25th April 2024

Thursday, 25th April: The breeze swung round this morning, initially to the south-west and then just north of west, freshening as it did so, though a little milder than of late and with sun and white cloud after early heavy showers.....

Selsey Bill: It's fair to say that migration is still not happening at the Bill, with just four Red-throated Divers and five Whimbrel going east, and what little else there was going west, though a few Swallows did appear to be coming in off the sea. Full log below. (AH/MO-W/SR)

(0700-0915hrs) (WSW, F3-4)

Red-throated Diver - 4E

Gannet - 9E, 88W

Common Scoter - 2E, 18W

Oystercatcher - 3W

Whimbrel - 5E

Turnstone - 8

Sandwich Tern - 40W

Swallow - 23N

Gannets (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: It was very quiet this morning, with just a Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Avocets, 24 Shelducks and five Shovelers on and around the pool, plus a couple of Swallows over. (AH)

Black-tailed Godwit and Avocet at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A Cuckoo and three Lesser Whitethroats were calling this morning, along with the odd Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap around the Mound and a Sedge Warbler in the first Several, but were unseen in the freshening breeze, though a few Linnets popped their heads up, a pair of Long-tailed Tits were carrying food and at least a dozen Swallows went over.

The harbour was very quiet, though, with perhaps half a dozen Whimbrel, Curlews, Oystercatchers and Shelducks being the sum total. (AH)

Swallow (above), Whimbrel, Long-tailed Tit & Linnet at Church Norton (AH)

Itchenor Pond: There was a Tree-creeper, three Chiffchaffs and four Swallows around, but the area was generally quiet this afternoon. (SR)

North Wall: A Yellow Wagtail was on the wet fields this morning, along with three White Wagtails, two Greenshanks, two Lapwings, a Shoveler, ten Shelducks, 14 Gadwall, three Greylag Geese, two Canada Geese and 140 Black-headed Gulls, with a few Swallows overhead.

On the Breech Pool, the Wigeon was again asleep beside the nesting Mute Swan, and four Tufted Ducks were on the water, with a Cuckoo and a Marsh Harrier over the reeds and a few Mediterranean Gulls higher up.

Along the hedgerows, there were plenty of Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings as well as a Common Whitethroat and two Lesser Whitethroats, while at Halsey’s Farm, a Wheatear was on a fence post and a Raven, a Buzzard and a Kestrel flew over. Also, a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Stock Doves, a Song Thrush, a Greenfinch and two Linnets were around the paddocks and a Jay was along the lane.

A Sparrowhawk flew over Owl Copse, where there was the usual activity from the Grey Herons, Little Egrets and Cattle Egrets, and in the harbour, there were six Redshanks, three Whimbrels, two Brent Geese and 32 Bar-tailed Godwits. (LP,SP,TRH/AHu et al)

Yellow Wagtail (above), White Wagtail, Cuckoo, Whitethroat, Cattle Egret, Bar-tailed Godwits and Redshank, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Song Thrush at the North Wall (LP)

22nd - 24th April 2024

Wednesday, 24th April: It was another cold and grey morning, though with only a light north-westerly breeze and brightening up a little, later on.........

Selsey Bill: It was another slow morning, with what little movement there was quickly fizzling out, though ten Little Terns and eight Great Northern Divers were offshore. Full log below.(SH/AH/SR)

(0540-0830hrs) (NW, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 8os

Gannet - 5E, 6W

Shag - 1os

Shelduck - 2W

Mallard - 2E

Common Scoter - 6E, 12os

Knot - 2W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 14E

Whimbrel - 8E

Turnstone - 1

Sandwich Tern - 14E, 6os

Common Tern - 2E

'Commic' Tern - 16E

Little Tern - 10os

Swallow - 1N

Pied Wagtail - 1E

Whimbrel at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still 18 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with four Redshanks, 16 Shelducks, four Teal and 11 Shovelers. (AH)

Avocets on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: The Purple Heron re-appeared this morning, flying in from the west, over Halsey's Farm before dropping out of view behind Owl Copse - presumably heading back to the reeds at the back of the Breech Pool.

A Raven and a couple of Whimbrel were the only birds of note around Owl Point, whilst most small birds were keeping low along the wall, but did include a Lesser whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, a couple of Cetti's Warblers, half a dozen or so Reed and Sedge Warblers and a Reed Bunting, plus about 20 Swallows over.

Also, the male Marsh Harrier was around early on, whilst the Honer fields held a Gadwall, c30 Shelducks and a pair of displaying Lapwings, the Wigeon, the nesting Mute Swans and a few Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool and around a dozen Bar-tailed Godwits were still along White's Creek. (AH/JDW et al)

Purple Heron (above), Raven, Bar-tailed Godwits, Sedge Warbler & Reed Bunting at the North Wall (AH)

Pagham Spit and East side: A Corn Bunting was seen between the caravan park and the spit this morning - the first sighting on this side of the harbour in a long time, with two Yellow Wagtails, two Meadow Pipits two Lesser Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler, a Reed Warbler, seven Sedge Warblers, a Cuckoo and a Swallow also in the vicinity.

Along the east side of the harbour waders included three Greenshank, 11 Whimbrels, c60 Bar-tailed Godwits, 20+ Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers, Dunlin and Turnstones, with two Red-breasted Mergansers, 17 Brent Geese and two Greylag Geese also seen, with three Gannets and three Sandwich Terns offshore. (H Ramm/MB)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - Half a dozen House Martins and c30 Swallows were around the settling tanks this evening, but a Cuckoo calling distantly to the north and a Blackcap along Ham Road were the only other things of note. (AH)

House Martin (above), Swallow & House Martin and Swallows at Medmerry (AH)

Tuesday, 23rd April: The wind finally eased to a light to moderate northerly this morning, though it remained cool and mostly heavily overcast......

