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Pagham Birder: The Blog

A regular account of the birds seen mainly on and around Pagham Spit, the Lagoon and the North Wall plus other birding exploits from time to time.
Any news of interest regarding the ongoing erosion problems on Pagham Beach will, from now on, be shown on my other blog together with general beach photos.. Click on the link... Pagham Beach Blog on this page.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013




As there was a good weather forecast I was torn today as to  whether to go further afield or stay on my local patch for a few more photographs. The light was excellent and I decided to stay and see what was around....if I didn't live here I would probably want to come here on a day like today!!

First of all a Grey Plover on the Little Lagoon along with the usual Redshank, Little Grebes, Teal, Tufted Ducks and Mallards.
Grey Plover...different lighting creates a different look. See below 


As I passed the Lagoon on the way to the North Wall I noticed this female Pochard keeping an eye on me....
Pochard (f)
Along the edge of the harbour I was aware of flocks of finches and buntings flying into the bushes from Slipe Field, predominantly Reed Bunting but with a few Yellowhammers..
Reed Bunting...one of dozens

Yellowhammer....fantastic birds...especially in the sunshine
...and then I was aware of movement, low in a bush in front of me...a diminutive Wren...fast moving and always tricky to capture on camera.
Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes...such a great name)

... and then a Chiifchaff...probably over wintering..a mere glimpse but just time to get one poor shot!


Almost at the Salt House a Wigeon was looking anxiously back at me...

...before making off.

Last but not least a Pied Wagtail posed on a weed covered post...just perfect!

Pied Wagtail on stump.

Revetment News

It was good to note on the computer at 7.00am this morning  that the tug, Handfast left Falmouth Harbour and made for the quarry a few miles to the west. At 10.00am it set off and headed east and later in the afternoon I noted it was about 20 miles south of Polperro traveling at 4.4 knots.
Work continued on the beach shifting rocks as more liner had been delivered in the morning and enabled work to carry on.
Stocks of lining had run low last week but now all was well and work could continue

Checking the height of the revetment
Progress as at 3.00 pm this afternoon

Handfast Tug passing Plymouth at 6.30p.m...its on its way...slowly!

3 comments:

ChrisR said...

While not being as dramatic or serious as your situation, I have work being carried out in my local patch that is changing the micro environment. I hope your work is successful, I totally envy you the place where you live, and it should be protected. Here are my current postings
http://fourmarksbirding.blogspot.de/

Jerry said...

Its good to be kept up to date with these, thanks, by the time I get down to the beach again it will almost be complete. Jerry (these were my pictures from the first weekend http://agbr.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Pagham-Beach-Rocks/i-hW86RrP)

Jerry said...

Thanks for keeping us up to date on the progress of the repairs. They have progressed quite a bit since the first days, lets hope it is enough. Jerry (My pics from the first days of the repairs http://agbr.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Pagham-Beach-Rocks/i-hW86RrP)