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| Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta |
Thursday 6 November
Rather a case of Mohammed and the mountain this morning as I left home just after 7.30 to drive over to RSPB Pagham Harbour for a 9am meet! After all, if I cannot go to Spain then Spain had to come to me in the form of my dear friend Dave Elliott-Binns from Arboleas in Almeria, Spain who was over here with Gilly to spend a few weeks with family. And despite the very light rain on the drive from Warsash to Chichester, the actual visit was in perfect birding weather and even some bright sunshine. However, having arrived just after 8.30 I was able to make a quick walk over to the hide and check the water levels as high tide expected around 11.30. Lots of Teal and Shoveler on the pool the other side of the man rad plus a couple of Mallard and a few Black-headed Gulls. The low level basin held a Little Egret, Redshank and a pair of Moorhen and a trio of Greylag Geese passed over head. Even Collared Doves on the feeders outside the Visitors Centre and a Wren on the initial walk.
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| Shoveler Anas clypeata |
back to the car park to meet Dave and by 9 we were on our way to the the river at the back. The feeders now played host to visiting Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits plus a dozen or so House Sparrows. Before reaching the riverside path we had encountered Carrion Crows, Magpie, Goldfinch and a pair of Pheasants. Taking the path to the hide we recorded a Heron, Curlew, Oystercatcher and both the Little Egret and an additional Moorhen. Then a pleasant sight as we watched a Great Spotted Woodpecker fly over the river to the far trees.
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| Distant record shot of Curlew Numenuius arquata |
Once at the hide chance to take a proper look at the large pool on the other side of the main road. Over 30 Shoveler and Teal plus three Lapwing and a pair of Shelduck. A handful of Pied Wagtails on the beach to our right and at the very back able to pick out the lone Common Sandpiper. The feeders behind the hide next to the trees produced a Chaffinch and then both Chiffchaff and Dunnock whilst a Cormorant overflew towards the pool. Back at the pool a pair of Avocets flew in to take a rest.
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| Sleeping Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta |
Time to take a walk across the harbour end and along the southern path out to the viewing point on the bend overlooking the main water. A quartet of Stonechat plus Robin and Blackbird noted and lovely to see a Reed Bunting in the reeds to our left and a further three Curlew. Out on the main water a number of Wigeon along with more Teal and Mallard plus a Great Crested Grebe and a distant Mute Swan. Then, away to our right at lest eight Brent Geese. Making our way back to the hide we discovered that not only was the tide now fully in but had risen to cover the footpath so necessary to take evasive action, climb over the fence and descend to the min road before walking back to the car park. On the other hand, it did give us a closer look at the main pool and note that there were now 30 roosting Redshank at the back of the water, the Avocets were fast asleep and there five rather than three Lapwing on the main island.
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| Roosting Redshank Tringa totanus with two Shoveler in foreground |
After saying our goodbyes around noon, I drove over to the nearby RSPB Medmerry reserve for a very short visit where I the recorded 21 species including six new sightings for the morning. A Kestrel almost as soon as I arrived and the small, reeded pool on the other side of the track held a Coot whilst on the main water 26 sleeping Black-tailed Godwits. Further away in the taller trees the rookery still held a number of Rooks.
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| Resting Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa |
Back to the main water with a number of Teal and in the distance what looked like a handful of Egyptian Geese and confirmed as two more flew over me to join their friends. Then, making my way back to the car park along the main track below the bank, but nearer the hedgerows, a sighting of more Dunnock, Wren and Blackbird before a movement to the left drew my attention to a large bush which held a Yellowhammer at its summit. Finally, a last Blue Tit as I entered the car park to start my journey home.
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| Lapwing Vanellus vanellus with Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus |
Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting.
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| Shoveler Anas clypeata |
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