A regular account of the birds seen on and around Pagham Spit .

Pagham in Winter...never take it for granted.

2012-02-09T15:16:00.000Z

....from the living room window....5 Slavonian Grebes on the sea

...on and around the Lagoon....Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, 50 Med Gulls,Water Rail, Pochard,Tufted Duck,Gadwall but no Smew this morning

...from Spit Hide...Superb Drake Goldeneye plus several females and Pintail, plus big flocks of Knot, plus, plus !

....from North Wall...Paddyfield Warbler showing well in the 'tyre bush' (beware Wren and Stonechat sharing the bush! ) and a Black Brant in with the main Brent flock.

Some of the Med Gulls on the spit...one in summer plumage.

One 'Paddy' visitor remarked that I was very lucky living in a place like this...I suppose he was right!

New signs and a Smew!

2012-02-08T15:19:00.000Z

We arrived at the Pagham Harbour Information Centre at just the right moment this morning!!

Its out with the old....

Down...

...and out!

..and its in with the new

..is that level?


..perfect, and RSPB Pagham Harbour is installed.

Back on the Lagoon the reported Redhead Smew was showing well from the boardwalk (thank you Peter Callis! ) and despite poor light I was able to get a few photos.

Twitcher watching!

2012-02-07T20:18:00.001Z

There were about 30/40 twitchers at the Paddyfield Warbler site this morning and although I failed to see it, the bird apparently afforded good, albeit distant views, shortly after mid-day on the other side of Breech Pool.
Shown below, mainly for amusement, are some of the expectant crowd.

Where are the owners?

Unusually, an Avocet was swimming on the Lagoon with Med Gulls....that's a 'first' for me on the Lagoon!

How appropriate!!

2012-02-06T14:53:00.000Z

A bit distant but no 'proper' camera with me this morning.Try left clicking.

With the RSPB having just taken over the day to day running of Pagham Harbour last week maybe the arrival of 12 Avocets in front of the Spit Hide this morning was all part of their management plan!

Its official... the RSPB Pagham Harbour Reserve!!

2012-02-03T14:19:00.000Z

I heard yesterday that final negotiations had been finalised and as from midnight the RSPB would take over the day to day running of the nature reserve
'Meet the RSPB' days are planned to take place in the Spring to learn more about the ongoing plans...all very interesting and we await developments.

A cold morning (-5c) and another look for the Paddy Warbler drew a blank..however the frozen waste was worth a picture.

From the sluice gate....North wall

...and another

...just some of the Brent flock over the fields.

The Paddyfield Warbler!!!!!!!!!!!

2012-02-02T14:54:00.000Z

....final view!!

The initial excitement of the mega Paddyfield Warbler has died down a little since first being discovered on Monday and a fault on my internet line has prevented me posting any photos whenI saw it at 8.15 am on Tuesday morning ..... however the BT line has come to life this afternoon and so here are a few record shots!
However having returned a couple of times to the North Wall since, I have not located it again, although it has been seen at by a few lucky birders 8.00am this morning.
A cracking bird a real treat to have it on my local patch.

A Dull Day

2012-01-25T12:50:00.000Z

After yesterday's all day rain it was good to get out again today.

The highlight of an early lookaround was the sight of a pair of Avocets from the hide chasing each other and both swimming across the channel in hot pursuit of each other...is Spring in the air already?

One of many Teal

Lots of Teal and Wigeon about, huge flocks of Lapwing and a flock of about 1600 Brents in the middle of the harbour. The usual Med Gulls on the off shore shingle bank plus Grey Plovers, Knot, Dunlin etc.

The resident Kestrel on the lokout

What a sunrise!

2012-01-17T19:38:00.000Z

As I looked out this morning at 7.40 I noted this fantastic sky well before sunrise


This is a stitched panorama from 3 images...left click to appreciate


20 minutes later the sun arose

. A quick walk up to the harbour entrance and all the usual birdlife was present plus a Kingfisher (no photo unfortunately)
A busy day precluded any more birding and as night fell I learnt that Bearded Tits were present in the reedbed along the North Wall and photographers had a field day. I wonder if they will remain until tomorrow?

A Non Pagham day....but two life ticks!

2012-01-16T19:50:00.000Z

In view of the recent TV coverage regarding the Spanish Sparrow I decided it was time to pay a visit to Calshot and maybe call in to the Dark Eared Junco site and perhaps look up the Great Grey Shrike on the way! To cut a long story short we called into the Shatterford car park at the Beaulieu Station location and could not locate the GGS. Then onto to Hawkhill enclosure where the Junco had been seen 10 minutes earlier....waited fot an hour and a half and then got a 10 second sighting of the Junco before it disappeared...resulting in a couple of very poor images....

The Dark Eyed Junco perched on this branch for all of 3 seconds.

Dark Eyed Junco feeding on seed behind whispy grass creating focusing problems!

..and then on to Calshott where I initially went without camera into the kitchen of the local birder who had kindly opened up his house to all and sundry and got a good view of the Spanish Sparrow on the bird table. Upon returning with the camera I caught a glimpse of the bird but by the time I was set up it disappeared and failed to return whilst I was there!

Not entirely satisfactory but nevertheless, two lifers, so I can't complain....much!!

2012-01-13T15:07:00.001Z

As I was in Worthing this morning I decided to go a little further east to Widewater in search of the long staying Snow Buntings. Met a local birder who told me he was more interested in photographing Little Egrets but who kindly pointed me in the right direction. It didn't take too long to find the 'spot' as a couple of pigeons were feeding on the beach and there, with them, a pair of Snow Buntings. It was just after 8.00am and the sun was low and gave the buntings quite an orange glow!

Keeping a lookout...and it was only a high flying Redshank!

...and then it was time to return, but as I was passing the Burpham turn and it was a very pleasant morning I couldn't resist the temptation to wander up toThe Burgh! A ringtail Harrier and distant view of the long stay Rough Legged Buzzard plus loads of Corn Buntings, Reed Buntings and a somewhat incongrous flyby Grey Heron made the journey worthwhile

One of several Reed Buntings at Burpham

Pagham Lagoon....a newcomer.

2012-01-09T17:30:00.000Z

As I walked past the western end of Pagham Lagoon this afternoon I was surprised to find a grebe in the fenced off area amongst the grassy tussocks. Assuming it was one of the regular Little Grebes I realised it was indeed a Black Necked Grebe and once it was in the water it started feeding on small fish. After 5 minutes or so it chose to ignore me and enabled me to get some decent photos at close range. Initially I thought it was unwell but it may have just been exhausted from its flight assumimg it had just arrived as it seemed to be feeding well although I did not see it dive and it was only picking the tiny fish from the shallows.I shall check on it tomorrow morning!

After initially stagerring out of the grass it soon made it to the water.

Yesterday whilst showing my grandaughter the delights of watching the waders on the shingle bar from our living room window during mid-afternoon she suddenly drew my attention to a distant flock of duck flying westwards.....she mentioned that a few of them had white patches on their wings. On 'scoping them there was a flock of Scoter accompanied by 3 Velvets....its great to have young eyes!

2012-01-07T17:33:00.000Z

Nothing dramatic to report...the terrible weather early in the week made birding difficult and then yesterday it all changed ...blue sky, little wind and therefore a wander along the North Wall was called for....
20 Fieldfares and a single Redwing in Owl Copse plus a few Reed Buntings, Greenfinches and a Yellowhammer. 3 Rock Pipits along the wall, big flocks of Brent Geese alighted on Breach Pool much to the delight of a visiting birdwatching group

Several flocks of Curlew arrived and quickly joined others feeding in the fields in front of Halsey farm..

Another decent day today with flocks of waders throughout the harbour...this one of Knot in front of the Church Norton hide being just one example.

The Lagoon held the usual ducks including the splendid drake Goldeneye

Two Water Rail in the reedbed walkway area but, as ever. unseen!

An unbirdable morning...

2012-01-03T16:28:00.000Z

...and a very windy afternoon afforded little opportunity for any serious birding apart from sea watching or rather, watching the sea ! (if you could stand up!)

Pagham Beach

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2012-01-02T17:34:00.001Z

.........and good birding to one and all !!!!!

