Jack Snipe!!

 

This was definitely the highlight of the morning....thanks to the eagle eye of local birder Les ...a great spot! 

It was difficult to see even after we could locate it at the far side of the Breech Pool. Once it started bobbing up and down it became a little more obvious!

Birds in the harbour were constantly on the move and at one time a Peregrine caused mayhem! The Golden Plover which were happily resting in the saltmarsh....

...suddenly took flight 

...together with the Lapwings

...and the Brent Geese

Apart from a Peregrine and a Sparrow Hawk in the harbour three Marsh Harriers were cruising over the reedbed

Wigeon were feeding close to the Salthouse and allowed some closeups especially this particularly confiding drake.

In the late afternoon I noticed that the female Goldeneye had been joined by another on the Lagoon...but still no drake.

Out on the Church Norton spit the familiar figure of a local birder and his dog were seen probably photographing the four Goosanders at the harbour mouth.

Yesterday I was able to approach a couple of Grey Plovers which seemed to have taken a liking to what was the Little Lagoon but now virtually drains out at low tide and affords a good feeding ground.

A good Tern!

 Although the day started with a hint of a typical November mist the sun soon burnt it off  and a clear blue sky resulted for the entire day.  I did glance out the window and noted an unusual number of Blackbirds and a female Blackcap having a bath in the pond.

Hoping to find some Redwings and Fieldfares in the berry laden Hawthorns I thought it would be worthwhile to visit the North Wall. However this proved a little disappointing and apart from a distant view of a single Water Rail (three were calling!) a few Black Tailed Godwits, a Red Kite (not common in Pagham) very little else of  interest was noted and not a single thrush of any kind.  I did however meet up with with Dave P and Martin P and Ian R whom I'd not met since before Covid. (so it was worth the visit!!)

Next stop was Pagham Spit and having joined up again with the visiting birders I tried to point them in the right direction for the now resident Goldeneye and Goosanders. The former didn't appear but the Goosanders were more obliging until spooked by a couple of fishermen.

Having noted from the local Whats app that the comic Tern had been seen again we felt it was worthwhile hanging around near the harbour mouth. Eventually Martin shouted out 'TERN'!

Discussion followed re. its ID. We decided it was the Arctic Tern noted earlier and took a number of long distance cropped photos.

The harbour held the usual variety of  waders and we did note a single Golden Plover alongside the Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plover.

Ducks included three Red Breasted Mergansers, a few Pintail and Shelduck but many Wigeon and Teal.

 Finally, a few photos from earlier in the week.

Bar Tailed Godwits 

Turnstones

Meadow Pipit

Mute Swans

Little Egret on the Lagoon

Back home, a bathing Jay showing its crest.

A cracking male Black Redstart!

 Wow...what a bird. 

On the beach side of our bungalow  at mid day.

Photos speak for themselves. Quality not good as light was poor and a very high ISO required but a great record of a great bird!

Water Rail on the Pagham Lagoon

At mid day as I was looking to find the female Goldeneye on the lagoon. I was pleasantly surprised to see this Water Rail walking/swimming along the edge. It didn't remain long as it was joined or chased by another one and took flight to a spot out of sight but a little further along.

It was not helped by these three dogs (part of a party of five) free running alongside the lagoon.

Little Grebe - one of several

The Goldeneye was still present and showed well.

.

The four Goosanders remain but are quite mobile and, depending on the state of the tide, appear either in the harbour mouth or along the now depleted shingle beach and even on the Lagoon.

These photos were taken just off the beach as the tide was coming in.

Goldeneye....first of the autumn!

 I was really pleased to find that this Goldeneye had arrived on the Lagoon. The females usually arrive before the drakes and although their plumage is not quite as resplendent, they are always a pleasure to see.

Typical wind flapping

Unfortunately it was disturbed and flew off towards the south side of the lagoon.

Hopefully it will stay for a little while and attract a passing drake.

The four Goosanders are still around and if not in the harbour mouth will be found in or near the 'old' Little Lagoon....and they are quite approachable with care!

And finally another great sun set.....