Already 2018 has shaped up with a series of dramatic weather events from the mild January in to February with lots of rain to the arctic weather of March. This makes Pagham an exciting place to visit at this time of year. With winter numbers reaching their peak over the three months, bird watching has been varied and exciting, watching the 1000’s of geese, ducks and waders reeling around. Along with the regular Brent Geese, those who have braved the winter weather have been rewarded with Glaucous Gull, Red Necked Grebe, Goosander and just off the reserve a Long-Tailed Duck.
Long-Tailed Duck at Honer Reservoir
Goosander
The winter brings the opportunity to see some of those birds more familiar with inland habitats as they escape from the colder weather further north. A regular pair of Dartford Warblers have been pleasing many as they flitted in the gorse around the paths of Medmerry. They are joined on sticks of vegetation by numerous Stonechats. But these have to watch out as a variety of birds of prey drift across the marshlands of Pagham and Medmerry. So listen out for the alarm calls of the small birds and the large flocks of waders and ducks as they whirl around in a confusing flight to avoid becoming dinner. It works as it become increasingly hard to spot the offending predator. But if you look hard you may catch a glimpse of a Peregrine, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Short-Eared Owl or Merlin chasing them.
Merlin
Stonechat
The freeze set in and the early sign’s of spring gave way to sub-zero temperatures and as the snow came down the feeders outside the centre became increasing poplar again with all the regulars Great Tit, Chaffinch, Blue Tit and Dunnocks filling up and putting breeding on hold. By the second wave of snow some unlikely attendees to the feeders appeared, a small group of Brambling stopped short on their journey north.
Brambling - Female
Brambling -- Male
Brambling at our filling station
As the weather closed in the first spring migrants had arrived with the odd Wheatear and Little Ringed Plover seen for the first time in 2018 braving the snow from the east
Wheatear