Brent Geese etc

[Anty Patty]

Sadly not been able to get out much lately - have the Brent geese started arriving at pagham Harbour yet?

I saw a chiffchaff or could have been a willow warbler in my garden a couple of days ago. 5 mins from sea Littlehampton. it could have been a migrant heading back to the warm - looking for a last minute feed - it was busy in the shrubs.

At age 63 first time ever visit and had a treat at Brownsea Island few weeks ago - about 6 spoonbills and hosts of Avocets - never seen before and in such numbers, been waiting a long time to see an avocet. 93 Cormorants on a strand in the lagoon. Also a curlew sandpiper. It was a fabulous day in the Dorset wildlife trust section of the island. Well worth a visit and red squirrels too!

Must stir my stumps and get out again very soon - love the cold bright weather.

[Picidae]

Hi

I was down there on Monday. There was a small group of Brent at the Church Norton end of Pagham Harbour but the bulk have not arrived yet. Plenty of Canada Geese and Greylag around at the North Wall at the moment - unfortunately due to repeated booms of geese scarers at the Church Norton end from the adjacent fields, in recent years, wintering geese are tending to favor the fields at the North Wall end of the harbour for grazing etc. (and Avocet on the Ferry Pool)

There did not appear to be any Brent at Pulborough either but again lots of Greylag and Canadas.

The warbler in your garden is more likely to be a Chiffchaff and perhaps one of our winter ones (ie. either residential and staying over or migrant winter visitor) - it's rather late for WW to be passing through.

[Anty Patty]

Thanks Picidae, very useful information, need to get a map of the harbour now. I'll look out for the chiffchaff through the winter.