PAGHAM HARBOUR - its WILDLIFE

BIRDING THROUGH THE YEAR A general overview
At Pagham Harbour, the birding year can be said to begin in mid- to late June when, after a short lull, signs of return passage are already evident. South-bound waders are beginning to appear, many of them still carrying summer plumage to some degree. Handsome Grey Plovers in full summer dress can be seen out on the mudflats and at high tide roosts. They vie with Black-tailed Godwits which still retain much of their chestnut hues and give superb viewing as they feed in the shallow waters of the Ferry Pool. Of recent years, Spotted Redshanks have become a feature of the Harbour: those which arrive in late summer invariably retain their dusky-black plumage of the breeding season, set off by snowy-white incomplete eye-rings.

Species of passerines which are still attempting to breed include the Yellowhammer of which some four pairs nest in suitable localities around the Harbour. The West Wall is a particularly suitable area for them, with extensive growths of Gorse and Blackthorn. In good summers, adults may be seen carrying food to young until early or even mid-August, well outside the recognised breeding season. Reed Warblers may be seen carrying food to fledged young among the reed beds of the Long Pool and elsewhere. Otherwise, under normal circumstances most breeding has finished by the middle to end of June.

One of the glories of Pagham Harbour are the flocks of Brent Geese which arrive from the tundras of Russia in late September and throughout October. They spend the winter here, feeding on the mudflats and also on the surrounding fields.People come from miles around to appreciate this annual spectacle. The Brent Goose is a protected species, but some farmers in the area apply for licenses to shoot them, principally to discourage the Geese from feeding on growing winter cereals. An official buffer zone around the Harbour is badly needed so that the Geese can feed in peace. One of the best places to see Brents at close range is along the North Wall, near Little Welbourne, where numbers frequently visit the fields behind the sea wall.

Winter can be a stimulating time, with small numbers of Slavonian Grebes fishing off-shore at Church Norton, and lots of wildfowl present in the Harbour. Pintail, especially, will be there in good numbers, also Wigeon and Teal. With them come more Brent Geese, perhaps, and at times of stormy weather divers may appear and even the occasional Long-tailed Duck.

Along the shingle beaches of Pagham and Church Norton Spits, small parties of finches may be seen, sometimes harried by a wandering Merlin. Greenfinches come to the seeding Sea Kale, and Skylarks winter along these beaches, too, especially where the shingle has become stabilised and there are substantial growths of vegetation. Only very occasionally does a party of Snow Buntings arrive, perhaps two or three birds which spend several days with us, before moving on. Twite used to be an occasional visitor, too, but of recent years their appearances have been infrequent, to say the least.

As winter merges into spring, the picture changes. The Brent Geese leave us in March and early April, heading back eastwards, to cross northern Europe en route to the Russian tundras where they breed in remote areas along the arctic shore. Likewise, wildfowl in general begin to move away: the numbers of Pintail and Wigeon begin to fall, although there will often be those individuals and small parties which will hang on for some time yet.

Much depends upon the weather as to when spring gives way to summer, but by late April and early May many newly-arrived migrants will be settling down to breed. The reed-beds of the Long Pool will be full of singing cock Reed Warblers, and where there are bushes close by, the observer may hear the grating song of the Sedge Warbler and watch the dancing display-flights of the males.

High summer is, perhaps, the low note of the year. The Harbour may well appear empty of birds on a morning in July. Only a few Shelducks will be on view, most having gone across the Channel to moult on remote estuaries. The Meadow Pipits along the West Wall will be falling silent and gathering into small parties. A distant Curlew may be heard, far out on the saltings, but otherwise the pulse of birdlife is at a low ebb. However, the unexpected may always happen: an early Green Sandpiper along the shores of the Ferry Pool, for instance, or a Curlew Sandpiper, with much russet of its summer dress showing on the chest, feeding along the Kynoe Channel, below the sluices at Ferry House.

