A cold, frosty morning.

The coldest morning so far  this year....at the sluice gate.

New signage along the North Wall

Birds were few and far between...

 Except for a few Reed Buntings

Plenty of Wigeon at the northern end of the harbour

...and very frosty.

 A near miss between Mediterranean Gull and Little Egret at Pagham Spit

...but all is well

A perfect landing

Little else apart from a few Herring Gulls

Nevertheless a good morning to be out and about if youwere wrapped up well....brrrrr!

The Goring Snow Bunting

Just about every local birder has been to see this very confiding Snow Bunting that has been at Goring Gap for the past few days so, as I had to be in that area today, I made sure I wasn't going to be left out! Having spotted a flock of birders with cameras and a variety of optics as I drove from Worthing towards Ferring it took very little skill to locate the bird. It seemed to completely ignore humans but it objected to their four legged friends! So lying prostrate on the pebbles to get the necessary low angle views and then creeping along, crablike, it was simple enough to get some shots except when these wretched animals gave chase! Here are a few shots .....

Note the eye brows!

In the afternoon it was back to Pagham Beach for a contrast in black and white ...
                                     

Carrion Crows

...and a Mediterranean Gull.

A cold bright sunny day...winter!!

Here at last!

Early morning along the north wall...cold!

Blogging activities have been a bit thin on the ground recently...in fact non existent! Hopefully, that is all going to change soon but the weather has not been very kind  and the birds have not been showing too well either.

So, this morning I decided I must make the effort to get out to the North Wall, and record what I saw! The highlights were few and far between but if you wanted Lapwings they were there in abundance!

A huge flock of Lapwings

Caught in the early morning sunlight they looked terrific!

I think they were put up by this distant (heavily cropped) Marsh Harrier that flew in from the east side and made its way at high altitude to the north west.

View from North Wall of Chichester Cathedral spotlit by the early sunshine ( taken with 210mm lens)

A few Shelducks were present looking up towards Whites Creek

Canada Geese were moving about.

A few Black Tailed Godwit were feeding in Breech Pool

Curlews in Honer field.

...and a Great Tit  by the stables.

So, not a great success but nevertheless a good starting point  for the new year...it can only get better.

...and here's a few photos taken during the early part of the month.

Drake Red Breasted Merganser taking off...from Pagham Spit

Roe Deer between Halsey and Marsh Farm

Mallards on posts...Breech Pool.

Dramatic light, early morning at the Breech Pool.

Evening light from the Salthouse.

So that's it for today....I wonder what this year will bring!

Happy Birding.