Monday, 27th April: After a cold start, a really warm and sunny day in a light breeze, initially from the north-east before veering to the south........
Selsey Bill: After several days of brisk activity, it was a much quieter morning, though there were still a few waders and terns going east, and this afternoon a Pomarine Skua and three Arctic Skuas went east. Full log below.
(PB/PM/PA/MRe/IP/AHu/AH/OM et al)
(0530-1830hrs) (NE, F2-3)
Great Northern Diver - 4os
Red-throated Diver - 4E
Fulmar - 3W
Gannet - 7E, 22W
Brent Goose - 1E
Shelduck - 7W
Common Scoter - 31E, 2os
Red-breasted Merganser - 2os
Oystercatcher - 5E
Sanderling - 19E
Dunlin - 4E
Whimbrel - 34E, 2W
Bar-tailed Godwit - 4E
Turnstone - 2W
Pomarine Skua - 1E (1548hrs)
Arctic Skua - 4E
Mediterranean Gull - 3E
Common Gull - 2E
Great Black-backed Gull - 3E, 2W
Kittiwake - 3W
Sandwich Tern - 271E, 24os
Common Tern - 26E, 9os
'Commic' Tern - 12E, 22os
Little Tern - 37E, 24osos
auk sp - 1W
Swift - 1
Swallow - 19N
House Martin - 2
Whimbrel (above) & Sanderlings at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: The pool was full of birds and interest this morning, with the Wood Sandpiper, the Curlew Sandpiper, the Common Sandpiper, the Green Sandpiper and the three Little Ringed Plovers all still present and, unexpectedly, the Garganey re-appeared, too.
Also, there were a Whimbrel, two Black-tailed Godwits, four Redshanks, a dozen Avocets, four Shovelers, eight Gadwall and 16 Shelducks present, with the two Greenshanks and five Whimbrel still in the channel opposite, a Wheatear and two Red-legged Partridges on the field and a pair of Cuckoos flying around over the Tramway.
(PA/CRJ/AH/OM/MRe/IP/PM/PB/LP/BI et al)
Garganey video is: HERE
Wood Sandpiper (above), Curlew Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Mallard, Garganey, Common Sandpiper & Whimbrel and Avocet on the Ferry (AH)
North Wall: There was a lot of activity around the paddocks today, with the Swallows in and out the stables, a Wheatear was also around along with single numbers of Whitethroat, Green Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Jay, Reed Bunting, 2 Greenfinches and 3 Linnets, and overhead there were two Marsh Harriers and a single Red Kite.
Near to the sluices a pair of Great Crested Grebes were in a courtship dance passing weed, whilst along the wall three more Wheatears were on the rocks, with another in Owl Point field, and in the hedges there were Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, a single Lesser Whitethroat,
Also, a Cuckoo flew above the Breech Pool, which contained just six Shelducks, the two Mute Swans, a Mallard with just the one chick and a single Gadwall, whilst at Halsey's Farm the Spoonbill was back in the creek, along with a Little Egret, and there appear to be three Grey Heron chicks now showing. (GHi)/MJa/IH/LP)
Spoonbill (above), Swallows, Wheatears, Whitethroat, Great Crested Grebes & Grey Heron chicks at the North Wall (GHi)
Spoonbill at the North Wall (ABi)
Church Norton: Early this afternoon the Spoonbill flew into the harbour and was viewable from the benches. (HK)
Later on, there were three Wheatears on the concrete blocks, whilst in the harbour there ewre three Bar-tailed Godwits, at least 20 Whimbrel and a dozen Ringed Plovers and Dunlin, plus the mass of birds around the islands. (AH/Pa)
Whimbrel (above) & Wheatears at Church Norton (AH)
Fishbourne Creek: A Glossy Ibis was out on the salt marsh at the northern part of the creek this morning. (MWr)
Glossy Ibis at Fishbourne Creek (MWr)
Sunday, 26th April: The breeze picked right up again this morning, again initially from the north-east before swinging towards to the south-east, though there was plenty of hazy sunshine to be had........
