West Sussex - Pagham Harbour and Beyond - Quality not Quantity!

I took the journey east along the south coast Sunday to link up with Pete Alfrey for a day’s birding on the Monday. Pete Alfrey's Blog I was the first to stay in his new guest accommodation at his home in Siddlesham. After a very comfortable night having tested out all appliances within the caravan we set out to Selsey Bill to begin a sea watch with the regulars at the bill!

We arrive in the nick of time to start logging the birds moving out to sea! I quickly tagged the watch as a West Sussex tick fest as the species passed by. I missed the first Velvet Scoter (3) but caught up with a couple and a Long Tailed Duck which led the group flying east.

Red-throated Diver (51) was noted during this time along with a couple of Black-throated Diver! No Great Northern Diver but there was a few Red-breasted Merganser and a raft of Common Scoter on the sea to add to the list. A handful of Razorbill, an un-identified Auk and Kittiwake soon followed.

Black Brant top right. (orientallis**)

Pagham Harbour and a pre lunch visit to Medmery produced another highlight for us the number of Brent Geese that were in the fields across both sites was amazing (4.5K). 

**ID Handbook of European Birds by Duivendijk. Grey-bellied (nigricans) as correct nomenclature.

Pale Bellied Brent Goose (hrota)

There is a lot of discussion about the origins across the sub-species of this Goose but based on appearance we had good candidates for all sub-species at Church Norton mid afternoon.

Dark Bellied Brent (bernicla)

bernicla was the most common race in the fields with a couple of hrota and one very good candidate for orietallis! We both agreed this was a spectacular sight with the constant call resonating from the flock!

A visit to Marsh Farm had us connect with a handful of Cattle Egret in the field of sheep! I remember the days when I would twitch this rare visitor to the UK but established flocks roam the south these days!

We spent time at dusk watching the Marsh Harrier come into roost which again was amazing to see!

We logged 83 species during the day which included a lunch break which was entertaining as the BBC were filming a documentary at a busy Billy’s. Our whining at how low our day tally was had us told off by a producer for making too much noise! Funny!!