Pagham Harbour help.

[Liam:]

Tommorow I am going to cycle to pagham harbour as I have yet to go there I have no idea were abouts to go. I was wondering if anyone could tell me were the best place to go to look for: little egret and any birds of prey espec. kestrel.

If you could provide a map or directions it would be most appreciated.

Thanks

[paulwfromtheden]

Tommorow I am going to cycle to pagham harbour as I have yet to go there I have no idea were abouts to go. I was wondering if anyone could tell me were the best place to go to look for: little egret and any birds of prey espec. kestrel.

If you could provide a map or directions it would be most appreciated.

Thanks

Hi Liam,
Head for the visitor centre, they have a good seletion of advice , maps and details of recent sightings. In the morning, look for the waders on the pool across the road, must be the morning as the sun is too bright in the morning.
Head for Church Norton at low tide, many waders and wildfowl.
You should have a good time...
Paul

[delia todd]

Hi Liam

If you haven't been before, I suggest you go to the Visitor Centre just outside Sidlesham

a map is here (http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=485000&Y=97500&width=700&height=400&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=pc&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=&zm=0&scale=50000&multimap.x=408&multimap.y=244)

There's a car park there where you can leave your bike.

There's a hide near Ferry House, overlooking Ferry pool, where you may see a Kestrel, or if you continue walking the old tramway towards Church Norton, they may be hunting the fields there.

If there's any Little Egret around, they'll likely be in the harbour proper... I'm sure someone will be on soon with more info for you too.

Check out the entry on Opus (http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Pagham_Harbour) too, as Pagham Harbour is quite big and there's quite a few places to go.

HTH

D

[joannec]

I agree with what Paul and Delia say about starting off at the visitor centre. Everything else they have said too. You could see a kestrel just about anywhere; also sparrowhawk. There are loads of kestrel about in Sussex now and when I was there last week we clocked 8. I've seen peregrine at Pagham beach after the waders. Also look towards Chichester Cathedral for one. I've seen buzzard in the distance beyond Ferry Pool. Last week little egret were in the mud seen from the path beyond Ferry Pool.

You'll have a great time tomorrow!!!

Joanne

[teamsaint]

Pagham is a really top spot. My favourite walk is to park at the visitor centre and then take the path past the Ferry Pool and down to Church Norton and onto the beach. The area is superb the birds at any time of year. I'd say that you have a 99% chance of seeing Little Egret and Kestrel. As Joanne says look out for the Peregrines there is often one perched on the islands in the middle of the harbour.

[Liam:]

Thanks a lot guys,
exactly the advice I wanted!

[Ruby]

Keep an eye out for raptors - had a Red Kite and Buzzard the other week as well as the more likely Kestrels and Sparrowhawks.

Didn't see one myself, but in many years there are Peregrines on Chichester Cathedral and they often hunt over Pagham.

Little Egret is as certain as certain can be!!

[pe'rigin]

Liam,

Take your camera and good boots with you, you should get shots as you move along the path to Church Norton, also around the visitors' centre is also good.

Merlin, Peregrine, Kestrel, Short Eared Owl, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk should all be seen during the day.

[Malcolm Stewart]

We visited Pagham Harbour one evening 18 days ago, parked at the Visitor Centre as it was closing, walked south towards the Ferry House and then NE along the sea wall until we met the path taking us back to the Visitor Centre. The tide appeared to be out, and we saw a total of 3 birds, one of which was an oystercatcher, and there were two waders I was unable to identify.

I'd heard so much about Pagham that my hopes were set very high, and I was really disappointed - our sites around Milton Keynes (where I can also see oystercatchers, little egrets and occasional avocets), have been much more rewarding.

[paulwfromtheden]

We visited Pagham Harbour one evening 18 days ago, parked at the Visitor Centre as it was closing, walked south towards the Ferry House and then NE along the sea wall until we met the path taking us back to the Visitor Centre. The tide appeared to be out, and we saw a total of 3 birds, one of which was an oystercatcher, and there were two waders I was unable to identify.

I'd heard so much about Pagham that my hopes were set very high, and I was really disappointed - our sites around Milton Keynes (where I can also see oystercatchers, little egrets and occasional avocets), have been much more rewarding.

That's birding for you!! Every time I have been to Pags, I have never been disappointed.

[deborah4]

We visited Pagham Harbour one evening 18 days ago, parked at the Visitor Centre as it was closing, walked south towards the Ferry House and then NE along the sea wall until we met the path taking us back to the Visitor Centre. The tide appeared to be out, and we saw a total of 3 birds, one of which was an oystercatcher, and there were two waders I was unable to identify.

I'd heard so much about Pagham that my hopes were set very high, and I was really disappointed - our sites around Milton Keynes (where I can also see oystercatchers, little egrets and occasional avocets), have been much more rewarding.


Well firstly, when the tide is out at Pagham, much of what is there is in the channels and not visible from the path towards the North Wall. You will see far more nearer the sea end of the harbour towards Church Norton, but even here when the tide is out, birds are low in the channels.

Secondly, at the time that the Visitor's Centre closes, most of the birds have gone to roost in the saltmarsh vegetation anyway and aren't feeding on the mudflats. There is never a lot to see at this time of day.

Thirdly, if you were expecting vast numbers of waders, this is the wrong time of year - most have moved off.

I'd suggest next time you go, plan more carefully, take a note of tide times, and get there earlier in the day, and walk down towards Church Norton rather than taking the path towards the North Wall!