The Purple Heron....at last!

Having missed out on a few 'good' birds whilst being on recent holidays I was pleased to hear that the Purple Heron had reappeared in the last few days.

So this morning I felt it would be worthwhile to get out early to see if I could locate  the spot it had been seen several times usually during the early part of the day. I was on site at just before eight and initially could not locate it until I saw a birder some way away looking towards me from the other side of the field. At last I located it in the middle of the field viewable from 'the 'gate' as in previous reports.

It was a long way off for any decent photos but here are a few record shots.

At least it was a record and a first for the Pagham area for me although I have several records from Minsmere and Mallorca....but this was special.... a Pagham special!!

p.s.

Although during the past week Brent Geese have been circling the harbour they all seem to decide to fly on westwards. However, on Saturday these eight Brents were seen from Pagham Spit...the first I'd noted in the harbour.

The huge numbers of Red Admirals and Peacocks on the ivy was extraordinary.

North Cornwall V Pagham Harbour.

Having just returned from a holiday in North Cornwall it was good to be back on Pagham Beach despite the murky conditions this morning.

After a week of rain and more rain, conditions for birding were not favourable for photography and these images of Wagtails in the stream running into Porthcothan Bay were the only records. Choughs flew over the bay on a couple of occasions but were fleeting and a fair way away...certainly not birds to be encountered at Pagham.

Pied Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

However skeins of  Brent Geese were arriving in good numbers this morning.....some in fives and sixes and others in thirtys and forties...some accompanied by Shelduck and a few Wigeon.

...these with five Shelduck

This skein circled the harbour and may have landed, but way over the Sidlesham end.

  Other skeins flew on past the harbour mouth towards Chichester harbour.

A Little Egret was feeding in the Little Lagoon

A surprising number Red Admirals were enjoying the ivy

This spider caught my eye before the drizzle dampened my enthusiasm and I returned thinking how fortunate to live in this place where it never rains...much!