Whilst sea watching from Sandy Point this morning a chap called Terry who was out walking his dog came across a stranded Guillemot a couple of hundred metres East of where I was standing.  It was only as he approached me that I made out what looked like a Guillemot in the plastic bag that he was carrying.  Terry who was taking the bird to Dorris Long MBE, a local resident who rescues injured animals, wasn't sure of the birds identification so I took it out of the bag and confirmed my suspicions that it was indeed a Guillemot.  There didn't appear to be any obvious injury to the very docile bird.  It wasn't oil stained and the wings and legs seemed to be undamaged.  

Guillemot, Sandy Point - 18 Sep 09

Guillemot, Sandy Point - 18 Sep 09

   As for the sea watch it was without doubt my most rewarding session of the year and included several sightings of Common Seal.  The first bird species of note amongst the Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Gulls and Gannet offshore was Shag with at least three individuals feeding together.  After watching the Shag for several minutes I headed further along the shore towards the Lifeboat Station and met up with Andy Johnson who had seen an apparently healthy Guillemot offshore earlier on.  Different bird? 

   For the next hour and a half we watched the birding activity in and out of Chichester Harbour together.  Initially it was more of the same offshore but occasionally a Shag would come in to view or a small flock of Sanderling would fly by whilst overhead a steady movement of Swallow and Meadow Pipit flew southeast.  However, after literally no more than a couple of minutes of discussing the lack of Little Gull sightings Andy spotted a juvenile Little Gull fly in to the harbour at 0925 relatively close inshore.  Due to the strong head wind it only made slow progress North into the harbour allowing good views of the well-marked bird for a couple of minutes. 

Wheatear (male?), Sandy Point Nature Reserve - 18 Sep 09

   Having called in a Little Gull we tried our luck with Tufted Puffin but alas it wasn't to be.  However at 0935 I picked out my target bird - Arctic Skua.  The juvenile bird appeared from the direction of Sandy Point and settled on the water in mid-channel.  No doubt it was the same bird Andy had seen earlier but I was pleased to pick it out myself.  

   Before heading home I tried my luck with the Garganey at Sinah Gravel Pits.  Unfortunately, my good luck had run out and I dipped on the drake duck but I did spot a colour-ringed juvenile Cormorant and a Wigeon amongst the dozens of Coot. 

Juvenile Cormorant, Sinah Gravel Pit - 18 Sep 09.  Photo taken looking through wire fencing.  That's my excuse for the poor focus and I'm sticking with it!

Good birding,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) Geosci (Open)