With the mild weather and the wind from the south there seemed little change that anything unusual from the east would turn up. But nature has a way of surprising everyone. On the afternoon of the 28^th Oct a text alerted everyone that a Pallas’s Leaf Warbler had been located at Oak Copse. Although quite elusive in the high branches of the trees those who made the walk down the beach were rewarded with some excellent…

The Juvenile Spoonbill and Ruddy Shelduck continue to frequent the Reserve through the period although both continue to be rather elusive.

As October draws to a close the last trickle of migrants filter through the reserve with Swallows, Wheatear and Chiffchaff still present through the period. The season has changed and the Reserve is starting to fill up with some of our winter regulars with flocks of Wigeon, Brent…

The Juvenile Spoonbill continued to frequent the harbour most likely being observed on Tern Island or in the centre of the harbour at high tide and was still present at the time of writing. An extra splash of colour was seen on Ferry Pool when a Ruddy Shelduck showed up. First located at Medmerry it soon made the move across the peninsula to associate with the shelduck on Ferry. However it proved to be very elusive regular…

The weather contnued to be very settled over the period so many of the birds remained around the site with few new species turning up. There was the second Wryneck of the year on 22^nd near Owl Copse, this bird was much more accomodating than the last, remain for most of the day giving the small group of observers some excellent views.

  Wryneck at Owl Copse

The amazing disappearing then reappearing Cattle Egret continued…

September has turned out to one of the driest in recent years as a high pressure system has settled over the UK. This has brought calm weather with the wind predominantly from the north. and north east which has made excellent birdwatching on the north east coasts of the UK but a little quiet here on the South Coast.

However all was not lost as there was a constant trickle of migrants throughout the period which provided…

This week saw the migration start in ernest with a continuous stream of Sand Martins, House Martins, Swallows and the last of the Swifts all heading south. In the bushes many of the common migrants are filling them up to take advantage of the berries and insects that are in abundance at the present. Whitethroats, Spotted Flycatcher, Redstarts, Garden Warblers and Willow Warblers have all been seen in large numbers.

The Long-Tailed Skua finally made its last goodbyes this week and after bringing in the crowds for the last week on so. The Cattle Egret continued to be elusive as it moved between the different herds of cattle near Marsh Farm.

The north west wind has reduced the trickle of migrants at present but a few brave raptors have started their way southwards over the week with a Honey Buzzard reported from the West side and…

The Long-Tailed Skua continued to be the highlight of the week as it patrolled the coastline of the peninsula from the Beach at Church Norton near the end of the row of cottages around the Bill and in to Medmerry. This confiding bird as astounded everyone by the length of it stay and is though to be a sub-adult bird.

After disappearing for a white the Cattle Egret made a reappearance at Marsh Farm this week but proving…

After a brief holiday at RSPB Pulborough Brooks for the last week or so the family of Black Winged Stilts have returned to the Ferry Pool.

It is always a little nervous to go away on holiday as the migration period is starting and I though I had gotten away with it until a few days before my return when the news broke that a Long-Tailed Skua (2^nd recorded for Pagham) had been reported off Church Norton and was taking regular trips in to the harbour giving some excellent views. However by my return, after a couple of days performing to the crowds, it…

The Black Winged Stilts are still around at Medmerry and the latest news is that all three chicks are still surviving and close to fledging in the next few days.

The Ferry Pool is proving a major hit with waders at present with lots of activity over the last two weekend which is providing a real spectacle. 5 Green Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank 11 Avocet, 40 Redshank (some with chicks), 20 Black Tailed Godwit, Curlew…

The Black Winged Stilts are still around at Medmerry but have move to the heart of the intertidal area and have become much more elusive, but still vigorously attacking anything that comes near meaning they still have chicks, how many just remains to be seen as they will be due to fledge in about 2 weeks time. Also two female Eider were acting as guardians of the new breach.

