Marsh Harriers!

A bright morning with a fresh wind on the North Wall this morning. 

The immediate highlight was a Marsh Harrier flying to and fro beyond the Breech Pool (with Chichester cathedral as a backdrop).

It was soon joined by another playing chase over the reed bed.

 Great to see!

A splendid Grey Wagtail was feeding in the horse paddock...a fantastic splash of colour!

The fields in front of Halsey Farm were awash with water and had attracted about 5/600 Black Tailed Godwits and probably a 1000+ Lapwings.
 

 A huge flock of Brent Geese moved from field to field ....2000+

 Later at the harbour entrance a couple of Red Breasted Mergansers swimming in the choppy current.
Yesterday there were two Goldeneye but no sign today.

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My normal regular visits to the North Wall have been curtailed recently as the weather has been so awful! From the regular reports there has been little of interest of note but today was bright, the wind had subsided and the forecast for the weekend was again an atrocious one so it was an opportunity to get out! 
The horse field was a bit of a 'thrush fest' with Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Redwings  feeding in good numbers.

The regular Kestrel was giving a good photographic opportunity so it was good to have a subject on which to concentrate.

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As I returned along Church Lane another, or the same bird was on the power line. 

Apart from a large Lapwing flock and plenty of Wigeon it was very quiet...here's a male in flight.

Back on the beach there was a decent flock of Mediterranean Gulls. Some were getting into summer plumage...a very encouraging sign.

Hopefully, once Storm Dennis is out the way we can look forward to some reasonable weather and some good birds!

2020 Update.

The weather during the past few weeks has been generally quite dire and the chance for some decent photographs have been few and far between. However there have been a few days of sunshine and those have been the days I have, for one reason or another, been otherwise occupied.

However here are a few shots  of those birds I have been able to capture 'on film'.

Turnstone at harbour entrance

Brent Goose...I think with injured wing.

Mallards on the Lagoon

Both male and female seem to like this post.

Red Breasted Merganser ..a pair have taken up residence on the 'new' lagoon.

                                                                    A superb bird!

Plenty of Wigeon about.

Kingfisher... a frequent visitor to the 'new' lagoon.

Stonechats...several pairs have taken up winter quarters on the beach and spit.

Song Thrush...one of several in the horse paddock near North Wall.

Superb Grey Wagtail also in horse paddock, yesterday

The resident Kestrel.

Marsh Harrier...now having regular sightings 

Barn Owl....a regular, but usually distant.

....and as a little extra, a couple of roe deer the other side of Breech Pool 

...and finally...

A sunset a couple of evenings ago.

Birding on the spit this morning was interrupted by police and bomb disposal making safe an ordnance found on the beach.

In the entrance a group of 5 Red Breasted Mergansers were accompanied by a single female Goldeneye.

Here are just 4 of them with the Goldeneye. They were restless and soon made off seaward returning later to the harbour 

There were a pair of Stonechats alongside the Little Lagoon...

A big flock of Black Tailed Godwits...

...and Lapwings seen looking towards the North Wall.

Apart from this, a party of 5 Skylarks and 4 Meadow Pipits. 
(Apologies for the poor blogs of late...will try to improve)