Half Term Treat !!!

Just as I was settling down to play shops with my 9 yr old grandaughter Jasmine, the phone rang and it was local birder Tim Edwards 'I've got a Lapland Bunting on the North wall'. I explained it was a problem as I was entertaining my grandaughter but on reflection I thought this may be of interest...Christmas is coming,Santa Claus, Lapland...Wow, a bird from Lapland!!!! We soon got togged up and with camera and binoculars (she insisted on my Leicas!) and set off to the North Wall. We very quickly located Tim and the birders and whilst I photgraphed the Bunting, Jasmine looked around and found a Spoonbill on a mud bank and then there were Black tailed Godwits, Curlews, Redshanks, Wigeon,Pintail. Time passed quickly and we were soon back playing shops!

Not a bad morning!!!

SUMMER HASN'T GONE YET!!

The sunrise from our window this morning looked somewhat wild and I didn't expect the day to pan out as well as it did. A quick early morning walk around the Pagham Spit produced the usual Brent Geese along the shoreline,a superb Kingfisher and more surprisingly a Greenshankon the Lagoon. The long stay Spoonbill was loafing with Greater Black Backed Gulls on a mud bank.
During the afternoon a visit to the Salthouse on the North Wall produced a few late Swallows and a Clouded Yellow and lots of Painted Lady butterflies. The unseasonally warm weather really is producing some surprises.

Spoonbill near the Salthouse.

A Spoonbill has been reported for a little while in Pagham Harbour but until today I hadn't got near enough for even a record shot. This morning, however, was different and when I arrived at the North Wall the bird was in the main channel. Although photography was difficult against the light, a few shots were just about acceptable!
Wigeon numbers have increased considerably now and Brent Geese look as if they have enjoyed a good breeding season with several family parties in the harbour and a few with 4 young. Lots of finches moving west this morning and considerable number of Wood Pigeon flocks on the move.

Pagham Harbour is the place to be!

Have just returned from 10 days in Cornwall and have decided that Pagham really does have a lot to offer ...birdwise!! Opened the front door and 15 long tailed tits descended from nowhere into our only tree ..a silver birch. 5 Swallows flew over the garden...late breeders presumably...52 brent Geese on the lagoon accompanied by 10 or 12 Wigeon and then a wander up to the harbour entrance and there, on 'tern' island, a Spoonbill!! Grey Plovers, Dunlin, Curlew,Turnstones throughout the harbour all looking resplendent in the Autumn sunshine.
That is not to say that Cornwall was disappointing with a Wryneck at Porthgwarra and a Bittern at Marazion but there is something about Pagham!!

Not much news.

A very windy day...just a few Swallows flying low over the beach westwards. A flock of 37 Goldfinches in the garden with 7/8 at a time on the niger feeder!
This blog will be 'off the air' for 10days from now.

Recent sightings.

It is presumed that the Glossy Ibis has departed from the Breech Pool area as it was last seen on Monday ( I had my best views on that day). Early morning saw a movement of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks and there were numerous Reed Buntings on the Spit bushes and a couple of Chiffchaffs. A few House Martins and Swallows flew west and during the afternoon 6 Brent Geese flew in and landed on the off shore spit for half an hour before continuing their journey westwards.
Wader numbers are increasing with Dunlins,Turnstones and Ringed Plovers outnumbering the Knot and Grey Plover.
The forecast is for a change in the calm weather we have experienced recently so maybe we can expect some changes in the avifauna!

Glossy Ibis success!!

Since my last blog I have been busy (domestically!) but have managed to get a couple of very brief sightings of the elusive Glossy Ibis during the past couple of days. However this morning dawned bright and sunny so hopes were high of a good viewing. At 7.30am on Breech Pool a group of enthusiastic birders gathered, but not until 9.05am did the head of the Glossy appear from a ditch behind a chunk of sedge. It did finally give itself up, but only for a few seconds before disappearing back into the sedge...too far away for even a record shot. Nevertheless a nice bird for the memory bank!