12 May 2003
There is some rather puzzling engineering work going on on the shingle foreshore at the eastern of Widewater Lagoon, which seems to also involve an offshore ship of some kind. Shingle and water is being pumped over a small section of the beach.
 

The photograph on the left shows what looks like mainly coloured water coming out the pipeline which is discolouring the sea, but a lesser extent than the water discharges from Shoreham harbour on to Southwick beach. 

8 January 2003
Engineers have begun the first stage of the seawater pipe installation at Widewater Lagoon. The sections black plastic pipe are being joined by a heat welding machine. The process takes about one and a half hours for each section. Two joins have been made, there will be about twenty more joins to complete the pipe which is designed to allow topping up of the lagoon should it suffer lack of water in summer as a result of the sea defence works currently in progress. The site of the installation is being plotted on the ground towards the west end of the lagoon. The work is expected to be completed in March 2003.

The best bit of Ringed Plover nesting habitat and the most attractive bit of the flora (Sea Thrift and Stonecrops) of the lagoon fringes has been churned to pieces. The location of the pipeline was changed at the last minute. The top soil/gravel is meant to be returned in the place from where it was removed. 
Photograph (by Steve Barker) before the Pipeline

September 2002

The new rock defences on the shingle beach are erected on Widewater beach with rocks* brought in by barge across the North Sea from Norway. 

Five great heaps of rock looking like small volcanic islands sat on the beach the last time I looked. Each waiting to be sculpted into a new groyne structure. I stood watching the contractors as they were using a mechanical claw to set rocks into place in a mound that will become one of the new groynes.

It was extraordinary to see how much effort went in to get one piece of rock to fit exactly the right position at the top of the newly formed mound. Imagine having to build a rockery with pieces that weigh several tonnes each. All the exposed pieces, it seems, must be secure and form an overall smooth appearance, so that if you take a line and hold it against the mound, no individual rocks break the line or leave a large hollow. Or perhaps imagine if it were rendered with cement, a rock would not protrude through. That seems to be the degree to which construction was taken. One piece of stone was tried, rolled, twisted, turned and finally rejected and another selected and the process repeated until just the right fit was obtained. There must be a huge safety factor at stake here. If one piece of rock was not quite secure, a person could be trapped and maimed by an unexpected shift if they inadvertently found the loose piece.

New Rock Sea Defences on Widewater beach

Modelling Waves at the Shoreline: Special Considerations

WILDLIFE REPORTS 2004 ET SEQ.

28 December 2003
After over 40 mm of rain the previous day and over night, the water level of Widewater Lagoon on the gauge by the bridge is 1 m 66 cm, the highest level recorded in 2003. 

28 November 2003
The water level of Widewater Lagoon on the gauge by the bridge was 1 m 63 cm. At the high spring tide a Little Egret was stationed by the inlet where the water was flooding in. 

24 November 2003
Despite over an inch of steady rain in the last two days and some high spring tides, the level of Widewater Lagoon has only risen to 1 m 58 cm. The salinity shows no change from the beginning of the month and is recorded at 25‰ (ppt).

19 November 2003
Thrift is still in flower in small clumps on the grass near the Information Kiosk. 
A larger than normal chirm of over 30 Goldfinches made an attractive display amongst the dead Burdock on an overcast day. It is the Burdock fruits that are brown globular burrs that stick to clothing and anything else. After thus dispersing its seeds, this biennial plant (purple in flower) then dies.
 

31 October 2003
After nearly 25 mm of rain in the last three days and the high tides, Widewater is in flood and the spit at the east end near the island is completely under water. The height reading is 1 m 65 cm. This level is higher than at any time this year. 

22 October 2003
There were at least three Redshanks feeding in the Widewater shallows at the eastern end of the lagoon. (The Redshanks have a longer beak than the Turnstone.) The Goldfinches were present in two small chirms of under a dozen birds each. 

19 October 2003
A single Turnstone roosting at dusk with the thirty Black-headed Gulls looked slightly incongruous. It rested on the narrow spit on the seaward side near the island at the eastern end of the flooded lagoon. When the gulls took to the air, it remained alone. 

9 October 2003
Three Stonechats, one Little Egret and two Sandwich Terns were seen at Widewater, Lancing.

8 October 2003
The first chirm of about a dozen Goldfinches flew rapidly amongst the shrubbery between Widewater Lagoon and the beach huts, and and a young (brownish) Brown Rat was seen in the reduced undergrowth next to the promenade above the inlet pipe. 

