Pagham Harbour...east side walk.

As   last evening a  Glossy Ibis had been sighted flying over the harbour and landing near the Breech Pool, I felt it might be worth a look this morning. 

Following heavy rain during the night the road was full puddles and a couple of Linnets were taking full advantage...

Whites Creek held a distant Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper but other waders were few and far between except for this single Whimbrel which was just about photographable.

I watched and waited awhile with Ian and Les but there was no sign of the 'Glossy'. However it was reported later flying east,  past the Bill at 3.48

Whilst chatting the highlight was this striking Marbled White

Small Skipper was something else to photograph but little else.

There are lots of wild flowers along the Slipe Field dog path...

Yarrow

Yellow Toadflax

 Having arrived back at the beach bungalow I found a Wood Pigeon building a nest in our Silver Birch.  One bird was sitting on the nest and another bird was taking more nesting material for the bird on the nest to continue building around it whilst still sitting.

....and finally  a very young Magpie loitering in the garden last night.

The Magpies have been more successful than the Robins and Blackbirds they have preyed upon!!

...but that's nature!!

The Salthouse to the Ferry.

 The morning started off dull and almost damp but the forecast showed an improving picture so I dressed prepared for warm weather. I'm pleased I did as within 40 minutes the sun shone and it became a very pleasant morning. Not many photographic opportunities of bird life but here are a few reminders of a great walk.

A couple of Pyramidal Orchids along the lower track adjacent to the Breech Pool

Coots with one youngster on a nest along the rife.

Red Soldier Beetle

Plenty of Small Skippers in Yeomans Field

Avocets and Black Tailed Godwits viewed from the RSPB Ferry Hide. A single Common Sandpiper was feeding along the southern edge.

A Wood Pigeon preparing to build a nest near the Crab and lobster.

A striking Spotted Longhorn beetle.

A few shots of the nesting Cattle Egrets in owl Copse.

....and finally A Reed Warbler youngster along the Breech Pool.

A very pleasant 3 hour wander.

Photos from June and first two days of July

 Birding has been a little limited during the past six weeks but shown below is a selection of a few  photos from various walks to the North Wall and Pagham  Spit.

Great Crested Grebes  have met with some success on Breach pool and an adult with two youngsters were noted yesterday.

Sedge Warblers have been very vocal although song is now a lot less than earlier in June

Only yesterday this Reed Warbler  appeared to be gathering nesting material.

This Common Tern is a 'regular', fishing on Breech Pool.

Nesting birds on  Pagham Spit has been very disappointing due to several factors.  Lack of available live gorse bushes (many have suffered from seawater ingress), erosion of shingle resulting in few sightings of Ringed Plovers with no attempted  breeding and volume of people now being concentrated into a smaller walking area...due again to erosion of the beach.

Far fewer Linnets have attempted breeding and no Greenfinches or any other species seem to have had any success.

Tern and Gull numbers have increased considerably with great success on the harbour islands due to the work of the RSPB.

Good photographic opportunities have resulted for all three species of Tern, Sandwich, Common and Little.

 A pair of Roseate Terns have been noted during the past weeks but regrettably no photos here!

Little Terns

Sandwich Terns

Black Headed Gull

For the past two days a Cuckoo has been noted on the Spit but each time it is disturbed it flies north over the harbour towards Slipe Field area but returns quite quickly to the new Lagoon area. 

A poor flight photo!

I understand there are a number of  these Oak Egger caterpillars on the reserve and I found this one today on the 'plastic' track to the beach.

..and finally a bird of a different kind. An impressive but noisy 1941 Stearman bi-plane over the spit!!

Green Woodpecker in the local wood.

A call from a local colleague alerted me to the fact that a Green Woodpecker family were about to 'fly the nest' in a local wood. An hour later I had managed to photograph a few worthwhile shots!

A very worthwhile hour!