My first Wheatear of 2023!

 There were several reports of Wheatears being seen at Selsey Bill and Church Norton this morning and at 1.33 this afternoon 2 were reported on Pagham Spit. It wasn't long before I was on the case and as I was scanning the shingle, the familiar figure of local birder Tony was by my side pointing at a couple of stonking males. There's always something special about the first sighting of a Wheatear!

Superb birds!

Several Chiffchaffs were flitting about in the gorse and this one posed for a few seconds on a typical Wheatear lookout.

Unusually for the Lagoon, a pair of Shovelers flew in with some Brent Geese and were feeding along with Coots at the west end of the Lagoon. 

Just look at those beaks!

Its all starting to happen now!

Black Redstarts in the paddock

 A Whatsapp shout  from the North Wall Birder and within twenty minutes I was there at the horse paddock. Both male and female were present and although a bit distant there was an opportunity for a few photographs.

.....and here's the duller female.

A female Stonechat was nearby..

.....together with this Pied Wagtail

A Black Tailed Godwit by the sluice  was changing into summer plumage a sure sign that Spring is almost here.

A short visit but good to see the Black Redstarts .

A look back at February

Following a very wet January, February proved a very dry month with little rain. Birding days were in scarce supply for me due to various other demands on the domestic front. 

However, here are few reminders of some of the species I noted on the days when time permitted.

On February first I was able to spend a little time along the North Wall and as usual there were plenty of ducks and waders. Wigeon predominated the duck scene.

Masses of Lapwing were in the fields and on the mudflats.

Unusually a flock of  17 Snipe were circling over the Honer farm fields....here's just 13

A lone Redwing was in the wood adjoining Halsey farm

 A massed flock of Black Tailed Godwits provided quite a spectacle.

Magpie on the look out.

Marsh Harrier hunting over the Honer fields

Up at Pagham Spit there were a couple of Goldeneyes

...and the Snow Bunting lingered in its usual spot for about 3 weeks

On several occasions I have seen a couple of Dartford Warblers in the bramble and gorse at the end of the spit but until last weekend I had been unable to get a photo and only then did I get a couple of record shots.

More  often then not the movement at the bottom of a gorse bush turned out to be a Wren!

Numbers of Linnets are now building up on the spit and hopefully will soon be prospecting for nest sites in the now somewhat depleted areas of gorse and bramble surrounding the former little Lagoon

Turnstones continually turning stones on the beach, as they do!

Still plenty of Brent geese in the harbour but they do seem to be getting restless now at the end of the month. I have a diary note from previous years that more and more start departing on or around March 10.

This rather sleepy Curlew seems to have a favourite spot alongside the path from the Lagoon to the harbour entrance . It has been very faithful to this site for most of the winter. 

Pagham Lagoon held the usual Little Grebe, a few Tufted Ducks an occasional Goldeneye and numerous Coots!

This Grey Heron visited the garden pond and stole 48 Goldfish one weekend. I only know it was him as I caught this photo of him circling the garden and landing in next doors fir tree eyeing the now fishless pond!

Back in the garden Greenfinches are getting frequent visitor with 6 or more at times fighting over the seed feeders. Here's one showing aggression towards another.

During most of the winter we have had a female Blackcap which favours the flowers of a Camelia. It was accompanied by a male earlier in the year but is now present for most of the day feeding presumably from tiny insects inside the bloom

...and in the process getting a rather unusual head colour from the nectar.

Spring must be just round the corner....its been a long winter!

A look back at January.

The Snow Bunting has remained on Pagham Spit for the duration of the month. It has remained feeding alongside the metal harbour entrance but if not there has been on the shingle just in front of the base of the the old hide. 

Red Breasted Mergansers have been frequent visitors

...and a Kingfisher has been around most days either near the harbour entrance or along the beach 

Oystercatchers have been present  every day

This resplendent drake Goldeneye has been on the Lagoon with up to 4 females on some days.

A visit to RSPB Pullborough Brooks with my grand daughter was a highlight for her in early January to see great views of the tit species and a Nuthatch in Fattingates 

   

A Blackbird with a hint of leucism was an interesting one.

This Snipe at West Meads was a 'lifer' for her.

Back to Whites Creek later in the month there were enormous flocks of Lapwing and impressive numbers of Golden Plover

Ducks were well represented with Wigeon predominating.

This Rock Pipit posed beautifully in the sunshine on one morning by the sluice gate.

This morning (31st January) another check on the Snow Bunting found this Redshank  only a few metres away from the bunting.

.....which was flitting between the shingle and the metalwork

It will be interesting to see how long this bird will remain before the lengthening days prove too much of a draw for it to return to its breeding ground.