Pagham Harbour (West Sussex)

This site, S of Chichester, is one of the best on the S coast. 1,100 acres are a Local Nature Reserve managed by West Sussex County Council. Although primarily a major wintering area for wildfowl and waders it is also noted for migrants and is an important breeding site for several species.

The 800 acres consist of relatively undisturbed tidal mudflats Habitat intersected by numerous channels while shingle beaches flank either side of the harbour mouth. Patches of gorse and scrub occur around the perimeter alongside the harbour banks and seawalls and are attractive to migrant passerines. Small areas of reeds grow around the non-tidal pools. The only woodland of note is at Church Norton and this is good for migrants. The harbour is surrounded by fields on which waders frequently roost at high tide.

There is a public footpath around the entire embankment enclosing the harbour as well as a few other paths. Visitors should keep to these paths. Parts of the shingle are closed off from April to July to assist the breeding birds. It is not practical to walk around the entire harbour but there are four good access points.

In Winter: Red-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Eider, Common Birds Scoter, and Red-breasted Merganser are regular offshore and best viewed from Church Norton. Guillemot and Razorbill are less frequent. In the harbour several hundred Brent Geese winter as well as many dabbling duck, including Pintail. Goldeneye favour the deeper channels and Smew are occasionally seen on Pagham Lagoon. Large numbers of waders use the harbour and a few Avocet, Ruff, and Black-tailed Godwit are often to be seen on the Ferry Pool. Water Rail, Kingfisher, and Bearded Tit frequent the Severals in small numbers in winter. Short-eared Owls sometimes hunt over the saltings, which attract Rock Pipit and Twite.

In Spring and (especially) Autumn: waders are more varied and regularly include Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, while Black- tailed Godwits sometimes occur in large numbers. Sandwich and Common Terns are often present but Arctic and Black Terns are less frequent and Little Gulls are only occasional. Red-necked Grebe is a rare autumn visitor, usually on the sea. Passerine migration is sometimes prominent, and typical species include Yellow Wagtail, Redstart, Whinchat, Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher and a variety of warblers. Black Redstart and Pied Flycatcher are annual but in small numbers. Firecrests are quite scarce, occurring mainly in spring, and Hoopoe is recorded most years. Wryneck and Melodious Warbler occur in autumn but are only occasional.

In Summer: up to 70 pairs of Little Terns, plus Oystercatchers and Ringed Plovers, breed on the shingle beaches and on the shingle Reed and Sedge Warblers occupy the reedbeds. Barn Owls are often seen hunting in the Sidlesham Ferry area and breed nearby. Although they may hunt by day, dawn and dusk offer the best chances of seeing one. Little Owls can sometimes be seen round Church Norton, and Ring-necked Parakeets are not infrequent there.

Peak seabird movements occur in spring, especially between late April and early May, the most favourable winds being light SE. Large numbers of Common Scoter migrate E, with the majority in late April, but Velvet Scoter are much less frequent. Other birds which are seen regularly with peak numbers in spring are divers, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Bar-tailed Godwit, terns, and auks. A few Pomarine Skuas are recorded in early May each year, while Arctic Skuas are not uncommon in both spring and autumn. Shearwaters are infrequent, mostly occurring in autumn, but Gannets and Kittiwakes are seen all year. Black Redstarts are recorded regularly, mainly in spring or late autumn, and one or two occasionally winter on the Bill.