Pagham harbour 9 miles circular walk

This walk was lead by me as part of the Mid Sussex Ramblers' programme.
Click the the link here for the Mid Sussex Ramblers' programme. 

Above is the view across the road at Pagham harbour nature reserve.

Here there were a dozen or so Shell ducks and what appear to be juvenille lapwings or peewits.

Thanks to Tony for sending me the above picture and others.
My enjoyment of real ales is starting to show.

It was low tide and the water's edge was far off.

Life is tough as an adolescent.
This black-headed gull has yet to develop a black head as it enters its first winter.
Can you imagine our delight when a kingfisher flew right
in front of us and perched on the metal work below?

Click on the above picture to see the Kingfisher.
It seemed strange to see one fishing in the sea!

This Hawkbit? was clinging to life in the shingle track.

Our picnic lunch break was taken on the beach in bright sunshine and temperature >20C
What a lovely climate!
Then we spotted a flock of birds that flew in to the next breakwater.
Take a closer look, below.

They seem to be juveniles, which in their adolescent plumage are not so easy to identify.

I thought that they were ringed plovers but are they, in fact turnstones?

What do you think?

Click here to see the RSPB page on turnstones.

Aren't these the most enchanting little birds?

They finally took flight when I got just a little to close.

The walk from Pagham to Selsey.

The view from Selsey towards Bognor and Brighton, which inspired Coates
to write was was to become the theme music for "Desert Island Discs".

Selsey fishing boats silhouetted in sunshine off Selsey beach.

There was even time for ice cream on this relaxed walk!

Mid Sussex Ramblers posing in front of some lobster pots.

Turnstones and a juvenile gull feasted on crab shells discarded by the fishermen.

These are such pretty little birds and you can get to within a few meters before they fly away.

Selsey life boat station.

After leaving Selsey, we headed off across flat farmland, which, having been recently resown was a bit lacking in bird life - apart from a kestrel. 

What better way to round off a good walk than with a pint or two at the

Sportsman pub overlooking the Amberley levels, with a threatening sky behind.
See also http://www.sussexrambler.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/pagham-harbour-sidlesham-quay-to-selsey.html  for more birds from 2014.
My pictures of butterflies and other insects, orchids and other native flowers from the UK feature in illustrated talks.  Please see www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk for information.  The same site lists my historical talks, including the "Influence of invasions on the English Language", "A history of the Adur valley and seven 1,000 year old churches",   "The American revolutionary war", "The exotic flowers, nuts spices and vegetables of St Lucia" and "A history of Cuckfield."

Guests from Karlstadt welcomed by Cuckfield European Association

Cuckfield is twinned with Karlstadt in Germany.
Click here for info' on the Cuckfield European Association
On this day our trusting visitors embarked on a stroll with "Sussexrambler".
Here we all are leaving Exceat at the beginning of our walk.

Click on any picture to expand it.

The weather was perfect for walking this area of outstanding natural beauty.
Here is a couple of young German beauties too.

The picture above was taken in May 2008 and is added just to show how unstable the chalk cliffs are after some harsh weather. Look at the massive cliff falls on the beach.
The support team from Cuckfield provided a magnificent lunch
for the multitude at East Dean at 1300hr.
To arrive (nearly) on time the walk was truncated.
Belle Tout lighthouse was dropped from the itinerary and instead sussexrambler
meandered the group across the Downs before Birling Gap to East Dean for lunch

and then on through Friston forest and back to Exceat via West Dean.

Just look how happy one can be, knowing that the end of the stroll is finally in sight.
Click on this picture to see the joy on our the faces!
My thanks are due to Dr. Franz Arand for kindly downloading the pictures from his camera
to my computer for me to add a few to this entry. Thank you Franz.
Scroll down the page to open pictures from many other local walks.