30 September 2003
It is surprising how full Widewater Lagoon can look after  just a small rise because of the percolation and sea rushing through the inlet. The water spreads out over the flat flood plain, submerging most of the Glasswort. The Little Egret was darting its beak into the shallows actively feeding. The small prawns were most likely its prey. 
 

Over the gravel near the inlet a Clouded Yellow Butterfly flew in the moderate north westerly breeze on a sunny 16.2 ºC (max) afternoon. Wild flowering plants in short supply included Hawkbits, Scarlet Pimpernel, small very blue clumps of Viper's Bugloss, the very occasional Bird's Foot Trefoil and Sea Campion. The breeze blowing from the north against the high tide caused choppy conditions in the sea, but it veered around from a completely opposite direction from the south-east in the late morning.   

26-27 September 2003
The inlet pipe to Widewater Lagoon has not been detrimental to the autumn Glasswort, Salicornia, as if anything the splendid and unusual scarlet fringe to the lagoon is even more dramatic than usual. A large Little Egret was feeding to the west of the bridge.

14 September 2003
Widewater Lagoon was at the highest I had ever seen it, completed flooded on the available flood plain at the east end, and west of the bridge, the red Glasswort is almost totally submerged. There were tens of thousands of very small prawns, but I still have not seen a single Stickleback this year. 

12 September 2003
There was a single female Wheatear over dry land near the lagoon preparing to start her long migration to Africa. There were also a few small buntings (small birds) possibly Corn Buntings near the inlet pipe. 

10 September 2003
The Little Egret is absent from Widewater Lagoon. A Little Egret was feeding near the Railway Viaduct on the River Adur estuary at low tide. 

c 1 September 2003
A very large moth entered a house next to Widewater Lagoon. It was not identified, but it was very likely to have been a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Agrius convolvuli. There has been an influx of these immigrant moths in Sussex. 

31 August 2003

15 August 2003
The lagoon level was as high as seen in winter. The area where the Glasswort, Salicornia, shoots would be poking out of the mud, was submerged. 

13 August 2003
The seawater is flooding into Widewater Lagoon through the inlet on the high (over 6 metre) spring tides. It will be interesting to observe the effect of the artificially raised water level on the colour and prevalency of the saltmarsh plant Glasswort, Salicornia.

4 August 2003
Widewater Lagoon is being maintained at a winter high level by allowing seawater in through the inlet pipe, maintaining a salinityof full strength seawater. A handful of Common Blue Butterflies fluttered over the shingle, the reduced overflow of the flood plain because of the raised level, and an Emperor Dragonfly flew at about six metres above the surface. The green weed Enteromorpha, and possibly some Sea Lettuce, Ulva, could be seen but the lagoon was not very attractive. 
Widewater Salinity

18 July 2003
The combination of the high tides and the new inlet pipe have resulted in Widewater Lagoon being in flood comparable to winter. The flood plain wild flowers are under threat from the saline conditions, possibly including the Sea Heath, Frankenia laevis. 

16 July 2003
There were thousands of tiny prawns, lots of bubbles at high tide, but no Sticklebacks to be seen. 
Salinity Report

12 July 2003
A close look in the shallows by the footbridge over the lagoon and it did not look very attractive: the water was more orangey than normal, there seemed to be excessive silt, the Cladophora (green cotton wool-like weed) seemed to be absent and where the shoals of 3-spined Sticklebacks used to be, there were prawns. The weed present was a going brown and it looked like Enteromorpha or Ulva, the latter known as Sea Lettuce. 
Speculation: both Mute Swans and prawns could eat the Cladophora?

10 July 2003
The ecology of Widewater Lagoon seems to be changing. One filamentous green weed is missing and the shoals of 3-spined Sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, which were one of the most obvious and easily recognised feature of Widewater for the last fifty years or  more, are no longer to be seen and seem to have been replaced by small prawns. In the last week, several huge, two metre long? plus Eels, Anguilla anguilla, were seen in the small pool near the input pipe thrashing about in the muddy shallows. The width of the bodies were larger than could be grabbed in one hand.

5 July 2003
There are a lot of small black insects around, especially the flies by Widewater Lagoon. A Gatekeeper Butterfly by the Information Booth (TQ 204 042) is my first record of (TQ 204 042) this very common (in July and August) butterfly at Widewater or on Shoreham Beach on these Nature Notes. However, it is possible that its very abundance means that it is not mentioned. The beach area lacks the trees and bushes favoured by the Gatekeeper. 

