25th - 26th February 2025

Wednesday, 26th February: A dire morning's weather after a dry start, with prolonged spells of heavy rain in a fresh south-westerly breeze, and surprisingly cold considering the wind direction......

Diary Notes - Pre-blog years (1975-2012): Well, for those that have been following the updates, the latest have now moved forward three years, up to 2009, so I shall soon be on the home straight. This was an eventful time, with a real mystery bird, a rare American wader, a Blue Rock Thrush that somehow got away, a rare Pratincole and more. Just click the link on the title bar.

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of variety this morning, including a Black-throated Diver, a Slavonian Grebe  and an Eider west, with another of the latter on the sea, too. Full log below. (SH/AH/SR)

(0645-0830hrs) (SW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Black-throated Diver - 1W

Red-throated Diver - 6E, 2W

diver sp - 1W

Slavonian Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 1E, 4W

Eider - 1W, 1os

Brent Goose - 9E

Common Scoter - 7E, 1W, 2os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 7W, 3os

Oystercatcher - 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 8W

Common Gull - 1E, 2W

Sandwich Tern - 3os

Razorbill - 1E

(1520-1620hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1W

Shag - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2W, 1os

Sandwich Tern - 8os

Mediterranean Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A pair of Tufted Ducks were on the pool at high tide this morning, but, otherwise, there were just four Shelducks, c25 Wigeon and Teal and c80 Shovelers. (AH)

Tufted Ducks (above) & Shelducks on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: At least 1000 Brent Geese were around this morning, spread equally between the harbour and the fields, which also held c40 Curlews and c150 Lapwings.

The Whimbrel and c50 Redshanks were on the near side of the harbour, but, again, the Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers were all roosting near the harbour mouth, whilst wildfowl were restricted to c25 Pintail and similar numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Shelducks. (AH)

Later, along the front of the Severals, there were a Chiffchaff, five Goldcrests and a calling Water Rail. (S&SaH)

Lapwings (above), Brent Geese, Whimbrel & Teal at Church Norton (AH)

Hunston: There were three Cattle Egrets in the fields north of the canal this morning. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A good count of 61 Yellowhammers were seen along the banks today, along with a Reed Bunting, a Dartford Warbler, a Great Spotted and two Green Woodpeckers, whilst on the Stilt Pool there were an Avocet, two Snipe, four Ringed Plovers, 14 Dunlin and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. (S&SaH)

Tuesday, 25th February: Overnight rain continued well past dawn, before slowly giving way to hazy sunshine as the north-westerly breeze freshened again......

Diary Notes - Pre-blog years (1975-2012): Well, for those that have been following the updates, the latest have now moved forward three years, up to 2009, so I shall soon be on the home straight. This was an eventful time, with a real mystery bird, a rare American wader, a Blue Rock Thrush that somehow got away, a rare Pratincole and more. Just click the link on the title bar.

Selsey Bill: There were no indications of passage this morning, with five Slavonian Grebes and four Great Northern Divers on the sea the highlights. Full log below. (AH/SR)

(0740-0840hrs) (NW, F3)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 4os

Red-throated Diver - 5E

Slavonian Grebe - 5os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 1E

Shag - 1E

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 4W, 2os

Turnstone - 7E

Common Gull - 2W

Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 14 Gadwall on the pool this morning, along with three Shelducks, c25 Wigton, c40 Teal and c75 Shovelers. (AH)

Gadwall (above) & Shoveler at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A brief look in the harbour at high tide this morning produced c800 Brent Geese, including a Pale-bellied bird that was busy seeing the others off, with other wildfowl including c30 Pintail and Teal, c80 Wigeon and a dozen Shelducks.

Almost all the waders - mainly Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers - were roosting on the remaining shingle ridges by the harbour mouth, where there were also a dozen Common Gulls and half a dozen Mediterranean Gulls, whilst c300 Lapwings flew up from further down the harbour. (AH)

Pale-bellied Brent Goose (above), Pale-bellied and Dark-bellied Brent Geese & Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were two Spotted Redshanks along White’s Creek this morning, together with the usual Redshanks and Lapwings, with 12 Grey Plovers and c500 Golden Plovers further out on the mud, whilst a Sparrowhawk flew over the harbour and 20 Mediterranean Gulls were also about. 