June is a traditionally difficult time to…

The exciting news this week is that the Black Winged Stilts have hatched three young which at the time of posting were all doing well. For the first few days the parents kept them close to the nest site, defending them anything that came too close. Then on the 19^th the parents and young successfully made the perilous journey across the track and out in the harbour. Hopefully in a few weeks we will see the young flying…

To view the black-winged stilts – drive to Earnley, nr Bracklesham. Take the rd (signed private) south from Earnley church for approximately 250m. Please park sensibly in the lay-by the car park (not yet open) at approx SZ 816967. From here the stilts are about a 30 minute walk. Head down the track opposite the car park, until you get to the flood defence bank, then turn right. Stay on the track past the farm buildings…

For all the regular readers of the blog I apologise for a slight gap in the sightings, this is due to an extraordinary event. A pair of Black Winged Stilts have nested at Medmerry. Due to the exceptional rairity of this event a 24hr watch has been set up to keep an eye on them, consequently time has been limited.

Access to the site is limited but if you wish to see the birds the best place to park is opposite…

As May proceeds the migration period draws to a close and the birds settle down to the business of breeding and producing the next generation. Tern Island is alive with the clammer of the Black-Headed Gull colony. Intermingled with the gulls are the Terns, Little, Common and Sandwich all displaying and mating.

However, the migration is not totally over with a second wave of migrants this week with good numbers of

Although the summer is generally not the time to visit to see the waders as they have all moved through, early May can give the opportunity to see them in their resplendent summer plumage. Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Grey Plover and Dunlin are all showing off there summer season collection, ready to attract those females once they arrive in their breeding grounds. Another species of wader which is unlikely to be on the winter…

The Iceland Gull continues to reside at Pagham Lagoon and it is starting to look as if it is going to stay for the summer. The Cuckoo now rings out across the reserve with monotonous regularity now. This was complimented by a drone of a Grasshopper Warbler briefly heard in the discovery area.

There was the continual passage of our regularly migrants such as Blackcap, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Wheatear and W…

The spring is now in full flow but the Iceland Gull at Pagham Lagoon continues to refuse to head for the cold climes up north. However it is now moulting through in to 2^nd summer plumage, much paler. The clammer in the harbour has subtly changed over the last couple of weeks from the whistles of waders that winter here to the rattle of warblers and screeching of Terns. The long winter wait for the Little Tern has ended…

Finally there is a spring feel to the weather as a high pressure system has brought a period of settled weather to the country. With the spring feel, the birds have reacted likewise with move of the summer visitors starting to dominate the sightings. The highlight of the week was the brief appearance of a Hoopoe before it disappeared in to a private area. This Mediterranean speciality is an overshot from the continent…

There is still a winter feel to the reserve at least with some of the birds that continue to remain present. The Iceland Gull continued to frequent Pagham Lagoon with very close views reported at times. Offshore at Church Norton a Long-Tailed Duck continued to appear on occasions as it moved between Church Norton and Selsey Bill. In the harbour many of the winter waders and waterfowl departed during March but a small…

The weather has turned to more typical for the time of year and the winds from the north adding a chilly feel that has slowed down the returning migrants. As a result many of the more notable sightings for the week have more of a winter feel to them. After a quiet period on the sea at Church Norton things seemed to pick up this week with Long-Tailed Duck, Slavonian Grebe and Red-Necked Grebe and an indication that the…

The seasons are starting to change and this week was particular noticeable and not just with the improvement in the weather with warm sun developing through the week but a change in the birds in the harbour. The week began with the continued presence of the pair of Whooper Swans on the North Wall as they through their weight around with the local Mute Swans. These are very typical winter birds to the south, as is the…

With rising pressure and temperatures many birdwatchers are looking forward to the arrival of the first migrants of the spring. With the sun coming out the reserve is filled with the sound of singing birds. Skylarks can hear over the farmland joined by the display flights of the Lapwings. Around the scrub and reeds the first songs of reed buntings and occasionally Chiffchaffs ring out. As the air temperature rises the…

The weather seems to have moved in to something more akin to expected after the storms of early February. Although no major arrivals of unusual birds were reported but a scattering of interesting gulls were reported on the reserve over the week preceding the storms. The first was the discovery of a Little Gull of Ferry Pool which was soon followed with individuals reported both at Pagham Lagoon and Church Norton. A second…