2 July 2003
A Painted Lady Butterfly flew in off the sea and I nearly collided with a Poplar Hawk Moth on my bicycle near the Information Booth at Widewater Lagoon (TQ 204 042).

1 July 2003
The Environmental Agency opened up the four inch slats and three workers (in two vehicles) supervised the input of seawater into Widewater Lagoon on the high spring tide. Despite this topping up the lagoon, the water level was still fractionally down compared to 11 June 2003. 

The specific gravity was measured (and double-checked) and the salinity calculated at 35‰ (ppt), which is full strength seawater. This compares to a salinity of 24‰ (ppt) in July 2002. A combination of the input of full strength seawater and the evaporation during the exceptionally hot spell this spring is likely to be the reason. If the fresh seawater is introduced throughout the summer at the current rate, there is a risk that the lagoon will become hypersaline and be unable to support aquatic life.

Widewater Salinity Records 2002-3
Widewater Flood Plain Images

28 June 2003
In Widewater Lagoon, several large Common Eels have been seen to the east of the bridge. They could only be seen at the bottom of the lagoon from a very high vantage point on the roof of one of the houses.

20 June 2003
The Sea Thrift has faded and Opium Poppies are the most colourful feature of the lagoon fringes. 

14 June 2003
Stuart Meakins (Environmental Agency) advises me that this was the date the pipeline was first put into operation (by telephone conversation of 3 July 2003). This is a Saturday with a high spring tide of 6.4 metres (WXTides).
The pipeline was actually opened on 13 April 2003 at 8:00 pm by the Widewater  Pipeline Management Team. However, as this was only at half spring tide of 3 metres at this hour, I assume that the water would not come through until 10:30 pm when the tide reached 6 metres in height.

11 June 2003
Despite the recent rain, the level of Widewater Lagoon was about 50 mm lower than May and this leaves bare patches of mud. The salinity was measured at 30‰, the same as last month. 
Widewater Salinity Records (June 2003)

The resident pair of Great Black-backed Gulls were making a bit of a noise with their shrieking calls. A Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly as noted at the western fringe of the lagoon. 

5 June 2003
A Common Sandpiper was seen at Widewater.

2 June 2003
The Mute Swans on Widewater Lagoon have seven cygnets this year. 

Just a handful of Yellow-horned Poppy plants are in flower and the Tree Mallow is now more handsome at the western end of the lagoon. 
Red Admiral Butterflies and faded Painted Lady Butterflies appeared with a breeze from the south. I only saw a couple of each in ten minutes, but they looked like immigrants and later more of both species were seen near Old Shoreham Toll Bridge.

24 May 2003
In Widewater there were thousands of ovigerous small prawns collecting by the edge of the lagoon. The prawn species has not yet been positively identified. (It could be Palaemon elegans?)
Bird's Foot Trefoil was beginning to flower on the gravel between the lagoon and the cyclepath/promenade, dividing the lagoon from the sea. 

21 May 2003
A Glaucous Gull (1st or 2nd summer), Larus hyperboreas, is seen again at Widewater, Lancing at 10.15 am and again at 11.30 am, when it flew towards the River Adur. The Glaucous Gull is an Arctic species and a rare visitor to southern England. It is a large species only exceeded in size by the Great Black-backed Gull, one of which has been resident at Widewater since the beginning of 2003. 

14 May 2003
The soil and gravel that had been disturbed for the pipeline at Widewater was like a bare desert between large drifts of the Sea Thrift. A pair of Ringed Plovers rose from amongst the Thrift, and flew rapidly away.
Images of Disturbed Land (Link)

11 May 2003
Salinity in Widewater Lagoon is recorded at a high level of 30‰. Seawater in the English Channel is about 34‰.

This is the highest recorded salinity in the last year.
Widewater Salinity Records 2002-3

The Sea Thrift is now in flower.

6 May 2003

On the Widewater flood plain, on the gravel and soil that had been lifted to instal the new pipeline and then replaced, the Sea Campion was noticeably in flower. 

8 April 2003
The new pipeline from the sea to Widewater Lagoon has been landscaped and now merges into the shingle bank. After a couple of months of low rainfall, the lagoon salinity rises to a high figure of 25.5‰ (as high as any recording last year).
Widewater Salinity Records 2002-3

19 March 2003
A steady stream of orange-tailed bumblebees were observed flying eastwards over the shingle beach to the seaward edge of Widewater Lagoon. Over a period of two hours, a bee must have passed every 30 seconds and I estimated the total numbers passing at about 136. Later in the afternoon a smaller fly-pass occurred. 

