Mid-week update

As I was photographing Stonechats on Pagham Spit this morning I happened to look up and to my surprise a Marsh Harrier was circling high above me. Although the camera settings were all wrong I was at least able to capture a few record shots, albeit distant 'cropped' shots.

I can't recall having seen a Marsh Harrier directly over the spit before...nice bird!

I continued watching a pair of Stonechats and managed a few photos...by stealth!

The male was a little more wary and more difficult to approach.

 ...but patience was rewarded.

It was a cloudy morning but when the sun came out even the rusty metal work of the harbour entrance looked attractive!

 ...but my attention was drawn to a resplendent Goldeneye coming in with the tide.

 Superb drakes...I just love them!

Brents against a darkening sky over Pagham Church.

 Here's a few random shots from Sunday and Monday....

Distant shot of Peregrines on "their" log!

Several Reed Buntings 'dropped' in.

Linnet bathing in a puddle.

Carrion Crow

 Recently there has been an influx of Magpies on the spit...on one morning their were thirteen of them!

If they were not so common we would marvel at them!

Always expect the unexpected....what's next?

The past few days have been relatively quiet for me but visiting birder, Tim from  Bedfordshire has already seen Dartford Warbler and Merlin on the spit and the first Goldeneye of the winter on the lagoon! I missed the first two but have nailed the Goldeneye this afternoon...a distant record shot.

Drake Goldeneye with female Tufted in the middle of the Lagoon.

A pair of Pochard have been present....again difficult to photograph due to distance and poor light. 

Drake Pochard

Drake Tufted Duck

....whilst we are into ducks here is a couple of Wigeon 

...and a trio of Brent Geese 

The harbour is beginning to brim with Geese with Wigeon,Teal and Pintail  all increasing  in numbers every day. 

This morning dawned bright, sunny and cold with ideal conditions for photography but very little to photograph...all too far away, except perhaps this pair of Curlew.

Curlew...magnificent in early morning sunshine.

A Turnstone was enjoying his ablutions....

...watched by his companions who probably felt it was a tad too cool to take a bath!

Back in the garden a group of Starling had invaded the bird bath and all piled in together...complete mayhem in the bathroom!

That's it for this week...next week is Black Redstart week in Pagham and maybe with all the records of Waxwings coming into the East Coast counties and already spreading, just maybe they will arrive in West Sussex...here's hoping!

An interesting sky late this afternoon!

The last few days...update

A forecast of sun all day tempted me to visit Pulborough Brooks and Arundel this morning. The Autumn colours were astounding and  a male Marsh Harrier quartering the reed beds and viewable from Winpenny hide just complemented the Autumn colours showing his gloriously russet underwings to perfection in the early morning sunshine.

He was quite distant but even these crops give an idea of the sheer beauty of this magnificent raptor.

I dropped down to the WWT at Arundel and found two Kingfishers. Whilst  I was watching them they spent most of the time flying from one spot to another and only once did one of them approach the hide and perch for a few moments, just about within reach of the lens. Again a big crop...not ideal but a record!

A Little Egret was a little more obliging.

 Is he choking on a very small fish?

Earlier in the week I had been staying on my own patch and here are just a few photos from Pagham Spit and the North Wall.

A Heron fishing from the revetment on the beach.

A Mute swan over the Lagoon.

One of many Meadow Pipits which have been dropping in during the first few hours of daylight.

This Stonechat has been around on the Spit for the past week.

Golden Plover have returned and are mingling with the Lapwings in the harbour.

This relatively 'tame' Curlew is usually found along the edge of the North Wall and there are regularly two kingfishers by the sluice gates. Spotted Redshanks are regulars in Whites Creek and several Bearded Tits have been noted in the reedbed...very elusive and keeping well down for most of the time.
A pair of Black Redstarts have been seen on the roof of Pagham Parish Church, so well worth keeping an eye out for then. According to my diary the next two weeks is the prime time for Black Redstarts on Pagham Beach. I had a late Wheatear in the garden yesterday and two Swallows were resting on the telephone wires whilst earlier last week we had 20 House Martins feeding on the flies over the revetment. A Short Eared Owl was disturbed one early morning along the beach. 

Another regular by the sluice gates.

A nice surprise!

7.45a.m.Had a  quick walk around the Lagoon this morning and I was surprised to find a Black Necked Grebe. Light was terrible so hope to get better photos later.

1.00p.m.  Light has improved and so has the bird coming quite close to investigate!! Could not stop taking photos but have reduced them to six!!

Nice bird to have on my local patch!