19th - 20th November 2024

Wednesday, 20th November: After a sharp overnight frost, a very cold, but mostly quite bright morning in a fresh north-westerly breeze..... ....

Selsey Bill: There wasn't too much about this morning in unpromising conditions, though six Red-throated Divers went east and 33 Dunlin went west. Full log below. (SH/AH/MRe)

(0700-0900hrs) (NW, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 6E

Gannet - 1E

Shag - 3E

swan sp - 1W

Brent Goose - 1W

Shelduck - 1E

Wigeon - 6W

Common Scoter - 6W, 20os

Red-breasted Merganser - 4W, 3os

Oystercatcher - 4E

Dunlin - 33W

Turnstone - 12

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Common Gull - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2E

auk sp - 41E, 13W

Pied Wagtail - 3

Ferry Pool: There were no Avocets about this morning, though there were 42 Black-tailed Godwits and 26 Lapwings present, along with four Shelducks, c30 Wigeon, c70 Shovelers and c100 Teal, plus a Little Egret in the big pine tree by the EA yard. (AH)

Little Egret (above) & Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: A single Slavonian Grebe was offshore this morning. (DBo)

North Wall: There were at least four Bearded Tits feeding on the reeds around the Breech Pool this morning, and two Black-tailed Godwits and a Snipe were on the pool, along with numerous Mallards, whilst a Rock Pipit was along the rocks,a Pied Wagtail was by the sluice and a pair of Stonechats, a Chiffchaff and two Jays were in the paddock.

Along the East Side, there was a huge number of birds out on the mud including 400 Brent Geese, 150 Wigeon, 100 Teal, 50 Shelducks, four Great Crested Grebes, two Little Grebes, 800 Lapwings, 150 Golden Plover, 200 Knot, 400 Dunlin, 50 Ringed Plover, 200 Grey Plover, 13 Avocets, 20 Black-tailed Godwits and four Turnstones. (LP/CT/EB)

This evening a Little Owl was in the paddocks and a Barn Owl was at Halsey's Farm, whist 63 Cattle Egrets came in to roost in Owl Copse.

Also, two Marsh Harriers were about, along with five calling Water Rails and 400 Brent Geese, whilst the murmurration of Starlings was repeatedly interrupted by a persistent Sparrowhawk. (S&SaH)

Bearded Tits (top two EB, lower two LP) (above), Snipe, Avocets & Golden Plovers and Lapwings (LP) at the North Wall

Marsh and Chalder Farms, Sidlesham: There were a minimum of 50 Cattle Egrets about this morning, mainly just north of Chalder Farm, whilst at least 50 Greenfinches and Chaffinches, plus at least  a dozen Reed Buntings and100 Linnets were around the various cover crops.

Also, a Grey Wagtail and a few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were by Marsh Farm, a pair of Stonechats, a Chiffchaff and half a dozen Goldcrest were on the path east of Chalder Farm and a Firecrest was in Church Lane, with a Mistle Thrush the only bird in the churchyard. (AH)

Cattle Egrets (above), Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest, Stonechat & Reed Bunting at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (AH)

Runcton: On private land south of the village this morning there were ten Mallard, 12 Shovelers, six Teal, a Wigeon, eight Tufted Ducks, two Grey Herons, a Barn Owl, a Common Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine, with six Meadow Pipits, two Pied Wagtails, and two Chiffchaffs feeding together in the sunshine. Also 47 Lapwing flew west,and there were three Roe Deer about. (CRJ)

Fishbourne Creek: This morning there were two Snipe at the top of the creek and a minimum of three Greenshank, whilst at the Lavant outflow there was a Kingfisher, with three Pintail and a Gadwall in the channel, and a single and a pair of Ravens flew over.

Below Dell Quay there were 11 Great-crested Grebes and two Little Grebes., whilst in the bushes and hedges there were three Yellowhammers, two Stonechats and a mixed tit flock, including 27 Long-tailed Tits. (RW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Merlin, a Peregrine and two Kestrels were about this morning, with 75 Brent Geese and c250 Golden Plovers and c300 Lapwings on/over the reserve.

Also, along the banks there were a Dartford Warbler, three Stonechats, a Goldcrest, two Chiffchaffs, a Reed Bunting and three Yellowhammers. (S&SaH)

Tuesday, 19th November: A reminder of what the weather is usually like at this time of year, with a cold morning of persistent, drizzly rain under leaden skies in a fresh westerly breeze....

