At least the heavy overnight rain had stopped when we went out but a chill wind was blowing from the north, a lazy wind, one that didn’t go around but straight through you. Naturally the floods and standing water that had started to drain away were as bad as ever; the thick, viscous mud was
everywhere made walking hard work.

Nearing the harbour we could hear the wigeon whistling which is unusual as they’re normally right out in the channel at low water.
There they were on the foreshore close to the footpath pecking away at something, exactly what, wasn’t clear. It’s not often that I’ve seen them feeding like this, at least not in daylight.

Further on where the Lavant outfall was in full flow more Wigeon were enjoying the fresh water seemingly unconcerned by our presence. In contrast the Coots were skittish shooting off when were still some way away. A handful of Redshanks, Oyster Catchers, Curlew and Dunlin were there too, scattered on the banks feeding on the rich mud.

The stream that flows along Fishbourne Meadows was swollen, flooding parts of the adjacent reedbed.
Often there’s a pair of Mallard there but today they preferred to be in the field in the splashes; maybe the stream was too fast for them. The trees around the meadows seemed to be particularly attractive to Tits, many of them were there establishing their territories with strident song.