..a forty minute walk up to the harbour Spit hide past the Lagoon and back produced the following 2012 bird list to date ..........
Mute Swan
Brent Goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Mallard
Pintail
Teal
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Goldeneye
Red Breasted Merganser
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Kestrel
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Golden Plover
Grey Plover
Lapwing
Dunlin
Knot
Turnstone
Black Tailed Godwit
Curlew
Redshank
Black Headed Gull
Herring Gull
Greater Black Backed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Common Gull
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Skylark
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow

46 in total...thats just over one a minute...not a bad start from a home patch but slightly diaspponting as I expected to see Peregrine and Kingfisher as previous recent mornings!

...and here's a photo of the beach showing the extent of the continuing erosion problem.

Good bye... 2011

2011-12-30T12:31:00.000Z

The Sand Fulmar was moored off the bay for a second morning but later departed east up the channel.
I don't know what the dredger was doing but we certainly need some more shingle on our beach as the last week has seen another couple of metres washed away as the sea eases its way towards our boundary. The authorities tell us that it is monitoring the situation and all will be well....they don't live here or experience the worry and concerns of the anxious residents.

It is always good to be up and about to see the sun rise and winter time makes it relatively easy to witness this. Here is this mornings spectacle....

...just before sunrise.

...here it comes.

...half way.

...its up and another days begun!

..time to get out to see whats around...so its along the beach and up to the spit hide. Hundreds of feeding Brent Geese with a few Red Breasted Mergansers, dozens of Wigeon and then...a dazzling blue flash...a Kingfisher flies past and settles on the harbour wall...fantastic and well worth the effort of getting out early.
Later in the morning a visit to the North wal and another Kingfisher by the sluice gate plus all the usual waders and ducks.

...and that just about wraps up another year...so from Pagham Birder (well wrapped up by his grandchildren over Christmas)

...its Happy New Year

to everyone

and good birding

in 2012.

A last look before Christmas Day.

2011-12-24T17:29:00.000Z

250 Golden Plover, 1000++ Lapwing, Ringed Plovers, Knot, Turnstone, Dunlin ,Herons and Little Egret in the harbour.

15 Pochard, 25 Tufted ducks, 18 Little Grebe on the Lagoon.

1 Short Eared Owl quartering the reed bird adjacent to Breech Pool.

5 Rock Pipits along North Wall.

...and a Very Happy Christmas to all my followers!!

2011-12-17T18:12:00.000Z

A very cold and frosty morning but quite still. A stroll up to the harbour mouth gave me a quick sighting of a Kingfisher as it sped towards me but then suddenly veered away as it spotted me. On the harbour wall a Rock Pipit was feeding for minute insects and a female Peregrine was at her usual spot on a plank of wood on New Island.
In the distance several flocks of Lapwing and a sizeable flock of Knot.

...and then the characteristic creaking wing joints of a pair of Goldeneye as they flew into the harbour.

...first the drake

...and then quickly follwed by the female.

Later in the day after brilliant sunshine the sky clouded over and it felt as if winter had really begun in earnest"

A cold sky!

2011-12-14T17:07:00.000Z

A few days holiday in Suffolk afforded a couple of visits to Minsmere but birding was quiet. The RSPB is currently in in a state of organised chaos with new buildings and extensions creating havoc in the reception area and sea defence work being carried out by the Environment Agency putting the North Wall out of bounds and making access to the beach difficult.

A visit to the newly erected Island Mere hide was greeted with surprise as the srtucture is now anything but a 'hide'. My opinion is that the birds have got betters views than ever of the humans attempting to get a glimpse of them...give me the old fashioned wooden flaps any day rather than the all glass 'conservatory' look!

We saw few birds from this spot but were rewarded by the appearance of a couple of Whooper Swans on the East Scrape

Elsewhere on the reserve birding was quiet and even this Green Woodpecker was hiding!

A late afternoon visit to the nearby North Warren reserve was rewarded with a murmuration of starlings going to roost and 5 Marsh Harriers but the light was just not sufficient to get a photograph of the harriers.

..another week goes by

2011-12-10T19:02:00.002Z

....but there's not a lot to report from Pagham Spit.

Red Breasted Mergansers are increasing and the female Goosander is still around. After the winds on Friday 4 Gadwall arrived in front of the Spit hide...unusual for the harbour. Off shore a first winter Eider and several Slavonian Grebes together with several Great Crested Grebes. Huge numbers of Lapwings in the harbour accompanied by Golden Plovers plus all the usual wintering waders.

A trip out to Waltham Brooks produced a couple of Short Eared Owls.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming somewhat unseasonally and a visit to The Burgh at Burpham at last produced the Rough Legged Buzzard for me (third time lucky)...unfortunately too far away for a photo. At least 6 other Common Buzzards, Red Kite and Kestrel were present but I left too soon to see the close up view of a Merlin which arrived very shortly after I had moved on. ...usual story!

A week of dipping out!

2011-12-03T10:03:00.001Z

Looking back at the week it has not been a successful one for finding the 'searched for ' birds.

On Wednesday, the day of the national strike, I took my grandaughter to Pulborough Brooks to see some specials to add to her list. We arrived just as the heavens opened so parked the car and watched for a while and saw Bullfinches, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Blue and Great Tits bathing in a puddle that increased in size as we waited for the rain to ease. Best of all for her was the Song Thrush.........

Once the weather cleared, we searched in vain for the reported Firecrest, White Fronted Geese and the Peregrine in the 'usual' tree...not today though! No Firecrest but we made 'do' with a Goldcrest!

On returning home I got a message that local birder Bob Coyne had seen a Laysan Duck a couple of hundred metres away on Pagham Lagoon. Not your usual duck and unlikely to have flown from a Hawaii but nevertheless interesting to see. I circumnavigated the Lagoon a couple of times during the next few days but drew a blank. A number of Pochards (15) and 4 Goldeneye plus all the usual but no Laysan Duck!

Oh well, Friday dawned sunny and bright so a second visit to Burpham was a 'must' to get the Rough Legged Buzzard (my grandson refers to it as a 3 Legged Buzzard! ). After a 4.5 mile tramp up to The Burgh, the 'dew pond' and beyond with all the heavy camera equipment there was no sign! Of interest was the fact that both Corn Buntings and Song Thrushes were heard singing...and its December!

My only photos.... a Reed Bunting

and a departing Kestrel in a hurry!

Hey ho...thats birding for you!

Oenanthe query

2011-11-24T20:23:00.001Z

After watching 3 Rock Pipits on the harbour wall I turned around and saw a small bird on the Spit hide. It was crouching low and initially, from the colouration I thought it was a male Chaffinch. Immediately I realised it was a Wheatear but from the overall dark orangy/pinkish breast.belly and flanks it struck me that this was not a 'normal' Northern. It flew quickly to a fence post and the white rump confirmed it was indeed a Wheatear ...but the coloration was more striking. I took one distant quick shot with my 16x digital zoom point and shoot and show below a cropped and more heavily cropped poor shot. It disappeared after about 10 seconds and despite a search and several return visits it never reappeared. Any ideas ?

On a subsequent later visit to try again it was good to see a redhead Goosander in flight showing clearly the sharp division between the brown upper neckand whitish lower foreneck....quite different to a Red Breasted Merganser.

...and then onto the beach where the Greenfinch flock was feeding alongside a few Linnets.

...before a quick look over to the off shore spit to see the impressive high tide wader roost.

left click to check species!

Early morning atmoshere.

2011-11-23T18:12:00.000Z

After yesterdays dullness and afternoon rain this morning was in distinct contrast...perfection. Not a breath of wind, bright sun over the sea and mist over the saltings. Although difficult to capture 'on film' here are a couple of digital images.

....and one of the heavy dew (left click to appreciate! )

..and another misty one at the harbour entrance...note the Sparrow Hawk at the bottonm of the photo...it had been after a Greenfinch but had failed to capture. The Greenfinch flock is about 150 strong and I believe they found safety in numbers on this occasion!

...and for Pagham Beach visitors here is a picture showing the 'cliff'' that has developed in front of the bungalows as a result of recent erosion and formation of the elongated Church Norton spit.

..and finally, a superb example of a Fly Agaric at Pulborough Brooks this afternoon.

