Trip reports

Pagham Harbour - by Frank Clark

Sunday, 22 February 2009

This was supposed to be a trip to West Wittering but in the middle of the week just before the walk, I was informed by Geoff (ex-postie), that the bridge that allows access to the car park had been shut. Not only had it been shut to vehicular traffic but it was also shut to pedestrian traffic as well, with an estimated opening date of the 6th of March!! Parking is very difficult in the village itself and despite calls to the local campsites prior to the Sunday, I was unable to secure an alternative parking site. The posties gallantly volunteered to go down an hour earlier than everyone else to try and find somewhere for us all to park but unfortunately this proved impossible. A quick decision was made and the trip was re-arranged to take in Pagham harbour, only a few miles away.

I have never visited Pagham harbour so early in the year and was not sure what to expect but putting aside the disappointment of the aborted visit to West Wittering, we set off taking in the path at the back of the visitors centre. This area is made up of thick scrub, hedges and some low trees. The usual small birds were present including a nicely marked Great Spotted Woodpecker. Reaching the inner harbour, we found good numbers of Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Pintail. Whilst a perched male Kestrel allowed us very close views, down to a range of just ten feet.

Moving on to the Ferry Pool, which is normally quite shallow and home to a good selection of waders and ducks, the water level seems to be getting deeper and the pool area larger every time we visit. Today it was as full as I have ever seen it but it still had good numbers of Mallard, Coot, Shoveler and Tufted Duck. Waders however were limited to just a few Lapwing and a single Redshank. The longish walk to Church Norton can be productive and on this occasion the tide was just right. It was just beginning to retreat, exposing the mudflats to the waiting multitude of hungry waders. Grey Plover, Knot (in excess of 300), Dunlin and 2 elegant Avocet were quickly picked up and a single Black-Tailed Godwit flew in.

Reaching the Church we had a very quick look around the churchyard before we moved on to the spit in front of the hide. Here we stopped and had Lunch, whilst continuing to watch the bay, as the tide retreated further into the harbour. Red-Breasted Merganser was a good find with around 18 birds in the bay. Cormorant, dark-bellied Brent Geese, Ringed Plover, Turnstone and a multitude of gulls were also present in big numbers. Amongst the gulls, I picked out a number of distant Mediterranean Gulls that were starting to develop their black heads. These adult birds were much easier to identify, than the juvenile bird that Dave had picked up a little earlier.

Moving on after lunch, we headed towards the beach to see what might be on the sea but as always, we checked out the shallow pool on the right hand side off the path. Geoff picked up a fine winter plumage Spotted Redshank and a number of Common Snipe feeding at the back of the pool. After watching the Redshank for 10 minutes, we headed to the beach. The tide was receding well and a good number of Dunlin, Oystercatcher and Knot were now feeding on the shoreline. Amongst the waders was a good number of Mediterranean Gulls providing close views of this beautiful gull. On the sea were Great Crested Grebe, Slavonian Grebe and Black-Necked Grebe all still in winter plumage.

It was now time to head back to the visitors centre, the cars and the return journey home. 61 species were seen and it turned out to be a very pleasant trip. Thanks again Mike and Geoff for going to West Wittering first.

Frank Clark