Chichester
Harbour by Anne de
Potier
Take
a walk along Chichester Harbour. It offers up one
of Britain’s great spectacles of thousands of
winter birds, combined with renowned beauty spots.
You do not glimpse these birds, you see them. The
advantage is they are in the open, there is no cover.
If you go when it’s about 2 hours either side
of high tide, they will be close to you. It is ideal
terrain, and even better with a telescope, or binoculars.
There
are birds such as Dunlins, Knots, Curlew Sandpipers,
and Little Stints that are difficult to tell apart,
this will come from being with experts, and experience,
but for the most part, the birds are easy. There are
also the large species; Herons, Little Egrets, Whimbrels,
Godwits, Shelduck. The Curlew, with its evocative
call, is the largest European wader, and is easily
seen throughout the area. The Oystercatcher, unmistakable,
and just because it is common, it is largely ignored,
but when the sun catches it as it flies over your
head, it is the most beautiful bird in flight; it
will also pip you a greeting.
Even in the summer, a few birds from each species
will remain, as will virtually every species of British
gull, and they will be accompanied by terns, hirundines,
Swifts and passing birds.
Then
there are the picture-postcard views. Bosham, where
King Canute reportedly had his encounter with the
tides (to this day, cars are written-off every week
in Bosham by tourists, who park unknowing of the tide,
and the fatal consequences of seawater).
Fishbourne,
a favoured site for birdwatchers, but home also to
the internationally renowned Roman Villa; www.sussexpast.co.uk/property/site.php?site_id=11
Fishbourne
with Whinchat on wire
Emsworth,
a scenic small town and harbour, attracting locals,
birdwatchers, tourists, gourmets and swans;
Dell
Quay, Itchenor, West Wittering, the list is endless.
It is easier to make a list of unattractive spots
- - - - -I’ll come back to you on that one.
The
‘Harbour’ from Hampshire, actually begins
along the eastern shore of Hayling Island, from Sandy
Point, north to Langstone. There is also Pagham Harbour
and Selsey Harbour, these 3 areas combined offer 100
miles of walks.
Here from Anne, are just a few, a
very few, of the many hotspots of the birds and flora,
of this still largely unspoiled coastline. This is
largely thanks to Chichester Harbour Conservancy,
a well-known, well-oiled and respected body, that
has a continuous programme of events throughout the
calendar that has an active fun and learning schemes
for children.
There are trips on a solar powered
boat, long walks, short walks, talks, but above all
of this, is the work it does for conservation. Luckily
it is all available in greater depth on their excellent
website, with interactive maps, live webcams, all
sorts of goodies, and if you click ‘eNewsletter’,
you can be kept up to date with events
www.conservancy.co.uk/learn/index.htm
. www.conservancy.co.uk/out/programme_of_walks
If you STILL want to know more, then I’m afraid,
there is no satisfying you, but the publication ‘Chichester
Harbour - -A History’ by John Reger is recommended.
-----------------------------
Chichester
Harbour: a great place for coastal wildlife
Birds
Chichester Harbour is internationally recognised for
its estuarine birds, particularly geese, ducks and
waders. There
are over 45,000 in the harbour in winter. You can
see waders all the year round, although there are
far more in winter, when they are joined by the wildfowl.
You can also enjoy the variety of evocative calls
such as the trilling of Curlew, the whistling of Wigeon
and the guttural chattering of Brent geese. Migration
is amazing: find out more on www.greenshank.info
You
will see waders spread all over the shore whenever
the tide is low enough for them to feed. Even if you
do not identify them, you will notice the variety
of shapes and sizes; their bills have evolved so that
they can extract the different items of invertebrate
prey from the mud. This mud contains an incredible
number of these creatures: an area similar to that
occupied by a dinghy could hold 40,000 tiny mud snails.
As
the tide rises the waders need to move to higher ground,
so large flocks fly towards favoured spots. Look for
shimmering waves of Dunlin, urgent noisy flocks of
Oystercatchers and cascades of Godwits. The largest
concentrations are likely to be at Ellanore, Thorney,
East Hayling and the Stakes Islands off Chidham.
Other
distinctive birds throughout the year are Cormorants
(the ones that stand with outstretched wings), Grey
Herons (the 'normal' heron) and Little Egrets (small
white herons which have only recently became common).
The gulls you see are mostly Black-headed Gulls, even
though they do not have black heads in winter. In
summer three species of tern can be seen: Sandwich,
Common, and Little. They all plunge into the water
to catch small fish.
Plants
In places around the harbour, usually where there
is some shelter, you will see mixed saltmarsh.. All
the plants are adapted to cope with different tidal
conditions according to their height above low water.
At the lowest level grow Glasswort and Annual Seablite,
both of which are very fleshy in construction. Higher
up you will find others such as Sea Purslane, Sea
Aster and Sea Lavender; the latter two have vivid
mauve flowers. Plants such as Sea Beet (the ancestor
of Spinach) and Curled Dock grow on or above high
water mark. Saltmarsh looks its best between July
and September.
Hotspots
East
Head Sand dunes are fascinating but fragile places.
Not even the tough Marram grass can hold the sand
in position. A ‘repair job’ was done in
2005. In the shelter of the spit there is a large
expanse of saltmarsh which in July and August features
the mauve Sea Lavender.
If you venture inwards you will reach an area where
the sand is more consolidated and other plants can
grow such as Sea Spurge, Sea Holly and Sea Bindweed.
You will probably hear Skylarks singing above the
dunes.
Dell
Quay & Fishbourne From Dell Quay the path
northwards provides an opportunity for birdwatching
at the head of the Fishbourne Channel where birds
can be seen quite close. This is best done at half
tide. At Fishbourne you will find an attractive clean
stream flowing through some traditional meadows, bright
in summer with a range of flowers and butterflies.
It’s a good place for investigating what is
in the water.
Bosham
As at Dell Quay, head north for quiet but rewarding
birdwatching
Chidham
This quiet village is hidden from the shore, but the
perimeter of the peninsula provides a good walk with
some superb views. Find a map to locate the network
of public footpaths. You can also start at Nutbourne
which is a good birding place.
Thorney
Island As this is an army base you have to remain
on the perimeter footpath, but it is worth it for
possibly the best birding in the harbour. It’s
a long walk round, so be prepared.
Emsworth
The walk west from Emsworth towards Langstone
passes through a variety of habitats including woodland
and freshwater marsh. There is an option of an inland
route past Warblington Church - essential at high
tide!
South-East
Hayling Whether you start from the marina, the
sailing club or the beach you can find an unusual
habitat near the lifeboat station where dunes blend
with heathland. Nearer the sea are dune and coastal
plants similar to those at East Head. And you never
know what you might see flying past the harbour entrance!
Find
out more
Websites
www.conservancy.co.uk
: masses of information, including walks and events
to join in, and more about what to find and where
to go.
www.greenshank.info
: about migration, and how to find out where birds
go. Play the migration game!
Chichester Harbour Conservancy
Harbour Office
Itchenor
Chichester
West Sussex
PO20 7AW
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