June lockdown

The lockdown continued throughout June but there was some relaxation of  the regulations. Nevertheless all photographs in this blog are either garden birds or within walking distance of home.
The highlight was undoubtedly the first evidence of  Cattle Egrets successfully breeding in West Sussex...right on my doorstep in Pagham harbour.
On June 23 in Owl Copse I was able to see an adult Cattle Egret flying to the nest site to feed young.....

 

Lots of Sedge Warblers have bred and many youngsters are in the bushes alongside the Breech Pool


The terns in the harbour were very active and they too were obviously catching fish for their youngsters on Tern Island.

These were all Sandwich Terns but Common and Little were present.

The actual spit has been substantially reduced in size as a result of the continuing beach erosion and no Ringed Plovers or Oystercatchers have even attempted to breed this year. However Skylarks are present...

               

Linnets are breeding in the gorse.

 A deer has been seen with a foal behind the breech Pool but I have only seen the adult.

Being mostly confined to the garden the following photos show some of the visitors....

Mallards....more unusual visitors to the garden pond.

Wood pigeon...another is still sitting on a nest.

A very regular Green Woodpecker...always searching for ants.

A Jay on the lookout.

Goldfinch...a regular visitor to the birdbath.

A wet Bluetit....following a bath.

Collared Dove.

A splendid male Blackbird.

One of several juvenile Blackbirds

Our Wren.....the most diminutive visitor!

The young Robins are now getting their red breasts.

Who knows what July will produce...hopefully a chance to get out and about in readiness for the 'autumn' migration which will start very soon.