There were two pairs of Shelducks at the eastern end of Widewater Lagoon.

8 March 2003
There were five ducks up-ending themselves to feed in Widewater Lagoon (eastern end). Some 25% smaller than Mallards, I have penned these in asTeals.

6 March 2003
After a month of very little rainfall, I would guess that the salinity would rise slightly in Widewater Lagoon, which was heavily in flood which is usually associated with heavy rainfall. The SG was measured and the salinity calculated at 27‰. 

This reading represents the largest monthly rise in salinity for a whole year. At the time of writing, I have not checked if the new pipeline is in operation.

26 February 2003
It was a surprise to see a black Brent Goose wading around the edges and swimming on the surface of Widewater Lagoon just south of the footbridge over the lagoon. The Little Egret was feeding as usual. 

9 January 2003
Black-headed Gulls were standing on the thin layer of ice that covered nearly the whole expanse of Widewater Lagoon, the Mute Swans were restricted to a small area of clear water near the houses. The Little Egret was predictably missing as it would have had few opportunities to feed in the frozen margins.

8 January 2003
A thin layer of ice formed over the shallow fringes of Widewater Lagoon. The daytime temperature was about 1.1° C and the dew point -4.2 ºC.

5 January 2003
There was a Kingfisher at the eastern end of the lagoon.

4 January 2003
Widewater Lagoon is in flood after the recent rain and the salinity fell to 15‰. 

The Little Egret foraged in the shallows as usual. This bird is not ringed.
Widewater Salinity Page

31 December 2002
Six Little Dabchicks (=Little Grebes) are spotted repeatedly diving beneath the flooded Widewater Lagoon. 

26 December 2002
On the edge of Widewater Lagoon, a Kestrel took a Goldfinch in mid-flight, hard enough to down the bird before finally capturing it.

20 December 2002
On the edge of Widewater, a Feral Pigeon probed. This "townie" is uncommon, (except for Southwick Square), not even found regularly at the railway stations in the Adur urban district. It could have been attracted by the feeding of the resident family of Mute Swans (two adults and nine cygnets that were partially white, nearly attaining adult colouring in their first year). The swans quickly swam towards me as I collected by water sample. On the sparsely vegetated artificial island of Widewater Lagoon, a Great Black-backed Gull was doing its best to further denude the vegetation with a large (rabbit-sized) clump of greenery which it flew off with. 
Widewater Salinity

16 November 2002
Near the Information Kiosk by Widewater Lagoon, two uncommon Sussex birds made a brief visit: a single Black Redstart and a couple of Stonechats. It is interesting how the Widewater provides a temporary haven for a large variety of the less familiar birds. The identity of these birds were confirmed by Sussex Ornithological Society observers. 

14 November 2002
An extra Little Egret was seen on the margins of Widewater Lagoon. Not so little either, these two birds appeared as white herons at first and the appearance of their size is dependent on their behaviour, skulking around the margins makes them appear smaller. One bird seemed to have such pronounced rings on its legs it appeared like it was in plaster. 

11 November 2002
The Little Egret is back feeding on in and around Widewater Lagoon after a break for the summer months.

Egret Information Update

7 October 2002
As the high tide reached it's peak at around 12:15 pm the percolation effect could clearly be seen at the western end of the Lagoon. As the rising tide pushes it's way through from the seaward side, trapped air is expelled. In many places the along the southern edge of the lagoon air bubbles rapidly rose to the surface as if the water was boiling. In at least two places, seawater springs emerged from the lagoon edge. Black and green algal growth clustered around the slow trickle.
On the adjacent beach, as the sun shone warmly, the sea was flat enough to skim pebbles on the surface. The fear of a low pressure weather system corresponding with an unusual high tide did not materialise.

A Comma Butterfly patrolled the sheltered leeward side of the bank while at the top of the bank a Clouded Yellow Butterfly took advantage of the clusters of Michaelmas Asters which also attracted bees to one of the seasons last nectar sources.

