West Sussex County Council: Wildlife Information

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Due to the position of the Reserve on the south coast, a wide range of birds  visit throughout the year. The winter months bring a wide diversity of wildfowl and waders to the Reserve. As spring approaches wintering birds are replaced by those moving north from Africa to breed in Europe. With such a great range of birds, birdwatchers of all levels of experience will enjoy a visit. 

For beginners to birdwatching, the Reserve has good numbers of the UK's commonest birds, and a visit at high tide during the winter will offer good views of the birds on the Harbour. Our staff run events throughout the year introducing the birds of the Harbour through the seasons.

For those who wish to increase their knowledge and expertise, and see a variety of birds which usually breed further north in the UK and Europe, the best time to visit is during the spring and autumn migration, when species such as Wryneck, Wheatear and Whinchat may be joined by more unusual passage migrants such as Red Backed Shrike and Red Breasted Flycatcher. 

If the weather is stormy then the possiblities of vagrants arriving on the Reserve is high.

For unusual visitors from Eastern Europe and Asia, it is best to visit after an easterly wind. Species such as Collared Pratincole and Collared Flycatcher have been recorded recently. If the wind is a westerly, vagrants may arrive from America, with species such as Buff Breasted Sandpiper and Bonaparte's Gull being recorded on the Reserve.

Many of the species and habitats on the Reserve are recognised as important to the nation's environmental heritage, and a number have Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPS) written for them in order to preserve them for future generations.

The Winter

Winter is the best time to see the variety of waders and wildfowl around the Harbour. It is best to check a tide table and plan your visit as the tide is coming in. (Pagham Harbour tide tables are on sale at the Visitor Centre in Sidlesham). As the water rises in the Harbour the birds are pushed off the mudflats and up on to the saltmarsh and the surrounding fields, especially on the north side of the Reserve. Birds present at this time of the year include Dark Bellied Brent, Wigeon, Black Tailed Godwit, Knot and (if you are in luck) Avocet. These birds can be viewed from anywhere around the Harbour's edge but some of the better areas to try are the north fields and Breach Pool, and the hides at Pagham Spit and Church Norton.

At this time of the year it is worth a look on the sea from the two spits.  Offshore, particularily at high tide, a wide range of seaducks, divers and grebes can be viewed.

The Spring and Autumn Passage Period

Whilst many of the wintering birds are still present throughout the spring and autumn passage period, the movement of many other birds at this time of year increases the diversity of the birdlife around the Reserve. If you are interested in passage waders then the best place to look is on Ferry Pool. Species such as Curlew, Green and Common Sandpiper, Ruff and Little Ringed Plover are all seen during this period.

Many of the passerines are moving through too. In both spring and autumn many birds stop at the Reserve to feed and rest, either before or after crossing the Bay of Biscay. The best place  to look for these migrants is at Church Norton and along the shingle spit here. The scrub around the Visitor Centre can also be productive.

Many species that are usually found breeding on the continent or further north in the UK stop at Pagham during this period. Wheatear, Whinchat, Pied Flycatcher and Redstart all are present on the Reserve. Less common migrants include Red Backed Shrike, Wryneck and Red Breasted Flycatcher which appear occasionally, to the delight of many visitors. This is also the period when the rare vagrants are most likely to arrive on the Reserve - species such as Marsh Sandpiper, Pallas Warbler and Bee-eater have all been recorded here.

This season also sees the movement of birds of prey with a regular passage of Osprey and Marsh Harrier. If you are lucky, you may see species such as Honey Buzzard and Black Kite.

The Spring

As the spring progesses, the main interest is the plants that are starting to flower. You will notice the woodland flowers that are found around the hedgerows flowering first, the main species being primroses and snowdrops. As spring progresses, the hedgerows are brought to life with hawthorn and blackthorn blooming.

The Summer

While the summer is generally a quiet time for birdwatchers, this does not mean that birds are not present. Most of the birds present on the Reserve are setting up territories and rearing their young. Once they start nesting, birds become much more wary and elusive. However, if you are able to spend time looking, you will rewarded with views of species such as Spotted Flycatcher, Common Tern and Ringed Plover.

Although the birds will hide away at this time of year, the rest of the wildlife comes out after a long quiet winter. Many grasses are now in flower. Although not much to look at, these plants are one of the important groups around the Reserve. Ranging from the small to large species, such as Common Reed, grasses are an important habitat for invertebrates such as crickets and grasshoppers. Grassland is an important habitat for birds such as the Skylark and Meadow Pipit.

Also coming into its own at this time of the year is the vegetative shingle. This habitat may seem uninspiring at certain times of the year, but as the summer approaches, it is brought to life with a large variety of flowering plants such as childling pink (the Reserve is one of the few places in the UK where you can see it) and the yellow horned poppy.

The summer also brings a plethora of invertebrates, the most noticable of which are the butterflies and dragonflies.

Please note that some areas are fenced off at this time of year to protect bird breeding sites.

Please do not go into these areas and ensure that you keep you dog on the lead at all times.

Click here to see the latest wildife sightings recorded on the Nature Reserve.