The L.R.P. is still on the Spit.

I am not sure where this bird is feeding but it is quite mobile! Just a few flight photos taken from a distance and cropped. 

Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Skylarks were also in good voice this morning, too!

...and to continue the 'flight' theme a Sandwich Tern

 A bird with both feet firmly on the ground..... a male Blackbird  hunting very successfully for worms to feed youngsters in a nest in a gorse bush.

It was particularly interesting to see him offload his beak-full before probing for another and then refilling his beak before repeating the operation time after time but losing a few each time in between!

Swanbourne Lake, Arundel

A quick visit to Arundel  before the rain set in this morning resulted in a few photos. Around Swanbourne Lake, the usual contenders but I was surprised to note a young Spotted Flycatcher being fed by parents at the western  end  at the foot of the hill...a rather distant cropped shot but sufficient to identify.

Young Spotted Flycatcher awaiting feed from parent...Swanbourne Lake

Mandarin...female

Tufted Duck...female

Jackdaw

Moorhen...I got rather carried away by this 

 ...and finally a Robin 

A Summers Morning on the North Wall.

After the heavy rain of yesterday, this morning was different again....warm and sunny! So at 7.00a.m, I was there - greeted by a Rabbit

 and a Moorhen in the paddock.

The reedbed was alive with Reed and Sedge Warblers, some singing and others collecting insects for their offspring.

Sedge Warbler

Reed Warbler

...and then  a Common Tern appeared and started searching for fish in Breech Pool. A lot of 'snapping' secured some flight photos....

...an irresistible bird to photograph especially against a blue sky!

A little further on a young Little Egret

On Breech Pool a Mute Swan with a cygnet...actually five in total

 An adult Little Egret fishing by the sluice gate

 ...and lastly, one of two rats feeding in front of the car...someone had obviously put some seed down to attract the birds but other wildlife had discovered a ready meal.

Something new!

I have heard the call of a Little Ringed Plover during the past few days but not until this afternoon did I locate the bird on the shingle, adjacent to the 'old' car park. I was taken by surprise and managed a quick out of focus record shot  before it was disturbed by walkers.

I cannot recall ever seeing an LRP on the Spit before.


 A Skylark allowed a reasonably close approach.

Skylark on song post.

More and more Wood Pigeons appear to be using the spit as a feeding ground....

I can only assume they are finding weed seeds.

Painted Ladies are becoming more frequent but most seem either quite worn or worn out from their Channel crossing and then resting on the beach.

...and finally two birds of a different kind....noisy ones!!

...regularly seen (and heard!) over the harbour