What a bird!

Had the good fortune to be on Pagham Spit this morning and was admiring the huge flocks of Brent Geese which were preparing for their flight to their breeding grounds when this White Tailed eagle took off from a mud bank which was just out of sight from me.  Wow, what a bird! It leisurely made off towards the eastern side of the harbour just as the huge flock of Brent took off from just in front of me and I lost it in the distance.

 

A pair of Ringed Plovers were engaged in display flights and the Brents were chatting to each other in a large group obviously discussing which flight path to take. On two occasions they headed out to sea only to return to the relative peace and calm of Pagham Harbour.

A lone Rock Pipit was feeding along the tideline...

A rare sighting! A bird of a different kind.

  As I was stalking Fieldfares along the North Wall this afternoon this Grumman HU-16B  Albatross  Seaplane flew over the Honer farm.....apparently on a return flight from Southampton after touring the West Sussex countryside  and returning along the south coast of the Isle of Wight..A life tick for me!

My success with Fieldfares was very limited and this was the only one !...

Curlew Sandpipers!

Whats app alert at 8.46      '13 Curlew Sandpipers close in by sluice north wall'

'now 13'......'14'

Time to get down there....................here are a few of my shots!

....and they're away

What a treat.....superb birds!

Cornwall (non birding ) holiday

 In past years we normally have an Autumn week in North Cornwall but this year, due to a number of circumstances, it was agreed to have a 10 day holiday in June.

This proved to be a beach holiday in Porthcothan, a small bay west of Padstow . The weather was amazing with almost unbroken sunshine; very different to the type of weather we usually experience in October!

Birding was not in the plan so it was a matter of enjoying the sand,sea and sunshine and a good dose of Cornish Pasties and Cream teas!

A walk to Park Head  which is on the coast path to Bedruthan Steps produced a few species and I did 'happen' to have my camera with me!

First up was this Rock Pipit on a grassy cliff top.

Stonechats were common  and a couple of youngsters posed beautifully.

Sea birds were few and far between but this Oystercatcher had a nest on an inaccessible islet and appeared to have a single chick with very little between it a a 100' cliff!

The only other bird seen was this feral Rock Dove (type)

It did make a pretty picture in that setting!

On one evening we headed to Constantine Bay a little further east from Porthcothan and to my surprise there was a flock of about 80 waders feeding along the rocky tideline viewed from a  well used high level pathway. Of course, no camera not even binoculars! I could make out Dunlin but there were other species with them.

Next evening armed with suitable equipment we returned and fortunately the birds were there too.

Unfortunately a dog was there also but with patience I was able to make my way to the rocks and the dog eventually disappeared and I was able to get a few shots of this very confiding flock consisting mainly of Dunlin and Sanderlings. both species in varying summer/winter plumage.

This was the highlight of the holiday (birdwise)!

This was a Jackdaw on Treyarnon Bay waiting for holiday maker titbits.

A walk along the Camel estuary at Padstow was very disappointing  with only this Grey Heron and a few distant Little Egrets....Oh yes, I did hear a Curlew! 

....but we did enjoy the long sunny days, the Cornish Pasties and the Cream Teas!!

Pulborough Brooks again.

Arriving at just after midday my wife and I decided to have a bite to eat outside  when suddenly a Cuckoo flew in and settled briefly in a dead tree just to the right of us. 

As they say.....its just a matter of being in the right place at the right time!

 

....and then, just as we were making our way to the Zig Zag, a Garden Warbler burst into song just by the side of us!

They are not usually that obliging!

From Winpenny hide apart from the usual collection of Canada Geese a couple of Avocets were present and a superb Grey Plover in summer plumage.

A distant Hobby from West Meads was too far away for a photo but nevertheless all in all a very pleasant visit to Pulborough.

 Regretfully, only one Nightingale was heard on this occasion.

Ringed Plover nesting on the spit.

 A quick look at Pagham Spit this evening produced a Ringed Plover on a nest in a very vulnerable position from the point of  human visitors. Initially it was calling and as I watched from behind an old breakwater it made its way cautiously forward and settled down, keeping a very close eye on me.

What a privilege!

Several Little Terns were flying up and down the main channel.

....and then four Turnstones suddenly dropped in right in front of me all showing signs of moving into summer plumage,

A great end to a day !