MAMMALS:
This section gives a brief outline of the mammals to be encountered on the Reserve which includes not only the Harbour proper, but also the periphery and a number of areas which are under management agreements.

There are no listed records of the HEDGEHOG to date, although it must occur in gardens and the like around the periphery of the Harbour and the Reserve.

The COMMON SHREW is encountered occasionally along the sea-walls.The species is by no means common.

Signs of MOLE' activity are evident in many places around the Harbour. Strongholds of the Mole include the churchyard at Church Norton, and Yeomans Field at Sidlesham.

A number of BAT' Species have been recorded around the Harbour: Whiskered; Pipistrelle; Soprano Pipistrelle; Noctule; Serotine; and Daubenton's. Much work needs to be done to sort out their habitat preferences, distributions around the Harbour etc.

The FOX is one of the most readily-seen mammals around the Harbour. Animals may be seen almost anywhere, and most frequently during early mornings and in the evenings. The best localities are at Ferry House and along the West Wall. There are substantial populations in built-up areas to the east of the Harbour.

Both the STOAT and the following species are seen regularly around the Harbour. The chief prey' species of the Stoat is the Rabbit of which there is a large if fluctuating population.

The WEASEL is much more common than the Stoat, hunting along the sea-walls in search of any available prey such as Wood Mice, small birds etc. Some years, after a good breeding season, Weasels are numerous along the West Wall.

Perhaps the main scourge of the Harbour' environment, the AMERICAN MINK causes untold damage among populations of breeding ground birds. Even more significant is the damage done to local populations of the Water Vole. Although Mink are rarely seen, trapping programmes have revealed a substantial population.

All records of the COMMON SEAL tend to occur during the late summer, autumn and winter months. Normally, records refer to single animals, but occasionally two will be seen together. Fishing in the Harbour appears to be good, so animals will stay for some time, before disappearing as mysteriously as they arrived. Although most records show a preference for the mouth of the Harbour, at the seaward end of the main channel, some individuals will make their way right up the Harbour, almost as far as Ferry House.

Although woodlands around the Harbour are somewhat fragmented, the ROE DEER is a frequently-seen species, especially in the Church Norton area and from the West Wall. Individuals and small groups are seen from time to time on the fields to the west of the Harbour, some animals even straying up on to the West Wall where their tracks may be seen in the mud.

Records of the GREY SQUIRREL are few and far between. There is a small population in the Church Norton woodlands, but otherwise it is a relatively scarce mammal. Very occasionally a wandering animal will appear along the West Wall.

Our population of the WATER VOLE has had mixed fortunes of recent years. The discovery of a substantial population on the west side of the Harbour, in an environment which is slightly saline, was encouraging. Unfortunately, the high water levels of late 2000 and early 2001 may have had an adverse affect on these numbers: only time will tell whether the population has been damaged. Numbers of this species may also be reduced due to the depredations of the American Mink and Grey Heron.

HARVEST MOUSE A chance encounter by an observer on the periphery of the Harbour three years ago revealed the presence of this delightful species in a locality where it was not known to exist. At least four animals were present. Due to the sensitivity of the site which is on private property, specific details of the site will not be released.
Somewhat dated verbal anecdote suggests that the species was numerous along the local rifes some years ago.

The WOOD MOUSE is a common rodent around the Harbour, frequenting not only the edge of copses and woodland, but also the open sea-walls which have a cover of bushes and the like. Indeed, it is probably one of the most widely-distributed of all our mammals. Breeding takes place throughout much of the year, especially in the summer months and during the autumn, times when food is plentiful. Food sources include Hawthorn berries and other fruits, also seeds from a wide range of other plants.They are not averse to taking small insects, either. In spring, young are born in cosy nests, tucked away under the Gorse and Blackthorn bushes. Generally, Wood Mice are seen but rarely, since most move around under the protective cover of darkness. In the autumn, populations move into garden sheds, garages and even houses where they spend the winter, often feeding on caches of seed and fruits gathered in the autumn months. It is at this time that they may be detected at the Visitor Centre.

