Barnham, Pagham and West Dean (1 January 2015)

Thursday 1st.  HAPPY NEW YEAR.  Mixed fortunes with John King trying to make the best of a very dull and breezy day.  We started at Barnham where the Whooper Swans were almost over the brow of the field at the back of the flock and only showing their necks and heads occasionally.  Next stop was Church Norton where the tide was starting to fall.  In three hours there we saw the two juvenile Spoonbills flying over, 14 Avocets far out into the harbour and an enjoyable flock of 30 Barnacle Geese that were flying around calling before settling in the centre of the harbour.  Otherwise Pagham was quiet with nothing on the sea, 3 Goldeneye, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers and a single Mediterranean Gull in the harbour and the leucistic Curlew est amongst the usual waders.  We finished at West Dean Woods which seemed almost completely birdless other than for Wood Pigeons.

Barnacle Geese over Pagham Spit

all 30 can be counted in this image

they settled well out in the harbour

Goldcrest at Ivy Lake

Wednesday 31st.  Little on the Adur with the Shelduck and 2 Reed Buntings the most notable sightings.  Later Megan and I saw a Rock Pipit on the east arm of the Harbour.