Egrets, Herons, Grebe, Robin, Chiffchaff, horse and pony - Pagham Harbour nature reserve, Pagham, West Sussex - 26th March 2024

On Tuesday, 26th March, I walked along part of the North Wall in the nature reserve at Pagham until I reached the heronry, where there were quite a few large birds perching in the distance on top of a tall twiggy hedge.

Three Grey Herons and a Little Egret

Cattle Egret

Two Grey Herons having an argument

Grey Heron in flight

More Grey Herons

Two Little Egrets in flight and a Grey Heron at the top of the hedge

Majestic Little Egret viewing its kingdom!

There were several Little Egrets feeding in the lagoon as I made my way back to Pagham

I disturbed a Little Egret and it took flight

Great Crested Grebe waving its paddle-like foot

Horse and pony feeding in a field near the entrance to the nature reserve

The pony had a strange hair cut!

It was lovely to see some Primroses at the side of the path

A Robin was perching in a shrub

I saw a Chiffchaff at the top of a Pussy Willow as I walked back to the holiday park

Another Robin was perching on the Pagham Harbour sign at the edge of Church Farm Holiday Park

Birdwatching at Ferry Pool and Church Norton - Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve - 25th March 2024

Monday was a better day weatherwise, so I went by bus from Pagham to Chichester and then from Chichester to RSPB Pagham Harbour Visitor Centre for the second time within a few days.  Fortunately, it was not raining this time!  I then walked from the Visitor Centre to Ferry Pool.

Avocets in Ferry Pool at low tide

The bird hide is on the opposite side of the road to Ferry Pool, so I had to watch out for traffic!

From Ferry Pool I walked along a footpath to Church Norton, which was over a mile away

Pretty Blackthorn blossom at the side of the path helped me on the walk

There were hardly any birds in the lagoon - just a few Black-headed gulls

Pagham church spire in the distance on the other side of the nature reserve

Two Oystercatchers and a row of Turnstones were standing on a sloping platform in the water at Church Norton.  Church Farm Holiday Park, where I was staying, was in the distance - only problem was there wasn't a bridge I could walk across in order to get back there!

Close view of an Oystercatcher at the edge of the lagoon

The shingle of Church Norton Spit facing the distant shingle of Pagham Spit

I was greatly cheered by a view of a distant male Wheatear on Church Norton Spit

On the way back I sat for a little while in the Church Norton bird hide from where I saw a Little Egret

A Curlew helped me on the walk back to the Visitor Centre

Pretty Blackthorn and Gorse bushes at the edge of the path

 

Visit to RSPB Pagham Harbour and Chichester - 23rd March 2024

On Saturday morning I went by bus from Pagham to Chichester and then by another bus from Chichester to the bus stop near RSPB Pagham Harbour visitor centre just outside Selsey. 

I saw a male Pheasant and Chaffinch while on the way to the bird hide at Ferry Pool

A Little Egret was standing in the mud at the edge of Ferry Pool at low tide

There was an Avocet in the water not far away from the Little Egret

Black-tailed Godwits and Avocets at Ferry Pool

It absolutely poured with rain while I was at the bird hide opposite Ferry Pool, so I decided to give up on my visit to Pagham Harbour.  Fortunately, it stopped raining during the time I was waiting at the bus stop.  I went back to Chichester and the sun came out - for a short while!

I wandered round the outside of Chichester cathedral

I just loved these gargoyles!

Sundial on the outside wall of the cathedral

It started raining again while I was exploring the area round the cathedral, so I ended up in the shopping area buying some supplies from M&S and also a pair of much-needed wellies!! 

Birds at Church Farm Holiday Park and Pagham Harbour - 22nd March 2024

I arrived at Church Farm Holiday Park in Pagham for a week's holiday at lunchtime on 22nd March, which was a very overcast day.  I was too early to check into my mobile home so I wandered round the site and Pagham Lagoon for a couple of hours.

They looked very nice, but I could not afford to stay in a mobile home at the edge of the lagoon!

Strange-coloured Mallard drake on the lagoon

I think that this was meant to be a footpath at the edge of the lagoon

Pair of Great Crested Grebes

Another view of the mobile homes at the edge of the water

Curlew at low tide in Pagham Harbour nature reserve at the edge of the holiday park

Pintail duck and Godwit at low tide - before it started to rain!

Blackthorn blossom at the edge of the nature reserve