Pagham Spit Walk for Friends of Pagham

An early recce of the Spit produced just 4 Willow Warblers plus the usual Linnets and Greenfinches in the gorse but high overhead going westwards, was  a flock of Sand Martins...had it not been for their calls I would not have noticed them.... a little later about 30 House Martins and 20 Swallows flew low over the Lagoon. The tide was coming in and Grey Plovers, Curlews, Oystercatchers plus a few Dunlin were feeding on the mud but I knew that by the time of the RSPB/Friends of Pagham Harbour walk started the mud would be covered and most waders gone to their high tide roost.

Then at about 10.00am my neighbour shouted 'the car park is open'!

I told them it was not open to all!!

 

As the members spilled out they made their way to the Lagoon after an  introduction by Bill Martin from the 'friends'   he and Sarah Hughes, the Community Wildlife Officer led the group for a very interesting walk around the Lagoon and onto the Spit.

Viewing the Lagoon

...at the Spit Hide

 The weather was superb but despite  bird life being a bit thin on the ground everyone enjoyed the walk..

Oystercatcher

Distant views of a few of the birds noted.

Little Egret and Grey Heron

Curlews

On the walkway....discussing the 'new' shingle spit!


...and by the way......

 

Mothing has improved  and two oak Eggars were  caught overnight

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Decided to take camera for evening shots of gulls in flight with the sun shining on their undersides...a number of Mediterranean Gulls were feeding on flying insects so they were my target. Absolutely hopeless and I failed miserably but I did capture a Lttle Egret and a B.h. gull so it gives the idea of the lighting I was after!

Med Gulls next time hopefully!