Sunday work.

 As the opportunity of working on the spit 'cut'  is limited by the tidal conditions every opportunity has to be taken to continue whenever.  A force 8 gale with very heavy rain would have made conditions very difficult in the morning but by the time of low tide the  rain had stopped. 

A view of the workings from the eastern edge of the 'old' Little Lagoon which is now tidal. Here is a shot of it a low tide....

Looking eastward along the beach....

The 'cut' is becoming more apparent...


The following photographs show some of the machinery at work

The bird island is growing slowly but surely. This photo shows the part nearest Peregrine Island.

An engineer taking readings.  

More shingle off loading.

...and finally a splendid rainbow over the beach.

The works begin in earnest.

The heavy brigade arrives traversing the beach.....

Bulldozer and trucks heading for the crossing point.

 

All was well until they hit the old concrete lagoon  entrance

The bulldozer made light work of overcoming the problem.

Very soon the heavy machinery was able to cross to the Church Norton spit and work commenced.

The tipper truck concentrated on taking shingle from the new cut into the harbour to start creating the new island for breeding birds and a high tide roost.

Within an hour or so the clearly defined new cut  began to become evident.

Good work has started!

More activity

 At 9.00 a.m. this morning a huge low loader delivered a port-a-cabin to the 'old' carpark.

Viewed from beach.

This wasn't just any port-a-cabin, this was a BUNKABIN!!!

...with triple beds and powerful low energy showers....sheer luxury.

Then, at low tide at about 11.30 the first digger arrived on the beach and headed for the designated crossing point to Church Norton Spit. Several attempts were made but the water was too deep to make a road bridge.

It was forced to turn back and made its away along the beach to an alternative crossing point nearer the western end of the Pagham Spit.

The water was shallower and a road bridge wasn't even required.

Success!

Panoramic shot to give an idea of the eventual crossing point.

Brent Geese overhead.

Brent Goose looking a little lost!

More equipment arriving in the car park.

.....and just when I went out for a spot of birding at 4'clock I stumbled on this scene!!!

Car stuck in shingle with 6 chaps pushing it along the beach!

My guess is that the boat went to rescue the stranded driver of  the digger on the Church Norton Spit and then had to be hauled up to the car park.

Having saved the car disappearing into the shingle the boat then had to be manhandled to the tow bar of the car and eventually all was well.

You never know what you will come across on Pagham Beach.

Its another day tomorrow.

Good news...at last!

 After years of  waiting, the plans for cutting a new harbour entrance will actually go ahead! 

Heavy machinery has arrived today and orange coloured markers designating the new cut can be seen on the Church Norton Spit. 

 

Lowering clouds over the much reduced new lagoon in front of the West Front Rd properties this afternoon.

In the late afternoon a large motor home arrived and parked in the 'old' carpark. Apparently it's the site managers home for the duration of the work.

Watch this space as work progresses.