There were also 18 Grey Herons out near their island, and 23 Black-tailed Godwits were by the Halsey’s outfall, along with a few Pintail, Wigeon and Teal, whilst out in the fields there were 44 Curlews, and c2000 Brent Geese were moving between the fields and the harbour

A Great Crested Grebe was on the Breech Pool, and it was busy in and around the paddock with ten Pied Wagtails, six Meadow Pipits, two Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail, four Teal, two Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, a Green Woodpecker, a Jay and two Stock Doves about and three Marsh Harriers were over the reeds further back. (LP/MJa/TRH)

Spotted Redshank and Redshank (above), Grey Herons, Pintail, Green Woodpecker, Great Crested Grebe & Pied Wagtail at the North Wall (LP)

West Itchenor: A big roost of c400 gulls on a stubble field near the horse pond late this morning was split fairly evenly between Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls. (PH)

Chichester GPs: Ivy Lake complex - A look late this morning didn't turn up too much, though there were c30 Pochard, c50 Tufted Ducks, half a dozen Great Crested Grebes, c20 Greylag Geese and c50 Canada Geese about.

A calling Cetti's warbler and a few Long-tailed Tits was all the hedges could offer, whilst five Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Great Black-backed Gulls, four Common Gulls and a dozen Mediterranean Gulls were among the roosting Herring and Black-headed Gulls. (AH)

Pochard (above), Great Crested Grebes, Greylag Geese & Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls at Chichester GPs (AH)

22nd - 24th February 2025

Monday, 24th February: After very heavy overnight rain, the morning started dank and and drizzly in a moderate westerly, before slowly giving way to a mix of sun and white cloud.....

Selsey Bill: There was very little to report this morning, with an Eider west the highlight. Full log below. (AH)

(0745-0845hrs) (W, F4) 

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 4W

Eider - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 1os

Eider at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Four pairs of Gadwall were on the pool this morning, along with two Shelducks, a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Teal and c50 Shovelers, with another 30 of the latter and c20 Wigeon on the floods on the field. (AH)

There were also a Peregrine over the pool and a Sparrowhawk and a Kingfisher seen from the Tramway later. (PJ)

Gadwall (above), Teal & Black-tailed Godwits and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A female Goldeneye popped up briefly towards the harbour mouth at high tide this morning and there were also c30 Pintail around, but very few Wigeon and Teal, and a flock of c60 Brent geese flying up the harbour were the only ones seen.

There were a lot of waders about, though, the tide dropped, including eight Bar-tailed Godwits, a dozen Avocets, c80 Grey Plovers and c500 Dunlin, but only c50 Knot, whilst at least 1000 Golden Plovers came up from towards the Ferry and c300 Lapwings were along the main channel. (AH)

Goldeneye (above), Pintail, Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlin, Knot & Golden Plovers at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: A Barn Owl was out hunting at Halsey's Farm this evening, whilst a Stonechat was in the field and c1500 Brent Geese flew over, heading for the harbour. (AH)

Barn Owl (above) & Brent Geese at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - Three Stonechats, nine Yellowhammers, five Stock Doves, a Sparrowhawk, a Little Egret, c100 Pied Wagtails and c250 Starlings were around the fields and adjacent settling tanks today, whilst another three Stonechats and a Chiffchaff were at nearby Oakhurst Farm. (PJ)

West Wittering: A flock of 500 Linnets feeding in a fallow field was an impressive sight this morning. (GM)

Linnets at West Wittering (GM)

Sunday, 23rd February: A fairly cool and grey morning in a freshening southerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Two Velvet Scoters went east, another went west, along with three Fulmars, and a Slavonian Grebe was offshore, but there was only a limited amount of eastward movement this morning. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/MRB/BI/P&LH/AH/IP/SR)

(0700-0900hrs) (SSW, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 24E, 3os

diver sp - 1E

Slavonian Grebe - 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1os

Fulmar - 3W

Gannet - 2E, 29W

Shag - 9E

Brent Goose - 12E, 5W

Pintail - 4E

Velvet Scoter - 2E, 1W

Common Scoter - 8E

Red-breasted Merganser - 13E, 2W, 10os

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 11E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 2os

Common Gull - 17E, 3W

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 4E, 1W

Razorbill - 1W, 1os

auk sp - 7W

Stock Dove - 1W

(1040-1200hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 2E, 1os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 28os

Brent Goose - 7E, 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2os

Turnstone - 20E

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Common Gull - 8E

Stock Dove - 4E

(1315-1415hrs) (SH)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 6W

Shag - 3W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Mediterranean Gull - 1W 1os

Sandwich Tern - 3W, 4os

Fulmar (above), Gannet & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were still at least a dozen Gadwall on the pool this morning, along with four Shelducks  and c50 Teal and Shovelers, with c100 Wigeon and similar of Lapwings on the field. (AH)

Shovelers (above), Gadwall & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)

Selsey Peninsula: There were still at least two Long-eared Owls present today. (Eds)

Long-eared Owl on the Peninsula

Church Norton: This morning there were small groups of Brent Geese scattered around, until just after 1030hrs when a flock of 180 flew in along the beach from the west before landing in the harbour.

