The wrong sort of Kites!

At 8.00 this morning I was surprised to note a car parked at the entrance to the now closed Pagham Spit car park in front of the no parking sign.

It wasn't long that the reason was clear as 2 Kite surfers were plying up and down in front of the Church Norton shingle spit and passing just in front of where the Little Terns will hopefully be breeding soon! They were probably visitors who had no idea of the disturbance they may cause but birds were few and far between this morning.

It didn't help that a man with 2 dogs was wandering around the gorse bushes within the fenced area...so no Linnets this morning...or much else for that matter.

I returned......downheatred.

A Spring day

As I completed my BBS on Pagham Spit  I noted  at least 12 pairs of Linnets obviously prospecting for suitable nest sites, House Sparrows collecting nesting material and a pair of Ringed Plovers on the 'alert'.  2 Wheatears 1 Chiffchaff  and several Sandwich Terns  were the only recently arrived migrants.

Later in the morning a visit to theNorth Wall produced a pair of Ravens

Huge size , wedge shaped tail

...and the 'cronking' call

....left no doubt as to identity!

 A Reed Bunting was doing his best to attract a female

...and the regular Little Egret was feeding by the sluice gate

 
 ...but maybe it was a Robin stole the show this morning!

Thinking about a 'dip'...shall I, shant I?

Yep...straight in, upside down!

....sideways!

...thats better.

A Common Tern ...............

... at Warnham this morning...my first!!

Also a pair of Gadwall on the lake but unlike my previous visit, no Redpolls or Siskins...only the 'usual'...so here's a couple of shots!

Back at Pagham late afternoon I was pleased to note an Avocet swimming on the Lagoon and a pair of Sandwich terns in the harbour mouth.

I managed to get a shot of the now resident Red Breasted Merganser and it is quite clear from this, the reason for its stay!

Red Breasted Merganser showing extent of damaged wing

Incidentally, my 11year old grandaughter , casually mentioned a Peregrine Falcon she sees most mornings on her way to school on the Lloyds building in Durrington. Sure enough there it was as we passed it at 3.30pm this afternoon on the Lloyds 'horse' emblem viewable from the shops (northern)side. I had seen it months previously from the bridge on the south side so it is still in the area. Anyone know if/where it is breeding?

A passing migrant.

The past week has been quiet on the spit as far as migrants are concerned. No more migrants have been seen except for a single Sand Martin over the Lagoon on Friday. The Brent Geese seem to have all gone apart for a very few stagglers and waders are thin on the ground (mud!) . Today however a Black Redstart appeared for a few seconds so it was a quick dash for the camera and an even quicker fiddle with the dials to get a shot through the double glazing!

Not bad for a quickie!