Selsey Bill: It remains remarkably quiet for the time of year, with four Whimbrels going east the only potential migrants, though nine Little Terns were lingering offshore, and a flat sea revealed the presence of 14 Great Northern Divers. Full log below. (IP/AH/SR)

(0655-0825hrs) (NNE, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 14os

Gannet - 8E, 12W

Common Scoter - 8os

Whimbrel - 4E

Sandwich Tern - 4E, 19W

Little Tern - 9os

Whimbrel (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

There were a couple of very distant flocks of c100 'Commic' Terns going east this afternoon, with a few Sandwich, Common and Little Terns going east closer in. Full log below. (SH/AW)

(1600-1730hrs) 

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Gannet - 2W

Common Scoter - 1E

Oystercatcher - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 32E, 23os

Common Tern - 11E, 3os

'Commic' Tern - c200E (in two flocks of c100)

Little Tern - 5E, 8os

Razorbill - 2W

Little Terns at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: There was not much change this morning, with just 18 Avocets, four Redshanks, 12 Shelducks, ten Shovelers and five Teal, plus a family of Mallards, around the pool. (AH)

Avocet and Mallard family at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Cuckoo was calling from the trees by Honer Farm and in the flooded fields there was a Ruff, a Greenshank, a White Wagtail, two Greylag Geese, four Gadwall six Shelducks and c200 Black-headed Gulls, with a Swift, a Sand Martin and 12 Swallows overhead.

The bushes along the wall were busy with lots of Sedge Warblers, Cetti’s Warblers, Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, and a Lesser Whitethroat, whilst two Wheatears were along the rocks and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpeckers and 2 Stock Doves were around the stables

On the Breech pool there were four Tufted Ducks, two Gadwall, a Great Crested Grebe, the Wigeon and the pair of Mute Swans, whilst three Whimbrels were along White’s Creek, along with six Redshanks and 35 Bar-tailed Godwits, and further out there were six Brent Geese, two Teal and 34 Grey Plovers. (LP/JDW et all)

Cuckoo (above), Wheatear, Whitethroat, Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwits and Redshank & Bar-tailed Godwits around the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - At least a dozen Swallows were over the settling tanks this morning, and a Cuckoo was sat out on the wires by the Medmery Trail, but otherwise thee were just a couple of Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, plus half a dozen Yellowhammers around Porthole Farm and the trail.

At Ham there were another 30+ Swallows over the fields, a Wheatear was towards the breach and a Whimbrel was on the tidal area, but otherwise there were just a couple of singing Reed Warblers, a couple of Whitethroats, half a dozen Skylarks and c40 Linnets. (AH)

Cuckoo (above), Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer & Skylark at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - There were several Yellowhammers along the banks today, and some of the Avocets on the Stilt Pools looked like they were sitting on eggs. (EB)

Yellowhammer (above) & Avocets at Medmerry (EB)

Monday, 22nd April: The morning started with a fresh north-easterly that later backed to the north-west, though it remained cool and mostly grey throughout......

Selsey Bill: Another slow morning, with ten Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit east the only hint of migration, with 127 Sandwich Terns heading west and a handful of Little Terns about being the only other things of note. Full log below. (LP/AH/IP/SR/AW)

(0645-0900hrs) (NNE, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 4os

Gannet - 17E, 36W, 3os

Common Scoter - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1E

Whimbrel - 10E

Turnstone - 7

Sandwich Tern - 12E, 127W

Little Tern - 5E, 4W

Swallow - 1E

Little Terns (above), Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrels, Swallow (AW), Sandwich Terns, Common Scoter & Gannet (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: There was not much change from recent days this morning, with just 22 Avocets, a single Black-tailed Godwit, eight Redshanks, four Lapwings, 20 Shelducks, 14 Shovelers and six Teal around the pool and fields.

A look around the Tramway circuit and Yeoman's field was equally slow, with just two or three Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and  Song Thrushes noted, with none singing with much enthusiasm in the cold breeze. (AH)

Later, a Ruff and two Snipe were in the flooded area of Ferry Field. (TG-P)

Whitethroats (above), Chiffchaff & Song Thrush around the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Hobby went over the Halsey's Farm end of the wall this morning, whilst two Greenshank were in Honer 1 field and 32 Bar-tailed Godwits and 20 Whimbrel were in the harbour. (JDW/PB)

Two Ravens were perched in the dead tree at Owl Point this afternoon before heading off towards Church Norton. (AW)

This evening, the Marsh Harriers were seen passing food again, and a Barn Owl was out at Halsey's Farm, whilst three Avocets, a Snipe and a Greylag goose were in the flooded fields.

A good selection was seen/heard from the wall, including a Yellow Wagtail, six Pied Wagtails, a Blackcap, two Chiffchaffs, four Reed Warblers, three Sedge Warblers, four Cetti's warblers and three Reed Buntings, whilst three Sand Martins and c50 Swallows were overhead. (SH)

Ravens at the North Wall (AW)

West Wittering: There were plenty of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps along in Ellanore Lane this morning, with lots of Oystercatchers and a single Ringed Plover on the spit and a Sedge Warbler singing from a nearby hedge. (GM)

Chiffchaff at West Wittering (GM)

Church Norton: It was extraordinarily quiet for the time of year this evening, with not a bird singing and the harbour almost completely devoid of life, with just eight Whimbrels, two or three Curlews, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin and half a dozen Oystercatchers and Shelducks to be found. (AH)

Whimbrel (above) & Shelduck at Church Norton (AH)