked from Warblington to Emsworth
this morning. When they reached Nore Barn they were
rewarded with what Heather called the 'star bird' of
Emsworth - with its friends Greenshank and Common
Redshank. What an excellent group photo by Derek.
WEDNESDAY
OCTOBER 12 - 2016
I went over to
Nore Barn at about 11.30am with the tide falling. The
Spotted Redshank was feeding in the stream along with
the colour-ringed Greenshank G+GL, a couple of
Black-tailed Godwits and a Little Egret. It is looking
as sprightly as ever.
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 11 - 2016 - First sighting of the year!
We had our
first sighting of the Spotted Redshank which I
have been waiting anxiously for the past few weeks. It
is much later than last year when I had my first
sighting on Sep 27 and bucks the trend for
progressively earlier arrivals. This will be the 13th
winter that this bird has come to Emsworth. Here it is
feeding in the stream along with the colour-ringed
Greenshank and two Black-tailed Godwits.
For
earlier sightings go to . . . Spotted
Redshank Home Page
