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Pagham Harbour – April 9th 2000

A cold and windy day but sunny and early migrant season so we thought it worth a visit. As ever, the Ferry Pond was the first port of call. Around the carpark we heard or saw European Robin, Hedge Accentor, Common Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

The water level of the Ferry Pool was high but not high enough to cover all the muddy edges. The usual birds were Common Shelduck, Eurasian Linnet, Common Moorhen, Wood Pigeon, Mallard, Black-headed and Herring Gulls and Common Teal. Waders were nicely represented with five Black-tailed Godwits, mostly in almost full summer regalia, three Pied Avocets, two Common Redshank, and, at the far end, two Green Sandpipers. The bushes across the road held Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Greenfinch and Blue Tit.

Over by the Channel we picked up more Common Redshanks, a few Eurasian Curlews, Black-tailed Godwits and Grey Plovers and a Spotted Redshank with plumage halfway between winter and summer. Smaller birds here were the usual Eurasian Reed-bunting, a couple of singing males and one female, Sky Larks, Meadow Pipit and Black-billed Magpie. The first hirundine of the year appeared in the form of a Barn Swallow. This was quickly joined by another Barn Swallow, two Sand Martins and a House Martin. They swooped over the reeds and nearby fields for a few minutes then were gone.

At Church Norton we could see the tide was very low and there were a few waders in the distance. These were Eurasian Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, and Eurasian Curlew. A bird we hoped to see here was soon located – a female Kentish Plover. One Little Egret flew close by and disappeared behind a shingle bank.

From the beach we saw a female Common Kestrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Eurasian Curlew, Great Black-backed and European Herring Gulls and Great Cormorant.

Finally, back near the carpark, we had Eurasian Blackbird, European Robin, Great and Blue Tits, Common Chiffchaff and Eurasain Greenfinch.

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