Another bright morning with a light northerly breeze, but not particularly peaceful today as it’s Goodwood

Speed Week. The noise of the racing circuit has been carried south to us on the wind and is surprisingly loud despite the distance. The wining of high revving engines as they negotiate the bends in the track are quite a contrast with the usual silence of the harbour.

The tide is well out so the channel is quite narrow attracting all the wildfowl which seem to feel safe there. For a change there are many groups of ten or more Mallard ducks, some in the Lavant outflow enjoying the fresh water, some further out amongst the mud banks. This is the first time so many have congregated here, perhaps some are migrants, perhaps some have been pushed off ponds by
shooting. Such a contrast from earlier days when the tide was higher and the harbour was empty.

In the fields someone, probably the Harbour Conservancy, has put up some smart new signposts and repaired the gates. They certainly needed attention, its good to see that essential maintenance has not been suspended like the volunteer work parties. In the fields there’s little to see now apart from clumps of Yarrow which is still growing strongly.

In the soft sunlight of early morning the trees near the church are showing their Autumn hues, if only it

could stay like this for a while but soon all the leaves will be on the ground. In the graveyard of the little church are reminders of those who died in the war, a bomber wireless operator, a navigator and a flying boat pilot. It’s an appropriate resting place, such a contrast from their violent end.