Birding in West Sussex, Pagham Harbour

[Guinnessman1974]

Hi, I'm due to go on holiday in the first week in May, to Hastings.

I want to visit near Pagham Harbour and Chichester Harbour, these are birding hotspots I've heard.

What specific 'target' birds are to be observed in these areas, at this of year which I should look out for?

Many thanks.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Both are a bit of a hike from Hastings!
Chichester Harbour is quite a hard area to work and Pagham has everything that Chichester has to offer. If you go to Pagham you need to check the Ferry Pool by the main road in Sidlesham, Church Norton that overlooks a wide area of the harbour (best to go about an hour either side of high tide otherwise you'll struggle to see much at distance on the low tide). North Wall is ok. Don't forget to visit Selsey Bill to do some seawatching. Pomarine Skuas should be going past early mornings. Terns, gannet, auks, possibly storm petrels and fulmar too.
The harbour will have an array of common waders and has a colony of Little Terns as well as Common and Sandwich about. You may even see Avocet if your lucky. Don't neglect the bushes for land migrants too, and there is always the chance of something unusual turning up.

Cheers,

Adam

[aeshna5]

The churchyard at Church Norton is well worth checking out with a range of warblers (including the occasional rarity), Redstarts, Black Redstarts, Spotted + Pied Flycatchers all possibly passing through/breeding. Check the fields nearby for chats such as Whinchat/Wheatear.

Lots of Little Egrets + occasioan Spoonbill. Worth checking the terns as I've had passage Arctic Terns amongst the Common/Sandwich Terns.

Good for raptors with Buzzard, Hobby, Peregrine + Marsh Harrier all possible + maybe an Osprey if you're really lucky.

In the first week of May almost anything could turn up given favourable conditions. A great place.

[Guinnessman1974]

Many thanks for all thsi useful info. I might try Dungeness and Rye Harbour too as they look a lot nearer on the map.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Guinnessman1974

Many thanks for all thsi useful info. I might try Dungeness and Rye Harbour too as they look a lot nearer on the map.

Both superb sites for birds, insects + flora too!