A fantastic Friday

Pagham Harbour early on a crisp November morning is truly fantastic....clear sky, clear air, windless and birds everywhere!
Nothing particularly unusual but a good mix of species. Skylarks and Meadow pipits overhead; Reed Buntings in the bushes: massive flock of Woodpigeons. On the mudflats, waders galore....Redshanks, Dunlin, a few Knot (one with colour rings and a leg tag) Oystercatchers, Curlew. Hundreds of winter ducks....Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck plus good numbers of Pintail.  A huge flock of Canada Geese flew in making a terrible din....

Just a few of the Canada Geese

There were 150 Brent Geese on the shoreline yesterday afternoon and there are now good numbers spread throughout the harbour. There seems to be a reasonable number of young  birds....always a good sign of breeding success.  Here's an image of a juvenile....

   
At the sluice a Little Egret was fishing but in the morning light the reflection was really very special!

Pagham Harbour on a morning like this, is difficult to beat...anywhere!!