MINIBUS TRIP TO PAGHAM HARBOUR - THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5TH 2009
Thursday, 5 February 2009
With overnight snow it was no surprise that only 11 of the original 24 were able to make this trip. Nevertheless, Pagham itself was snow free and after a wet drive down, the skies cleared to a mild sunny day. Because of the retreating tide, we went first to Church Norton and enjoyed a nice range of waders on the mudflats, including a good number of knot, and several bar-tailed godwits. Moving to the shingle beach, we discovered the dominant gull to be Mediterranean, with up to 14 birds in various plumages, allowing close comparison with black headed gulls. Here too were more waders, including dunlin and turnstone. With patience, up to 3 red throated divers could be seen offshore, plus a small raft of common scoter. After lunch at the visitor centre, the afternoon walk via the ferry pool hide was in truth rather quiet, but did add reed bunting, meadow pipit and a spotted redshank.
Other species recorded : Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Brent Goose, Wigeon, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Kestrel, Red legged Partridge, Pheasant, Coot, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Curlew, Black tailed Godwit, Redshank, Common Gull, GBB Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, GS Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, LT Tit, Starling, Magpie, Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch. (63 species)
Reported by Steve Oakes
