North Wall again.

 A Black Redstart was showing well this morning in the stable field by the North wall.

Apart from these Grey Herons nest building in Owl Copse there was little else of note.

In the late afternoon the Short Eared Owl appeared again and showed well over the reed bed nearest the stables

Short eared owl..... at last.

 Having failed to see the Short Eared Owl from the North Wall on several occasions, this late afternoon visit proved more successful!

After watching it quartering the reed beds for half an hour or so with Les I decided to locate it from the path behind the stables in the hope of getting a little closer. Fortunately it dropped onto a patch of sticks and remained for some time whilst I was able to obtain some reasonable record shots.

Earlier in the day I went to Runcton Lake to try and locate the Red Crested Pochard and after considerable difficulty found the pair a long way out with the sun directly behind them. A very poor distant record shot was all I managed to obtain.

The following photographs were taken last week during my unsuccessful wait for the SEO.

                                            Marsh Harrier

                                      Water Rail in Breech Pool

The pleasures of birding.

Signs of Spring

 A visit to the North Wall gave a sense that Spring had arrived ...well almost!

 Meteorologically it has but there still seems a few weeks to go before it really gets going.

However,  first up this morning was this weasel that dashed  across the path  towards the salthouse but turned back having seen me and quickly disappeared.

A Grey Wagtail was feeding by the wall

and not far away, a Rock Pipit. 

A Kingfisher dashed past...too quick for a photo.

Further along the North wall a confiding Curlew was busy looking for food in the salt marsh.

A flock of about 40 Black Tailed Godwits flew overhead from the harbour

At least seven Grey Herons were in the Honer fields and one in particular was carrying a substantial branch to Owl Copse.

Several Chiffchaffs were seen in the bushes, either early arrivals or more likely over wintering birds. A Reed Bunting was singing in the distance.

This Mute Swan was washing in the Breech pool and Teal were calling from the reed bed and the harbour

On returning to the horse paddock, birder Chris put some sunflower seed on the fence post and immediately a couple of Great Tits arrived whilst a Blue Tit rather nervously viewed from afar.

Great Tit ...not hanging around!

Earlier in the week on Pagham Spit,  Brent Geese....soon to be on their way back to summer quarters in the Arctic.

These Mediterranean Gull are almost assuming summer plumage...a great sign that spring is close.

..and finally a couple of shots of Turnstone on the beach.

Not one but SIX Glossies!!

 What a magnificent sight on the North Wall this evening. 

At spot on 5.00 p.m. six Glossy Ibis came in to roost along with Cattle and Little Egrets in Owl Copse.

A truly fantastic sight...here are a few shots.

Wonderful!

Glossy Ibis in Owl Copse

 Last night I missed the opportunity of being on the North Wall to witness the Cattle Egrets and  a Glossy Ibis going to roost. So, hoping the same would occur this afternoon I made certain I was in position at 4.00pm. At just before 4.30 the ibis appeared and circled over the copse and eventually dropped into the hawthorns. It actually did this three times and the light was getting more and more difficult for photography. Here are a few of my shots taken at an ISO of up to 6400 hence the grainy appearance but nevertheless I hope the atmosphere of the silhouettes of this unusual looking bird on a cold January evening can be appreciated.

So glad I made it this evening!

January!

    A couple of visits to the North Wall this week proved slightly disappointing from the point of view of any new or unusual birds turning up. Nevertheless two brilliant cold sunny mornings in the midst of the current dreary spell of weather was sufficient to make it well worthwhile.

Masses of Lapwings and huge flocks of Brent Geese plus the Wigeon,Teal and Shelduck would be a delight for any visitor not used to the amazing sights of Pagham Harbour but when its part of your local 'patch'  maybe its a case of familiarity breeding contempt.                                                .

One of the now familiar sightings is this Marsh Harrier....one of sometimes three birds over the Breech Pool reedbeds.

On the Spit very little is occurring at present...a pair of Stonechats have taken up temporary residency but the Goosanders and female Goldeneye have moved on.

Carrion Crows always on the lookout from a suitable vantage point.

Turnstones always turning stones in a continual search for food.

A drake Red Breasted Merganser accompanied by two females is now a regular.

...and the harbour seal can very often be seen entering and departing the entrance either side of high tide but often spends time  loafing on a mud bank after gorging on mullet.  

Thirty years ago a Little Egret would have been a surprise but with an established breeding colony of Little and Cattle Egrets in owl copse they get almost overlooked.

Roll on the Spring!