Saturday 27th November - Its Freezing !

On Friday, Sally and I went for another walk pre-school pick-up. This time on higher ground and without the need to change into dry clothes. We went to the National Trust area of Harting Down, just in Sussex. It was cold but beautiful blue skies and the views were outstanding, although birds were a little thin on the ground Buzzard, Kestrel, Redwing and Fieldfare were the only birds but the local sheep joined our walk for a bit as Sallys black wooly hat and pale fleecy top obviously meant she was one of them and was their leader.

Baaaaaa .. Harting Down Sheep

It was freezing Saturday morning and I was unsure where to go. I left the house thinking I might stay inland as it might be a bit warmer, but kept driving down to Pagham Spit, arriving there around 10.30. It wasn't very warm !! the car said about 2C but there was a stiff north wind which added the bite. I firstly walked along the spit around the hide and back to the lagoon. There was very little in  the channel, lots of Little Grebes and a party of Greenfinches. From the hide 4 Goldeneye were in the harbour (a male and 3 females) and a selection of waders, Grey Plover, Knot, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Curlew and a single Bar-tailed Godwit with lots of Wigeon and Teal and a few Dark-bellied Brents and Little Egrets. The Lagoon only had half a dozen Tufted Ducks. I made my way down the North Wall footpath, where at least it was a little more sheltered. A single Golden Plover was on the mud, with 2 Ruddy Shelduck asleep amongst c100 Shelduck. There were c100 Dark-bellied Brents in the channel. Arriving by the breach pool a Water Rail was squealing from the reeds, a large group of Wigeon took flight when a Fox ran across the field at the back and 2 Snipe were running around the frozen edge looking confused as to where they could start proding their beaks, a Black-tailed Godwit was in with the Wigeon and a single Kestrel perched up was the only Bird of Prey for the day. It was nearly 12.30 it was raw and I was cold !!!!  so I started to head back.  As I walked along the channel a few groups of Brents started flying into the harbour from the fields I scanned through these and quickly picked up a close Black Brant which I watched for about 15 mins and took some pictures. Further on a single Med Gull was on the mud. and as I reached the corner of the Lagoon I heard a familiar Krrrrk (not great on wording bird sound !) from a bush. A skulking Dartford Warbler was moving around - looked like a juvenile. I did another lap of the spit back to the car, but other than a Red-breasted Merganser flying into the harbour didn't add anything. A couple of snowflakes appeared and I needed warming up, but great as always to be out.

Black Brant (Branta nigricans) - very dark back and belly, white flanks and thick neck band that joins at the front are distinctive

Black Brant with Dark-bellied Brent Goose

Turnstone