The YELLOW-NECKED MOUSE is a rarely-seen mammal. Perhaps a denizen of dense hedgerows, the number of records is extremely limited. Only an intense live trapping-and-release programme will show the true distribution and habitat requirements of this interesting species. Two recent records of this species indicate a population at a farm to the north of the Harbour.

The BROWN RAT is a common mammal around the Harbour. Most records come from observations around the Visitor Centre and the adjacent light industrial area nearby. Food sources include berries of Hawthorns along the straggling hedgerows.

A relatively uncommon species, the BROWN HARE is mainly to be found in the fields behind the North Wall and along Bremere Rife. Although intensively farmed (and thus disturbed), a small population continues to hold on. Of late, at least two Brown Hares have been seen from the West Wall.

RABBIT' populations around the Harbour have always fluctuated, in response to disease and human interference. Populations can reach almost plague proportions some years, especially in the Ferry House' area.

PLANTS:
Flowers to be seen in the early spring include those of Coltsfoot and Sea Campion, both of which come into flower quite early in the year. Much depends upon the location; plants growing on sheltered and sunny banks will be far ahead of those in more exposed situations. One of the plant 'spectaculars' right through the year, but particularly in the spring, is the Gorse which flowers profusely along the West Wall of the Harbour. As the spring moves onward, the shingle beach, a little way up the Harbour from Church Norton, becomes a sea of pink. This is the only locality around the Harbour where the Thrift, pictured left, grows in any quantity. Careful exploration of the sunny seawalls around the Harbour, shady banks and open shingle will reveal a wide variety of interesting flora, some closely associated with the seashore environment, others more typical of woodland habitats.

Mid-summer plants in and around the the Harbour include the impressive yellow Horned Poppy seen here on Pagham Spit, an important shingle-beach habitat. The beautiful yellow blooms are followed by characteristic long horned seed capsules which distribute the seed widely around adult plants. Sometimes seeds are carried away by the tides and germinate along tide-lines far distant from the parent plant. Other beautiful wild plants of the shingle include Viper's Bugloss, Sea Kale and, in stabilised, grassy areas, the diminutive Childing Pink which, with appropriate protection, has extended its range within the Harbour. The shingle beaches of both Pagham and Church Norton Spits have a wonderful but potentially endangered flora.

Throughout the summer months, the stabilised beaches are a riot of colour. Red Valerian, a common plant of the shingle and a garden escape, is attractive to butterflies and to many other insects - including the Hummingbird Hawk-moth, an occasional migrant from Europe. And of course other relative new comers, also garden escapes, are not to be despised: such species as Purple Toadflax add nice touches of colour to the mid-summer shingle.A search along the shingle, close to the beach bungalows of Pagham village, will reveal all manner of plants which have adapted to an environment which offers advantageous conditions for them. Buddleia has taken advantage of the open and sunny situation, as have the occasional Apple trees, very often with well-formed fruits at mid-summer.

INSECTS:
PAGHAM HARBOUR' BUTTERFLIES
January-March
With the lengthening days, and occasional spells when temperatures rise to encouraging levels, some of our overwintering butterflies make sporadic appearances around the Harbour. Perhaps the most characteristic species of recent years is the Red Admiral, a species which nowadays appears to be surviving our winter months in notable numbers. The Peacock, too, is familiar during this period, also the occasional Comma.

April-June
Further rises in temperatures encourage more Red Admirals and Peacocks to appear. In gardens around the Harbour they are joined by Holly Blues from mid- to late April, also by early Large and Green-veined Whites, the latter characteristic of the old Tramway and along the sea-walls. Separating female Orange-tip butterflies from Small and Green-veined Whites at a distance is none too easy, but the males present no problems, flaunting their orange-tipped wings in the warm sunshine.

