The Harbour Eider

This bird has been lurking in the harbour for a week or two but is difficult to photograph as it remains some way off and resents intruders! Here's a few photos taken this morning just to prove it is still around!

Not sure what's in her beak!

Obliging Red Necked Grebe.

After two days of wind and rain it was a relief to be able to enjoy some early morning  sunshine! The light was good so a decision was made to take the 500mm lens to the harbour entrance just in case the Red Necked Grebe put in an appearance.
On the way the usual Curlew was feeding in the mud...

He glanced up at me and then continued to look for his breakfast with great success!

Curlew with large worm.

Out in the middle of the harbour an Eider was washing and preening.

As I approached the harbour wall...there it was, just in front of me....great! For once the lighting was good, the bird was within range and I had the right optics!

As I watched it dived repeatedly....

..and then would surface a little further away.

A cracking bird!

During the afternoon I wandered along to the North Wall enjoying the flocks of Brent Geese, Lapwing, Golden Plover and dozens of Black Tailed Godwits. Here's a sample...

Brent Geese with Chichester Cathedral in the distance.

Golden Plover

Lapwing on the move.

 Black Tailed Godwits

At last...the Red Necked Grebe is within range.

...that is, from the Pagham Spit side of the harbour. Up until now it has been residing mostly on the Church Norton side of the harbour but this morning it was feeding in he main channel and although it wasn't ultra close it was just about in photographic range. Here are a few images... I will take a longer lens later and hopefully obtain some better photographs but this is a bird that has eluded me for some while, so it was pleasing to obtain these shots this morning.

Low in the water

Nice bird...hopefully it will will remain in the main channel for a few more days and give even better opportunity for some decent photos.

Disturbance in the Harbour!

Sunshine at last after days of dreariness! Nevertheless on the Spit there was little to get excited about. The reported Red Necked Grebe could be seen but was on the far side of the harbour and photography was not possible. Desperate to use the camera I made 'do' with a Carrion Crow...

Carrion Crow

A Fox watched me as I returned home as he sunbathed by the Lagoon...




Back in the garden a Chiffchaff was feeding in the ivy hedge....we had two Chiffchaffs on Sunday....probably overwintering.






Later in the morning I headed over towards the North Wall noting large flocks of waders resting on the mud flats...this shot of Black Tailed Godwits (mostly)



Lapwings flew lazily overhead...they do have a very lazy flight!





As I  approached the Salt House I was pleased to find Martin and Dave and as we commented on the lack of bird life in the Breech Pool a light  aircraft appeared and we watched for a good five minutes as it repeatedly flew at astonishingly low level to and fro across the harbour putting up all the birds and causing a huge disturbance
.











Completely reckless !


Later in the afternoon I couldn't resist the temptation to wander back to to the Spit and admire the setting sun. I was pleased  as a Kingfisher appeared on the rusty metalwork by the Little Lagoon!







Oystercatchers on the tideline in the late afternoon light.







A peaceful end to the day.