October

 October has been a strange month with temperatures well above average with sunny days mixed with heavy showers and several nights of very heavy rain. Cloud formations have been interesting too...

The Lagoon has had a fair number of Little Grebes arrive (up to 15 some days) with some in partial summer plumage but most have now adopted their winter 'look'.

Meadow Pipits have been overflying on several morning whilst several have remained on the spit and seem to be feeding well on grubs.

At present, three pairs of Stonechats have taken up residence and although disturbed by a constant stream of passers by don't seem to be particularly concerned.

Brent Geese have been arriving in dribs and drabs with many flying west past the harbour mouth without stopping. However the harbour is now getting its quota and several pairs seem to have at least two to three  juveniles with them. 

A Kingfisher has been present on most days but tends to be a bit skittish.  I was lucky to get a distant shot of this one hovering before diving for a fish in the Lagoon.

Cormorants are ever present besides Redshanks and Turnstones

Starlings are always a delight chattering on the 'phone lines.

Magpies are usually an overlooked species  but this one caught my eye in the 'old' carpark.

A visit to the north Wall was interesting this morning as I wanted to find the reported Fieldfares in Halsey farm area but I only located one (because of its 'chacking' call) and this was at a vast distance and I could only just make it out even with bins. Here's a very poor back view but sufficient proof.

Returning along the North Wall I was pleasantly surprised to find three pairs of Yellowhammer...very unapproachable and constantly on the move and chasing each other 

Just as I was walking past the Salthouse I received a Whatsapp from Les who had seen a Dartford Warbler behind the stables. Sure enough, there it was, a bit elusive but nonetheless hopping from a hawthorn bush to the fence to the ground. It eluded my attempts to catch it on camera! 

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Lets see what November brings!

THE Shrike!

  We have just returned from a 10 day break in North Cornwall which was basically a non birding holiday. Usually we do have a couple of visits to the  hotspots of Porthgwarra or Hayle but the weather conditions were certainly not conducive for any serious birding...with predominantly  high winds and  wet weather.

 I was disappointed to miss the Wrynecks at Church Norton and even more so, the confiding Red Backed Shrike!

So today I was delighted to see the report that the RBS was still showing well!

An early afternoon visit was rewarded!!!!

Apart from a few Choughs and a splendid Kestrel, photography was a bit thin on the ground in Cornwall.

The Choughs were becoming much less unusual in the area we often frequent at this time of year in Porthcothan, near Padstow...a good sign that they are becoming more established.

Kestrel, Park Head, North Cornwall.

Pied Wagtail on the beach at Porthcothan, North Cornwall.

Rock Pipits were numerous on the beach and the rocks!

Skylark  between Portcothan and Bedruthan Steps.

So now its back to Pagham where birding rarely disappoints!