At this time of the year, a look around the copses in the Severals' area might produce the Speckled Wood, a retiring butterfly of sun-dappled woodlands and woodland edge. Migration in May may well produce some Painted Ladies, a strong-flying insect from southern Europe and North Africa. It is purely a migrant; unlike some Red Admirals, it cannot survive our winters, although there have been some very interesting late-winter records of recent years.

Another butterfly of the late spring and early summer is the Wall Brown (photograph, below left), none too common these days but seen often enough along the sea-walls where it enjoys basking in the sunshine. It has two broods and there is sometimes an emergence in late September, too. The Small Copper is most frequently seen along the sea-walls, particularly in sheltered and warm spots where the food plant of its larvae is found. Given suitable weather, June is an excellent month for butterflies around the Harbour. Common Blues emerge, the males absolutely superb with their bright blue livery. If there is any migration from the Continent, then Clouded Yellows may turn up in some numbers, as they did the year before last year (2000) when the first arrived on 10th June; among the trio seen at that time was a single example of the form helice. Thereafter, Clouded Yellows were recorded in some numbers, right through until October.

July-September
July and August can be our best months around the Harbour for butterflies. Migration may continue from time to time, producing influxes of more Painted Ladies and Red Admirals which may settle down to breed. The Gatekeeper appears about this time, haunting vegetation along the sea-walls, favouring particularly the flowers of Ragwort, Creeping Thistle and Bramble, all rich sources of nectar. About this time, too, the occasional Marbled White may be seen, an insect which does not breed around the Harbour but hails from chalk grasslands. With strong westerly and south-westerly winds blowing, it is more than likely that the few which have been recorded along the sea-walls of the Harbour have originated on the Isle of Wight. Meadow Browns are numerous in the right places, mainly along sea-walls which have a deep growth of grasses, and around Halsey's Farm which usually has some hay meadows. A walk along the sea-walls on a sunny, warm day will almost certainly reveal numbers of skippers on the wing. The habitat hosts two species, the Small Skipper and the Essex Skipper, both easily confused and difficult to separate unless a close view of the undersides of the antennae are seen!

Two species of hairstreaks are to be found around the Harbour. Both are of local distribution, the Purple Hairstreak being found in association with Oaks, the White-letter Hairstreak with Elms. The former flies from July until September, the latter from early July until around mid-August.

October-December
As October arrives, the numbers of butterflies around the Harbour decline drastically. Numerous Red Admirals will be on the wing, and there may be Painted Ladies around. Speckled Woods may be seen still around copses, and both Large and Small Whites are still in evidence. November's normally inclement weather will see a further decline and normally the last species to be recorded is the Red Admiral.

MOTHS
The casual visitor to the Harbour is unlikely to encounter many moths. Day-flying species include the Mother Shipton, the Silver-Y, and, in good summers when there is immigration from the Continent, the Hummingbird Hawk-Moth.

Seen casually, very often by disturbance of the vegetation, have been the Oak Eggar, Crimson Underwing and Sitochroa palealis, a locally-distributed moth along the South Coast.

DRAGONFLIES and DAMSELFLIES
The dragonflies' year begins with the appearance of Blue-tailed Damselflies and Hairy Dragonflies towards the beginning and middle of May, respectively. The latter (pictured here) has an important breeding population around the Harbour. The Common Blue Damselfly appears in May, too, and is frequently abundant in some localities. Large Red Damselflies may appear in some favoured localities, although as a species it is scarce here around the Harbour and records are few. Common Darters sometimes put in an appearance in June, although the beginning of July is perhaps more typical.The Emperor Dragonfly is also a June insect, as is the Black-tailed Skimmer. While locally-bred Southern Hawkers are on the wing, visiting shady lanes and local garden ponds in July, the month frequently witnesses the arrival of migrant dragonflies, among them the Ruddy Darter. Another migrant which has been seen in July is the Yellow-winged Darter, three of which were recorded in 1995. Migrant Hawkers may be home-bred or immigrants: in either case, their appearance is towards the end of July and more commonly throughout August and September.

