A desolate desert!

I met a local birder this morning and he asked what had happened to all the birds...he described Pagham harbour as desolate! Compared to the last 6 months, it is! Where have all the birds gone? We spent a little time searching but could only come up with 2 Wheatears, 5 Brent Geese a few Godwits and a single Whimbrel....well that was nice anyway!
It can only get better but for friends visiting last Saturday it WAS a bit disappointing after all the many birding highlights of the past few months!!

Hopefully, it can only get better...watch this space. Pagham always surprises and who knows whats just around the corner!!

Spring has returned !

The bushes are full of Willow Warblers this morning, most of them singing their beautiful trilling warble typically fading away with with a slight flourish. There was also a Whitethroat (my first this year) singing from deep from within a bramble bush. A yellow wagtail (another first! ) flew east and then a single Swallow and a House Martin (yet another first for me! ) flew in from off the sea. Three Wheatears were feeding along the tideline.
Just 10 Brent Geese seem to be in the harbour but few winter duck are still around and it really feels as if winter is now finally a thing of the past...lets hope so !

Here comes summer!!

Pagham beach from our sitting room window...10.00 am this morning!!

My first Swallow!!

Its always exciting to see your first Swallow of summer and today was no exception. As I was wandering along the lane near the Crab and Lobster I was suddenly aware of a summer twittering sound and looking up at a telephone wire...there it was! Marvellous! I had already seen a Willow Warbler yesterday afternoon and had seen another three this morning (all singing there hearts out) but this Swallow...well, it really was the 'icing on the cake'.
It is a wonderful morning, warm sunshine from an unbroken blue sky, quite still and the sound of the skylarks singing against a quiet lapping of the ripples of the rising tide is simply magical. What am I doing writing a blog...I must get out...NOW!

Its all change...

...most of the Brent Geese and Wigeon have departed and there are far fewer waders on the mudflats this week. However Shelduck are much more numerous and a pair was looking for a possible nest site around the Little Lagoon...they do this every year but, due to the continual disturbance, have never been successful. Ringed Plovers are displaying over the shingle beach and 3 pairs of Skylarks were skulking in the tufts of grass...another hopeful sign of possible nesting. Linnets were singing from the tops of serveral gorse bushes and hopefully they too will soon be building their nests...we usually have 3 or 4 pairs at least. A Peregrine Falcon sat motionless on New Island...his mate presumably staying at home on Chichester Cathedral!

Suffolk Sensation !

Have just arrived back from Suffolk having had a really good time in Minsmere and North Warren R.S.P.B. reserves. The highlight was a White Spotted Bluethroat at Minsmere which showed up on the main path...a fantastic bird! Several Bitterns were 'booming', Bearded Tits 'pinging' and at one time 4 Marsh Harriers were quartering the reed beds. On our last morning we found 4 Black Redstarts along the beach at North Warren.

Suffolk never fails to please and we always look forward to returning...here's to the next time!!