19th April 2024

Friday, 19th April: After a sunny start, a mostly grey and cool morning in a freshening and blustery north-westerly......

Selsey Bill: Despite the unpromising wind direction, there was a little more activity this morning, including three Yellow Wagtails, two Willow Warblers and seven Wheatears seen coming in off the sea, a Little Tern offshore and just a few bits going both east and west. Full log below. (BI/IP/AH)

(0600-0830hrs) (WNW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 2W, 4os

Red-throated Diver - 1E

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 15E, 17W, 12os

Common Scoter - 28E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Dunlin - 5W

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1W

Whimbrel - 7W

Turnstone - 4

Mediterranean Gull - 10W

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 7E, 23W, 12os

Common Tern - 1os

Little Tern - 1os

Yellow Wagtail - 3N

Wheatear - 7N

Willow Warbler - 2N

Wheatears (above), Bar-tailed Godwit, Sandwich Tern & Gannet at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank were on the pool this morning, along with 28 Redshanks, 38 Avocets, a pair of Mediterranean Gulls, 12 Shelducks and similar of Shovelers and Teal, with two pairs of Lapwings on the fields. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above) & Greenshank and Redshanks at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: It was pretty slow going here, though a Cuckoo was calling from Priory Wood, two Wheatears were on the beach and a Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and a couple each of Chiffchaffs, Sedge and Reed Warblers were singing unseen along the Severals and half a dozen Swallows went over the beach.

The harbour, though, was bereft of birds on the high tide, with just a handful of Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers, plus a dozen Shelducks, seen. (AH)

Wheatear (above) & Linnet at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The Purple Heron flew in from the east and dropped into the back of the reeds beyond the Breech Pool this morning, whilst three Spoonbills flew over north over the wall, and there was also a Whinchat and at least nine Wheatears about, including six together at Owl Point where two Yellow Wagtails flew over, along with five Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler, four Reed Buntings, two Linnets, a Blackcap, two Long-tailed Tits, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Chaffinch along the hedgerows.

Four Pintail and a Teal were out in the harbour, and along the East side there were 18 Dunlin, four Grey Plovers, six Bar-tailed Godwits, three Whimbrels, two Curlews and two Oystercatchers with three Common Seals hauled out on the far bank.

Also, two Canada Geese, a pair of Gadwall, the lone Wigeon and a few Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool, and two Lapwings were in the fields, whilst two Egyptian Geese were in the fields by the Church Barton reservoir along with 36 Shelducks, two Marsh Harriers were over the reeds, a Peregrine was in one of the trees, and a flock of 50 Linnets were feeding amongst the rotting cabbages. (LP/SP/TRH/CT/BI/EB/M Read et al)

Wheatears (above), Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit, Cattle Egret, Pintails and Oystercatcher, Egyptian Geese, Linnet, Common Seals (LP), Marsh Harrier & Wheatear (EB) around the North Wall 

The Purple Heron showed well for a while mid-afternoon (AW). 

Purple Heron at the North Wall (AW)

The Purple Heron re-appeared and had a fly round early in the evening, when the male Marsh Harrier was showing well, too, and c20 Swallows went over (AH).

Purple Heron (above), Marsh Harrier & Swallow at the North Wall (AH)

Chichester GPs: A Swift was over the back of Ivy Lake this morning, along with three House Martins, three Sand Martins and four Swallows. (AB) 

Earlier, six House Martins were over Copse Lake and four Swallows and four Sand Martins were at Runcton Lake. (BI)

Medmerry: Windmill area - There were two Wheatears on the adjacent beach this morning, with another eight, a couple of Meadow Pipits and a couple of Skylarks in the big field by the windmill, with two Swallows going over. (AH)

Wheatears (above) & Skylarks at Medmerry (AH)

16th -18th April 2024

Thursday, 18th April: A very sunny morning, cool early on in a brisk north-easterly, warming up later as the breeze eased a little.....

