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.