Lets give Burpham a try!!!

2011-11-18T16:12:00.001Z

Set off from Pagham after a quick Spit inspection revealed little of interest. Arrived Burpham (pub carpark) and walked up past the farm and towards the Burgh. Plenty of Fiedfares and Redwings about and a distant Red Kite...but no sign of the much watched Rough Legged Buzzard.
On returning to the 'triangle' several birders present with optics poised but I had missed the buzzard...it had showed at about the time I was parking the car and was walking in the wrong direction...story of my life.
At least there was one familiar face present..a proper photographer with the full works...I had only taken my 'toy' lens. Hung about for a couple of hours... still no RLB but the Kites got closer...took a few shots...heavy crops against the light most of them, but just wait untill you see the 'proper' photographers results....heres a shot of him making adjustments. I'll give the reference when he posts them on Flickr.

Lots of others there too!

...and all I managed to get!!

A pair of Red Kites

Unmistakable, even as a silhouette.

A gloomy November day

2011-11-14T15:29:00.000Z

Really gloomy!!
...but a look at the Lagoon was worthwhile with my first pair of Goldeneye of the winter plus 3 Female Red Breasted Mergansers joining the 5 Pochards and the usual Tuftys and Mallards.

The only other unusual sighting was the appearance of 13 Shelducks landing on the Church Norton spit opposite the Pagham Spit which at low tide is now only separated by about 20ft of water! Apart from that plenty of Med gulls around.

Time is moving on...

2011-11-10T19:04:00.000Z

....and 2 Swallows were a bit of a surprise this morning as they flew east past the Lagoon. With a temperature of 14c at 8.30 this morning and with the trees still in leaf it is not surprising these two were somewhat confused.
A Rock Pipit accompanied a Pied Wagtail at the harbour entrance as a Seal headed into the harbour.

Later in the day I walked to the salthouse on the North Wall and as the tide was receding noticed high numbers of Ringed Plovers and Dunlins. Lapwings and Golden Plovers were the most numerous waders but Curlews, Black Tailed Godwits and Grey Plovers were well spread throughout the harbour. Brent Geese numbers have grown considerably during this week and Wigeon and Teal are present on the Lagoon and in the harbour. A few Pintails are about but as yet I have not seen any Goldeneye....we need some cold weather!

A single Spotted Redshank was feeding in Whites Creek.

A dull few days

2011-11-09T14:12:00.000Z

....but today at 1.00pm the sun appeared!

On the Lagoon the Pochards are still present - 2 males and 3 females and surprisingly 22 Little Grebes in a tight little flock in the centre of the Lagoon....a quite unusual sight!

Best of all a splendid Marsh Harrier quartering the salt marsh just west of owl copse visible from the spit hide.

Still plenty of Med Gulls about and good numbers of Lapwings and Golden Plover put up by the raptor.

Small flocks of Starlings continually flying west.

Hard work for some!

2011-11-02T16:35:00.000Z

Work continued this morning on clearing the grass and weeds on Tern Island in preparation for the nesting season next Spring.

Volunteers at work

...some on their knees


...others in back breaking positions!

...unfortunately not much time for birding and with a strong southerly wind blowing a couple of hours was quite enough!

Early morning bathtime.

2011-10-28T11:21:00.000+01:00

The Short Eared Owl was present on the Pagham Spit again this morning and a late Swallow flew west .
Skylarks and finches were moving west and a number of Blackbirds and Song Thrushes had obviously arrived overnight.

A visit to the North Wall produced a sequence of bathtime images..............

A Grey Plover arrives

...settles down

... 'its cold'!

"oh well...if I must"

...takes the plunge

and gets on with it.

and then he's joined by a Redshank

...straight in

...no messing

head well under

...and its all over!

An unusual visitor!

2011-10-27T17:17:00.000+01:00

A pair of Red Legged Partridges on the beach today was a bit of a surprise...seemed somewhat incongrous!

2 Sandwich Terns in the harbour.

A late Tern on an early morning.

2011-10-24T08:36:00.000+01:00

At 7.15 this morning as I was awaiting the sunrise a Sandwich Tern flew out of the harbour mouth calling as it departed.

...and then the sun came up....here are a few images taken in quick succession from various points...a good time to be out and about!!

Pagham Spit hide

The Little Lagoon

Another Short Eared Owl

2011-10-21T17:26:00.000+01:00

First thing this morning a Sparrow Hawk was sitting on one of the Nature reserve posts on the beach viewable from our living room window. Even at that distance the eyes looked menacing!


Left click to see those eyes!

A quick walk up to the Spit hide and I found it already occupied......by 5 Magpies (on top not inside! )

Later in the mornig when out for a stroll with a visitor (non birder) a Short Eared Owl flew up from the beach adjacent to the Little Lagoon....a nice find and the second time in the past 10 days or so.

2011-10-20T19:23:00.000+01:00

Pagham Spit seemed a bit quiet this morning but later on a Stonechat put in an appearance and a Wheatear visited our patio late in the afternoon.

So at 9.00am it was another stroll around to the North Wall for a couple of hours ....I include some of the photos below and it seems there is a watery theme running through this series!

The Golden Plovers are still on the same mad bank!

The local Heron in action...


...on a successful mission!

This Redshank looked particularly splendid in the brilliant sunlight.

Grey Plover looking pensive.

..just an ordinary Coot but in a superb setting.

Black Tailed Godwit keeping an eye out!

Nothing very special but Pagham always has something to offer

A morning at Lavington Plantation

2011-10-19T16:58:00.000+01:00

This morning dawned bright and sunny but with a considerable nip in the air. There was very little activity on Pagham Spit so prompted by some good images on the SOS and flickr websites I made my way to Lavington Common. On meeting a couple of people with cameras I enquired if they were looking for Crossbills and having had no success myself looking on the common, I was told I had been in the wrong area...I needed to go over the road into the plantation! It was not long before I heard the characteristic 'chip chip' call!!
I located a few Crossbills in a tall pine and then stumbled on a patch of rainwater in a cart track. Knowing that Crossbills drink frequently I positioned myself with the sun behind me and waited. It didn't take long for the action to start....not only Crossbills but Woodlarks were singing, Siskins flew in, Meadow Pipits bathed and a Raven was harrassed by Carrion Crows...and then a Buzzard landed in a nearby tree and spooked the lot!
A few images below...and a good morning.

The first Male Crossbill

What a size diiefence....Raven and Carrion Crows

Woodlark...about to sing!

A male Crossbill at the puddle.

Meadow Pipit appoaching pool.

Another male Crossbill...about to come to the pool.


Female Crossbill drinking.


Buzzard watching!

The last few hours of the 'indian summer'

2011-10-17T17:00:00.000+01:00

It was a superb morning and with a bad forecast for the rest of the week I felt a visit to to the North Wall and Breech Pool was essential! I wasn't disappointed as the early morning light was great for a few photos.

There were c50 Golden Plover on the mud in Whites Creek

The one footed Black Tailed Godwit that has become a resident by the sluice gate

A confiding Brent Goose quite separate from the other flocks that are building up on a daily basis

A Little Egret catching the sunlight looking brilliant against the dark background

A single Yellowhammer mingled in with with a collection of Reed Buntings

Flocks of Lapwing are growing

Pagham airport!!

2011-10-14T16:19:00.000+01:00

Well, this morning was very similar to an airport...there were arrivals,there were departures and some birds were just in transit.
The arrivals were the Brents coming in off the sea, several small flocks of 20 or so from the Arctic.
6 Grey Herons were dots to start with but they headed for the harbour and eventually landed....from France possibly.

The departures included Swallows flying along the coast before crossing the English Channel on their way to Africa....and a Chiffchaff in our garden tree feeding up on insects before departure.

...and then there was a Black Redstart on the beach side of the bungalow...I dont know whether he was coming or going but it is always good to see a couple at this time of year on the beach.

There were Meadow Pipits and many Pied Wagtails going east today into the wind (it had gone round overnight) and finches everywhere....mostly Goldfinches, Greenfinches and Linnets but also some Siskins.

More surprisingly for Pagham Spit 19 Magpies arrived from the East...stayed a little while in the gorse and then headed off westwards....and then a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over the harbour from Church Norton and continued on its way without stopping.

