SELECTED
SPOTTED REDSHANK SIGHTINGS
FOR WINTER 2018-19
in
reverse chronological order
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Spotted
Redshank Home Page
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MONDAY
MARCH 25 - 2019
Spotted
Redshank has gone?
I got to Nore
Barn at 12 noon with tide rising quickly to high water
at 14.30. The stream was still fairly empty of water
when I arrived, but it filled up before I left just
before 1pm. The conditions were good for the Spotted
Redshank, but it was not there.
I had a good look around the saltmarshes just in case
it was hiding away somewhere. I did get a little
excited when I saw a wader feeding on the harbour side
of the saltmarshes but it turned out to be a Common
Redshank.
I strongly suspect the
famous Spotted Redshank of Emsworth is now winging its
way back up north towards its breeding grounds 2,000
miles away in Northern Scandinavia. It is unlikely to
make the journey non-stop, pausing at various suitable
feeding places on the way. It will be very welcome
back here in October if it makes it, though at 16+
years it is getting near the end of its life. I
wonder, is our bird the longest lived Spotted
Redshank?
I have adjusted to special Spotted Redshank web page
to indicate that this year's last sighting was 23 Mar
2019.
See . . . Spotted
Redshanks at Nore Barn
SATURDAY
MARCH 23 - 2019
I was rather
late getting over to Nore Barn this morning. I arrived
at about 11.30am with the tide already well advanced
with only 2 hours to high water. The bay and the
stream area were full of water but I guessed the
Spotted Redshank would be hanging around somewhere and
I was right. I could see Roy Eames in the distance
looking into the stream area from the bridge and yes
he was watching the Spotted Redshank, nestling among
the grasses close to the shore. However, almost
immediately a couple of dogs dashed into the water
causing the bird to fly across to the saltmarshes
where it settled down in the grasses. This is clearly
a favoured safe high water roosting spot for the
Spotted Redshank from where it has a clear view of the
stream area.
The
video clip shows the Spotted Redshank at its safe
place . . .
https://youtu.be/Q8XY_e2sNZ8
Both Roy and I had a
word with the dog's owner who was very understanding
when we explained that her dogs had just scared off a
rare bird that shortly will be making a 2,000 mile
journey to Northern Scandinavia. We impressed the
importance of controlling dogs when walking through
this area in winter as many other long travelling
migrant birds would also be feeding here. Personally,
I am a great believer in education before legislation,
so I just hope the message gets around that we all
need to take special care. In any case, I am reassured
to know that our beloved Spotted Redshank has coped
for the past 15 years with being chased by dogs and it
always comes back unscathed.
By the way Roy
mentioned that he would be putting fresh notices on
the grass roadside verge near the Warblington
roundabout where the Bee Orchids grow to warn the
Council cutting teams to give them a miss during the
flowering season. We have had up to 60 flowering
spikes in past years. Roy will do a count. Good man.
While at Nore Barn I
had a stroll through the woods listening and looking
for the Blackcap that Jo Bray had there yesterday, but
I heard nothing.
A little later at 12
noon when I got back to the stream area all was quiet
and the Spotted Redshank had returned to the grasses
near the shore to feed as shown in this
photo.
It grabbed what looked
like a small crab from the water which a Black-headed
Gull also fancied. There was a bit of a confrontation
before the Spotted Redshank flew back to its safe
place on the saltmarsh island with the prey.
See
a video clip of this
incident . . .
https://youtu.be/xB2yQblukvs
FRIDAY
MARCH 22 - 2019
I got to Nore
Barn at 3pm. At 2 hours after high water the bay and
the stream were still fairly full. However, this did
not deter the Spotted Redshank from feeding quite
close to the shore with its 'friend' the colour-ringed
Greenshank (G+GL).
I watched them for a
while until they were disturbed by several unruly
dogs. I did not wait around, but I am fairly sure they
will be back once the dogs have gone.
The video clip shows
the two birds feeding and then the Spotted Redshank
flying off . . . https://youtu.be/_6DTtqvUrs8
Today's Spotted
Redshank equals last year's final sighting which was
also on Mar 22. The next latest date is 27-Mar-13, so
let's see if it can beat that. So keep watching!
THURSDAY
MARCH 21 - 2019
Brian Lawrence
was at Nore Barn today and got a photo of the Spotted
Redshank feeding the stream. So it is still with us,
but, going on past experience, not for much longer.
Our last sighting last year was Mar 22nd - tomorrow!
All sightings much appreciated.
TUESDAY
MARCH 19 - 2019
I got to Nore
Barn at exactly 12 noon two hours after high tide,
with the bay and stream still fairly full of water.
Immediately I spied the famous Spotted
Redshank, which I missed yesterday, busily feeding
in its customary fashion among the seaweed and
saltmarshes along the edges of the stream. What a
cracking bird! And to think it has been coming to this
same feeding spot for the last 15 years. Astonishing!
Here is a little video
I made of my friend on the shore immediately in front
of me. . . https://youtu.be/qiGjopdUvxM
On the basis of past
records I suspect the Spotted Redshank will leave Nore
Barn anytime within the next week to wend its way back
to its breeding grounds in Northern Scandinavia. So I
bid it a fond fare well and fare forward this morning
just in case this was my last sighting. See you again
for the 16th year this coming October maybe? Fingers
crossed for both of us!
THURSDAY
JANUARY 10 - 2018
Encouraged by
a report from Liz Cook who had e-mailed me to say she
saw a Spotted Redshank in the Nore Barn stream
yesterday afternoon, I made my way to the stream which
was filling up nicely. And, hey presto! There it was -
our famous Spotted Redshank which had been giving some
of us a little concern over its recent absence. But no
need to worry, it is back! Here is my first photo of
the bird plus a video clip of its typical behaviour.
