Sunday Afternoon Drive

Hudsonian Whimbrel, Pagham Harbour, 14/06/15 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Well, with my car in the garage again I've been missing out on all these incredible birds that have made June the prime month for British rarities this year. What's going on? You think it's safe to get your car serviced now, don't you? Not that I'd have gone for them all, I mean why go to Bardsey for a Cretzschmar's when you recently saw loads of them in Greece? However, the drive to Sussex from Seaton is not too bad, it's just a day-trip. So, when KH texted me Sunday morning saying he'd got a lift leaving at Noon...how could I refuse? Tom B. was kind enough to take us both to Church Norton and, after a little wait, we saw the bird fly back onto the mud which is just what one needs in order to see that the back and rump are all dark, and when the paler neck and breast-sides are added what you've got is a Hudsonian Whimbrel. I believe some people regard it as a distinct species from our Eurasian one and it was certainly easy to pick out among its transatlantic brethren, its bill seemed slightly longer too. Its overall colouration ( or should that be coloration as it's North American? Arf-arf!) was much more yellowy-brown and its pale cheek really contrasted with the typically Whimbrelesque dark cap plus stripes. We had to leave the bird and drive to Titchfield as Tom wanted to dip the Greater Yellowlegs then head back to Devon to catch the highlights of England's win in Slovenia. Well done Roy Hodgson. A pleasant Sunday for me, 'chilling out' in the back of the car!