Selsey Bill: There was still some eastward movement this morning, albeit in low numbers, including two Pomarine Skuas and a Garganey early on, two Black Terns, 47 Whimbrel and four Eider, with two Hobbies, a Tree Pipit and two Yellow Wagtails in off the sea. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/AGB/JB/BI/PA/IP/AH/CS/J Cutting et al)
(0515-1300hrs) (NE, F3-4)
Great Northern Diver - 6os
Red-throated Diver - 3E
Great Crested Grebe - 2E
Fulmar - 1E
Gannet - 14E, 13W, 5os
Shag - 1E
Brent Goose - 47E
Garganey - 1E
Eider - 4E
Common Scoter - 99E, 2W, 23os
Hobby - 2N
Oystercatcher - 4E, 1W, 2 present
Knot - 34E
Dunlin - 1W
Whimbrel - 52E, 1W
Bar-tailed Godwit - 2E
Pomarine Skua - 2E (0535hrs)
Arctic Skua - 5E
Little Gull - 2E
Mediterranean Gull - 22E, 4W
Black-headed Gull - 54E
Common Gull - 11E
Great Black-backed Gull - 5E, 3W, 16os
Sandwich Tern - 197E, 25os
Common Tern - 17E
'Commic' Tern - 84E
Little Tern - 20E, 6os
Black Tern - 2E
Razorbill - 1W
auk sp - 1E, 9W
Swallow - 8N
House Martin - 4
Yellow Wagtail - 2N
Tree Pipit - 1N
(1445-1830) (SH/JA/IP/DBo/S Allen)
Great Northern Diver - 6os
Red-throated Diver - 3E
Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 1E, 3W, 1os
Shag - 1W
Common Scoter - 5os
Red-breasted Merganser - 2os
Oystercatcher - 1E
Sanderling - 2
Knot - 25E
Whimbrel - 5E, 7W
Bar-tailed Godwit - 25E
Arctic Skua - 1E, 1os
Mediterranean Gull - 8E, 1os
Sandwich Tern - 18E, 30os
Common Tern - 12E
'Commic' Tern - 4E
Little Tern - 10E, 8os
Eider (above), Common Scoters & Little Tern at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: The first Wood Sandpiper of the year, and the earliest this century by two days - was on the pool this morning, along with a Common Sandpiper, two Little Ringed Plovers, four Redshanks, 11 Avocets, eight Gadwall, a pair of Tufted Ducks, four Shovelers and 16 Shelducks, plus a Swallow over.
Also, two Spotted Redshanks were present in Ferry Channel early on, with one there later, along with two Greenshanks and at least 30 Whimbrel. (AH/BI/IP/PA/.MB et al)
Wood Sandpiper (above), Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover & Whimbrel at the Ferry (AH)
This evening, an apparent winter-plumage Curlew Sandpiper was on the pool (though the viewing conditions were horrible), with the Wood sandpiper and Common Sandpiper both still present, as were the two Greenshanks in Ferry Channel, and a Cuckoo could be heard to the north of the Tramway. (AS/AH)
apparent Curlew Sandpiper (above) & Greenshank at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: There were still at least 20 Little Terns and a couple of Common Terns among the many Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls this morning, whilst waders included at least five Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel, a Curlew, c40 Grey Plovers, c75 Dunlin and c60 Knot, including a couple of summer-plumaged birds. (AH et al)
Little Terns (above), Sandwich Terns, Bar-tailed Godwit & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: At high tide this morning six Little Terns were fishing close to the sluice, but otherwise there was just a few Shelducks and a Whimbrel out in the harbour.
The reeds and bushes were busy with Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers, and a Cuckoo was calling from further back, with three Marsh Harriers also about.
At Halsey’s Farm, flagged Curlew 5H was on the mud along with a Whimbrel and two Oystercatchers, a Kestrel, a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk were overhead, and a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a couple of Long-tailed Tits were in the trees. (LP/MJa)
This evening a Spoonbill was in the creek between Halsey's Farm and the harbour. (NM et al)
Whitethroat (above), Sedge Warbler, Little Tern, Curlew & Kestrel at the North Wall (LP)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were seven Common Terns around the rafts this morning, with another on the Stilt Pool, along with two Greenshanks, an Avocet, a Ringed Plover and three Dunlin.
Also, along the banks, there were a pair of Stonechats feeding a newly fledged juvenile, two Wheatears, a Dartford Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 18 Whitethroats, a Blackcap, two Sedge Warblers, seven Reed Warblers, six Cetti's Warblers, a Yellowhammer and eight Reed Buntings, with a Swallow, a House Martin, two Buzzards and four Kestrels going over. (S&SaH)
Saturday, 25th April: After a cold and grey start, an increasingly warm and sunny morning in a light to moderate breeze, north-easterly before shifting to the south-east.....
