As the summer started to draw to the end the terns that give us such a great display over the harbour through the summer slowly drifted away to commence their journey southwards. This was the changing of the seasons and soon these birds that had spent the summer with us would be joined by their distance cousins passing though to escape the bleak months ahead. As they joined together for journeys ahead the first of the winter visitors would arrive bring the harbour alive again with noise of whistling ducks and chattering geese replacing the constant chattering of terns.
Common Tern
August was the start of the migration in earnest with the first waders coming through and attracting attention from the resident bird watchers. Wood sandpipers, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint were reported on the pools are the reserves as well as mixing with the increasing numbers of Dunlin gathering in the harbour. In and around the bushes redstarts were having the last meals before the trip across the channel to Spain. These were joined by spotted flycatchers and an increase in chiffchaffs, whitethroats and willow warblers as the intensity of the migration increased. As the smaller birds started to busily to feed they were wary of the predators that followed over the woodland there would hawking Hobbies and out in the fields a Marsh Harrier had made it home staying through the autumn and still present in December. More usually visitors arrived a Cattle Egret took up residence and although proving elusive was regularly seen over the next few weeks hiding with the cattle around the reserve. Ospreys had become the stars of the show in 2016 as a few lingering at Medmerry for the autumn, however in 2017 the lingering did not happen and a number of Ospreys that were reported moved quickly through keen to get to Africa. A quiet start to the season as regards to genuine rarities but soon the birders were wakened by the appearance of a White winged Black Tern, but it was short lived as in a couple of days later it to was on its way. And it was just about rare birds, at the end of the month a Southern Migrant Hawker spend a few days around the small pool.
Common Redstart
September there was a rising expectation of more rarities but the main interest was from two white storks seen on various dates around the two reserves. It was soon realised they were ringed and traced back to the Knepp Estate were they were released. However they were still impressive views in the Sussex countryside. As the month progressed the number of common migrants continued to increase and stream through the reserve. The new pond outside the visitor centre was starting to prove an interesting viewing point first a Nightingale was briefly seen there, then a grey wagtail and then in the middle of the month a juv Turtle Dove appeared this proved an instant hit as it spent the next week or so feeding up under the feeders unconcerned of the commotion around it. Spoonbill are always a great sight on the reserve and by the end of September 5 had gather over on the north wall. One or two of these birds then lingered in to Dec.
Turtle Dove
White Stork
As September moved in to October the mild weather continued and the numbers of winter birds were few and far between on the harbour but as October progressed the weather felt more autumnal and number were soon on the rise. Brent geese and wigeon were a more common sound around the harbour heralding the busy winter periods. The number of finches on the move also increased with reports of siskin and lesser redpoll regularly received and once again the visitor centre feeders come up trumps with a lesser redpoll spending a significant number of days on the niger feeders. Then the first signs of the end of migration was the arrival of ring ouzel typically one of the last species travelling through the reserve. Towards the end of the month the weather turn deciding more like winter bring a series of typical winter birds to the reserve through November and December. An all to brief visit of a great grey shrike signalled the start of winter. Over the next few weeks the weather up north turned the country white and the number of birds on the reserve increased. Out on the sea regular sighting of all three divers were made they were joined by up to 22 Slavonian grebes, eider and the odd gannet. The most surprising was a Velvet Scoter which has now taken up residence in the harbour still present as we go to press. On the terrestrial side a few bearded tit are regularly seen around the north wall and for a few days there were 2 snow bunting on Church Norton spit. Out on Medmerry a small flock of Barnacle geese have been on the meadow near the stilt pools and in the gorse a couple of Dartford warblers have taken up their winter residence. The two astounding records were a bittern caught of a trail camera on Pagham Rife and a week long stay of a Glossy Ibis on the worksite south of Toe End Medmerry, just shows what wildlife will do to survive the winter………….
Snow Bunting
Lesser Redpoll
Glossy Ibis in the gloom
The Warden, RSPB Crook of Baldoon