SDOS led another hugely successful walk by the Adur Estuary SSSI recently.

Former chair, Tony Benton, who led the walk, gives us a detailed summation of the fabulous few hours…

“The first of two September walks beside the Adur Estuary SSSI took place yesterday, with 22 members and 2 guests setting off from Ropetackle at noon. Although there was no rain, it was a grey day, coupled with a blustery and slightly humid wind.

Just outside the Ropetackle building we began our search for Turnstones: they were playing hide and seek amongst the mussel beds and gravel and were demonstrating just how superbly camouflaged they are! The Turnstone numbers are still low at this time of the year and there’s probably an overlap of birds heading south, and others who find Shoreham to their liking for a winter holiday. As we were about to move off, a Kingfisher flew past, fast and low over the water, but always heading downstream. Unfortunately it was not seen again.

The walk then headed upstream on the east bank of the River Adur, and two Turnstones decided to parade on the mud just below the footpath wall (a much better view than five minutes before!).

Our SSSI target birds were Ringed Plover, Dunlin, and Redshank, with the Plovers being the most numerous of the trio. The Adur SSSI was designated as a Site of Special Interest in 1987, partly on account of these wading birds, so it’s a sad state of affairs to chart their decline since the beginning of this century.

As we reached the area known locally as ‘the old picnic site’ we found three Sandwich Terns roosting on the opposite mudbank. With the help of our telescopes, we could see that a winter moult was underway. That is to say that the black crown of the birds was looking … well, less punky.

Gull numbers were relatively low, with Herring Gulls being the most abundant, followed by Black-headed Gulls, and about 20 Great-black Backs. Their lesser cousins were absent. As the tide raced in the gulls quietly slipped away.

By the time that we reached our halfway point, at the Old Toll Bridge, we were in need of another wader- and five Lapwings duly obliged. We all got good views through the ‘scopes, and a Grey Heron started flying towards us, but then decided to hide behind a sandbar. And on the heron family front, Little Egrets were with us pretty much throughout the walk, darting about in the shallows in search of a tasty fish snack.

The second half of the walk headed back down stream (west bank), with the incoming tide rapidly covering the intertidal mud and then the saltmarsh. This meant that waders were pushed off, but this suited the Mute Swans just fine with 20 +. and a single Black Swan. The latter is probably the bird seen earlier in the year at Widewater and the Adur Mute’s seem to tolerate it more than the flock at Widewater.

Perhaps because of the strong wind, smaller song birds were keeping low, although a Magpie and a few flocks of Starlings were noted, plus several Carrion Crows from time to time.

About halfway back along our return route, two Northern Wheatears were seen perching on the derelict Pillbox. They were probably trying to shelter from the wind, whilst fuelling up before their long migration to sub-saharan Africa. It’s always interesting and exciting to see birds on migration, and the Adur SSSI and surrounding habitat offers migrant birds the opportunity to rest and feed up before heading out over the channel.

The only raptor seen was a Kestrel, hunting around the area of scrub and grassland that might soon be converted to a bike park, complete with tracks for racing and stunts. Argh…..

All in all, we probably saw most of the birds expected at this time of the year, although the resident Oystercatchers decided that they preferred a different part of the estuary and didn’t show up.

My thanks are extended to everyone that joined the walk, and especially to Sue, Richard , and Sally for helping with bird finding. It’s always a pleasure to share the Adur SSSI with SDOS members – there were lots of great questions from people – and we are so lucky to be able to enjoy some quality birding in an urban environment. I look forward to another walk around the SSSI on Saturday 26 September at the earlier time of 8.30am. See you there?”

Photos: Maria McGrath