After a month of minimal rain and with an Indian Summer summer preceding some of the highest and lowest equinoctial spring tides for over 20 years, I visited Widewater Lagoon, 1½ hours after the midday high spring tide of 6.8 metres. The bubbles of percolating seawater had ceased by then and the only water commotion was caused by a small flock of Ringed Plover. There was a band of about 40 cm of wet mud (west of the bridge) where it looked as though the water had recently receded. The lagoon level was higher than that of a month ago, as the separate westerly lagoon was a continuous sheet of water, but still scarcely more than a large puddle. The air temperature was recorded at 21° C and water temperature in the lagoon at 16.5° C.  There were thousands of small prawns in the lagoon.
Widewater Salinity

12 September 2002
The distinctive long-legged spider Tetragnatha extensa was discovered in the long grass near Widewater Lagoon on the sea side. 

11 September 2002
After one day of heavy rain (9 September 2002) and high spring tides, the level of Widewater has risen again comparable to 14 August 2002 with the small western lagoon again filled. It would be useful to have a continual recording apparatus of height and salinity. A recording device was installed, but I understand that it is no longer working. 
Wheatears are noticeable, one bird flying from from one of the wooden parallel wooden supports to another, prior to their migration to warmer climates. 

4 September 2002
After a dry spell, Widewater Lagoon had receded/dried out and the small separate lagoon west of the western causeway was reduced to a few puddles since 14 August 2002.A live Lagoon Cockle was found on the surface.
Widewater Salinity

20 August 2002
After finding the Wasp Spider, Argiope bruennichi, on Mill Hill on 18 August 2002, another one almost leapt at me down at Widewater Lagoon (TQ 2008 0415) today. This one was close to the path across the causeway, I wasn't able to get such a good look at it but I think it was a male, about half the size of the Mill Hill specimen. I was distracted for a minute and when I looked back the spider had 'legged it'.

14 August 2002
Widewater Lagoon was very full of water (depth ? measured at ?) for August which could be explained by the heavy rainfall of the last few days which caused flooding in some places. The high tide of 6.1 metres (WXTide Table) occurred at 4.27 pm BST and the air bubbles shooting up through the cracks in the alluvium floor of the lagoon began one hour before the high tide. They occurred as a steady stream of small bubbles and sometimes as large less frequent bubbles and these bubble points occurred more often in the shallow water but also could be seen at the surface in water that was two metres deep. The conjecture is that this is seawater being forced into the lagoon through the shingle bank and the bubbling only occurs on tides of over 6 metres in height.

Supplementary Report

At 3.10 pm I saw some air bubbles in the area approx. 200 metres west of main ridge and spreading a further 100 metres west. There must have been at least 100 sets of bubbles! At least six had water rising at least 25 mm over the level of the Widewater. At this time there were no other areas showing this effect.
At 5.00 pm I then witnessed the same again this time some 200 metres east of the bridge and extending another 50 metres east. The bubble form was less pronounced than the previous lot.

Tens of thousands of very small (> 15 mm) prawns collected on the lagoon edges amongst the pebbles. Bob Cranborne provided the thin mesh net and the markings on the these prawns could be seen clearly when looking down into the white bucket. They were too small for positive identification with the naked eye. There is a possibility of the Lagoon Prawn, Palaemonetes varians or more likely the Common Prawn, Palaemon elegans.
BMLSS Prawns

In the surrounds of the causeway, I suddenly spotted a Ringed Plover chick. The two parents were conspicuous, part of their distraction behaviour, and altogether a small flock of  about 15 Ringed Plovers wheeled noisily. Wheatears were flying around as well,  prior to emigration and the Mute Swan couple were accompanied by nine dirty grey cygnets. 

A splendid large and distinctive example of a female Emperor Dragonfly buzzed overhead. 
Adur Dragonflies

9 July 2002
Live small cockles (new recruits of a breeding population) have now been discovered at depths of 20 cm in Widewater, which was about a metre deep near the bridge. This is the Lagoon Cockle, Cerastoderma glaucum, although when the cockles are small (12 mm width) they do not have the shape of the full grown ones, so they initially looked to me like Common Cockles, Cerastoderma edule. Actually, whilst they are alive there does not seem to be an easy way to distinguish them as it is the interior groove differences that are diagnostic. The shell is thinner and the Lagoon Cockle is brittler and the live shell can be easily prised open with a fingernail which is much harder with the Common Cockle, even small ones. The Shore Crab, Carcinus maenas, would find these shells very easy to crack open. 
NB: The pipeline is now finished (written in July 2003) and the internal weir in operation seems likely to handicap most immigrants from the sea, except for small prawns.
BMLSS Cockles

The black ooze (mud substrate) also revealed Nereis (ragworms), lugworms and other assorted worms. The tiny gastropod Hydrobia was plentiful as expected. There were also a few sediment-dwelling attachment type sea anemones discovered, although these were not Edwardsia ivelli. 

