3 lifers at Pagham Harbour LNR!

Yesterday I visited Pagham Harbour, as usual it was pretty miserable, light rain and a grey sky! However it brightened up throughout the morning into the afternoon.

We (my mum, dog and I) decided to walk to the beach and back. Before this we stopped off at the hide, from the short walk there I saw 2 Woodpigeon and a young Blackcap. When we got there there didn't seem to be much around. But then I picked out a few lapwing asleep in the distance, a young Grey Heron, a single Shelduck, 3 Gadwall and a Feral Pigeon. 5 Swift were also flying around. Then we headed out on to the path that led all the way to the end of the reserve, the beach. Either side were great habitats for birds, reed beds, hedges, rivers and mudflats. Firstly a calling Common Sandpiper flew along one of the waterways and landed, dipping its beak into the mud. Sedge Warbler were also singing in the reeds, with one perched on the top of the vegetation. 2 Great Crested Grebe were also very sleepily floating on the water with 2 chicks. 2 Oystercatcher, calling as they went past.

Common Sandpiper

Great Crested Grebe and chick

In the distance there were Black-Tailed Godwits as well as more Shelduck, Little Egret and Curlew. Finally after an hour walk we reached where the mudflats open up (Church Norton). I spotted a few Whimbrel, a lifer for me. Behind me 5 Sand Martin were flying around, dodging the trees as they went. Around 8 Redshank were probing the mud and around 40 Cormorant were asleep on the other side of the flats. My highlight of the day and another lifer was a Sandwich Tern which suddenly appeared, flying across the end of the reserve.

Little Egret

Sandwich Tern

Whimbrel

Whimbrel

After eating our lunch with the accompaniment of the sound of the sea we headed back. On the way back we saw a group of 6 Goldfinch and a female Reed Bunting.