The Brown Hawker has only been noted on a couple of occasions, appearing at times of insect migration along the South Coast. Migratory Four-spotted Chasers occur at this time, too. Another member of the Libellulagenus, the Broad-bodied Chaser, seems to be of more frequent occurrence of recent years. Dragonfly and Damselfly activity goes on right through until September and October when the season comes to an end with the last records of Common Darter and Migrant Hawker, some individuals of which survive into November in good years.

Pagham Harbour and its environs is an excellent area for dragonflies, with something on view throughout much of the season. Success for the observer depends very much upon the weather, of course, but regular visits and consistent observations will illustrate that here we have major breeding concentrations of such species as the Hairy Dragonfly, Black-tailed Skimmer and Migrant Hawker, and an attractive environment for a number of others, breeders and migrants alike.

The booklet The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Pagham Local Nature Reserve (published April 1999, Lawrence G.Holloway) is available direct from the author, price £5.50, including postage.

REPTILES and AMPHIBIANS:
Sightings of the COMMON FROG have been few and far between in the past, although established populations should exist in gardens and the like around the Harbour. Spawn appeared in the Centre Pond, close to the Visitor Centre, in March 1999, when at least nine clumps of spawn were noted. Whether this was a natural event, or whether the spawn had been introduced by a visitor, is not known. Apart from the two artificial ponds close to the Visitor Centre, most watery environments around the Harbour have a slight saline content, so are, on the whole, unsuitable for Frogs.

A walk along the West Wall in the late spring on a warm morning may well reveal the presence of VIVIPAROUS LIZARDS. They love to bask in the morning sunshine, taking advantage of the gentle heat radiating from the dried mud of the foot-paths, and even climbing up on to the top of vegetation to enjoy the rays of the sun.

The SLOW-WORM is an infrequently-seen legless lizard, tending to hide away amongst dense herbage, coming out to bask in the sun on inviting mornings. Adults vary in colour from mid-brown to a handsome burnished copper and can grow up to 18 inches in size. The food of the Slow-Worm comprises slugs. Hibernation begins in October and lasts until March. Young are born in the late summer and early autumn, each being enclosed in a membrane out of which it breaks almost immediately. Specimens have been found along the West Wall, at Ferry House and close to the Visitor Centre. In 2000, one was seen being attacked by a Magpie which eventually carried it away.Other predators include Hedgehogs, Rats, Adders and even Kestrels.

Few people have the luck to see a GRASS SNAKE of which there are a very few on the Reserve: indeed, it can be regarded as something of a rarity. It is seen occasionally in fresh-water habitats, hunting for Frogs and other prey. Grass Snakes hibernate through the winter, stirring into life during the warm days of April when a quiet look at local ponds and damp areas may reveal this elusive animal. Grass Snakes are largely scarce on the coastal plain of West Sussex, and the limited population on the Reserve needs constant care and the provision of more freshwater ponds if it is to thrive.

Although most visitors to the Harbour do not encounter ADDERS, they are of common occurrence along the sea-walls and in other places on the Reserve. Warm days in March and April may coax them into activity after winter hibernation and they can be found basking in open situations. During the days of high summer, when temperatures out in the open are too high, they retreat into the herbage and are extremely difficult to find. The sloughed skin of a female, found near Church Norton, measured some 26 inches in length. Even allowing for stretching during the sloughing process, this was indeed a large example.

MISCELLANEOUS
The WASP SPIDER is rare in Britain, confined to the warmer spots along the South Coast, including Pagham Harbour. It is always found close to the sea and despite its relatively bright yellow and black livery, it is frequently quite difficult to see, especially at mid-summer against a background of blanched grasses. Prey species include many flying insects, and even grasshoppers and dragonflies. If Global Warming is a reality, it is likely that the range of this handsome arachnid is likely to extend and naturalists of the future may expect to see a great many more Wasp Spiders around the Harbour.

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