Monday 14th September 2026: Pagham Harbour

-

 We had another enjoyable trip to Pagham Harbour today with Sue and Bernie. We got off to an excellent start, with two stunning juvenile Little Stints close to the road in front of Ferry Hide, with diagnostic tramlines on the back showing well, clean white breast, and short black bill drilling into the mud. A nearby Lapwing provided a good size comparison, emphasising the tiny size of the Stints.

Little Stint

In the creek a pair of Avocets and a single Black-tailed Godwit were noteworthy. We walked the tramway circuit back to the car, before driving round to Church Norton.

Avocet

Black-tailed Godwit

We settled on Bernie’s bench and scanned the harbour as the tide gradually rose. Curlew, Oystercatcher and a Grey Plover retaining some aspects of summer plumage were dotted around the mudflats, together with a Whimbrel and Greenshank. In the distance Bernie spotted a couple of Marsh Harriers quartering over the saltmarsh. As high tide approached, Bernie spotted an Osprey which flew around the harbour mouth, settling for a short rest on a bank before heading towards North Wall. Next a Peregrine appeared and had a failed attempt to catch a Redshank, which it dropped from its claws, before disappearing from view. 

Moving on, we scanned unsuccessfully behind the hide for flycatchers, but there were no birds on view. Returning to the boardwalk, I picked up the Osprey again, flying in our direction, and we were lucky enough to observe it catch a fish, before retiring to New Island to devour its prey. Continuing along the track a Kingfisher dashed past with a brilliant blue flash, providing a superb finale to our birding day.

We finished with a tally of fifty species, so a really worthwhile excursion.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sunday 6th July 2025: Chapada dos Guimares, Brazil Day 8

-
Image
As always, we were up early, as dawn broke, to enjoy the birdlife when it is most active. We barely moved from our meeting point in the garden, but enjoyed a feast of birds all around us. First up, Tony M pointed out a superb Amazonian Motmot sat quietly and unobtrusively in the tree, showing a bright blue crown and long, shuttlecock tail.  In another tall tree behind the dining area, Blue-headed Parrots flew in, giving excellent scope views. A stunning Yellow-tufted Woodpecker with superb, bold colours was a real treat as it inched along a branch, then a group of Lettered Aracaris, with distinct bill patterning, landed in the secropia tree just above our heads. Next a Boat-billed Flycatcher appeared, then at a feeding trough, White-lined Tanagers mingled with doves and blackbirds. On the flowers a Black-throated Mango hovered, and a Yellow rumped Cacique landed nearby. On the ground a Creamy-bellied Thrush hopped energetically.  Back in the secropia, a pair of Blue Dacnis dar...
Read more

10th June 2024: Adur riverside walk

-
Image
 We took an afternoon stroll up the river towards the old cement works, in search of Common Sandpiper. We failed to find any at their favoured location, although possibly the tide was a bit too high still when we arrived. The river was generally quiet, with around a dozen Mute Swans noted drifting in a small flotilla. A couple of Little Egret were quite mobile around the muddy banks and a few Mallard dabbled in the river. In the hedgerows we found a Chiffchaff singing and briefly a Blackcap over the path. Approaching the road bridge, Chris ran past and stopped to point out a few Bee Orchids in the rough grass beside the path. By the toll bridge, there was a colourful display of wild flowers, making for a pleasant afternoon walk. Bee Orchid
Read more

Friday 17th January 2025: Pagham Harbour

-
Image
We enjoyed a lovely day out at Pagham yesterday with Sue. We started with a circuit from the visitor centre, but the water levels were high at Ferry Pool and there was little of note. In the channel a few Redshank and Curlew were the best we could muster. We relocated to Halsey’s Farm and walked across the field to North Wall. There were plenty of Wigeon whistling noisily as we passed, and out in the harbour swathes of waders, creating a tremendous spectacle when they all took to the skies, a murmuration of Golden Plover swirling above flocks of Lapwing, and groups of Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit dropping in to the nearby fields. Lines of Brent geese headed further west, calling softly as they passed over.   Wigeon In the area we were thrilled to find a Long-eared Owl roosting, showing surprisingly well near the front of a bush. Long-eared Owl In White’s Creek we were treated to great views of a Spotted Redshank which wandered in very close, allowing us to note its key features. ...
Read more