We started the day at the North Wall, Pagham where highlights were a BLACK BRANT amongst Brents in the harbour along with Blk-tailed Goldwits and a good range of Duck species. On the Breech Pool were 2 Bearded Tits, 1 Cetti's Warbler and a Kingfisher.
Moving round to Pagham Spit we had a quick scan on the Lagoon and found 13 Goldeneye and out in the harbour the fine fem. Scaup showed nicely along with 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 7 distant Avocets and large flocks of Knot and Grey Plover were gathering. Out at sea were 9 Slavonian Grebes, 15+ Eider, 3 Common Scoter, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Gannets and 25 Mediterranean Gulls were on the spit.
Mediterranean Gulls on Pagham Spit.
West Dean Woods was relatively quiet though we still managed to pick up 2 Red Kites, 1 Little Owl, Nuthatches, Bullfinch and Marsh Tit but no Hawfinches or Bramblings despite searching through a huge finch flock by Stapleash Farm.
Red Kite at West Dean Woods.Next stop was Burton Mill Pond for the Bitterns. Whilst waiting Siskins flew over and a large flock of Redwing flew through. Jon King arrived and soon picked out a stationary Bittern deep in the reeds. With this in the bag we headed down to Coldwaltham.
Mute Swan at Burton Mill Pond.
At the sewage farm the Water Pipit was soon picked out. Also present were Meadow Pipits and a Grey Wagtail. A Barn Owl was also hunting out on the brooks.
A dreadful pic of the Water Pipit at Coldwaltham.
