SELECTED
SPOTTED REDSHANK SIGHTINGS
FOR WINTER 2017-18
in
reverse chronological order
Return to . . .
Spotted
Redshank Home Page
. .
TUESDAY
MARCH 20 - 2018
The tide was
still well out at Nore Barn, but the ever faithful
Spotted Redshank was present in the low water
stream, feeding along with a couple of Black-headed
Gulls. It must be getting very close to its departure
time, the latest date recorded was 27-Mar-13, but that
was exceptional. I took some photos and a video clip,
just in case it was the last time.
IT WAS!
Short video clip of
the Spotted Redshank . . . https://youtu.be/s45rQr5KPIw
MONDAY
MARCH 5 - 2018
The tide was
rising at Nore Barn with the stream filling up. The
regular Spotted Redshank was feeding in the
upper reaches of the stream along with its companion
the colour-ringed Greenshank G+GL. There were signs
from some of my photos that the Spotted Redshank is
undergoing its annual pre-nuptial moult of its tail
feathers - see photo on the right below.
From previous years I would expect the Spotted
Redshank to be here for at least another week and
maybe more. Last sights over the past two years were
21-Mar and 16-Mar.
THURSDAY
FEBRUARY 1 - 2018
Graham Petrie
was at Nore Barn today at high water and got this
interesting shot of the Spotted Redshank with a Common
Redshank. Graham was a little concerned if the bird
had lost a leg or was it tucked under. No problem,
Graham. Spotted Redshank in common with most other
waders occasionally roost on one leg, presumably as a
way of relaxing - a bit like when we cross our legs.
SATURDAY
JANUARY 20 - 2018
The Havant
Wildlife Group met in Bridge Road car park yesterday
(Jan 20) for their walk in Emsworth. I was sorry I was
not well enough to join them. However, despite the wet
weather they had a great time and Emsworth certainly
lived up to its rightful reputation as one of the best
birdwatching spots in the country!
When we reached the sailing club we turned west
towards Nore Barn. The tide was well out but a large
group of dunlin were noted, also wigeon, shelduck,
pintails, oystercatchers and a few grey plovers.
Plenty of Brent geese, of course. Later very good
close ups of oystercatchers and wigeon.
We approached the famous stream where the spotted
redshank was slowly making its way to where we
were. It seemed to have no fear of us and came really
close, walking across the pebbles, providing an
excellent opportunity for good photographs.
THURSDAY
JANUARY 18 - 2018
Two
Spotted Redshanks at Nore Barn
Peter
Milinets-Raby had two Spotted Redshanks during today's
visit to Nore Barn. It is not unusual to find two
there, but Peter provides photos to help distinguish
the regular bird from the occasional visitor. Peter
says the regular Nore Barn bird is the one with
darker, thinner loral streak through eye: wider white
eye-brow, extending further beyond the eye and a shade
darker than the other bird - the regular bird is on
the right.
Peter checked my
recent video (Jan 14) and thinks this IS the regular
bird, the pale Spotted Redshank we sometimes see is
the intruder. See . . . https://youtu.be/yBWXtstAwes
Peter also got two
other nice photos one showing the two Spotted
Redshanks with the regular Greenshank G+GL and a
Common Redshank and the other with one of the Spotted
Redshanks having a big yawn!
Brian Lawrence also
got a shot of what looks like the regular Spotted
Redshank today.
And I think the one I
saw later in the afternoon may have been the regular
bird too, though the light was poor.
SUNDAY
JANUARY 14 - 2018
Nore
Barn
I popped over
to Nore Barn at 12 noon - about 2 hours after high
water. The tide was still well in and the stream
fairly full. However, the ever faithful Spotted
Redshank was feeding as usual, first on the edge of
the stream, then among the seaweed on the shore as the
tide receded.
I made a short video
of the Spotted Redshank feeding and Brent Geese in the
distance which can be seen on YouTube on the following
link . . . https://youtu.be/yBWXtstAwes
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 24 - 2017
The Spotted
Redshank, colour-ringed Greenshank (G+GL) and
Common Redshank were feeding closely together in the
small stream, just like good friends meeting up again
after the summer break. There were also a few Godwits
in the stream.
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 22 - 2017
First
sighting!
4.30pm -
5.00pm. I went over to Nore Barn for the first time
since my fall over a week ago. The tide was falling
and the stream gradually emptying. Just right for our
Spotted Redshank and, hey presto, there it was! From
its general behaviour I am fairly sure it is the
famous 'tame' Spotted Redshank that has been visiting
Nore Barn for the past 14 years. It was feeding in the
stream in the usual leisurely manner with its
'companions' the colour-ringed Greenshank (G+GL) and a
Common Redshank nearby. Here are a couple of shots,
one of it with a small morsel in its bill and the
other looking around its winter home. This is quite
late for a first sighting, though it could well have
been here for a week or so while I have been absent.
It has been this late several times in previous years,
e.g, 21-Oct in 2011 and 08-Nov in 2008.
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 10- 2017
John Jury was
at Nore Barn today where the regular colour-ringed
Greenshank (G+GL) was in the stream, with a Common
Redshank, but still no Spotted Redshank. It is not too
late, but I am getting increasingly despondent!
TUESDAY
SEPTEMBER 12 - 2017
I went over to
Nore Barn this afternoon at about 1.30pm mainly to
look for the Spotted Redshank that has now been seen
by two people, Anne de Potier (Sep 5) and Peter
Milinets-Raby (Sep 9). In each of these two occasions
the Spotted Redshank was feeding with the regular
colour-ringed Greenshank (G+GL). If this was the
regular Spotted Redshank that has been feeding in the
stream at Nore Barn for the past 13 winters running
then it is some 3 weeks earlier than any previous
first sighting date.
This afternoon, the tide was rising to high water at
about 4pm, so I was quite hopeful of seeing the bird
which I have missed in previous visits this month. I
stayed until about 2.30 by which time the tide was
well advanced and filling the small stream. A
Common Redshank was present for the whole
period I was there and was joined by the regular
colour-ringed Greenshank (G+GL) and they were
feeding together quite amicably.
Here is a shot of
them bathing together in the shallow stream
and the Greenshank showing its rings when it came up
stream
But, alas, there was
no sign of the Spotted Redshank. I know the regular
Spotted Redshank usually takes a little while to
settle into a feeding routine after it first arrives,
so I am not entirely surprised about its non presence
today. However, the question remains, is it or is it
not our regular Spotted Redshank? Only time will tell.
SATURDAY
SEPTEMBER 9 - 2017
Peter
Milinets-Raby was out this morning as the sun rose
(6:28am to 9:41am - low tide throughout) looking for
birds along the shoreline from Emsworth to
Warblington.
Nore Barn (from 7:28am): Redshank with colour rings
(-//O + O//BY), 2 Greenshank and 1 Spotted Redshank
feeding together. 76 Teal.
TUESDAY
SEPTEMBER 5 - 2017
Spotted
Redshank returns?
This morning
Anne de Potier saw a Spotted Redshank in the stream at
Nore Barn along with the regular colour-ringed
Greenshank (G+GL). If this was the same Spotted
Redshank that has been visiting Nore Barn for the past
13 years, it would be the earliest arrival date on
record. The previous earliest date was 27 Sep in 2015.
How exciting.
Here
is one of the last shots we got of the famous Spotted
Redshank in the Nore Barn stream
before it left on migration to Northern Scandinavia in
March this year.
Photo by Peter Milinets-Raby (16 March
2017).
For all
the earlier sightings and photos go to . . .
Spotted
Redshank Home Page