11th February - RSPB Pagham Harbour, North Wall, West Sussex

A weekend away in Sidlesham, the weather excellent on the Friday, but declining over the weekend, so we decided to head out to the North Wall just after we arrived at the Crab and Lobster to ensure we could enjoy the wonderful winter light that always seems to be present along the wall.

Coming through Halsey's Farm and then heading across the muddy field a huge flock of Brent geese appeared from behind the distant hedgerow and seemed to completely fill the sky, but it was their calls that made the experience, there is nothing like wild geese calling on a clear cold winter afternoon.

The shapes changing as they banked to head towards the fields alongside Rookery Lane

It would seem something was upsetting all the birds in the fields to the north of the harbour, possibly a Marsh Harrier but it never showed.  Stepping onto the north wall path Curlew flew over heading out into the harbour, lit up by the setting sun.

When there are clouds in the sky I always feel they are enhanced by a black and white image, so in the processing of the photographs I decided to try an infra red conversion into black and white of the two images above and I thing it works quite well.  I am getting to really appreciate the use of black and white for both the landscapes and the birds themselves.

Back to the North Wall and it was the Brent that were the most active with skeins coming over our head and out on to the harbour mud.

While others were moving between the fields contrasting against the changing colours of the late afternoon sky.

The small pool on the other side of the wall footpath as you join it is very often full of Wigeon and Teal, but this evening it was empty.

But then in dropped this pair of Wigeon.

The drake with a nice reflection

More of the Brent Geese, this time towards the west.

We walked around to the Breech Pool, the tide was fully out and scattered about on the mud were Redshank, Wigeon, Teal and Black-headed Gulls.  At the back of the pool over the reeds a male Marsh Harrier hunted, quartering just above the reeds, visible for just a few seconds before dropping from view.

On the pool itself were a pair of Black-tailed Godwits, as they fed their reflections sowed well in the pool waters.

This walk always ends at this time of day at the sluice that empties into White's Creek, the hope of course that the Kingfisher will show either on the posts or the sluice itself, but today it was not on either.  The water level in the creek was low and there were good numbers of Wigeon along the edge taking in the last rays of the winter sunshine.

Back at the Breech Pool the Black-tailed Godwit continued to feed in the pool.

There were potentially three reasons for being here, all required being around at on or before sunset.  There was still some time to go and we walked slowly back towards the west.  Cattle Egret and Glossy Ibis have been seen coming into roost at Owl Copse, but of more interest is a showy Barn Owl that is around Halsey's Farm.

As we approached Owl Copse we were informed that the Barn Owl was around in the field alongside Halsey's Farm

There is always something magical about watching a hunting Barn Owl, they are easily one of the most elegant and enigmatic of all animals let alone owls.  Fortunately it decided to hunt along the hedge that divides the fields on the north side which brought it a little closer to us.

The unrushed silent wing beats carrying it along the hedge.

Then a pause, it wasn't looking down, they hunt by sound which is why this evening's conditions were perfect, hardly any wind to distract from the sounds in the grass, the owl stalled

Then hovered the head pointing down waiting to be sure of what it had heard before dropping like a stone to the ground.

We waited and it took a while before it appeared from the grass, but unfortunately headed back to where it had appeared from, but it was joined by a paler bird, probably a male, they flew over the reeds before disappearing into the next field and out of sight.

Decision now stay and wait, or go after it by walking up to the footpath that leads down to Halsey's farm and close to where we had just seen both birds last.  We decided to head to the farm, but after scanning around the fields we couldn't see either of them.  We were left with the Brent once again, this time heading out to roost.

Then a glimpse of one of the owls, again over the reeds, the light was going but the owl was still clearly visible, then both of them appeared and they headed off in different directions.

We rushed around to get a better view of the field where we considered one of them had headed for but once again there was no sign, the owl somehow had faded into the bushes and reeds.

We stood and waited, the cold beginning to find its way into our feet, but the owls never showed again.  It was dark now and too late to check for the roosting Ibis and egret.  Somebody said you never watch a Barn Owl, but encounter them and that was the case today, it was on their terms and the chose to give us some brief distant views.  The number of times we have walked across the field from Halsey's to the north wall and wished for a Barn Owl to appear, well this evening that wish came true.  They leave you wanting more and I was hoping that the weather would stay kind to us tomorrow and that there would be another chance, but already this visit was turning out to be special.