Top Paragraph

Pagham Birder: The Blog

A regular account of the birds seen mainly on and around Pagham Spit, the Lagoon and the North Wall plus other birding exploits from time to time.
Any news of interest regarding the ongoing erosion problems on Pagham Beach will, from now on, be shown on my other blog together with general beach photos.. Click on the link... Pagham Beach Blog on this page.

Monday, October 31, 2022

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! 

**********

Lets see what November brings!


No comments: