Selsey Bill / Pagham Harbour

Leader – Simon Ashley

Brent geese at Farlington by David Martin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Our main aim today is to explore Pagham harbour reserves we’ll likely take in Selsey Bill for a cheeky sea watch and explore the complex of reserves and hides that make up the reserve. It is just about at the limit of our range for a day – just over 2 hours to
get there, so to make the most of it we’d leave Stroud at 7:30am. It will be a Car Share Trip.

Pagham Harbour in West Sussex is a naturalcharbour and one of southern England’s top spots for birdwatching. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Protection Area (SDA) and Ramsar Site, highlighting its significance for wildlife, especially birds In February, the harbour is a winter haven for a variety of bird species. We can expect to see:

• Waterfowl: Large numbers of ducks and geese overwinter here. We’ll look out for species like Brent
  Geese, Wigeon, Teal, and Shoveler that frequent the lagoon and salt marsh areas.
• Waders: The mudflats are excellent for observing waders at low tide species such as Black-tailed
  and Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Knot, Curlews, Ruff, Spotted Redshank and the occasional
  Whimbrel overwinters.
• Roosts: As the sun sets, large flocks of Starlings may be observed roosting, and birds of prey such
  as Peregrine Falcons or Hen Harriers might be spotted hunting over the reed beds and fields.
• Bird Hides: Pagham Harbour has several bird hides which provide excellent opportunities for
  close-up views of these species without disturbing them
• Serene Environment: The harbour is not only great for birdwatching but also offers beautiful,
  peaceful scenery that nature lovers can appreciate.
• Photography Potential: Photographers amongst you will find the beautiful landscapes and the
  potential for capturing wildlife shots an attractive aspect of the trip.

As weather in February can be unpredictable, please wrap up warm accordingly, with layers of clothing,
waterproof outerwear, and sturdy boots. There is a small café so we should be able to get hot drinks and
snacks but do bring lunch.