From the Spit hide there were 15 Little Egrets feeding just in front with a single Grey Heron.

...and all the while a local Kestrel was hovering over the pebbles searching for some morsel for its breakfast.

...a good Autumn morning!

One of many that dropped in

Some of the many Little Egrets in front of the Spit hide

What a size difference!

The hunting Kestrel

The Brents are arriving.

2011-10-10T11:07:00.002+01:00

All day yesterday there was skein after skein of Brent Geese arriving off the sea - some coming into the harbour whilst others flew past heading for winter quarters further west. The size of most flocks was abour 20 birds but one larger flock numbered 82....a beautiful sight and sound as they 'chatted' to each other as they arrived!

Todays highlight was a Short Eared Owl flying over the car park and being harassed by a Peregrine...probably an inexperienced young bird, as it soon made off.

A single Wheatear present on the beach and a few Swallows flying west along the beach.

What a bird!! WOW!

2011-10-04T13:52:00.001+01:00

After a brief walk around the Spit at 7.30 a.m. I made my way to Burpham to try and find the long staying and very rare, Pallid Harrier. After much searching I met up with a very helpful birder who had been on previous occasions and had got a fairly clear idea of its hunting pattern. However, whilst I was with him him it didn't show and I decided to go on and trace the track he had mentioned. Less than 5 minutes later there it was quartering the fields...at some distance however and hardly photographable. Nevertheless I managed to get a few record shots and the one below is probably the best flight shot....at least it is a record (and a great life tick for me)

The Pallid Harrier at Burpham

Vegetation clearance on Tern Island

2011-10-03T19:17:00.000+01:00

Another very warm start to this amazing October weather and today I joined a working party to commence clearance of the vegetation on Tern Island in Pagham Harbour. It was certainly hot work and we kept an eye on the tide to ensure we didn't get marrooned for hours on end! I guess next time (and there will be 3 or 4 sessions during the next few months) it will be considerably cooler...it was almost too hot and after 2 hours we had had enough.
23 Brent Geese were feeding not too far away and there was a Black Redstart and a Ring Ouzel in the Church Norton churchyard....alas I didn't see either!

During the afternoon Swallows were flying west along the beach in considerable numbers.

Pagham again....

2011-10-01T17:06:00.000+01:00

Just arrived back from 2 weeks in Suffolk and a week in Norfolk....the weather has been too good for much migration but East Anglia never disappoints!

Back at Pagham there were 4 Wheatears on the spit today, 2 Rock Pipits on the tide line and a Chiffchaff in the apple tree. A very high tide produced few opportunities for wader watching as the saltings had disappeared!

However heres a quick selection of some of the birds seen whilst on holiday.

Lapland Bunting on the dunes at Minsmere

Fiona..the escaped Flamingo now almost resident at Minsmere!

Brent Geese flying past the North Norfolk coast...on their way to Pagham Harbour ?

Bearded Tit at Cley

A particularly attractive Ruff at Titchwell

Egyptian Goose showing off....at Titchwell

Spoonbill at Titchwell

Curlew Sandpiper at Cley

Mostly Knot and Godwits at Holme

I shall put some better ones on my Flickr site when I have more time to trawl through them next week.

An early start along the North Wall

2011-09-02T18:26:00.000+01:00

7.15 a.m. this morning alone along the North Wall....mist hanging over the fields...a very 'tame' Lapwing searching for grubs amongst the rocky wall... a single Great Crested Grebe on the pool and numerous Reed Warblers..Blackcaps and Whitethroats in the bushes. Nothing unusual and surprisingly no dog walkers for an hour...very pleasant.

...and as I was about to depart the Black Tailed Godwits descended accompanied by a single Knot that didn't find the pool to its liking and did not even land

A congregation of Cormorants at high tide in the afternoon from Spit hide ...is there a group name for Cormorants?

Is that a Hovercraft in the Harbour?

2011-08-31T17:49:00.000+01:00

An unusual site but its not the first time I've seen one ....I think it is probably the Environment agency taking advantage of a very low tide to take mud samples etc. Can anyone confirm this?

The Red Breasted Merganser is still here and has been throughout the summer

5 Wheatears on the Spit first thing this morning...this one choosing the hide as a lookout

Dunlin...one of many.

The very high spring tide pushed the waders off the islands and some came all along the shoreline in the harbour

A single Knot mingled in with the Turnstones and Dunlin just next to the hide

...and one of the ever present Turnstones

August Bank Holiday

2011-08-29T18:54:00.001+01:00

An early visit to Breech Pool where the Spotted Redshank still remains and is easily overlooked as it mingled with the Black Tailed Godwits, head under wing for most of the time!

...not ALL the time though!


Spotted Redshank

Teal and Shoveler accompanied the Mallards and many Canada Geese whilst a couple of dozen Curlews were feeding in the fields with Reed Buntings, Whitethroats were the most obvious birds in the bushes. A few flyover Yellow Wagtails but little else of interest in my short visit.

A report of a Spoonbill in the harbour later in the day eluded me.

Just another day...but a bit special!

2011-08-19T20:51:00.000+01:00

An early walk around the Spit on a superb morning...the moon just visible in a cloudless blue sky.

From the hide a Little Egret was preening and all of a sudden shook violently and enabled me to get this shot in all its splendid finery. No wonder the Victorians wanted the feathers for hat decorations!

The Grey Mullet are back with a vengeance and there are some monsters amongst them!

Throughout the day I could hear Yellow Wagtails flying over the beach in a westerly direction...they are very hard to see and only on one occasion did a group of 3 land on the pebbles before hurriedly going on their way.

The evening was again superb...no wind, warm and an almost Mediterranean feel to it. A lone Black Headed Gull paddled in the shallows and then a group of Whimbrel flew in from the sea...calling. A perfect end to the day!

Whimbrel arriving in the harbour in evening sunlight

2011-08-18T10:36:00.000+01:00

During the early morning walk around the Spit a single Wheatear on the shingle and an adult Peregrine plus a juv.
Wader numbers are increasing rapidly now with an influx of birds mainly Dunlin, Ringed Plover,and Knot.
From the hide I arrived just as 12 Shoveler flew around the harbour and landed in the saltings...my first this Autumn.
Having seen on the S.O.S website that 2 Spoonbills had been seen yesterday I took a trip round to the North Wall but unfortunately no sign.

Grey Wag...record shot

The Three Whinchats..just for proof! (left click to see a little better! )

The Black Tailed Godwits were doing what they seem to spend a lot of time doing. a Grey Wagtail was present around the sluice but the highlight was 3 Whinchats ..at a fair distance in a hawthorn bush( thanks birders from Brighton! )

2011-08-15T21:30:00.000+01:00

This Sparrowhawk appeared yesterday afternoon and remained on the hedge waiting his opportunity to strike, completely unphased by my presence. Our population of House Sparrows is at an all time high at present and she is determined to reduce it!

At least 5 Wheatears on the beach this morning - easily spotted when on the skyline....

but surpriingly difficult to see when feeding on the pebbles

Linnets have had a good breeding season and are still present in the gorse and feeding youngsters.

A fine male Linnet...forward facing

....and back view.

Sightings today

2011-08-08T16:39:00.000+01:00

4 Green sandpipers in the harbour seen from path to hide, took flight and headed towards Sidlesham at 8.30 am. I have rarely seen them from this spot before.

5 Wheatears along path and 1 Chiffchaff in the bushes.

Little Terns (10) fishing in new spit channel and sandwich Terns going West during day.

Its not all birds!

2011-08-06T20:58:00.000+01:00

A quick walk around the Spit revealed 5 Wheatears but with visitors today little else was observed except the M.V. Balmoral on a pleasure cruise from the Isle of Wight to Brighton and back...very distant but with 700mm lens and some cropping readily identifiable through the heat haze!

A Hot, Sultry Day

2011-08-03T16:24:00.000+01:00

A quiet morning with just a single Willow Warbler and a Whitethroat showing up in the bushes. Three Peregrines on New Island ( 1 adult male and 2 juvs) . A flock of about 100 Dunlin flashed past me with that characteristic 'whoooosh' and a few Turnstones were present on the tideline. About 15 Little Terns still present on the church Norton Spit. The female Red Breasted Merganser still in the main channel and finding plenty of fish!
Apart from that very little to report on the bird front so how about a few images of the vegetation1.

