We started another baking hot day up on the downs, just below Kithurst Hill, in search of the juvenile Pallid Harrier. Unfortunately, after two and a half hours we had seen virtually nothing, well that's not quite true as there were hundreds of immature Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges in the stubble fields before us. A single Buzzard was the only raptor seen so we decided on pastures new. The Red-backed Shrike on the north wall at Pagham was a likely candidate but as we set off we received a Tweet from Nick Bond informing the world of an Osprey perched in Offham Hanger above WWT Arundel.
Sure enough when we arrived it was sitting out as bold as brass, we grabbed the cameras and set off to get closer. On the way we met Nick who informed us that it couldn't be seen from the road - not quite true as a few minutes later I found myself face to face with the bird. I don't know who was more surprised, me or the bird - we played peek-a-boo around a tree trunk and as I desperately tried to withdraw he decided to leave. I felt a tad annoyed with myself that we didn't get a decent session on what was a great bird. At least I now know that you can get a view of that dead tree from the road.
We searched for the bird on the reserve with no result and constant scanning of the Hanger revealed only a flyby Peregrine - next time I will be a little more careful.
Sure enough when we arrived it was sitting out as bold as brass, we grabbed the cameras and set off to get closer. On the way we met Nick who informed us that it couldn't be seen from the road - not quite true as a few minutes later I found myself face to face with the bird. I don't know who was more surprised, me or the bird - we played peek-a-boo around a tree trunk and as I desperately tried to withdraw he decided to leave. I felt a tad annoyed with myself that we didn't get a decent session on what was a great bird. At least I now know that you can get a view of that dead tree from the road.
 |
| "Action crop" - which is an excuse for not getting the subject in the centre of the frame. At least it shows that the bird carried no rings. |
We searched for the bird on the reserve with no result and constant scanning of the Hanger revealed only a flyby Peregrine - next time I will be a little more careful.
