Whooper Swans

The day started with scanning of the Brent Geese at West Wittering, mainly in search of the elusive Black Brant. I was unable to locate the bird so I took time out to record the colour ringed Brents. No sooner had I got started when the illustrious flying members of our Royal Navy decided to conduct helo operations directly above Wittering. Thanks chaps for dispersing the geese, I gestured to the aviators in the time honoured fashion of Naval folk. I am highly suspicious of this operational behaviour, as when I was in the Navy, the Fleet Air Arm never worked on a Friday.

See the updates to colour ringed Brents on a previous posting

Noisy and intrusive!!.

I gave up on Wittering and left for the North Wall at Pagham, hoping for a shot at the Whooper Swans but expecting more of the debacle of Tuesday. As I arrived a kind birder informed me that they were still about but having an altercation with two Mute Swans. However, by the time I reached the other end of the pool things had calmed down somewhat and these graceful and elegant birds posed regally for the assembled few.

Throughout the day I spotted the usual suspects, Trevor, Simon, Dave and Dave, Chris and Ian and was able to wish them all seasonal good cheer.

In the flooded North Fields,  approximately 500 Black-tailed Godwits, which when spooked, provided a fantastic flight display.

 

 

 

 

And finally, whilst stood on the North Wall, what I am pretty sure was a Peacock butterfly flew out into the harbour  - on the 21st of December!!