This is a really interesting post from Brett Spencer's blog about the demise of Radipole RSPB:
http://bretteeblahblahblah.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/the-demise-of-radipole-lake.html
This struck a chord with me because I just can't fathom what is going on around the Pagham Harbour Medmerry area at the moment:
Sidlesham Ferry Pool is a shadow of its former self, think of the great birds of the past eg: Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, White-rumped Sandpiper, Baird's Sand, Lesser Yellowlegs, Black-winged Pratincole, not to mention Phalaropes, Pec Sands...little chance of much now as it still has not been repaired. New hide? Why? Fix the bloody pool!
The Breech Pool is a duck pond most of the year as the run offs from the fields have become clogged with pennywort and the like and and are holding the water back when it should be running through fast and out of the sluices. The sluice gates are wide open but the water level won't drop because of this and the mismanagement of the harbour mouth. Solution? Well the spit may be cut so perhaps the harbour outflow can be improved but there surely must be talks with the landowners to rectify the situation? Spend some money if necessary RSPB!
The Stilt Pool is quite remarkable as a venue that has gone backwards incredibly rapidly, remember the breeding BW Stilts from where it gets its nomenclature? Now? Literally 100s of Canada Geese present and would you believe it, grazing cattle. The other day there was just a Common Sand here lurking at the very back and even the Gulls had been pushed right to side of the pool by the geese and cattle! And all the nitrogen being deposited into the water will cause an algal bloom and de-oxygenate the water so zero will live there. Guess what? No food no birds....Get a digger and make a few more scrapes behind the shingle bank-this will take the pressure of the pool and could make a really great site-will it happen? Doubtful. Opening the centre of the reserve up would also be a bonus as would fencing off the outlying pools to keep dogs out-signs do not work, dogs constantly in the water at breeding season...
The now sadly deceased "Puddle" at Lidsey showed what could happen if the habitat is right: Pec Sand, Wood Sand and all manner of waders...we live in hope but not expectation....
