Chichester area including RSPB Medmerry, RSPB Pagham Harbour and Church Norton

Friday 26th August 2022

With Martin, Mark and Elizabeth

We spent the day at Pagham Harbour.  The storms of last night had abated and the conditions were really good with sunshine, and a gentle breeze.  

We started at RSPB Medmerry before moving round to the visitor centre for lunch.  Then it was off to the Ferry Pool before we finished off at Church Norton.

RSPB Medmerry 

There weren't too many waders around after last night's storm.

• The best we could do was find a couple of common sandpipers.
• A hobby flew by us as we walked to the stilt pool.
• The highlight for me was when we observed a "kettle" of 20+ buzzards.  What a delight to see so many of these birds sharing the same thermal. 

Ferry Pool near the Visitor Centre

Again, there was little in the way of waders, further evidence of a huge clear out overnight after the storm.

• The highlight for me was the 2 spotted redshanks that were feeding in the shallow waters ahead of us. 

courtesy of Richard Allan

• There was a common sandpiper here as well.

Church Norton

 

Here again there was little activity in the channels with hardly any birds showing at all.  The resident whimbrel and a few curlews were the main focus of interest

Behind the hide things were very different.

• There were at least 4, and probably 6, spotted flycatchers showing well on the fence line on the opposite side of the field.  They were totally unfazed by our presence and flitted around continuously throughout our stay.

courtesy of Martin Jeffree

• From time to time, they were joined by a redstart.

courtesy of Martin Jeffree

• A pair of blackcaps occupied the bushes behind and provided a perfect backdrop.
• No sign of any pied flycatchers, unfortunately.

We expected to see a glut of waders today, but it didn't happen.  What we did see however, more than made up for it.

Year total = 205