ABG visit to RSPB Pagham Harbour and RSPB Medmerry

 

Sunday 15^th June  2025

RSPB Pagham Harbour and RSPB Medmerry,  Sussex

Ashdown Bird Group

(9 members present)

Trip Report

As several of our regulars were on holiday and Father's Day was also being observed, today's turnout was not bad. The weather was good, with plenty of sunshine and very little wind.

The plan was to target Church Norton in the afternoon to look for birds on the incoming tide. In the last week, Little Terns, Sanderlings and Bar-tailed Godwits have made the headlines here.  

We met at 09:30 at the Visitor Centre in Pagham, spent a short time at the Ferry Pool and surrounding area, before we headed off to nearby RSPB Medmerry, where we parked at the Easton Lane site.  At 12.30, we moved to Church Norton.

Ferry Pool and Visitor Centre

We got off to a good start in the car park and surrounds of the Visitor Centre with these beauties making the headlines:-

Common Whitethroat 

Courtesy of Alison Playle

Kestrel

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

Buzzard 

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

Long-tailed Tit

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

Greenfinch

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

The Ferry Pool itself was at its lowest level of the year; consequently, the number of birds was well below normal.  Pick of the bunch were these two Black-tailed Godwits.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

After just over an hour, we relocated to RSPB Medmerry, car-sharing to avoid problems at the Easton Lane car park.

RSPB Medmerry

On the way down to the Stilt Pools, we saw several birds; here are the highlights.

Linnet

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

Skylark in flight

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

Skylark on the ground

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

Yellowhammer

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

Reed Bunting

 Courtesy of Phil Aylen

Sandmartin

 Courtesy of Alison Playle

At the Stilt Pool, we found the usual suspects like Avocet, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Lapwing and Ringed Plover.  Colin’s sighting of a Little Ringed Plover caused some discussion before Phil’s record shot confirmed the ID.

Church Norton

We enjoyed a well-earned lunch on the benches overlooking the harbour at Church Norton.  First impressions suggested that bird numbers were low, but upon closer examination, many highlights were observed.

Little Egret.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Shelducks flying over  Mediterranean Gulls

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

We are often asked, "What's the difference between a Whimbrel and a Curlew?"  Phil's image below provides a great opportunity to compare the two and make the correct ID. Compare the sizes.  Look at the curvature of the bill.  Is there an eye-stripe and supercilium?

Whimbrel and Curlew together

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

We really wanted to see Little Terns today, and they didn't disappoint with a small group entertaining us for the duration of our stay.  A couple gave distant but great views on the muddy edges of the lagoon, but the nearest and clearest views were undoubtedly the flight views.

Little Tern in flight.

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

They weren't the only tern species on show, of course. There were small numbers of Common Terns and Sandwich Terns.

Two Common Terns on mud and a Sandwich Tern in the water.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Sandwich Terns in flight.

Courtesy of Alison Playle

The highlight of the afternoon, however, was provided by the Mediterranean Gulls, with scores of them on the mud or flying around, making their distinctive call.  This was the largest gathering most of us had ever encountered at one site.

Mediterranean Gulls with a Sandwich Tern

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Mediterranean Gulls in flight

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

The quirkiest bird of the day was this leucistic Blackbird, seen only by Patrick very early in the day.

Leucistic Blackbird

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

Alison took a couple of photographs of butterflies.

Comma

Courtesy of Alison Playle

Marbled White

Courtesy of Alison Playle

The glorious weather attracted more than the birds, with this Spitfire displaying well in the morning.

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

This was a most enjoyable trip! 67 different bird species, great weather and superb company – something for everybody.

What more do you want?

 Well done, everyone!

Thanks Martin

Species List:

Name:	Count		Name:	Count
Avocet	1		Lesser Whitethroat	34
Black-headed Gull	2		Linnet	35
Black-tailed Godwit	3		Little Egret	36
Blackbird	4		Little Ringed Plover	37
Blackcap	5		Little Tern	38
Blue Tit	6		Long-tailed Tit	39
Buzzard	7		Magpie	40
Canada Goose	8		Mallard	41
Carrion Crow	9		Mediterranean Gull	42
Cetti's Warbler	10		Moorhen	43
Chaffinch	11		Oystercatcher	44
Chiffchaff	12		Pheasant	45
Coal Tit	13		Pied Wagtail	46
Common Tern	14		Redshank	47
Coot	15		Reed Bunting	48
Cormorant	16		Reed Warbler	49
Curlew	17		Ringed Plover	50
Dunnock	18		Robin	51
Gadwall	19		Rook	52
Goldfinch	20		Sand Martin	53
Great Crested Grebe	21		Sandwich Tern	54
Great Spotted Woodpecker	22		Shelduck	55
Great Tit	23		Skylark	56
Green Woodpecker	24		Starling	57
Greenfinch	25		Stock Dove	58
Grey Heron	26		Stonechat	59
Herring Gull	27		Swallow	60
House Martin	28		Swift	61
House Sparrow	29		Tufted Duck	62
Jackdaw	30		Whimbrel	63
Jay	31		Whitethroat	64
Kestrel	32		Woodpigeon	65
Lapwing	33		Wren	66
			Yellowhammer	67
Species count = 67

2025 species count = 180

New Species:

180  Red-necked Phalarope