The round Chidham walk is one of the best in the harbour but today it’s not such a good idea as the seawall on the west side has collapsed and the path is closed for six months or until repaired. I’m sure we could make our way past the collapse along the marsh as it’s low tide but will check that out another day, it suits me to keep it short for now.

The short version is to park at St Mary’s, walk over the fields to the Bomb hole, follow Harbour way onto the harbour wall then back crossing the private road to Cobnor and past the hidden pond.

Another grey, rather silent day was suddenly livened up by four deer running across the field, quite close by, from the Bomb hole to the opposite side. Clearly they were Roe deer with their bright white rumps bouncing about in the grey of the field.

The harbour was quiet with just a sprinkling of Brent around the margins in contrast to the fields which were being besieged by hungry birds. You have to feel for the farmers who have done what they can with bird scarers to try and save what little is left if the winter sowing. The regular bangs only excite Bonnie who thinks someone is shooting, the birds take little notice.

Someone is shooting however over towards Cobnor as a huge flock of pigeons went up after two shots in quick succession; not for long though as they all fly over to the Bosham side without returning. In one field there was about 40 crows feeding on something – either small shoots or maybe worms in the ground. On leaving the harbour the field on the left has 60+ Brent feeding, more than enough to do real damage to the stunted crops that have survived the rain.