A trip into West Sussex.

Saturday 5th March 2022.

The Spotted Redshank by Sidlesham Ferry this morning.

It was back over to West Sussex this weekend as we picked up a trio of birds to add to our year list and it could easily have been at least four. My goal this morning was to hopefully see the Glossy Ibis around the Marsh Farm area of Sidlesham, but, yet again, they proved frustratingly elusive. At least it was a dry, but cold, day and thankfully, I was attired in warm clothing to keep that chilly wind out, plus a hot flask of coffee for refreshments.

Three-cornered Leek growing abundantly along Chalder Lane.

Daffodils lining Chalder Road.

Our first Lesser Celandine of the year were abundant too. 

Having picked Andy up a little later than usual as I popped in to see my father first thing this morning, we eventually made our way along the A27 westbound, through Chichester and then down to Chalder Lane within Sidlesham and parked up in the small car park at St Mary Our Lady Church. The roadside was adorned with flowering Daffodils, Primula’s, Three-cornered Leeks and Lesser Celandine as we made our way along the farmland roads, keeping a sharp eye-out within the fields for the Ibis.

This male Greenfinch was in full song along the road. 

One of a pair of Stock Doves seen near the Church.

Sadly, we never found the birds, but at least we saw at least 30+ Cattle Egrets in the distant fields and a nearby flooded field contained at least 60+ Wigeon, about a dozen Curlew and a few Little Egrets among them. I was surprised at how the roadside hedges were near deserted for birds, with no Yellowhammers or hardly any passerines present. Overhead, we had a sighting of a female Sparrowhawk soaring in the grey sky and at least two Common Buzzards were being chased off by Corvids. Though to be honest, apart from a pair of Roe Deer and several Pheasants, all was very quiet here. It seems the best way to see the Ibis here are when they are leaving or arriving at their roost site by the North Wall.

One of the flooded fields held a variety of birds including Wigeon, Gulls, Egrets and Curlew. 

One of two Roe Deer out in the fields.

Our next stop was to be Sidlesham Ferry Pool and so parking up in the small car park opposite the Park Centre, we made our way slowly to the Hide overlooking the Ferry Pool. Again, not a great deal of activity on our walk there, bar a few Goldfinches flying over and when we arrived at the Ferry Pool, the high water level on the pool held hardly any waders. There was a big flock of roosting Black-headed Gulls and among them we found at least two Mediterranean Gulls, both adults in full summer plumage which looked quite smart. Shoveler, Teal and Mallard were in small numbers on the water here, but little else of note. 

A lone adult Mediterranean Gull among the Black-headed Gulls on the Ferry Pool.  

The Spotted Redshank among the Teal near the Ferry Pool.

I did know that the regular Spotted Redshank was present on the stretch of water east of the Sluice and it did not take long to find the bird that was accompanying a Redshank. This was our first 'Spotshank' of the year and it performed for us really well, wading in the shallow water among a small flock of Teal dabbling on the water. We had a quick check out in the fields for any Grey Partridge, but not a sausage! The footpath adjacent to the Ferry Lagoon had been decimated by its owners, much to the disgust of the local birders here; all the shrub and bushes have all been cut down and for what purpose I might add? Just reckless management from the Landowners. Just a shame that the RSPB, who run Pagham Harbour now, could not put a stop to it.

This Great Northern Diver flew in and then promptly landed on the water distantly in front of us. 

Our next destination was to be Selsey Bill. It was around 11am when we arrived and rather than get out into the cold, we had a good viewing spot from the comfort of my car, overlooking a flat calm grey sea. Our first Gannet of the year duly arrived, a fine adult and although we were not packing a Scope, the bright white of the bird was clearly distinctive against the dark sky. A second bird was seen a little later. A Great Northern Diver flew in and looked to be coming towards the beach but it soon settled on the water and was seen several times subsequently bobbing on the water. Both Sandwich Tern and Mediterranean Gull flew past and at least three Red-breasted Mergansers flew distantly past during our time there. Though there was no sign of an early Wheatear or Sand Martin on or over the beach, there was a small flock of Turnstone on the beach until they flew off.

A few Turnstone were on the beach.

The Whimbrel on the salt marsh in Pagham Harbour.

Our last stop was Church Norton to check the harbour at high tide. Within a few minutes, the fresh marsh in front of us held our first Whimbrel of the year, the regular wintering bird that was roosting with a Curlew; our third and final ‘year-tick’ of the day. A few waders were resting near the concrete spit that included a few Grey Plover, Dunlin and Turnstone plus a few more adult Med Gulls glowing in the grey conditions. There were no raptors on Tern Island or the neighbouring islands and with the rising tide, we soon made our way back to the car and home.

The Curlew (left) with the Whimbrel on the salt marsh within the harbour.

Grey Plover, Dunlin and Turnstone were among the Gulls on the spit within the harbour. 

Earlier today, both mine and Andy’s moth box drew a complete blank when it came to the moths, but my fathers garden pond held a good display of Frog Spawn (see photo). Apparently, the Glossy Ibis were seen flying into their roost site later that afternoon along with a Short-eared Owl nearby and at Selsey Bill, there were at least 6 Great Northern Divers and a Slavonian Grebe earlier this morning. The ‘Lazee Birders’ were enjoying the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers at Acre’s Down and even up to 5 Goshawks were seen as well. Blashford Lakes held both the Ring-billed Gull and 1st winter Caspian Gull and Andy J had a Ring-necked Parakeet flying over Sandy Point, Hayling Island today. 

Frog Spawn in my fathers pond this morning.