Wildlife Advice Wanted

[MRJ]

I'll be spending about a week in England with my wife in the middle of November - I know but I have no choice. Mostly it will be in London but I have three nights / four days which are more or less free and we are heading west. We are staying in Chichester for two nights and further west for the third. We will be driving a hire car.

I do have a couple of zoos in mind but am looking for wildlife options. The badger watch place I wanted to visit is shut for the season and of course a lot of stuff will have migrated away or have gone into hibernation.

Mammals: I'm wondering if there are any potential opportunities for harbour porpoises? Is there anything else worth looking for at that time of year? I can bring a thermal imager and bat detector.

Birds: Pagham Harbour RSPB Reserve seems to have a pretty good list even in November and is only minutes from Chichester. Any other suggestions?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Alwaysevergreen]

Can't help you with the London area, but if you are ever in the South West and want to know where you can see an active family of Beavers, a very enjoyable family of Otter, and an Adder strong hold, feel free to ask.

Porpoise I've only ever seen in the Hebrides and in Orkney on Boat trips. The one off the Hebrides is well worth doing, as November - February you will often see Orca as well, which is very much a must do in your lifetime experience.

If you like Birds, Shapwick Fen near Glastonbury has Glossy Ibis this year, there are a young group of 5 of them, which are lovely to see in the wild, as well as Marsh Harriers and Buzzard. Native Eurasian Otter and Barn Owl are in this location as well. Wrong time of year, but in the spring there are Hobby's. From this location, you are around 90 minutes from the Beaver and Adder stronghold (although Adders will have burrowed by now).

If heading west for visits to Zoo's, I definitely recommend Exmoor and Axe Valley in the West Country for some rare and exciting species.

 

[Dassie rat]

This gives some details of bird reserves in West Sussex: West Sussex's National Nature Reserves - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

This gives a list of recent marine mammal sightings in southern England: Sea Watch Foundation - Sightings

Last year, a Minke whale swam up the River Thames in London

 

[Lafone]

I'll be spending about a week in England with my wife in the middle of November - I know but I have no choice. Mostly it will be in London but I have three nights / four days which are more or less free and we are heading west. We are staying in Chichester for two nights and further west for the third. We will be driving a hire car.

I do have a couple of zoos in mind but am looking for wildlife options. The badger watch place I wanted to visit is shut for the season and of course a lot of stuff will have migrated away or have gone into hibernation.

Mammals: I'm wondering if there are any potential opportunities for harbour porpoises? Is there anything else worth looking for at that time of year? I can bring a thermal imager and bat detector.

Birds: Pagham Harbour RSPB Reserve seems to have a pretty good list even in November and is only minutes from Chichester. Any other suggestions?

Many thanks in advance.

It would be more of a trek and is a few hours from Chichester but I’d recommend the wetland trust at Slimbridge.

Slimbridge Wetland Centre

May be too much driving however it’s a an excellent site. Given you have an RSPB site a lot nearer though it might be a better use of time.

If you were heading further West anyway it might be a good place to aim for. They have other sites too which people may be able to comment on as I’ve only visited that one.