Thursday, 22nd January: After yet more overnight rain, another grey morning, mostly dry, apart from a few drizzly spells, in a brisk south-easterly breeze......
Selsey Bill: A total of 58 Red-throated Divers went east this morning, along with 23 Red-breasted Mergansers, though not too much else was on the move. Full log below. (AH/IP)
(0750-0950hrs) (SE, F5)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 58E, 15W, 6os
Great Crested Grebe - 1E
Gannet - 14E, 2W
Wigeon - 1E
Common Scoter - 14os
Red-breasted Merganser - 23E, 9W, 4os
Oystercatcher - 1W
Mediterranean Gull - 1E
Great Black-backed Gull - 4os
Kittiwake - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 3E
auk sp - 8E
Red-throated Divers (above), Red-breasted Mergansers & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: Two Avocets and c40 Black-tailed Godwits were among c800 Lapwings this morning around the pool, with c60 Shovelers, c100 Teal and c300 Wigeon also about, whilst a Lesser Black-backed Gull and c30 Common Gulls were among the big flock of roosting Black-headed and Herring Gulls. (AH)
Avocets, Lapwings and Shovelers (above) & Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common and Black-headed Gulls at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: A Greenshank was in the harbour this morning, along with c100 Grey Plovers, c400 Knot and c1000 Dunlin, but there wasn't too much else beyond a couple of Pintail and a dozen or so Shelducks, Wigeon and Teal. (GR/AH)
Grey Plovers, Knot and Dunlin (above), Knot & Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: The Spotted Redshank and a lot of Lapwings were in White's Creek today, whilst a Redwing, a Song Thrush and a Jay were along the wall. (EB)
Spotted Redshank (above), Redwing, Song Thrush, Jay & Lapwings at the North Wall (EB)
East Side: There were huge amounts of birds along the East side on the rising tide, with thousands of Lapwings and Golden Plovers and many hundreds of Brent Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Grey Plovers, Knot and Dunlin, as well as a few Ringed Plovers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, three Red Breasted Mergansers, a Little Grebe, 18 Pintails, 30 Common Gulls and a Mediterranean Gull. (TRH/SP/LP)
Red-breasted Mergansers (above), Grey Plovers and Knot, Golden Plovers and Lapwings, Golden Plovers and Brent Geese & Mediterranean Gull, Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls along the East side (LP)
East Head: A Snow Bunting was at the far end early this afternoon. (GM/RA)
Snow Bunting at East Head (RA)
Wednesday, 21st January: After another stormy night of heavy rain, a grey and murky morning of persistent drizzle and occasional heavier spells in a brisk and blustery southerly......
Selsey Bill: It was slow again, especially early on, though a Fulmar went west, a flock of 67 Dunlin went east and there were a few of the regulars, too. Full log below. (AH)
(0805-0920hrs) (S, F5-6)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red throated Diver - 8E, 1W, 2os
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 3E
Shag - 1E
Red-breasted Merganser - 3W, 9os
Dunlin - 67E
Great Black-backed Gull - 4os
Kittiwake - 1E, 1W
Sandwich Tern - 4os
Razorbill - 1E
auk sp - 1W
(1050-1150hrs) (SH)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Red throated Diver - 3E, 1W, 1os
Slavonian Grebe - 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 1os
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 29E, 5W
Common Scoter - 2E, 15os
Red-breasted Merganser - 2E, 3W, 3os
Turnstone - 1E
Kittiwake - 3E, 2W
Sandwich Tern - 2os
Razorbill - 1E, 6W
auk sp - 5E
This afternoon, an adult Little Gull was offshore before drifting off east., Full log below. (AWi)
(1500-1630hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 3os
Gannet - 90E
Red-breasted Merganser - 4os
Little Gull - 1E
Great Black-backed Gull - 1os
Kittiwake - 7E
Razorbill - 5os
Red-throated Diver (above), Kittiwake, Gannet & Dunlin at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were at least 1500 Lapwings around the pool this morning, along with an Avocet and c75 Black-tailed Godwits, with c60 Shovelers, c150 Teal and c400 Wigeon present, too. (AH)
Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings (above) & Lapwings at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: There wasn't much to see in a fairly brief look, though three Avocets and four Pintail were present, but, otherwise, there were just c400 Knot, c1000 Dunlin and a few Grey Plovers, Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers, plus a dozen Shelducks, spread across the mud. (AH)
Avocet (above), Avocets and Pintail & Knot at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: It was bleak along the wall this morning in the wet and windy conditions, with just a few of the regular species out in the harbour, and only five Brent Geese in Honer 1.
A Marsh Harrier was up over the reeds and a Water Rail was in the Paddock, but otherwise there was just a Song Thrush, a Pied Wagtail and a Great Spotted Woodpecker around the bushes. (LP)
This afternoon there were 17 Redwings and eight Fieldfares around Halsey's Farm, whilst two Rock Pipits were along the wall and two female Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard went over. (S&SaH)
Water Rail (above), Marsh Harrier & Pied Wagtail at the North Wall (LP)
Tuesday, 20th January: A dry start with rain forecast to hold off until mid-afternoon, with winds from the south-south-east, potentially gusting to F7 at times...
Selsey Bill: It was quiet in a mountainous sea mid-morning with just a few of the regular species to note. Full log below. (BI)
(1105-1205hrs) (S F6)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 3E, 3W
Great Crested Grebe - 1W
Gannet - 14E, 10W
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 3W
Turnstone - 4
Common Gull - 1W
Kittiwake - 1W
Guillemot - 1W
Black-headed Gulls, above, & Turnstone at the Bill (BI)
Ferry Pool: There were c.90 Golden Plovers and at least 500 Lapwings present today and c.12 Great Black-backed Gulls were with Black-headed Gulls.
A mix of Teal and Shoveler were roosting on the banks, a Marsh Harrier flew through & c.60 Black-tailed Godwits were present as were two Avocets. (NBd/BI et al)
Gulls , above, and roosting wildfowl and waders at the Ferry (BI)
East Side: On the rising tide this morning there was a huge amount of birds along the East Side, with good numbers of Brent Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shelduck, Lapwings, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwits and Curlews, plus three Bar-tailed Godwits, six Turnstones, two Oystercatchers, three Great Crested Grebes, 12 Common Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and six Mediterranean Gulls. (LP)
Pintail, above, waders including Knot, Dunlin & Grey Plover & Bar-tailed Godwit on the east side (LP)
North Wall: A Ruff was still with the Lapwings along White’s Creek this morning and later towards high tide, four Snipe flew out from the harbour, two Marsh Harriers were up over the reeds, and in Honer 3 there was an impressive gathering of c2000 Brent Geese.
A Rock Pipit and a Dunlin were along the wall, but the hedgerows were quiet in the windy conditions with just a Redwing and a couple of Reed Buntings seen, although a flock of 75 Fieldfares flew over by the stables and a Pied Wagtail was in the paddock. (NBd/LP et al)
Rock Pipit, above, Brent Geese & Dunlin at the North Wall (LP)
Church Norton: Two Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit were in the harbour today. (NBd)
Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank & Bar-tailed Godwit with two Greenshank at Church Noton (NBd)
Chichester Gravel Pits: Highlights of a visit this morning were three Goldeneye (two drakes) on Ivy Lake and ten Pochard and about 20 Shovelers on New Lake. (RW)
Itchenor: The overwintering Common Sandpiper, last seen in Novmeber, was present here today. (PH)