A Blenny (a small green or grey rockpool fish), Lipophrys pholis, was discovered by S. McKenzie in Widewater near the bridge. This fish would not be able to enter the lagoon naturally at present and would have been introduced by human activity. It was not behaving naturally, it was slightly moribund. This is because of the lowered (corrected) salinity of 24‰ (ppt). These rockpool fish can only tolerate lowered salinities occasionally for short periods when trapped in pools at low tide. If the unfiltered pipeline is introduced, these fish will find their way into the lagoon and unless they could escape through the pipeline, they will die within a few weeks. Gobies, Pomatoschistus, is another fish genus (two common species) that would enter, but these fish have a short life less than two year span, but the first year fry, with a greater tolerance of lowered salinity (entering estuaries in the summer) would still enter the lagoon and die in the first winter. Shore Crabs have an even greater tolerance of lowered salinity, able to osmoregulate better in higher summer water temperatures, but even with this hardy crab, they would find it difficult to survive a winter unless they congregated in more saline pockets. These crabs will predate on cockles and worms in the lagoon mud.

8 July 2002
At least one live Lagoon Cockle, Cerastoderma glaucum, is discovered in the mud samples taken from deeper water yesterday.

7 July 2002
The trip in the unseasonal drizzle to Widewater Lagoon, ostensibly in the search for the sea anemone Edwardsia ivelli, but actually the collection of anaerobic mud and hundreds of dead shells of the Lagoon Cockle, Cerastoderma glaucum, with just the remotest long shot that something interesting would creep out. The black mud substrate was collected at two locations one west of and one east of the bridge on the shallow edge of the deepest bits of the lagoon. After the recent rain, the lagoon was still appreciably filled and showed no signs of drying out that can occur in hot summers. 

The failure to discover even one live cockle was worrying and disappointing. Worrying because the initial thought that it was because of an accumulation of silt that caused thousands of the cockles to die. Another possibility was that the collection area had actually dried out completely during a recent dry summer and the mass mortality was because of desiccation. 
"As some lagoons are prone to ephemerality it is in their nature to experience wide fluctuations in populations of species.  When I have recorded Cerastoderma glaucum at sites I have almost always found many many more dead shells than living. Terry Wimbleton (Havant) of the Conchological Society has observed see-saw colonisation of suitable habitat for Cerastoderma glaucum locally (Dorset to Sussex) and was talking to me about this at a meeting recently."

Widewater Salinity

The first green spiky shoots of Glasswort were clear in the boggy and almost dry margins. Floating on the surface the strands of the rooted plant with the scientific name of Ruppia maritima were pointed out. This is an unattractive choking style green flowering point that was present in large clumps. Despite its prominence this is the first record of it on these Nature Notes pages.

13 June 2002
On Widewater Lagoon, a pair of Mute Swans to the west of the small bridge were accompanied by ten cygnets. The lagoon was in flood after the recent heavy rain. 

16 April 2002
On the shingle bank of Widewater a Ringed Plover flew rapidly towards the seashore. This is a potential breeding are for these small wading birds if they are not disturbed by Crows or dogs.

11 April 2002
The Little Egret on Widewater Lagoon has been an almost permanent resident for at least six months and an regular visitor before that. Every time I cycle past, I expect to see this attractive white bird with a long black beak feeding in the shallows. On this occasion the egret was feeding avidly and I could see the flash of the the silver flanks of the 3-spined Sticklebacks as they were gulped down, at a rate of one very five seconds for several minutes. (Hindsight: it is difficult to be sure of the prey at long distance.)

15 March 2002
A couple of Wheatears have arrived by Widewater for the first report of these migrants this year. 150 Brent Geese were also seen flying east a long way out to sea, and a flock of 15 Turnstones inshore. 

11 March 2002
On Widewater Lagoon, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers shook themselves and dived under the water. The Little Egret was still there fishing in the shallows.
A chirm of 20 Goldfinches adorned the shrub on the south side of the lagoon.

