After a week at home, it was time to meet up with friends at Hayling Island for some R&R.
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| Little Egret |
On the way down we stopped at Emsworth, a place I had been to years before and a real haven for those seeking life near the sea and motorways, but tucked away in its own quiet corner with independent shops and a great community atmosphere - not to mention lovely tea shops!
A walk along the harbour wall was a great way to start our relaxing weekend with sea air and a bracing wind. Not many birds to be seen as the sea was out, but some great scenery.
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| Portsmouth from the Spinnaker Tower |
On Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning I wandered along the coast near to our weekend accommodation (Warners chalets). On the lake within the complex there were mallards, canada geese, coot and mute swan. On the Saturday Kevin and I walked along the creek nearby where a little egret fed in the early (well 7.30) morning sunshine. Along the stony beach we found a small nature reserve with starlings gathering in huge groups, a couple of magpie and black-headed gulls flying overhead. Our walk was a little longer than anticipated and a rather patient Carol waited for us to return before going into breakfast to meet the others. The day was spent in Portsmouth, exploring Gunwharf Quays and the Spinnaker Tower.
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| Sunrise over the creek |
Sunday Kevin and I decided to go down the creek towards the sea and this was a far more productive walk with several curlew feeding in the uncovered mud. Gulls flew overhead calling noisily. Herring gull were the main species, with a couple of black-headed - presumably they prefer the open sea. Few small birds were seen although house sparrow, more starling and a blackbird were identified along the way. With warmer sun this morning we found a few butterflies including large white and marbled white.
Today we decided to explore the area near Pagham and enjoyed a great walk around Pagham Harbour North Wall Nature Reserve. Lots of salt marsh, reed beds and mud. Sedge warblers were singing, little egret appeared to have bred here as there were several in the trees nearby, coot had young and there were huge numbers of black-headed gulls about. Meadow brown and gatekeeper butterflies fed on the bramble flowers. As we returned a few lapwing were feeding near the sluice and seemed quite confident with people nearby.
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| Marbled White Butterfly |
Monday morning and my companion was Paul who chose to blow the cobwebs away with a breezy pre-breakfast walk. We followed a path through the woods at the north of the complex trying to keep in the protection of the trees and away from the strong wind. This worked well although we got wet feet traipsing through long grass to get past the pitch and putt and onto the coastal path. Once again there were several curlew, but with the wind now blowing strongly towards us and a threatening storm we decided to retreat and head back for breakfast.
A really relaxing weekend with good friends and an area which I look forward to visiting again.
