Shoreham Harbour - the Adur Estuary

Sunday 26^th November 2023

Shoreham

Ashdown Bird Group

(6 members present)

It was a case of “and now for something completely different” as we embarked on our latest birding trip.  We were given a guided tour of the birding sites around the Adur Estuary in Shoreham by Richard Allan, a fellow member of the Friends of Weir Wood Working Party, a Shoreham resident and an active member of the Shoreham District Ornithological Society (SDOS).    

 

Our visit today took in 3 sites, all close together. We started at high tide, on the Norfolk Bridge, overlooking the Adur Estuary RSPB reserve. Our next stop involved a short walk to the Widewater Lagoon Nature Reserve. After returning to the car park, we then drove round to Shoreham Fort to look for winter birds in the harbour area.

Due to the worsening weather conditions after lunch, we were unable to visit any other sites in the area.

Adur Estuary RSPB Reserve

Reputed to be the third smallest in the country, this reserve is a little gem.  Here saltmarsh and mudflats meet making it a perfect feeding and roosting site for waders and wildfowl. Incredibly, it is situated only a few hundred metres from the town centre of Shoreham.  Like so many of the local people, most of us were unaware of its existence - until today!

We were invited to join 4-5 members of the SDOS group on the Norfolk Bridge, on the very busy A259 road, for their monthly WEBS count.  A 9 am start ensured we were in place to witness the high tide and the consequent bird activity.

·   The most spectacular event involved snipe.  Initially we could pick out only 3-4 on the flooded grassy areas but, on the rising tide, many more were flushed and took to the sky until in the end there were scores of them showing. A very impressive final figure of 85 was reported.

 

·   Redshank numbers were also high and they too provided spectacular aerial views when flushed.

·   At least 3 grey plovers were seen on the ground early on and then in flight later.  2 are seen here – their reflections in the water provided some great artistry.

·   A greenshank, 30 teal and at least 3 grey plover were also noteworthy sightings.

·   Another highlight was a kingfisher hovering for several minutes ahead of us on the reserve.

 

Only 18 species seen but what a superb experience!

It’s hard to believe we were unaware of such a local treasure!

 

All pictures courtesy of Alison Playle

 

 

 

 

Widewater Lagoon Nature Reserve

This reserve, certainly better known than the Adur site, is normally a good place to see goosanders and/or red breasted mergansers. 

• Alas that was not the case for us today and neither species was seen, even though Richard had seen a goosander here a few days ago.
• As we entered the reserve, a kingfisher flew along the south edge of the lagoon before disappearing round the bay.
• At least 8 little grebes were present on the lagoon.
• A single stonechat was seen as we left the site.

 

Better luck next time I hope!

 

Shoreham Fort

The fort itself often houses a black redstart at this time of year and the nearby harbour area is a well- known purple sandpiper hotspot, although numbers have declined in recent years.

·   Alas that was not the case for us today and neither species was seen, even though a purple sandpiper had been reported on the West Pier less than an hour earlier.

·   A red-throated diver flew past on the sea, heading west.  A couple of gannets were also seen on the sea but they were a long way out.  As we were leaving Richard saw a flock of 6 brent geese flying high overhead.

·  A grey wagtail and a rock pipit were also welcome sightings.

·   It was good to see turnstones as the tide receded.   They were occupying the ledges and support structures.

·   There was one really big surprise at the end of our trip.  Alison spotted a duck on the east side of the channel near Kingston beach and once we got our telescope views it was found to be a juvenile male eider.  A first of the year for most of us and a very welcome visitor.

 

A very different birding experience but so enjoyable.  The Adur estuary is now very much on our radar and is very high on our “must come back here” list’

 

·   Thanks to the Shoreham District Ornithological Group for allowing us to participate in their bird survey today and for sharing their sightings with us.

·   Most of all, thanks to our, Richard Allan, for organising this memorable event.

·   Thanks are also due to Richard and his wife Carrie for allowing us to use his fabulous apartment home to have our lunch.  Overlooking the River Adur with good views to the north and south it is a birders dream!

 2023 species count = 202