Video clip of the
Spotted Redshank in the Nore Barn stream . . .
https://youtu.be/tA0_O7G4-fY
Its feeding companion
the colour-ringed Greenshank (G+GL) was also present
in the stream and when I left about an hour later the
two of them were feeding together at the top of the
stream near the bridge. How fortunate we are in
Emsworth to be able to see such a fine pair of birds
at such close quarters. Incomparable!
WEDNESDAY
NOVEMBER 14 - 2018
I called in at
Nore Barn on the way home from my morning's stewarding
at the Pallant Gallery. The Spotted Redshank was right
at the top of the stream near the bridge - I don't
recall having seen it quite that far before. It moved
off when people started walking over the bridge, but
it remains an extraordinarily tame bird.
Here is the Spotted
Redshank feeding in the running stream. Its regular
feeding companion the colour-ringed Greenshank (G+GL)
was not there today.
MONDAY
NOVEMBER 12 - 2018
It was a
bright but stormy morning with dark clouds
threatening, but I had to get over to Nore Barn to
check out my friend. Excellent news, the Spotted
Redshank was in the stream with its regular
feeding companion the colour-ringed Greenshank
(G+GL). Both were rushing around actively feeding
- there must be a good supply of food. I managed to
get some photos and a video despite the strong winds.
Video
clip of the two birds in the
stream . . .
https://youtu.be/c5bk4YepZDg
TUESDAY
NOVEMBER 6 - 2018
I drove over
to Nore Barn by 13.30 just in time to catch the
falling tide. The stream was emptying fast and the
Spotted Redshank was already ensconced and
feeding actively. No sign of the Greenshank (G+GL)
today. Also in the stream area was a group of around
20 Wigeon and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits.
WEDNESDAY
NOVEMBER 1 - 2018
Spotshank
reigns
I went over to
Nore Barn at about 15.00 this afternoon on a rising
tide. I could see and hear a good number of Brent
Geese in the bay; I did not notice any juveniles, but
only had my binoculars with me. As always, my main
interest was the stream where all I could see when I
arrived was a Common Redshank feeding alone. After a
few minutes the regular colour-ringed Greenshank
(G+GL) arrived.
Finally, in came the
Spotted Redshank and there followed a few minutes of
quite aggressive activity in which the Spotshank
chased the Common Redshank out of the stream and onto
the mudflats from where it flew off. The Spotted
Redshank then returned to the stream to feed with the
Greenshank.
Towards the end
of the chase with the Spotshank threatening the Common
Redshank
I managed to capture
part of the chase on a video clip.
See . . . https://youtu.be/QdoDgYgLbVw
I have witnessed many
incidents like today's usually involving the Spotted
Redshank and Common Redshank in previous years. I
guess it has something to do with protection of
feeding territory, though I recall many occasions
where the Spotted Redshank and Common Redshank
seemingly feed quite happily together. It will be
interesting to see if and when a second Spotted
Redshank turns up, as it frequently has done in the
past.
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 30 - 2018
Friends
reunited
I went over to
Nore Barn at about 11.30am this morning to check on
the Spotted Redshank which I saw for the first time
this autumn yesterday. I did not have to go far as the
bird was in the fresh water stream with its long
standing feeding companion, the colour-ringed
Greenshank (G+GL). The Common Redshank was also
present in the stream area, but feeding quite
separately.
I think the Spotted
Redshank and the Greenshank have been feeding together
in this stream for almost 10 years, which includes a
few years before the Greenshank was ringed by Pete
Potts in September 2014. I recall Pete suggesting he
might ring the Spotted Redshank, but this never
happened. Of course, they go their separate ways for
breeding, but always return to this stream in autumn
which must have a rich source of food. I wonder if
they roost together on Thorney Island?
Here's
a couple of shots of the Spotted Redshank from today's
visit
and a video clip of
the Spotted Redshank feeding in the stream . . .
https://youtu.be/wK7pCdWhhzs
MONDAY
OCTOBER 29 - 2018
Spotted
Redshank returns!
I went over to
Nore Barn at about 11.30am this morning with my
grandson Joe who we were looking after as his school
had an inset day following the half term holiday. I
explained to Joe that I was not too hopeful about
seeing the famous Spotted Redshank which had been
coming to Nore Barn for the past 14 winters. It was
late, but not too late.
When we got to the end
of Warblington Road we could clearly hear the gentle
grunting of a good number of Brent Geese out in the
bay, mixed in with Wigeon. Our target was the stream
where we could see a Common Redshank feeding, but
nothing else at first. But wait! There was another
bird in the stream, probably the regular colour-ringed
Greenshank, I thought. Then Joe noticed its red legs
and, yes, on closer inspection there was no mistaking
the familiar appearance and feeding action of our
Spotted Redshank, looking as sprightly as ever,
despite its advancing years.
The sun was too bright for decent photos from the
beach so we went onto the saltmarshes on the west side
of the stream from where we both had cracking views of
the Spotted Redshank feeding in the stream with the
Common Redshank. The regular colour-ringed Greenshank
(G+GL) was not present.
I gave Joe my spare
camera, which he is used to using, and we both enjoyed
taking photos and videos over a period of several
minutes with the Spotted Redshank typically unfazed by
over closeness.
The Spotted Redshank
was a week later than my first sighting last year on
22-Oct and the third latest ever first sighting date;
the other two being over ten years ago on 05-Nov-07
and 08-Nov-08.
Here
is a video clip of the Spotted Redshank feeding today
in the stream . .
. https://youtu.be/myrRFTtS8A4
For all the earlier
sightings and photos go to . .
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Spotted
Redshank Home Page