There is much more Ragwort on the spit than ever before!

A few stands of Vipers Bugloss still looking good!


Teasles now coming into flower...this will attract the Goldfinches soon.

Beach Woodpecker

2011-07-29T09:51:00.001+01:00

As I drew back the curtains this morning and looked out a juvenile Green Woodpecker was looking back at me!! I quickly retrieved my camera and was able to get a dozen or so shots through the double glazed windows..here's a few mostly taken when it was on the bird bath.

...and visitors to the Spit don't forget the car park is now closed. A car park is available behind the amusements near the appoach road

A Warbler Morning

2011-07-28T16:43:00.000+01:00

If there are a few warblers on the spit first thing in the morning it is a pretty good indication that there are more warblers in the bushes in the North Wall area.
Having walked past Breech Pool and noted the Black Tailed Godwits in varying stages of late summer plumage I headed towards Marsh Farm in the hope of catching up with the Cattle Egret...no luck there regretably but warblers abounded in the hedgerows with a good sprinkling of Reed,Sedge and Willow Warblers plus Whitethroats and singing Blackcaps. A few images below ...some showing just elusive they can be!
...and a close up of a scratching Mute swan!

Well?

My first returning Wheatear.

2011-07-25T09:47:00.001+01:00

Wheatear .....on the lookout before the sea crossing!

This morning felt distinctly 'autumny'...with a heavy dew on the car and a bit of a nip in the air at 7.00am. No real surprise then that my first returning Wheatear was on one of the fence posts near the Little Lagoon.

Little else about but really good to see that a pair of skylarks have had breeding success and were seen with 2 fledged youngsters. Yesterday morning as I came out of the Spit Hide with a couple of visiting birdwatchers we watched a skylark gathering a beakfull of grubs down to within 3 metres....much to the delight of the visitors saying....'closest we've have ever seen a Skylark'.

..as I had the camera with me here's an Oystercatcher enjoying the peace before the dog walkers!

Early afternoon and more visitors....this time in the shape of TV cameras and reporters presumably to report on the serious erosion problems on the beach and the fate of the beach bungalows which seem to be low priority compared to a rare snail...2mm in length which might be somwwhere on the shingle bank and must NOT be disturbed!!

A quiet day.

2011-07-22T20:36:00.000+01:00

I had company when visiting the Spit hide this morning!

2 Peregrines were devouring a Swift yesterday morning on the island but this morning a single juvenile was just loafing/preening.
Greenfinches and Linnets seem to have had a good breeding season this year with plenty of juvs around...and House Sparrows would appear to have had the best season for several years.

Sand Martins were much in evidence this morning with considerable movement East. A few Swifts were going West at some height during the afternoon. We have had a Whitethroat in out beach Buddleia for the past 3 weeks and it was very busy today feeding on insects/grubs.

Apart from these bits and pieces little else.

Visitors be advised...closure of car park

2011-07-19T13:44:00.001+01:00

This notice appeared in the Bognor Observer last week so intending visitors please note to avoid inconvenience!

An increasing number of waders are arriving along the beach and these summer plumaged Dunlins were amongst them this morning.
One of the Chichester Peregrines was preening on the 'usual 'island viewable from the spit

The Cattle Egret seen from the North wall during the past couple of days has again been seen today as reported in BirdGuides. Yesterday it was found in the north fields where the cattle are(notsurprisingly)but today was at roost on the heron/egret high tide roost island.

Autumn is on the way!

2011-07-12T13:31:00.000+01:00

A north east wind has got up overnight and a few waders were found along the beach this morning....some of them in breeding plumage. There were a few 'tortoiseshell' Turnstones but the one below was not one of them!
However, unusually for Pagham, there was a lone Sanderling - a bird which normally prefers a sandy beach as at nearby Clymping.

Sand Martins, Swallows and a few Swifts were trickling westwards.

Turnstone

Sanderling

...and for the botanists a couple of shots of the very rare Childing Pink taken in our beach garden .

There are only three known populations occurring in southern England, at Sinah Common SSSI (Site
of Special Scientific Interest) on Hayling Island, at Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex (an
undesignated site) and at Pagham Harbour LNR (Local Nature Reserve).

These flowers have been seen in our garden for the past 26 years....some years more than others but we always feel very priveleged when we see them in flower. They are very tiny and have to be really looked for as the flower heads are only about 2-3 mm across. On the lower photo a greenfly can be seen which gives an indication of size!

Childing Pink with Greenfly (left click)

2011-07-05T17:19:00.000+01:00

A fine start has deteriorated into a wet afternoon. The female Red Breasted Merganser is still active and feeding well in the main channel. An Oystercatcher continues to feed a youngster on the opposite spit and the most unusual sighting was a Great Spotted Woodpecker on a post adjacent to the Little Lagoon which made off over the harbour towards Church Norton...always a surprise for me to see a woodpecker on a treeless beach. Apart from that a few Dunlin and Turnstones on the tideline and a Ringed Plover showing concern...obviously with nest or young nearby.

A Mute Swan was in a pool of water near the Harbour notice board on the beach last night and I was concerned for its wellbeing as it didn't look too good but it had disappeared by morning

July starts quietly.

2011-07-01T14:55:00.000+01:00

Very little to report this morning but nevertheless a superb summer day.. Linnets and Greenfinches with young birds in attendance and flocks of juv Starlings growing larger daily! A few Curlew on the mudflats (one partial albino or 'light phase'..as seen last year at this time),several redshanks but nothing of real note.

Male Linnet

juv Starling

Skylark..a pair on the beach looking agitated at my appoach...

A typical June day

2011-06-27T21:07:00.000+01:00

A superb morning enticed me out with the camera but there was little bird life to photograph. The Little Terns were feeding their youngsters and an Oystercatcher with 2 hungry offspring were just visible on the shingle spit.
The Little Lagoon was quiet with the exception of a Little Egret that was constantly on the move!

After a very brief mid afternoon shower the evening was one of those rare, quiet, warm summer evenings...perfection.

Vipers Bugloss in evening light.

Back from Scotland

2011-06-24T14:26:00.000+01:00

Recently returned from a few (wet) weeks in Scotland and made an inspection of Pagham Spit to see whats been going on! A Ringed Plover is breeding near the harbour entrance and an unseasonal female Red Breasted Merganser was lurking in the main channel. A family of Greenfinches were being fed by parents and a number of juvenile Linnets were about, indicating a measure of success. A solitary Skylark was singing from a fence post...I have only seen 1's and 2's all the season unlike last year when we had 3 singing males. House Sparrows seem to have had a good year with several family parties about and a pair next door still building!
The highlight this morning were the presence of 26 Little Terns which had unfortunately been disturbed by the presence of a fly fisherman on the new shingle spit. Several Sandwich Terns were heading west with sandeels...I don't know where they are breeding locally.

So its back to reality with the sound of Corncrakes still ringing in my ears...its a very different life in the Western Isles...but its not bad either in sunny Pagham!!............albeit a bit windy at present.

Stopped at Bempton Cliffs on the way up...well worth a visit for Gannets!

Another warbler.

2011-05-16T12:13:00.000+01:00

Yesterday morning I heard a Lesser Whitethroat singing in a bramble adjacent to the previous days Reed Warbler location...again somewhat unusual for the spit. Today as I was walking back along the beach a warbler flew up from virtually under my feet and landed about 4m in front of me. I only had my p.a.s. camera with me and always find that birds out of their normal habitat tend to throw me!

What do you say this is?

Further along the beach I found a Ringed Plover sitting on a 'nest'..the first one I have seen this year on the beach. Closer inspection revealed a single egg on the shingle...hardly a nest!!

A Warbler surprise!

2011-05-14T11:46:00.000+01:00

Pagham Spit is probably looking at its best now with the Sea Kale in bloom. This morning was a 'perfect' morning....blue sky,blue sea, windless and peopleless!

Sea Kale...shame you can't smell it!