Selsey Bill: It was a very quiet morning, with just a few of the regulars about, with a Weasel the highlight! Full log below. (IP/AH/AW)

(0700-0800hrs) (NNE, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Gannet - 7E, 2W

Common Scoter - 3W

Sandwich Tern - 11os

Magpie - 8W (in a flock)

Weasel - 1

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

Ferry Pool: The Avocets had declined to 16 this morning, and it was otherwise quiet, with just a single Cattle Egret, four Redshanks, four Lapwings, c20 Shelducks, three Gadwall and a dozen or so Teal and Shovelers around the pool and field, with c30 Redshank in the channel opposite. (AH/IP)

Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Purple Heron turned up in the Breech Pool late this morning, before flying further back and out of sight. (D Homer/LP/BI et al)

Earlier on, there was a good mix of warblers about, including a Lesser Whitethroat and half a dozen Whitethroats around Owl Point fields, and half a dozen Sedge Warblers, a couple of Reed Warblers and two or three Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, together with half a dozen Reed Buntings, along the wall, plus two Wheatears, whilst two Swallows and a pair of Long-tailed Tits were at Halsey's Farm.

Also a Great White Egret flew along the back of the fields, a male and two female Marsh Harriers were around the Breech Pool and a Sparrowhawk went over Owl Point, with half a dozen Whimbrel and Curlews, c20 Grey Plovers and c40 Dunlin in the harbour, and four Lapwings, a pair of Gadwall and c40 Shelducks in the back fields, with the drake Wigeon still on the Breech Pool. (LP/AH/IP/JDW et al)

Purple Heron (top two D Homer, lower LP)  (above), Wheatear (LP) Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Harrier & Sparrowhawk (AH) at the North Wall 

The Purple Heron was seen in flight again around 1440hrs (GJ/AW/C Stockwell et al), but was not seen subsequently, though this evening male and female Marsh Harriers were about, along with a Whimbrel, a Snipe, a Greenshank, c20 Swallows, two Sedge Warblers and c20 Gadwall (LPSP/AH/SH/NM et al)

Purple Heron at the North Wall (C Stockwell (above & AW below)

North Mundham: Two House Martins were back around the village this morning, and four Buzzards were over nearby Runcton Mill. (MJ)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools - A White-tailed Eagle went over the reserve this morning, whilst a Dartford Warbler and a Lesser whitethroat were along the banks and two Bar-tailed Godwits were on the Stilt Pools. (AS/A Haines)

White-tailed Eagle (above), White-tailed Eagle and Buzzard & Dartford Warbler at Medmerry (A Haines)

Wednesday, 17th April: It was another cold and breezy morning, mostly overcast in a moderate to fresh north-westerly......

Selsey Bill: Two Common Sandpipers, two Wheatears and a Willow Warbler were along the beach this morning, but here was not much going on offshore, beyond eight Great Northern Divers on the sea. Full log below. (SH/PB/AH/IP/P&LH/SR/AW/KJ/SM et al)

(0600-0900hrs) (NW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 8os

Red-throated Diver - 3E

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 12E, 13W

Grey Heron - 1W

Shelduck - 4E

Mallard - 2E

Shoveler - 1W

Common Scoter - 1W, 5os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Oystercatcher - 8W

Whimbrel - 1

Curlew - 1

Common Sandpiper - 2

Mediterranean Gull - 2E, 3W

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Pied Wagtail - 1N

Wheatear - 2

Willow Warbler - 1

This afternoon, the first Hen Harrier of the year - a ringtail - flew in off the sea at 1455hrs. Full log below. (SH)

(1430-1530hrs) 

Great Northern Diver - 3os

Gannet - 1W

Hen Harrier - 1N (1455hrs)

Turnstone - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Common Sandpipers (AW) (above), Willow Warbler (SM)  & Sandwich Tern (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: A Spoonbill flew in late this morning, but only stayed for 20 minutes or so before flying off west.

Otherwise, there were 22 Avocets, a Black-tailed Godwit, four Redshanks, six Gadwall, 12 Shelducks, 12 Shovelers and c25 Teal present, with up to ten Lapwings on the field.

