The light at this time of year is always special, but it always seems so much more around here. As we passed the cottage with the wonderful pond for a garden a Little Grebe was preening amongst the reflections of the reeds and blue sky.
We were last here in early July, a time of Sunshine and world cup fever. As we had walked the footpath towards the Ferry then we put up clouds of butterflies on the bramble lining the path, today there were bees around, but with the sunshine I would not have been surprised to have seen a later Red Admiral
On reaching the Ferry we stopped to look over the pool. For once there was quite a bit about, Wigeon feeding close to the road, and many Teal spread out across the water. However it was the Lapwing that dominated the view with a good four to five hundred of them flocking over the fields at the back of the pool.
There were as many on the ground as there were in the air, and birds would drop down onto the ground while those on the ground would fly up and float around the fields, quite a sight.
From the Ferry we took the footpath to Church Norton. Again back in July this was covered with butterflies, mostly Gatekeepers, the ground to was bone dry. Today no butterflies, and very little else to see, while the path was pitted with deep mud puddles, the recent storms starting to make the ground a little bit more like it should be at this time of year.
Looking across the fields from the sea wall there were more opportunities for black and white photography.
A Kingfisher flew past across the saltmarsh, having probably been sitting on the mud or a convenient old post. On reaching the oaks that sprawl out across the beach I was taken by the leaves that were still clinging to the branches, and the back light against the black background.
The tide was fully out, looking across the harbour there was very little about. Close to the path, as we walked to the beach, were several Redshank. This one, like the oak leaves had its red legs picked out by the low sun
I had expected to see many Brent Geese, but this was the only sizeable flock that came past us. They flew around and finally settled in the fields behind the railway carriages.
It was a lovely day, but walking south was difficult as there was the southerly wind, and the low sun in your eyes. This produced a silver effect out on the sea.
At East Beach there was a detour around the car park. A small flock of Black-headed Gulls were resting on the concrete, and some in the puddles.
Herring Gulls sitting on the roofs of the fish stores
And on the way back more Black-headed Gulls in softer light
With the sun setting at 4.00pm, the light at 2.00pm was taking on that golden glow
We disturbed a Kingfisher, probably the same one as we had seen in the morning, as we approached the Ferry, and as we walked back the only clouds about were inland over the South Downs
Past the Ferry we were entertained by a Spitfire high above the peninsula
This was one of the adapted planes for taking paying customers fro a flight in a Spitfire. The huge dome at the front of the plane for that all round view.
Having reached the Crab and Lobster we just kept going. We thought the walk to the North Wall would be through muddy fields at Halsey's Farm, but they were remarkably dry. Walking up to the sea wall another Kingfisher zipped low across the water, while we were greeted by the whistles of Wigeon in the channels as the tide was rising.
Wigeon looking splendid in the afternoon sunshine
Even Coot can look special in the reflected water.
And the view across the reed beds was also lit up by the golden light. A little later on a very distant Marsh Harrier was seen at the back of the reed bed
We walked to the sluice in the hope of finding another Kingfisher but it wasn't about. Waders were collecting on the mud, the low setting sun catching the outline of the Lapwing on the dark patches
Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Dunlin and Redshank fed on the rising tide in White's creek
Lapwing flew over the North Wall to join the many others gathering on the mud
It was almost sunset, and despite the mild conditions as the sun slipped away for the day you could feel the temperature change
We made our way back as the sun finally set, the light on the water turning a golden hue, and as the light ebbed away you were left with the whistles of the Wigeon, and every so often the bubbling call of a Curlew somewhere.
The decision to make the most of this day was borne out in the morning when heavy rain fell until midday, then followed by a drizzle that made it very unpleasant. While the weather had been lovely, the low tide and time of year did not make for the best birding, but even so it was much better than if we had gone out on the Saturday.
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