Here, there and everywhere

I’ve been a bit birded out since the South West Surrey big day last weekend. That said, a tasty looking weather system dropping on Friday through Saturday was enough to get me in the field, though – perhaps unsurprising given my own efforts were mainly in Surrey – there was nothing about.

Hobby, 18/5/2019.

The patch, Unstead SF, Thursley Common and Frensham Great Pond all got combed thoroughly with little bar regular entertainment on offer, this despite some decent inland stuff being found: a Great Reed Warbler at Crossness was a LNHS first and a Black Stork hung about at Knepp briefly (presumably the same bird was seen in flight as tantalisingly close to Surrey as Black Down on Tuesday).

On Sunday I visited the farmland and scrub around the North Wall, at Pagham Harbour, but there wasn’t a sniff of any migrants whatsoever; all a bit gripping given Sam found a neat Lesser Grey Shrike on the Isle of Grain, amid a busy weekend nationally. Pagham is always a delight to visit, however, and I don't think you can ever feel disappointed on the back of a visit there.

Small Copper, New Barn (Thorncombe Street), 18/5/2019.

Raven, New Barn (Thorncombe Street), 18/5/2019.

The forecast for the next few days doesn’t look fantastic, with northwest winds arriving, though there's still enough of spring left for some interesting fare to be had.