Virtual Field Trips
Dell Quay to Chichester Marina
8. Bird Hide
At the end of the marina there is an area of
reed beds, water and fields.
This is the top end of the natural creek and
shows the changing habitats
from wetlands to dry land.
Reed beds develop where
their roots are in
water for most of the time but their
stems are not submerged.
They often form drier
islands
surrounded by water.
View from bird hide
View from bird hide and across the Marina
This shows what the area might have looked like if the marina had not been built. The contrast between the natural and man-made environment can be clearly seen. The view from the bird hide shows the natural environment and the other side of the road looks over the marina with its boats, pontoons, lifting gear, shops and the Marina office, which controls the lock gates.
Looking across Marina
Looking across the reed beds
Coot (left) Moorhen (right)
Looking across the Reed Beds
The bird hide is here as the natural environment of reed beds, water, fields and trees attracts a wide range of wildlife. Several of these such as reed and sedge warblers are dependent on reed beds.
They migrate here for the summer to breed among the reeds and feed on the abundant insects to be found over the water. If you look carefully you may be able to see the spire of Chichester Cathedral in the distance.
Coots and moorhens can often be seen on the areas of open water and swallows also swoop over the water catching insects. Coots are black with a white line down the front of their heads above their beaks and feathers on their feet. Moorhens have red beaks and a white horseshoe shape on their tails.
Farm and fields
Farm and fields
The fields are used by wading birds to roost at high tide when they can’t feed on the mudflats. They rest and preen here or feed on insects and other food in the field.
These fields are also farmed and cows can often be seen grazing.
Dam and Pump
Dam and Pump
The road between the bird hide and the marina is built on top of the dam that holds the water in the marina at the top end.
There is a pump which pumps the fresh water from the reed beds out into the marina as the dam stops the natural flow.
This allows the water levels in the reed beds to be maintained at the right levels and stops them flooding.
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