A view over theLittle Lagoon

However, very few birds about, but one surprise was a Reed Warbler singing from a gorse bush! It was very busy feeding and had obviousy just arrived from winter quarters and no doubt would soon be on its way to its more conventional habitat in a reed bed.
A pair of Shelducks were on the Little Lagoon on arrival but they soon moved on once I'd been spotted. Ringed Plovers along the beach were conspicuous by their absence and there is no evidence of breeding so far this year.

Whimbrel wanderings

2011-05-09T17:06:00.002+01:00

An early morning walk around the Spit soon revealed a number of Whimbrel feeding in the saltmarsh. During the day several parties flew in off the sea uttering their piping call. Whimbrel are usually a little more confiding than Curlew to photograph and enable a closer approach before being disturbed...hence a few images this morning.

Walking back along the beach a pair of Linnets were feeding on the flower heads of the Sea Kale....it appears they were choosing the unopened flower buds...a pleasant background for these two images.


Double left click on the images to see the plumage detail

The males are especially colourful in their full breeding plumage.

REED WARBLERS GALORE

2011-05-06T21:20:00.000+01:00

A few Whimbrel fying into the harbour first thing this morning.Linnets and Greenfinches busy building nests. Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat singing in bushes around the Lagoon.

Had a photographic session along the Breach Pool area and managed a few half decent Reed Warbler images. Here's a few samples.....

White Winged Black Tern Alert !!

2011-05-02T19:46:00.000+01:00

A late afternoon call from Ivan Lang from the local Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve telling me there was a mega on Chichester Gravel Pits had me heading there without delay. Having got to Peckhams Copse just as the bird had gone to Ivy Lake, a brisk walk soon located this splendid summer plumaged individual.
Alas, it was not the easiest bird to photograph as a stong Easterly force 6/7 was blowing, it was fast moving, mixing with other terns and the other side of the lake!

A selection of poor pics showing the White Winged Black Tern

A poor result but still identifiable!

...but WOW...what a bird!!

Pagham is quiet

2011-04-28T13:54:00.000+01:00

..but Pulborough Brooks is alive with Warblers!

Garden warbler in song

Male Blackcap

Nightingale showing its wonderful russet rump and tail

Nightingale singing...they can be VERY elusive!

Had a good day yesterday at the local RSPB reserve and got some reasonable shots of some of them!

A missed Mega!

2011-04-18T08:12:00.000+01:00

Whilst wandering around Pollensa in Northern Mallorca last week a text message came up showing a Little Crake only a few miles from home in Arundel. I was 750 miles away as the crow flies!

However the Serins, Black Winged Stilts, Griffon Vultures and the rest were not bad compensation.

Back on Pagham Spit the Linnets are building nests and from a quick look a few Brents remain but all the winter ducks seem to have departed. A Cuckoo was calling from the Sidlesham side of the reserve.

.....and of course the Little Crake had long gone from Arundel!

Swallows!!

2011-04-03T18:56:00.000+01:00

5 Swallows flew over the bungalow at 8.30am this morning...the first sighting is always very welcome and although I know others have seen them prior to today it was the first of the summer for me here at Pagham.

Another 'first' for Pagham !

2011-04-01T08:04:00.000+01:00

Siamesed Brent Geese have been seen over Pagham Harbour This extraordinary sighting has been witnessed by a Chichester Observer reader, David Illman this week. Despite their unusual anatomy they did not seem disadvantaged. This poses puzzles for scientists. How did the twins originate? They would surely have to come from a double- yolked egg. Such a phenomenon is not unusual.
More details can be found in this weeks edition of the Chichester Observer and is supported by Davids photograph....so visiting birders please look out.

I have been out early this morning and most of the Brent Geese have gone but a good look at those remaining did not reveal this unusual pair. Perhaps we should prepare for a mega twitch today!

Suffolk awaydays

2011-03-30T12:25:00.000+01:00

Jack Snipe

Have just arrived back from a few days in Suffolk and have sorted out some photos...waited hours in the Minsmere hides for Bittern to show up but failed miserably. Others there had seen them and achieved some fantastic images but I arrived 20 minutes too late! Story of my life! However, I did manage the Jack Snipe (above) plus all the usual!
Here are a couple....

Avocet

An elusive Cettis Warbler...as they always are!

Back on Pagham Beach the Wheatears are here and a Chiffchaff was calling in the gorse this morning . 2 drake Red Breasted Mergansers and 3 females are still loitering in the harbour entrance and 2 Scaup are present on the Lagoon. Here's one...

...and a fishing Great Crested Grebe

The Brents are restless

2011-03-16T16:27:00.001Z

Very little about early morning and with the wind from the north I didn't expect much activity. By late morning the misty conditions had improved and a Chiffchaff was calling in the bushes around the Lagoon. The pair of Red Breasted Mergansers are still present...the drake looking really handsome.

and a pair of Mute Swans are chasing intruders off on a regularly basis.

One of a pair

The last one hundred or so Brents are getting very restless and circled the harbour several times and on some occasions going quite high but each time as I watched them they returned. They won't be here much longer I am certain.

Still not seen a Wheatear!

...but just I had finished this blog I looked out of the kitchen window to see this Chiffchaff in the garden. Perhaps spring really has Sprung!

Todays highlight....a Red Kite!

2011-03-14T14:15:00.000Z

A quick look at the Lagoon at 7.30am and the only bird of interest was a Red Breasted Merganser. He won't be here much longer!


Red Breasted Merganser

Then, from the Spit hide a display by a pair of Ringed Plovers and in fact there were two pairs performing their aerial manoeveres.

Ringed Plovers displaying.

...and then at 10.45 a visit to the North Wall and within a few minutes a distant raptor....a very long way off beyond the farm buildings and with the benfit of modern optics...a Red Kite

Little else to report. The Little Ringed Plover of last week had gone and a few ducks remained so photography a bit limited

A pair of Teal on Breech Pool

Wigeon in flight.

The first L.R.P of the year . ...for me!

2011-03-11T13:58:00.001Z

An early morning walk around the Spit produoced nothing new ...Brents,Wigeon,Teal, a single female Goldeneye and a Red Breasted Merganser were all that was noted.

A visit to capture Great Crested Grebes displaying secured a few photos and then it was back to the North wall and a nice surprise to find a Little Ringed Plover on a muddy pool beyond the main Breech pool....too far away for a decent photo but here is the proof.

..and then the distictive call of a very distant Raven and here again a record shot...it must have been half a mile away!

A quick look up the main channel from the Salthouse and there was the resident heron fishing in the usual place.

Another quiet day

2011-03-09T16:14:00.002Z

Little happening here today..a few Bar Tailed Godwits from Spit hide but little of interest to report. A couple of Chiichaffs have been seen on North Wall (thanks Ian)
However there was one interesting event but I don't know how it occured. I came out of the hide and turned right along the top path and found on the ground a freshly dead Dunlin. It was totally undamaged with no sign of cause of death but it was still very warm! Eyes were open and I half expected it to revive but it showed no sign of life...a mystery death.

The Tern fencing is being erected on the extended shingle spit today courtesy of Ivan Lang and his band of volunteers from the Nature Reserve and the only other notable is a Survey Ship partolling Pagham Bay most of the day.

Pagham Spit is quiet

2011-03-08T16:49:00.000Z

As Pagham Spit still remains quiet I spent a few hours at Pulborough Brooks yesterday and although there were plenty of Wigeon and Teal and a few Pintail there was not a lot to get the adrenalin rushing. A pair of Peregrine was harassing a Buzzard, Snipe were showing well from West Mead hide and the adders were enjoying the sunshine. Nevertheless there was a feeling that Spring is not far away.
I enjoyed taking a few photos!!

Yesterday!

2011-03-05T18:47:00.001Z

Forgot to update the blog yesterday and today has been a non birding day! However yesterday was a good day for photography so I set out along the North Wall expecting to get some really good shots in the excellent lighting conditions but alas there was an absence of birds. I met a birder/photographer on holiday who was crouched by the rife with a Nikon 500 and he too was disappointed at the birdless scene and despite having tracked down a Little Grebe there was little else. A couple came along and mentioned they had just had superb close up views of a Beardy so the pair of us made haste to the spot and waited in vain to even hear a 'ping'!
On the return a few Curlews flew over and there was a drake Teal just within range so that was it. Heres to the next fine day.
I note from various blogs including Portland that the past few days have been quiet so I'm not alone...roll on the first Spring migrants!