Also seen were ten Avocets, 55 Knot, five Bar-tailed Godwits, two Ringed Plovers and seven Goldfinch, but all that could be found offshore in the windy conditions were two Great Crested Grebes. (CRJ)

North Wall: A Spotted Redshank was in White's Creek and a Greenshank was at the Halsey's Farm end of the harbour, but apart from c200 Lapwings and c50 Redshanks, most of the waders were far out on the mud.

Also, at least 2000 Brent Geese were spread between the harbour and the Honer fields, with c50 Teal and c100 Wigeon also about, and a male Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard were over Halsey's Farm, but small birds were scarce in the wind, with a Goldcrest at Halsey's Farm, a couple of Reed Buntings and a Rock Pipit along the wall and half a dozen Meadow Pipits and a couple of Pied Wagtails in the paddocks being about the sum. (AH/BI/LP/JDW/DHi et al)

Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank and Wigeon, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit & Brent Geese at the North Wall (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Three Stonechats, a Dartford Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, c30 Yellowhammers and two Green Woodpeckers, plus a Merlin, a Kestrel, a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard over, was it for the banks this morning.

Also, on the reserve and Stilt Pool there were c150 Brent Geese, a Kingfisher, six Avocets, six Ringed Plovers, five Dunlin, two Black-tailed Godwits, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a drake Shoveler, four gadwall and c40 Wigeon and Teal. (PB/MRB/S&SaH))

Saturday, 22nd February: After heavy overnight rain and a very foggy, drizzly start, eventually a hazily sunny morning in a light north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: It was just about a write-off early on, though a look along the front produced a Stonechat, plus a flock of 35 Brent Geese east overhead. Full log below. (JA/AH)

(0715-0900hrs) NW, F2-3)

Brent Goose - 36E

Oystercatcher - 1

Turnstone - 7

Stonechat - 1

Goldfinch - 18

Stonechat (above) & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)

Another go, later on, was more productive, including 71 Brent Geese, 21 Red-throated Divers and 14 Pintail east, plus six Great Northern Divers on the sea, whilst the Black Redstart popped up again, too. Full log below. (SH/PB/BI/AH)

(0950-1150hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 21E, 7W, 1os

diver sp -1W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os

Gannet - 1W

Shag - 1W

Brent Goose - 71E, 2W

Pintail - 14E

Common Scoter - 4E, 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2W, 6os

Oystercatcher - 6E

Grey Plover - 50W

Turnstone - 29E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Black Redstart - 1

Long-tailed Tit - 2

Great Northern Diver (above) & Black Redstart at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were 18 Gadwall on the pool again this morning, but, otherwise just four Shelducks, c30 Teal and c50 Shovelers, plus c100 Wigeon on the field. (AH)

Gadwall on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Grey wagtail was around again this morning, along with a Chiffchaff, seven Greenfinches and a Green Woodpecker. (S&SaH/PB)

Selsey Peninsula: There were still at least two Long-eared Owls present today. (Eds)

Pagham Villlage: A Ring-necked Parakeet flew over the road in the middle of the village, heading southwards, this morning. (BI)

Church Norton: The harbour was fairly quiet this morning, with just a dozen Brent Geese, four Pintail, c20 Teal and c50 Wigeon about, and waders thinly spread about, including c100 Knot, c300 Dunlin and c50 Grey Plovers, with c500 Lapwings coming up up a couple of times from the far side.

Also, a single Great Crested Grebe was offshore, five Tufted Ducks and a Water Rail were on the second Several, and there were just a few Long-tailed Tits along the hedges. (S&SaH/PB/AH)

Pintail (above), Wigeon, Grey Plover & Long-tailed Tit at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were two Spotted Redshanks in White's Creek this afternoon, whilst later on a pair of Marsh Harriers were over the Breech Pool, and a Cetti's Warbler and two Water Rails could be heard. (PB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Dartford Warblers, eight Stonechats and 52 Yellowhammers were along the banks this afternoon, with a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk and three Buzzards over.

Also, two Avocets and 13 Ringed Plovers were on the stilt Pool and c200 Brent Geese were on the reserve. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - At least five Stonechats were along the hedges this afternoon, along with c30 Yellowhammers, a Reed Bunting, a dozen Meadow pipits and three different flocks of at least 50 Linnets, but, otherwise, a Sparrowhawk,, a Buzzard and two Mediterranean Gulls over was about it. (AH)

Stonechat (above), Mediterranean Gull, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting & Linnets at Medmerry (AH)