Hurricane Bertha Hits the Beach

Well, not quite, but the tail end of Bertha resulted in a stormy morning......

Looking towards Bognor at high tide.

Looking towards the spit.

If the wind had been in a different direction the fencing might have been lost!

Flattened!

No worries...Arun District Council were on the scene in late afternoon and soon had the matter under control...and the fence was in position again albeit just a little nearer the bungalows!

The Annual Lifeboat display.

This event takes place every year and centres around a 'rescue' near the Pagham Yacht Club.

The Coastguard Helicopter arrives on scene.

The 'casualty' in the water with flare.

The winchman safely delivers the 'casualty' onto the lifeboat.

...and is then returned to the helicopter.

...all watched by a team from the coastguards who had walked the entire length of the spit.

A replacement time lapse camera being fixed this morning............

Looking at it later it appears it didn't get fixed!

...and an additional length of rope attached to the life ring which had to be used recently but fell short of requirements!

Life on the beach.

Another hot day in store, presumably!

...taken at 9.45  this morning.

Later in the day fishermen arrived on the spit  for a spot of night fishing....8.30 p.m. and the sun is still shining..........

Setting up the 'gear'.

A few recent pictures taken along the beach....

...taken on 20th June....we don't want too many of these in the harbour!  If seen please notify the RSPB information centre at Sidlesham.

The 'cliff' looking east.

Close up of the poor tree!

Low tide from the third groyne looking west

The main spit now joins up with the junior spit at low tide as it pushes ever eastwards.

Looking towards the revetment which will be reinforced as soon as the rocks arrive.

Another view looking west showing the the effect of the scour current on the beach.

All is not lost however  and parts of the beach still look good.

...and the Broom smells wonderful.

Wild sweet pea.

Unfortunately Ragwort is taking over the spit towards the old harbour entrance....once controlled but no longer.

Tornado approaching!!

From the beach this afternoon...............

The waterspout...seen between Selsey and Rustington

 Scary!

A bit close for comfort!

Fortunately it stayed out at sea and within 10 minutes it had gone.

We've been fenced in!

11.15 this morning....activity on the beach!!

Our view of the sea is becoming more obscured.....to prevent beach visitors from falling over the cliff edge.

Can you really believe this is unspoilt Pagham Beach!