I was up bright and early at Pagham Harbour's North Wall following news last night of a Squacco Heron there. Disappointingly, only three or four other birders turned up - including regular Pagham birder Ian, with whom I had a nice chat - and rather predictably there was no sign of the heron. Two Whimbrel, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose and a Wigeon were some of the best birds out in the harbour and a couple of Cuckoos were singing, as were two Lesser Whitethroats. A Barn Owl quartered north of the wall, two Avocets were on the Ferry Pool and other waders included six Grey Plovers, 35 Black-tailed Godwits, six Dunlin and 12 Lapwings. Also noted were two Cetti's Warblers, a couple of Sedge and Reed Warblers, seven Gadwall, 10 Swifts, Mediterranean Gull, a Mistle Thrush, Common and Sandwich Terns, etc.
I was in Carshalton in the evening for a curry with birthday-boy Christian, and Magnus, where we saw a Grey Wagtail outside the restaurant.