Selsey Bill: It was a lot quieter this morning, though a fair mix of species were recorded, including seven Arctic Terns, an Eider west and an Arctic Skua, 22 Whimbrel and 19 Bar-tailed Godwits east. Full log below.
(JA/SH/PB/MRB/PM/BI/PA/JFi/IP/RHa/AH/NM et al)
(0515-0900hrs) (NE, F2-3)
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 4os
diver sp - 2E
Fulmar - 1E
Gannet - 12E, 14W
Shag - 1E
Brent Goose - 4E
Shelduck - 5W
Eider - 1W
Common Scoter - 94E, 13os
falcon sp - 1N
Oystercatcher - 16E, 1W
Sanderling - 3E
Whimbrel - 22E
Curlew - 1E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 19E
Arctic Skua - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 5E
Black-headed Gull - 29E
Common Gull - 7E
Great Black-backed Gull - 9E, 14os
Kittiwake - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 90E, 20os
Common Tern - 13E
Arctic Tern - 7E
'Commic' Tern - 89E
Little Tern - 3E, 1os
auk sp - 1W
Swallow - 4N
House Martin - 2
Yellow Wagtail - 1N
Pied Wagtail - 1N
Meadow Pipit - 1N
Wheatear - 4
Chaffinch - 1
Common Scoters (above) & Brent Geese at the Bill (AH)
This afternoon there were ten more Pomarine Skuas east, along with 46 Brent Geese, 11 Arctic Skuas and eight Black Terns. Full log below. (PB/JA/SH/BI/AH/JFi)
(1330-1830hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 1W, 6os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 4E, 8W
Shag - 1W
Brent Goose - 46E
Common Scoter - 21E, 10os
Red-breasted Merganser - 2W
Whimbrel - 25E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 2E
Pomarine Skua - 10E (3 at 1515hrs, 1 at 1615hrs, 1 at 1715hrs & five at 1831hrs)
Arctic Skua - 11E
Mediterranean Gull -
Great Black-backed Gull - 3os
Kittiwake - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 34E, 20os
Common Tern - 7E, 4os
Little Tern - 19E, 2W, 10os
Black Tern - 8E
Little Tern (above), Sandwich Tern & Whimbrel at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: A drake Garganey - the first seen anywhere other than the Bill this spring - was on the pool this morning, along with a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, three Little Ringed Plovers, 11 Avocets, a drake Wigeon, seven Gadwall, eight Shovelers and 16 Shelducks, whilst two Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank and three Whimbrel were in the channel opposite and a Red Kite went over the Discovery Area.. (MRB/PA/aH/GJa/GW et al)
Garganey (above), Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plovers & Spotted Redshank at the Ferry (AH)
North Wall: A male Cuckoos was displaying to a female along the wall this morning, with a Wheatear, two Yellowhammers, a Chiffchaff, four Lesser Whitethroats, five Whitethroats, four Blackcaps, five Reed Warblers, 12 Sedge Warblers, two Cettis Warblers, four Reed Buntings and four Swallows also noted, along with a singing Firecrest at Halsey's Farm and .two Song Thrushes, a Green Woodpecker, a Pied Wagtail, two Swallows and a Jay around the paddocks.
Also,, Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank and three Whimbrel were in White's Creek, two Gadwall were in the Breech Pool, up to ten Cattle Egrets were on nests in Owl Copse and two Marsh Harriers, four Buzzards and three Kestrels went over. (DHo/S&SaH/GJa/LP/MJa/KU et al)
Cuckoos (above), Wheatear, Swallow, Yellowhammer (DHo), Common Sandpiper, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler & Jay (LP) at the North Wall
Mill Pond Marsh: A Cuckoo was present again this morning, along with two Gadwall, a Swift and a Lesser Whitethroat. (LL/CN)
Church Norton: There were at least 35 Little Terns in the harbour this morning, along with at least five Common Terns and 200 Sandwich Terns among the many Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls.
Also, two Bar-tailed Godwits, at least five Whimbrel and two Curlews and Turnstones were about, along with c25 Grey Plovers, a dozen Ringed Plovers and at least 40 Dunlin, but it was just the odd Chiffchaff and Blackcap in the hedges. (AH)
Common Tern (above), Common and Little Terns & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)
Medmerry: Ham viewpoint - A Nightingale was reported as singing again near here this morning. (per GW)
Medmerry: Stilt Pool -- A male Ruff, just starting to get summer plumage, was on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with three Little Ringed Plovers, and a Yellow Wagtail went over. (AB)
