North Wall again.

 A Black Redstart was showing well this morning in the stable field by the North wall.

Apart from these Grey Herons nest building in Owl Copse there was little else of note.

In the late afternoon the Short Eared Owl appeared again and showed well over the reed bed nearest the stables

Short eared owl..... at last.

 Having failed to see the Short Eared Owl from the North Wall on several occasions, this late afternoon visit proved more successful!

After watching it quartering the reed beds for half an hour or so with Les I decided to locate it from the path behind the stables in the hope of getting a little closer. Fortunately it dropped onto a patch of sticks and remained for some time whilst I was able to obtain some reasonable record shots.

Earlier in the day I went to Runcton Lake to try and locate the Red Crested Pochard and after considerable difficulty found the pair a long way out with the sun directly behind them. A very poor distant record shot was all I managed to obtain.

The following photographs were taken last week during my unsuccessful wait for the SEO.

                                            Marsh Harrier

                                      Water Rail in Breech Pool

The pleasures of birding.

Signs of Spring

 A visit to the North Wall gave a sense that Spring had arrived ...well almost!

 Meteorologically it has but there still seems a few weeks to go before it really gets going.

However,  first up this morning was this weasel that dashed  across the path  towards the salthouse but turned back having seen me and quickly disappeared.

A Grey Wagtail was feeding by the wall

and not far away, a Rock Pipit. 

A Kingfisher dashed past...too quick for a photo.

Further along the North wall a confiding Curlew was busy looking for food in the salt marsh.

A flock of about 40 Black Tailed Godwits flew overhead from the harbour

At least seven Grey Herons were in the Honer fields and one in particular was carrying a substantial branch to Owl Copse.

Several Chiffchaffs were seen in the bushes, either early arrivals or more likely over wintering birds. A Reed Bunting was singing in the distance.

This Mute Swan was washing in the Breech pool and Teal were calling from the reed bed and the harbour

On returning to the horse paddock, birder Chris put some sunflower seed on the fence post and immediately a couple of Great Tits arrived whilst a Blue Tit rather nervously viewed from afar.

Great Tit ...not hanging around!

Earlier in the week on Pagham Spit,  Brent Geese....soon to be on their way back to summer quarters in the Arctic.

These Mediterranean Gull are almost assuming summer plumage...a great sign that spring is close.

..and finally a couple of shots of Turnstone on the beach.