Saturday, 19th September: A very grey and blustery, if quite mild, morning in a strong south-westerly breeze.....
Sadly, I've recently learned of the passing of Colin Eames, yet another of our Peninsula birding friends. Colin, invariably accompanied by his wife who was always known as 'Mich' came to birding rather later in life. This dynamic duo were always keen to learn and if I recall correctly, became frequent visitors to the Bill and Peninsula from around 2010. Colin's sense of humour soon came to the fore and I recall a number of lively banter sessions enlivening a slow sea-watch! Regrettably though, ill-health eventually began to creep up and take it's toll, and Colin passed peacefully away at the end of August.
On a personal note, it is perhaps ironic that my best memory of Colin was not from the Peninsula, but on a certain day in mid-November 2015. To cut the story short, Colin and Mich knew I wanted to try for a long-staying Crag Martin in Chesterfield, but had been unable to go, suffering badly as my father was nearing his end. A window of opportunity arose for me as other family members were able to cover, and the dynamic duo picked me up, drove me to Chesterfield, waited all day as the bird was a no-show, then shared my joy as it briefly flew around the football stadium allowing a brief record shot, before it flew off never to appear again. They drove me back again and it is a great kindness I have never forgotten.
I'm sure all that knew Colin will join me in sending condolences to Mich and the family members - and I'm sure Colin's jokes will be noticed in heaven! (OM/Eds)
Colin Eames (white cap) with Mich, Spring 2017 and (below) seated with the gallery of observers (OM)
Selsey Bill: Highlights this morning were a Hobby and an Arctic Skua west, along with153 Gannets and 214 Swallows. Full log below. (SH/PB/AGB/MRB/JBo/BI/IP/AH)
(0630-0900hrs) (SW, F6)
Gannet - 1E, 153W
Shag - 2E
Little Egret - 2W
Hobby - 1W
Oystercatcher - 3W
Dunlin - 9W
Turnstone - 7
Arctic Skua - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 6W
Great Black-backed Gull - 9W
Kittiwake - 1E, 1W
Sandwich Tern - 3E, 5W
Swallow - 3E, 214W
Meadow Pipit - 3W
(1430-1600hrs) (SH)
Gannet - 1E, 6W
Common Scoter - 7E, 1os
Turnstone - 5
Mediterranean Gull - 2W
Sandwich Tern - 10W
Swallow - 1E
Gannets (above) & Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: A Grey Phalarope was on the muddy pools by the new fence late this morning, well found by Jacob Bowley, though otherwise there were just a juvenile Shelduck, four Teal, a Redshank and c20 Lapwings, plus a Grey Wagtail, present. (JBo/AGB/MRB/PB/IP/S&SaH/AH/BI et al)
Grey Phalarope (above), Grey Wagtail & Teal on the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: A Greenshank, two Whimbrel, three Bar-tailed Godwits, two Knot, five Turnstones, ten Ringed Plovers and c100 Dunlin were in the harbour, along with 21 Pintail, whilst two Marsh Harriers and a Peregrine were out and about and two Gannets were offshore.
The hedges were quiet, with just a Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and a dozen or so Chiffchaffs seen, whilst two Wheatears were along the concrete blocks, two Stonechats were along the Severals and a Grey Wagtail, eight Yellow Wagtails, five Meadow Pipits and a dozen Swallows went over. (IP/PB/AGB/MRB/JBo/AH/KB et al)
Greenshank (above), Whimbrel, Grey Plover & Chiffchaff at Church Norton (AH)
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