There was little time to take breath from the rain once again and the wet grasslands took on the look of ponds towards the end of the week. Over the week the Ferry Pool become a regular bathroom for 500 Dark Bellied Brent Geese as they would come in for there daily wash and scrub after the night out on the harbour. Careful checking of this flock may reveal an interloper, the much rare Black Brant; the Dark Bellied’s American cousin has come to visit. But this wasn’t the only goosy arrival on Friday, a small flock of Barnacle Geese were present in the Harbour, a rare sight for Pagham. However once again the discussion will start to whether these birds are a feral flock or are they visitors from the north. Whatever the case they are a great sight as they cackle themselves around the harbour.
Although the stormy weather can hinder the birdwatcher it can bring in some interesting birds as well in to locations you do not expect, this week proved such a week. After a conversation regarding how rare it is to see a diver in the harbour, the same afternoon one was actually reported, spooky!!! A Great Northern Diver had taken refuge in the harbour away from the mountainous seas offshore. It was observed for over an hour successfully fishing before the receding tide forced it to move back to the sea. A species more associated with the sea was reported on the Pagham Lagoon towards the end of the week. A Kittiwake, spent sometime preening and resting in the serenity of the lagoon, these gulls are more related with there noisy cliff colonies rather than being alone in the calm of a lagoon. But even the birds have to face the competition of the winter evening sunset which can be made more impressive with a stormy sky.
The Warden, RSPB Crook of Baldoon