West Sussex

Pagham Harbour - February 1st 1998

As usual we started at the Ferry Pond. The area was quiet with only Common Kestrel, Rook, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Northern Shoveler, Common Shelduck and Common Moorhen. The path up beside the harbour adde Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Common Coot, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull and Mute Swan.

The Dartford Warbler was again at its wintering spot, where I also saw Song Thrush, Sky Lark and a Merlin. The channel held Common Redshank, Great Black-backed Gull, Dunlin and European Wigeon. Walking back towards the Ferry Pond added Carrion Crow, Eurasian Jackdaw, Eurasian Curlew, Grey Plover and three Spotted Redshanks.

Song Thrush

A second look at the Ferry added a female European Goldeneye, whilst in the nearby bushes were Goldcrest, Redwing and Chaffinch.

Round at Church Norton the trees held Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits, European Robin, Hedge Accentor, Eurasian Blackbird and Wood Pigeon. The mudflats added Little Egret, Greater Ringed Plover and more Common Shelduck, Eurasian Curlew, Dunlin, Eurasian Oystercatcher and the usual wintering Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Finally, on the lagoon and on the surrounding mudflats were Bar-tailed Godwits, 150+ Great Black-backed Gulls, one male and five female European Goldeneye, Grey Heron, Common Teal, Northern Pintail, Mallard, Eurasian Wigeon and Little Grebe.