Enjoying Wildlife
Wildlife
Chichester Harbour is internationally recognised for its estuarine birds, particularly geese, ducks and waders. 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.
The common waders are reasonably distinctive, even though most of them are basically brown in colour with paler bellies. Curlew are large, with down curving beaks. Tall waders with straight beaks will be Bar-tailed or Blacktailed Godwits: the latter have a stripy appearance when they fly.
Oystercatchers are prominent black and white birds with red bill and legs. Redshanks are medium-size and have red legs. Grey Plover are smaller and dumpier than Redshanks, silvery grey with black under the wing, and black on the throat, chest and belly in early autumn. Ringed Plover are a similar shape but smaller, with a black necklace. Dunlin are much the same size as Ringed Plover, but plain coloured and with a longer bill. Turnstone look rather like small Oystercatchers: dark on top with a dark head, and contrasting white underneath.
You will see these 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 which you are carefully avoiding when you sail contains an incredible number of these creatures: an area similar to that occupied by your dinghy could hold 40,000 tiny spire shells, 60,000 Corophium shrimps, 50,000 Baltic Tellin shellfish and up to 500 Ragworms. Their nourishment is brought to them afresh every tide.
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 Pilsey, the Stakes Islands, Thorney and East Hayling.
You will see most wildfowl between October and March. Brent geese are dark with white under the tail and longer necks than ducks. There are dabbling ducks such as Wigeon (medium size) and Teal (small), and diving ducks such as Goldeneye (small with large head) and Red-breasted Merganser (long body, long narrow beak and rakish crest). In all these species the male is brightly patterned but the female is generally brown. The exception is the Shelduck, in which both sexes are basically white with a chestnut band on the chest, black on the wings and a red beak. These can also be seen in summer as they breed locally.
Other distinctive birds throughout the year are Cormorants (the ones that stand with outstretched wings and make a mess on your boat!), Grey Herons (the 'normal' heron) and Little Egrets (small white herons which have only recently become 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, the largest, with a crest and black bill; Common, smaller with a red bill, and Little, the smallest with a yellow bill and white forehead. They all plunge into the water to catch small fish.
In places around the harbour, usually where there is some shelter, you will find mixed saltmarsh. The typical structure is of flat low growing vegetation with narrow channels. All the plants are adapted to cope with the differences in tidal regime according to their height above mean 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. The tough Cordgrass which colonised the intertidal area earlier this century, and which in places forms large patches, is now dying back. Saltmarsh looks its best between July and September.
Specific Areas
East Head / Pilsey Island / Itchenor / Chichester Marina / Dell Quay / Bosham / Chidham / Prinsted / Emsworth / Northney / SE Hayling
East Head
Sand dunes are fascinating but fragile places. The northern shore of East Head shows how such features are formed. At the western end the sand is blown in a shallow slope, and as it reaches the area beyond the scope of the tide its progress is slowed by Marram grass. In time higher mounds are formed. In places some damage has been caused to the high area by winter storms; not even the Marram grass can hold the sand in position. 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. A boardwalk has been installed by the National Trust who own the site to help prevent damage by trampling.
Pilsey Island
(April to October only; access by boat only - please remain within landing area)
Here the sandy beach is backed by an area of shingle. Both have consolidated sufficiently to support a variety of plants. Yellow Horned Poppies are showy in flower and have long curved seed pods; their rosettes of grey crinkly leaves are present throughout the year. Sea Radish also grows from a rosette and can reach quite a size; it has knobbly pea-like pods. The low-growing Hare's Foot Clover has furry flower heads. Sea Campion has white flowers with delicate cups beneath. The creeping Sea sandwort forms a mat just above the strand-line. In Spring, the pink flowers of Thrift emerge from dense tufts of leaves. Pilsey is a U-shaped island, enclosing an area of mixed saltmarsh. On the western side are some sand dunes, which are growing rapidly.
Itchenor
A walk westwards past Northshore will take you to an area of typical saltmarsh which is relatively easy to explore. Further round the shore you will reach some attractive mixed woodland, where the oak trees bend over the beach and small birds are busy in the treetops. You may hear the laughing call of a Green Woodpecker. The footpath continues to West Wittering and East Head.
Chichester Marina
At the eastern end of the Marina is an area of marshy grassland
where you can see a variety of wetland birds including waders.
There is a carpark nearby and an observation hide. Along the
edge of the Chichester Canal in summer you will find a range
of water plants, and several families of Coot, Moorhen and
Mallard.
North of the main lock is a small wood which is traditionally
managed by coppicing. A walk here in spring offers you bluebells
and a wealth of birdsong. Later in the year it is a good spot
for butterflies. You can continue north to Dell Quay and beyond.
Dell Quay
From here 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.
Bosham
As at Dell Quay, head north for birdwatching and saltmarsh plants
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.
Prinsted
From here you can go eastwards towards Nutbourne and Chidham, and also westwards to Thorney Island (see below). Going this way you pass some newly developing saltmarsh, created by allowing the sea to pass through a gap in the bank.
Emsworth
The western side of Thorney Island offers wildlife both sides of the sea wall. The interior nearest the marina used to be tidal but was enclosed in 1870. The former saltmarsh channels support waterbirds such as ducks, coot and grebes. The reedbeds are noisy in summer with chattering Reed and Sedge Warblers. The farmland, which has never been ploughed, is traditionally managed by grazing and haycutting to maintain the botanical interest. The bumps in the fields are mostly large anthills.
Unusual plants such as Golden Samphire (glossy leaves with yellow daisy flowers) grow on the sea wall. It is possible to walk right round Thorney Island, but as it is a military base you must remain on the perimeter path.
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.
Northney
West of the marina you will find a good example of mixed saltmarsh. If you go over the road bridge you can explore the area between Langstone and Emsworth (see above), including the old milllpond at Langstone. There is a permissive path on part of Northney Farm which starts from a lane almost opposite the church.
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. There is colourful heather in late summer; nearer the sea are dune and coastal plants similar to those at Pilsey and East Head.