22 February 2002
Wading the Widewater submerged margins, the brilliant orange of the large Ruddy Shelduck was the last bird to be seen after the Little Egret in the shallow lagoon to the east of the bridge and the Red-breasted Merganser on the surface over the deeper water. 
Over Lancing Beach Green where the Sailing Club building was being rebuilt, a solitary bird flew just like the Turnstones of a week ago. Only this time the fleeting rear view was different with far more white, and the call was "kee-oo kee-oo" which makes this bird to almost certainly be a Redshank, although the call was not the shrill alarm of this wader when it is suddenly disturbed on the estuary. 
About a hundred small birds were observed flying west over the sea, just above the waves in flocks of 30 and 60+, only a 100 metres from the cycle path, just 50 metres, from where the sea lapped on the shore, but the birds were too small and quick for me to identify. I would go for Dunlins as the most probable birds. 
The chirm of Goldfinches in the shrubbery between the lagoon and the sea numbered about 30 but they were outnumbered by about 100 noisy House Sparrows in adjoining bushes.

7 February 2002
On a wet and blustery day a small flock of 30 Dunlin wheeled over Widewater. The resident albino Mallards tucked their heads into their breasts.

3 February 2002
Professor Richard Ivell visited Widewater Lagoon, Lancing, West Sussex, to show a group of naturalists and local residents where he discovered the very rare sea anemone Edwardsii ivelli. He also explained how they were discovered which should enable us to try and and discover them again this summer when the water recedes. After the recent rain the the lagoon was in flood, covering the Glasswort, Salicornia sp, completely. The miniature sea anemones were originally discovered on a study of the Lagoon Cockle, Cerastoderma glaucum, which buries deeply (to 10 cm) in the soft sediment. They revealed themselves in the bucket of mud and cockles.
(NB: The 1997 survey took core samples.)

A flock of about 35 Pochards cheered us up in the rain. These ducks appear like a dark blob at first, their grey backs camouflaged quite well against the rippled water, repeatedly diving under the surface. In the shallows a Little Egret was repeatedly feeding right on the edge, probably not on the Three Spined Sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, although I am not quite sure what the Egret was stabbing at. 
(At this time the sticklebacks were not actually seen in the lagoon and appear to have already disappeared.)
JNCC Proposal to remove Edwardsia ivelli from Schedule 5 protection (Link)
This proposal has been abandoned as the anemone may still be extant (May 2002).
Lancing Nature Newsletter (February 2002)
Saline Lagoons Action Plan

6 January 2002
52 Pochards were recorded by Colin Upton (Brighton RSPB) leading a group of birdwatchers at Widewater Lagoon. These ducks were also reported before Christmas at Widewater. 

29 November 2001
A couple of the large white ducks, with a bright orange band around their long necks, were Shelducks, which appeared a large duck when they waddled around much larger than the convoy of Mallards, but when on the surface water of Widewater Lagoon the Shelducks appeared smaller. 

5 October 2001
The high tides and rain had filled Widewater Lagoon which looked spectacularly red with the red variety of Glasswort in abundance, part submerged and partly still exposed west of the bridge. At the eastern end a Little Egret fished in the shallows.
The flock of 50 plus House Sparrows looked brighter and leaner and I suspected these were immigrants, not the plump overfed resident birds.

18 September 2001
The Information Booth at Widewater Lagoon (TQ 204 042) is officially opened. It contains a picture display and information by Ray Hamblett and Steve Barker.
Widewater Lagoon page (by Ray Hamblett).

A pure white moth buzzed around the white beach huts. This was likely to be a Brown-tailed Moth adult (but this was not confirmed).

On 28 August 2001, a large female Kestrel was observed leaving a bush adjacent to Widewater Lagoon before flying away rapidly and then soaring. 

23 August 2001
Wheatears, fly to and from over the shingle beach between Widewater Lagoon and the sea, their white rear very distinctive, before this slim bird settles prior to its long migration back to Africa for the winter months. Three birds were seen by the beach huts. There were probably more. 
A few Red Admiral Butterflies appeared to flutter in from the seaward side, but these butterflies are strong flyers and they may be just be moving from one nectareous plant to another. 
Coastal Shoreham

9 August 2001
A pair of Mute Swans on Widewater Lagoon were followed by six cygnets, not cuddly small offspring but large dark coloured first year juvenile birds.

8 May 2001 
My first butterfly (species unidentified) of the year over the shingle on the sea side of Widewater, but attention was simultaneously distracted by a female Kestrel over head, from underneath the pale blue with streaks stood out from the blue sky of the first fine and sunny day of the year. The female looks much larger than a male and could be mistaken for a Sparrowhawk. This bird glided and than paused for the familiar hover, before swooping off on the wind. It is usually the male that is blue underneath.

