Waders and problems for Grey Lags.

A  wander along Whites Creek this morning produced a distant Buzzard over the harbour, a few Chiffchaffs and a resplendent Spotted Redshank.....

In flight,even at a distance, the lack of a white wingbar distinguishes this species from the commoner Redshank.

A few Black Tailed Godwits were feeding on the mud although further out there was a flock of about 120.

In flight the black tail is usually more noticeable than when feeding or resting.

On the Breech Pool a pair of Grey Lag Geese were feeding quite peacefully....

...but soon began to become very restless giving me some good photographic opportunities!

It soon became clear as to what was causing the chaos......

This was a VERY territorial Mute Swan who  chased off the geese relentlessly and it was some time before the Greylags got the message and moved off a little way away from where the Swans mate was sitting on a nest!

Has Spring sprung at last?

This morning was a very pleasant surprise...weatherwise. The sun was out, it actually felt warm and there was no wind....a real contrast to the past few weeks, months even!
Made my way to the North Wall and it was perfection! However birds were lacking somewhat. They were there but they were reluctant to show...I heard my first two Sedge Warblers and a Willow Warbler. A Blackcap was in Owl Copse and the Grey Herons and Egrets were busy on their nests.

Grey Heron flying to Owl Copse

Little Egret 

The water in  Breech Pool was very high with only a Cormorant and a pair of lurking Gadwall on the far side.

A Cormorant doing what Cormorants do...drying its wings.

Gadwall pair.

A flock of about 120 Black Tailed Godwits were in Whites creek



 and a Great Tit posed in a hawthorn.

Back to Pagham Spit to find any new arrivals and two Swallows came in off the sea and headed north whilst a pair of Wheatear had obviously just arrived and were busy feeding around the Little Lagoon. They were very unapproachable and it wasn't easy to even get a record shot.

Nervous Wheatear!

A Chiffchaff was a little more accomodating.

Today's highlight for me was a brief visit of a Black Redstart in mid afternoon in the garden....

Taken through dirty double glazed window....great bird though.


...and during last week I was pleased to find a Firecrest...

...another 'special' bird.

On Sunday we had a dozen Hirundines drop in and remained on the telegraph wires for 20 minutes or so.....a mix of House martins and Swallows.

I think it's fair to say Spring has arrived although a little late this year!

Red Kite over Pagham Harbour.

At last....a superb morning, bright and sunny albeit with a chill west wind.
 Little about on the Spit save a few Linnets and a Chiffchaff but suddenly my attention was drawn to a raptor approaching from the south and heading for the middle of the harbour. Very quickly a pair of Shelducks took exception and mobbed the bird mercilessly!
Quickly identified as a Red Kite with the diagnostic forked tail showing well even at a distance...a few quick shots and it was soon gone heading northwards...a fantastic bird!

That made my morning!

Has Spring sprung at last?

A brilliant morning along the North Wall overlooking the Breech Pool.
 As I approached a Cettis Warbler burst into song and I thought I was going to be rewarded  with a good birding hour or so. However  despite the good light and fantastic weather I was slightly disappointed and somewhat concerned that I saw no evidence of breeding Herons or Egrets in Owl Copse. The water level was too high for any waders  and the only ducks were Mallards and Tufted Ducks.
In the harbour there were the usual Black Tailed Godwits....some moving into summer plumage

..and a Spotted Redshank

Some of the winter ducks were still present....

A splendid drake Wigeon

...and the somewhat subdued female.

A pair of Teal

Flooded field looking towards Halsey Farm

 As I returned past the stables this Wood Pigeon glared at me and if it wasn't so common we might appreciate his delicate pastel colouration.



It was now time to explore Pagham Spit but here again it was all a bit quiet. The ever present Turnstones were turning stones  (surprise,surprise!)

Two pairs of Ringed Plovers were indulging in flight displays.

One of them eyed me cautiously.

Several Oystercatchers flew in from the sea.

A very few Brent Geese remain

The Peregrine on one of her chosen perches.

So that's it for today....make the most of the weather as the forecast is not good for the rest of the week!

All through the winter months we have been privileged  to have had a male Blackcap visiting the garden, taking a particular liking to a Camellia which has been flowering since Christmas. It has been feeding, presumably on insects, right inside the flower head. The other day he started  trying his vocal chords and I believed Spring was almost here!

Today he visited the fat balls and his face was covered in nectar....

Regretfully I have been out of action for the past few weeks but hopefully will soon be back on the trail as the migrants start pouring in!