Over flying Curlew

A dabbling Teal

Nothing special...but the weather is better!

2011-03-03T13:13:00.000Z

Sunny but cold with a sharp frost. A quick walk to the Spit Hide produced little of real interest but as the light had improved dramatically it was good to get the camera clicking again... so 3 photos from the hide this morning.....

Brent Goose

Wigeon...drake

Wigeon....female

Back home from the living room window out at sea 6 Scoters, 3 Eiders, 1 Slavonian and 2 Great crested Grebes and a pair of red Breasted Mergansers flying west

A Quiet Day

2011-03-02T14:52:00.000Z

After another grey start to the day but from about 11.00am the sun shone although a cold north wind was really keeping the temperature down. A wander around the spit produced nothing of note and I get the distinct impression that we are between seasons. Brent Geese and ducks are still present but in smaller numbers and waders long the shoreline were non existent . A couple of Redshanks were feeding in the Little Lagoon ...I am looking forward to the first Wheatear!

Redshank ...Little Lagoon.

School half term

2011-02-25T16:26:00.000Z

Amusing grandchildren has been a challenge this week but I did manage to get to the local RSPB Pulborough Brooks Reserve yesterday but without a camera with my very keen birdwatching 10year old granddaughter. The feeding station was incredibly busy with Blue, Great, Coal and Marsh Tits all present accompanied by Nuthatches, Robin, Dunnocks and Blackbirds...all within a few feet away whilst having hot chocolate...very pleasant.
From the hides, hundreds of Lapwing,Wigeon,Teal and a score or so Golden Plover and unusually (apparently), a Curlew. A Peregrine was perched very obligingly in a tree giving excellent views from the'hanger.'
As a bonus we had close up views of an Adder and on the way home I noted my first Brimsone butterly of the year near Amberley.

Whilst yesterday was bright and sunny today has been mostly dull and misty but with an absence of recent photographs here is a female House Sparrow taken in the garden this morning and a shot of a pair of Goldeneye on the Lagoon this afternoon ... I am sure they will be heading north soon.

...only a sparrow but look closely at the varied colours in the plumage (click on image)

Goldeneye still present on the Lagoon...several females but only this one Drake

An Owl!

2011-02-19T16:03:00.000Z

A short walk around the Spit early afternoon produced a Short Eared Owl on the marsh (thanks to eagle eyed Peter Callis! ). It was alert and looking around and never moved away all the time I was watching it ; four walkers who stopped to look were very impressed having looked through the 'scope.
Whilst talking to Peter a Peregrine flew along the spit in straight flight and as it moved over the water it suddenly accelerated in a dramatic nose dive but quickly disappeared and moments later landed on New Island...its usual 'spot' but it was unclear whether it had been successful .

Duck and wader numbers continue to drop but a few Goldeneye are still about mostly on the Lagoon. The Mediterranean Gulls are becoming quite noisy and a number of them are in full adult summer plumage.

Unusually, we have 3 Robins in our small garden...one is obviously unwelcome!! Iwonder why?

2011-02-14T17:42:00.000Z

Following a very wet and miserable day yesterday it was refreshing to wake up to a bright and sunny morning.


Pagham Spit this morning...superb!! All the usual birds about with Goldeneye on the Lagoon and in the harbour and a pair of Red Breasted Mergansers on the Lagoon. Lots of Grey Plovers on the off shore shingle spit and one Bar Tailed Godwit accompanying them. A pair of Ringed Plovers were displaying and I felt that Spring was not too far away...The gorse bushes were showing new growth and even the ground hugging moss/lichen was bursting with energy! A female Stonechat suddenly flew up to the top of a gorse bush but it was away again far too quickly for a photo..I haven't seen one of these on the spit since before Christmas.

50 years today!

2011-02-08T17:26:00.000Z

This is the letter I received 50 years ago to the day when I first became a member of the R.S.P.B.(I joined VERY young!!) It is fascinating to note their old address and telephone no. and the contents of the letter and I also have the receipt for sum of 10/- (50p) for junior membership for the year (1961)

left click on the image to read full size

Oystercatcher

What a contrast in the weather today compared to recent days.Bright sun and after a sharp early morning frost much warmer!

Little Egret

Redshank

Although I have not got a photograph ther were 2 Scaup on trhe Lagoon besides a drake Goldeneye and 5 females.I was pleased to see the reappearance of the egret which has been missing for some time!
There was a distinct feeling that Spring can't be too far away.

A peaceful early morning walk

2011-02-03T17:00:00.000Z

Sunrise this morning from the living room window

Not a breath of air stirred as I set out on my early morning Pagham Spit inspection! Hundreds of Brent geese were feeding close to the hide and amongst them an easily identified Black Brant showing off its very whiute flanks and characteristic triangular neck pattern.(Alas no camera with me!). Further out on the mudflats mingling with 150+ Shelducks, 6 Avocets ...easily overlooked in their black and white plumage next to the Shelducks.

Then walking back along the shoreline the unmistakable 'cat like' call of a Mediterranean Gull and on the shingle spit a dozen or so of them...1 or 2 of them in almost full summer plumage!

Spring is on the way!!

Another drizzly day!

2011-02-02T19:45:00.001Z

7 female Goldeneye accompanied by a single drake on the Lagoon.

Little else to get excited about...a few offshore Gannets and several Slavonian Grebes in the bay.

A dull,cold and windfree day.

2011-01-31T14:35:00.000Z

Main highlight today were 12 Avocets in flight over the harbour mudflats before landing in front of the hide to feed..superb birds!

Cormorant numbers have been building up recently and today I counted over 200 just south of New Island...2 of them showing the very white heads and back of neck of the Sinensis type (but probably just adult breeding plumage showing a lot of white! )

5 Goldeneye still on the Lagoon...all female

A cold January day

2011-01-27T14:43:00.000Z

About 20 Gannets flew west this morning and on looking out again from my living room window this afternoon I can see 6 Slavonian Grebes in the bay. I suppose I am somewhat spoilt living on the beach!

Have just been going through a few images taken last year and seeing if any are worth printing...

Female Blackbird feeding on Ivy berries...near Pagham Lagoon

Juvenlie Night Heron...taken in Mallorca in October

2011-01-26T16:02:00.000Z

3 Gadwall on the Lagoon this morning plus female Goldeneye.
A further 6 Goldeneye in harbour entrance....included 1 drake.
7 Red Breasted Mergansers on sea.

Med Gulls

2011-01-24T17:54:00.000Z

Everything fairly static here at present. A few Barwits in the harbour with the usual Curlews,Grey Plovers,Oystercatchers etc.

The rough weather of the previous weekend produced some interesting seabirds moving West i.e. Gannets,Auks,Divers ands Grebes.

Todays highlight was perhaps the 156 Mediterranean Gulls on the Lagoon

Resident Blackbird now singing and Wooppigeons beginning to look excited about the prospect of Spring!

Bring it on!

Snow Buntings...but not on my local patch!

2011-01-11T18:12:00.000Z

Following reports during the past few days of Snow Buntings at Prinsted I decided to go and find them at the first opportunity of better weather and improved lighting conditions. The sun came out at noon today so we were off and were quickly directed by another birder to the spot where they were feeding. Just as we arrived they were 'spooked' by a dog walker but soon returned and allowed a close appoach.....a pair of nice birds.
I have posted another 3 images on Flickr.

Male Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting...male

Preening Snow Bunting

The duller female...Snow Bunting.

2011-01-08T17:01:00.000Z

The Lagoon produced 12 Goldeneye today wich included just 2 drakes. The Scaup was present along with 12 Tufted Ducks and 2 Pochard.

A few of the Med Gulls were showing signs of adopting summer plumage...

Mediterranean Gulls on Lagoon

Off shore there was some activity with a few Eiders, Scoters and Red Breasted Mergansers moving west. A flock of 27 Pintail flew in off the sea to the harbour. The usual Knot flock were wheeling over their high tide roost being repeatedly disturbed by surf boarders ...there was an exceptinally good surf today! Dunlin were feeding along the tide line along with Turnstone and a few Grey Plover.