Lizard	Slow Worm

16 March 2001
The first immigrant Wheatears make their landfall near the Widewater Lagoon.

1 January 2001 
An oiled Gannet is reported from Widewater Lagoon. This was the first sign of a much greater oil spill off the Sussex coast with scores of oiled Guillemots and other birds. Sussex RSPCA, Tel: 0300 1234 999. 

30 November 2000
A Kestrel was hovering over the grass to the east of the bridge over Widewater, and swooped down quickly, but it quickly rose again so the strike must have been unsuccessful.

3 October 2000
There was very little evidence of the excessive rain of the last two days, Even Widewater Lagoon had not risen to a flood warning extent, although all the flood plain was sodden. The white faces of five Coots on the lagoon were immediately noticeable on a sunny shirt-sleeves day. These birds, in the 1970s were abundant on the Adur estuary had declined in recent years and were sometimes absent altogether. 
However, my attention was quickly distracted by a colourful male Kestrel  taking off from a stump or a patch of dryish grass to the east of the bridge over Widewater, flying west so it was hidden by the Tamarisk bushes.

22 September 2000
In light rain and low cloud on both days, in a moderate southerly breeze occasionally gusting to near gale, I came so close (2 metres) to low flying femaleSparrowhawks whilst cycling, I thought we going to collide, but this bird of prey's superior eyesight enabled to soar quickly out of the way. The first near collision occurred on the cycle path by Widewater Lagoon (TQ 196040).  (This bird was not a Kestrel behaving like a Sparrowhawk.)
Identification Notes
More Information on Sparrowhawks
Sussex Bird Records

7 September 2000
Birds are on the move all over the Adur area, with a flock of about 50 Wheatears flying over the beach next to Widewater prior to their southerly migration. The lagoon was hosting 30 Mute Swans. 

5 October 2000
A Little Egret dipped his beak in to feed repeatedly in the cockle lagoon (to the west of the bridge) (TQ 200 042), part of Widewater Lagoon. Its prey could have been 3-spined Sticklebacks, which are commonly seen in the shallows from the vantage point of the bridge. (The presence of the sticklebacks are not confirmed by this report.) I had not seen a Little Egret on the River Adur (estuary) this year, but the young Bass shoals were not as numerous as in the special year 1999. The first few Goldfinches and Greenfinches returned to the fringes of the lagoon.

4 September 2000
Air Show
Several thousand House Martins swooped to and fro over Shoreham Beach in an acrobatic prelude to their annual migration to warmer climes. By the following day they had all left.

September 1998

Widewater Lagoon has been treated to a visit by the Australian Black Swan, Cygnus atratus, which must be living in a semi-wild state, as it is not part of the British avian fauna. It is about half the size of the familiar white Mute Swan, Cygnus olor. These swans often inhabit the Swiss Cottage Lake in Shoreham-by-Sea. 

31 January 1998 
A Common Gull, Larus canus, was observed by Andy Horton (it was pointed out to him) through a powerful telescope, at Widewater Lagoon near Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex just after midday standing on a pole in the brackish shallows. This particular bird was in adult plumage and distinguished by a particularly prominent black tip to its beak on the left side, and a lesser smudge on the right beak. The legs of this bird were bright yellow. The black beak markings of the juveniles are not included in most popular books with the notable exception of the "Reader's Digest Nature Lovers guide on British Birds." The clearly viewed markings on the right hand side of this bird were consistent with the Common Gull and not the ringed bill of the rare American vagrant the Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis. The American bird has a Herring Gull-like thicker bill. This vagrant bird has been reported on six occasions from Sussex during the 1980's. 
NB: I am not so sure now. I have just discovered a photograph that looks a bit like the gull on Widewater.
Subsequent observations of Common Gulls do not have such a pronounced black band or any sort of mark on their beaks so the original identification of a Ring-billed Gull seems at least fair, although I was never sure. (AH, winter 2003).
More Notes
Another Photograph (of a bird from Hampshire)

Ringed Plover
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Pied Wagtail
House Martin (especially in autumn prior to migration)
Wheatear (especially in autumn prior to migration) 

The Habitat Action Plan for Sussex on Saline Lagoons has been published by WSCC. 

UK Biodiversity:  Action Plan for Saline Lagoons

Adur Biodiversity:  Notes on Action Plan

UK Saline Lagoons: Links for more Information

Specific Gravity/Salinity calculations