There was also a Lesser Whitethroat in the hedge along the cycle track near Yeoman's Field. (SM/AW/AH/P&LH et al)

Lesser Whitethroat (AW) (above) & Spoonbills (top two AW, middle two SM, lower AH) at the Ferry

Church Norton: Two Wheatears were along the beach, a Cuckoo calling briefly from Priory Wood and a Whitethroat in the hedge by the horse field were the only migrants about, beyond a couple of singing Chiffchaffs, whilst a couple of Cetti's Warblers and a dozen Linnets were along the front.

A female Marsh Harrier was hunting over the second Several, where there were also a pair of Gadwall, with another pair in the harbour, along with a dozen Shelducks, a couple of Whimbrel, a dozen Curlews and c20 Ringed Plovers and Dunlin.

Also two Greenshank flew out of the harbour, going west, and two Whimbrel flew in and settled on the beach. (AH/P&LH/KJ/SM et al)

This afternoon, five Wheatears were along the concrete spit, with a Stonechat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and a Swallow also along the front. (S&SaH)

Greenshanks (above), Marsh Harrier, Wheatears & Linnet at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Along the banks this morning there were four Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, a Sedge Warbler, three Reed Warblers, six Cetti's Warblers, a Reed Bunting and two Yellowhammers, but beyond that there were just a Raven and a Kestrel over and 28 Avocets on the Stilt Pool. (SH/PB)

North Wall: A Wheatear was on the rocks, and a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, four Sedge Warblers, two Reed Warblers and three Reed Buntings were along the wall.

The lone Wigeon was again on the Breech Pool, together with 14 Tufted Ducks and the nesting Mute Swans, and on the drying fields there were two Lapwings, two Snipe, a Greenshank, an Egyptian Goose, two Gadwall, 38 Shelducks and 70 Black-headed Gulls, with five Swallows overhead.

The Jackdaws were collecting hair from the horses in the paddock, a Pied Wagtail was on the fence and the male Marsh Harrier was over the reeds, but it was quiet along White’s Creek with just eight Redshanks along the banks. (LP/CT/GHi)

Wheatear (above), Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail & Wigeon and Tufted Ducks at the North Wall (LP)

Tuesday, 16th April: A cold and windy morning, with a fresh and blustery north-westerly pushing through banks of cloud, with brief, warm sunny spells in-between......

Selsey Bill: A very quiet morning, with two Grey Herons in off the sea and a few distant Gannets being about it. Full log below. (IP/AH/AW)

(0700-0830hrs) (NW, F6)

Gannet - 32E

Grey Heron - 2N

Common Scoter - 1E, 1W

Grey Plover - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 1E

(1700-1800hrs) (SH)

Great northern Diver - 6os

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 1os

Gannet - 2E

Common Scoter - 5os

Oystercatcher - 2E

Razorbill - 1W

Grey Herons at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Common Sandpiper was again in the channel, along with a Lapwing, and the Spotted Redshank was roosting among c30 Redshanks on the pool, with 32 Avocet, eight Shelducks, three Gadwall and a dozen or so Teal and Shovelers, but there were no Black-tailed Godwits this morning.

A look round the Tramway circuit just produced two or three Blackcaps, half a dozen Chiffchaffs and a Cetti's Warbler. (AH)

Common Sandpiper (above), Spotted Redshank, Redshanks and Avocets, Avocets & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)

Also, of note, a flowering Green-winged Orchid was seen in fields near the sewage farm. (SR)

Green-winged Orchid near the Ferry (SR)

Chichester GPs: Three Swifts went over Runcton Lake this morning. (SM)

Later on, a Swift was over Copse Lake, with a few Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows. (AW)

Swift (above), House Martin, Sand Martin & Swallow at Chichester GPs (AW)

Church Norton: There were three Whimbrel and c20 Curlews in the harbour this morning, along with c30 Dunlin and a handful of Ringed Plovers, but nothing else beyond a few Shelducks and a fly-over Gadwall.

A flock of c50 Mediterranean Gulls and c100 Black-headed Gulls kept flying up from the fields behind the church, but didn't venture into the harbour, whilst passerine migrants comprised a single Swallow, a Blackcap and three Chiffchaffs.. (AH)

Whimbrel (above) & Whimbrel and Curlew at Church Norton (AH)