Knot on shingle bank


Dunlin along shore line

A Bittern at last.

2011-01-04T15:01:00.001Z

Having known that there has been a Bittern (or 2 !) in the Breech Pool area for a little while and having had no joy during several visits, I eventually had success today after meeting a fellow birder who told me one had 'crashed' into the reedbed just before I arrived. After waiting patiently on the North Wall for 20 minutes or so and getting colder as the minutes ticked by the bird flew up and headed away from me towards the reeds before dropping out of view again. Not exactly a close up view but nevertheless a nice bird to see.

Apparently I also arrived a few minutes too late to see a male Hen Harrier flying from the reedbed over the trees....story of my life!

As a matter of interest whilst looking from my window yesterday I noted a flock of about 60 Eider Ducks flying east.

The Scaup remains in the harbour visible at a distance from the Spit hide.

Scaup or Tufted?

2010-12-31T14:21:00.001Z

It is a Scaup and there is a Tufted duck with a lot of white to base of bill!
Yes, following on from comments in yesterdays blog I found the female Scaup in the harbour and the'scaup like' tufted on the Lagoon.
Over 250 Shelduck noted in the harbour with good numbers of Pintail but all outnumbered by Wigeon. The Peregrine was on his favourite spot on New Island and the Kingfisher was fishing in the Lagoon. All the usual waders present and an earlier visit to North Wall produced a single Fieldfare, a Kestrel tucking into quite a sizeable (but unidentifiable) bird but alas no sign of yesterdays reported Bittern.

So ends 2010.

Happy New Year to one and all.

Another murky day

2010-12-30T18:39:00.000Z

The past few days have been truly uninviting and my outings have been short lived . Yesterday was particularly awful with a thick mist redcucing visibility so that I could not see the sea or even the other side of Pagham lagoon. However as a possible Scaup had been reported on the Lagoon and in the harbour I did venture out and saw the bird which may have been the suspect. My thoughts however were that it was a female Tufted Duck showing a considerable amount of white at the base of the bill...I will look again when the light improves!

The other highlight was 2 Water Rails showing very well from the board walk at the eastern end of the Lagoon....one even walking slowly in front of me along the board walk.

This morning, despite the continuing gloom Goldeneye,Pochard, Tufted Duck, Kingfisher, Mediterranean Gulls and a Green Woodpecker were all present in or around the lake. A flock of about 300 Knot were circling the mudflats accompanied by the usual selection of waders and ducks.

A busy week

2010-12-24T18:11:00.000Z

Christmas week has been busy with little time for birding ...a brief walk to the harbour on a very cold morning a couple of days ago gave views of the usual waders and duck species plus good views of 5 Avocet, a seal in the harbour entrance and a dead fox on the shore line.
A quick sortie at high tide this afternoon produced nothing unusual but the light was superb and gave an opportunity to get a couple of good images of Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Grey Plover along the high tide mark... a small Knot flock was roosting on the Church Norton extended shingle spit.

The Knot flock

Turnstone

Ringed Plover


Grey Plover

...and a Very Happy Christmas to all of you!!!

2010-12-17T14:00:00.001Z

A dramatic cloud effect as the sun arose this morning...but it was VERY cold again. The walk over the shingle was eerily silent as all the pebbles were stuck together following the rain of yesterday which had frozen and created a solid mass of shingle..

This Little Egret stood motionless by the side of the Lagoon, oblivious of my presence... note the frozen edge to the water
.

I couldn't resist adding this at the end of the day...an equally dramatic sun set!

Local Owl.

2010-12-16T12:31:00.000Z

It is always a challenge to get a photograph of a bird in poor light and hidden within a bush! Having raised the ASA to 3600 I managed to get a record shot of this Long Eared Owl somewhere near Pagham Spit! Thank you for the tip off and guidance from fellow birders

A Suffolk few days!

2010-12-14T15:47:00.000Z

Four short days in Suffolk turned out to be quite productive even though it was not a birding holiday. The North Warren marshes held good numbers of Geese and Duck and most surprising was the presence of 4 Red Breasted Geese (of dubious origin...maybe) and Barnacles but some 'genuine' WhiteFronted geese and 4 Pink Footed Geese...not seen so often in Suffolk. A visit to Minsmere did produce a few Waxwings which were quite elusive and very mobile but nevertheless did show for a short time for a few photos.
More of a surprise was a confiding Water Rail that was unphased by a number of admirers on the North wall. In addition we were treated to a ringtail Hen harrier, Bittern, Marsh Harriers and the usual duck species and 2 Bewick Swans on Island Mere.

The four Red Breasted Geese

Barnacle Geese on the alert.

A Waxwing in the North bushes

Poser!


Water Rail in a ditch.

On returning home we put a couple of fat balls out and within a minute a male Blackcap turned up and started feeding on them. It is common knowledge that some Blackcaps winter in the UK and it is not unusual to see them at feeding stations but in 26 years on Pagham Beach this was a first for us!!

Another VERY cold start.

2010-12-06T15:15:00.000Z

A very sharp frost this morning and the pebble beach was frozen solid making it like walking on concrete. The Lagoon was 95% frozen and all but a few Tufteds, 2 Pochard and a few Mallards and Coot remained. 3 Redwing flew from a tree next to the yacht club but later when walking to the North Wall there were reasonable numbers of both Redwings and Fieldfares.

Common and Black Headed Gull on frozen Lagoon

Rear end of a Lapwing...brilliant!

Brent flock...click to see full size

Wigeon in flight

What a diiference a day makes...or rather a night!

2010-12-04T10:21:00.000Z

Awoke this morning to find all snow gone!

Unbelievable....10c increase in temperature.

An exceptionally cold night and day!

2010-12-03T20:18:00.002Z

A fantastic morning...bright sun and -6c...a real arctic scene. Skyarks along the harbour tideline included a single Woodlark. A Short Eared Owl was scanning the beach and then flew over the harbour but later returned and made its way to the Church Norton shingle spit. The ducks on the Lagoon contained 3 pairs of Gadwall (unusually) and a Water Rail flew from the reedbed at the eastern end. Brent geese were very restless during the day constantly moving from Lagoon to harbour and then out to sea and returning.
The temperature remained well below freezing all day and I am becoming really concerned for the welfare of the birds as a thick blanket of snow makes it well nigh impossible for them to find food except along the shoreline whilst the tide is out.

Mute Swans ...over the beach

Short Eared Owl..quartering Pagham Spit

Short Eared Owl

Grey Plover on the high tide mark

One of several local foxes....hunting

A Christmas card bird!

A Very Cold Day!!

2010-12-02T17:45:00.001Z

We awoke this morning to a 7" blanket of snow...the heaviest fall we have experinced in the 26 years since we have had the bungalow on Pagham Beach. A quick walk to the Lagoon and the Spit hide soon showed that many birds were disorientated with 4 Turnstones sitting on the ice of the partly frozen Lagoon, Lapwings all along the harbour shoreline and even a Golden Plover on the beach.
The only bird to find an easy meal was a Sparrow Hawk!
The images below show the extent of the snow cover.

The Lagoon from the car park.

Wigeon on the move

The frozen waste!

In the hide...not very hot even in the shelter from the biting wind!

Near the harbour entrance

North Wall ...later in the day

The Salt House....near the North Wall

A cold Dunnock!

Yellowhammer...one of many in Slipe Field

A Reed Bunting ...again one of many adjoining hedge to Slipe Field

The resident Heron outside the Salthouse

...and then just as I was leaving a Woodcock flew up from the 'horses field' and landed only 20' from me and then completely disappeared into a ditch.

The forecast is for a VERY cold tonight...please feed the birds.

Not a good birding day!

2010-12-01T15:47:00.001Z

I ventured out early afternoon and was disappointed by the lack of activity. A few Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers along the shoreline and a couple of Skylarks foraging along the high tide mark. Plenty of ducks but mainly the usual Wigeon and Teal. The highlight was a Kingfisher dashing along the shore and into the harbour.
There weren't too many other people about and I didn't stay out long!!

Bleak scenes...Pagham in winter

Back in the garden I was encouraged to count 36 House Sparrows on the feeders!