‘Birds on the move’ – with wildfowl, seabirds and hedgerow species to be seen on the mud flats, shoreline and farmland.
Jim welcomed a large group of us to St Wilfrid’s Church car park at Church Norton by apologising that last night had been a clear one so we may not see as many migrant birds as if it had been a cloudy night. However…
Within seconds we had spotted a sparrowhawk overhead. As we made our way to Pagham Harbour, and with the aid of binoculars, we saw plenty of wading birds, (full list below) a couple of swallows that flew above us, and a large colony of little egrets with a couple of grey heron interlopers in their midst. A curlew serenaded us with its bubbling song as it flew along the tideline. On the shingle we found two unexpected garden escapes – a fig tree and pampas grass. Other plants are listed below.
Jim recommended a visit to the church at the end of the walk to see its wildlife-themed stained-glass windows, which I did and was rewarded with a green woodpecker calling as it flew between the churchyard trees, my last sighting of the day, which I have added to the list that Jenny so comprehensively compiled on the day. Thank you, Jenny!
The late summer sun gave us a beautiful morning. As somebody said, how lucky we are to live in such diverse and lovely countryside. And how nice to share it with such a friendly and knowledgeable group of people.
Julia Macfarlane
Birds: Woodpigeon, Sparrowhawk, Swallow, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, Swans, Grey Plover, Willowwarbler (or chiffchaff), Cormorant, Blackheaded Gulls, Dunlin, Little Egrets, Robin, Sparrow, Heron, Common tern, Buzzard, Chaffinch
Plants & Other Wildlife: Elm trees, Sea aster, Perennial sow-thistle, Glasswort, Sea purslane, Fig tree, Pampas grass, Wild rose, Sea kale, Ploughman’s spikenard, Canadian fleabane, White bryony, Vipers bugloss, Hawkbit, Wild carrot, Blackberry/ brambles, Valerian, Common Reed (Phragmites), Gorse, Wild radish – white and yellow flowered, Chamomile, Scarlet pimpernel, Great bindweed, Lesser bindweed, Sea bindweed, Sorrel, Plantain, Greater willowherb, Milk thistle, Pineapple weed, Ragwort
Insects: Robin’s pincushion, Speckled wood butterfly, Red Admiral, Common darter dragonfly