West Sussex with the East Grinstead RSPB Group

 Sunday 21st November 2021

There were just 4 of us today for our venture down to West Sussex; unfortunately 6 members cried off at the last minute.  The weather conditions were really good with sunshine and clear skies albeit with a keen northerly wind.  We spent the morning at Fishbourne Creek near Chichester, had lunch at Pagham Harbour RSPB before relocating to the Arundel area to visit The Burgh in the afternoon.  All in all we saw just under 50 species.

Fishbourne Creek, Chichester

Fishbourne Creek  is a lovely, picturesque site and today the lighting conditions were such that it showcased this to the maximum.  We followed the birds as they moved down the creek with the incoming tide.

• At Dell Quay we got off to a flying start with good views of Turnstones, a Curlew, a Common Sandpiper, Oystercatchers, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Black-headed Gulls and Great Crested Grebes from the shoreline adjacent to the boatyard.  On the opposite banks we could see a large group of Little Egrets.
• As we moved down the creek we encountered the lovely flock of Brent Geese, here for the winter no doubt and looking absolutely stunning.
• Then it was the large group of Wigeon that caught the eye, followed soon by a smaller, but equally majestic, group of Teal.  Then the Lapwings joined the show late on.

There was no sign of any Red-breasted Mergansers or Yellowhammers today.

Pagham Harbour RSPB, Chichester

A short drive took us to the RSPB site at Pagham Harbour where we stopped for lunch etc.  While we were there we took the opportunity to visit the Ferry Pool and the surrounding area.

• We added Shelduck and Shoveler to our list for the day.
• Joyce spotted a raptor sitting on a post in the field beyond the pool.  It was a Sparrowhawk, looking magnificent in the midday light.  Shaun then directed us to a Buzzard perched on a post about 50 metres to the left.
• We managed to find at least 4 Snipe in the reedbed closest to the main road at the right end of the pool.

The Burgh, near Arundel

Then we were off east to the Arundel area and up high to The Burgh.

• As we approached Burpham we saw a couple of Red Kites and a Buzzard, which augered well for the afternoon.  In fact that turned out to be the only Red Kites we saw.
• Most of the activity was in the hedgerows with plenty of Linnets, Chaffinches, Greenfinches and a small group of Corn Buntings.
• Quite late on as it started to get dark, Shaun heard the partridges calling.  There were at least 8 Grey Partridges and at least 1 Red-legged Partridge.
• Kevin found another Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier.

No sign of any Hen Harriers or Short-eared Owls.

A cracking day out!