Selsey Bill: An unsurprisingly slow morning, with just a mix of the commoner species in small numbers. Full log below. (AH/IP/SR)

(0725-0840hrs) (W, F6)

Great Northern Diver - 1os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os

Gannet - 2E, 14W

Shag - 1E

Common Scoter - 2E

Oystercatcher - 2W

Turnstone - 30

Mediterranean Gull - 4E

Common Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2os

auk sp - 9W

Sandwich Tern (above) & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just 27 Avocets, 24 Black-tailed G0dwits, 22 Lapwings, four Shelducks, c50 Shovelers and c120 Teal on the pool this morning. (AH)

Shoveler (above) & Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Four Avocets were the only things out of the ordinary in the harbour this morning, with, otherwise, just a scattering of Grey Plovers, Dunlin, Redshanks and Curlews on the mud, c50 Wigeon and Teal in the channels and c200 Brent Geese that flew over to the fields to the west. (AH)

Avocets (above), Brent Geese & Grey Plover at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: It was mostly the usual species in the rain this morning, although a Greenshank was along White’s Creek with the regular Redshanks, Wigeon, Pintail and Teal, and further out on the mud there were maybe 1000 Lapwings, along with a few Dunlin and Grey Plovers, and a few groups of Brent Geese were heading out towards Marsh Farm.

The water level on the Breech Pool has risen overnight but there was still one Water Rail showing and a couple more calling, but otherwise it was just Mallards and a few Teal on the water.

Elsewhere a Rock Pipit and a Wren were along the rocks, a Pied Wagtail was in the paddock and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was continuing to excavate a hole in the willow at Little Welbourne. (LP)

A Barn Owl was out at dusk this evening at Halsey's Farm. (AH)

Rock Pipit (above), Water Rail, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Redshank at the North Wall (LP)

16th - 18th November 2024

Monday, 18th November: After a bit of overnight rain, a  fairly overcast morning in just a light and variable breeze.............

Selsey Bill: There were four Velvet Scoters about again this morning, with 32 Common Scoters and seven Great Northern Divers offshore. Full log below. (AH/IP/SR/PA)

(0715-0915hrs) (NE, F2)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 7os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 2os

Gannet - 3E, 4W, 10os

Shag - 4E, 1W, 7os

Brent Goose - 6E, 4W

Velvet Scoter - 1W, 3os

Common Scoter - 32os

Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 3W, 6os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 2os

Dunlin - 2W

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 2W

Common Gull - 1E

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Razorbill - 3E

auk sp - 15E, 5W

Pied Wagtail - 2

Chiffchaff - 1

Common Scoters (above) & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There 34 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with 26 Black-tailed Godwits, a Redshank, 16 Lapwings, two Shelducks, c40 Teal and c50 Shovelers. (AH)

Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A Bearded Tit was heard, but not seen, along the Breech Pool, with four Stonechats, three Reed Buntings, h handful of Rock Pipits along the wall and a calling Brambling over, whilst a couple of Water Rails and a Snipe were on the pool.

There were large numbers of birds in White's Creek and the harbour on the rising tide, including c2000 Brent Geese, 60 Pintail, 200 Teal, 350 Wigeon, a Greenshank, two Spotted Redshanks, two Bar-tailed Godwits, 45 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Golden Plovers, 500+ Grey Plovers, 500 Knot and 400+ Dunlin. (PA)

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: A Dartford Warbler was moving through the gorse along the footpath this morning, and there were also 70 Linnets, 15 Skylarks, a Wren, two Dunnocks, 18 Goldfinches, half a dozen Meadow Pipits and Rock Pipits about, whilst a Kingfisher was showing well on and around the old metalwork, and a Common Seal cruised into the harbour on the rising tide.

As the water rose lots of waders were relocating to the offshore shale banks, including many Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Grey Plovers and Knot, but the only birds on the sea in the very calm conditions were two Red-throated Divers and a few Great Crested Grebes, with three Gannets and a Sandwich Tern about, too.

Also, a Swallow was over Pagham Lagoon and a dozen Little Grebes were on the water there. (LP/TG/PA)

Dartford Warbler (above), Meadow Pipit & Kingfisher at Pagham Spit (LP)

Medmerry: Windmill to the Breach - Highlight this morning was a Purple Sandpiper among the pre-roost gathering of waders by the breach towards high tide, which also included four Greenshank, c80 Grey Plovers, a couple of Redshanks, at least 150 Ringed Plovers and c300 Dunlin.

Otherwise it was very quiet, with nothing offshore and just a pair of Stonechats and half a dozen Meadow Pipits in the windmill area. (AH)

Purple Sandpiper with Dunlin and Ringed Plovers (above) & Greenshanks at Medmerry (AH)

East Head: A red head Goosander was off the northern end of the spit this morning, presumably the one seen at Medmerry yesterday, and also on the water were c.15 Great Crested Grebes and two Red-breasted Mergansers. Along the beach & dunes it was rather quiet with only a scattering of small birds noted including Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Skylarks, Pied Wagtails and Greenfinches. (BI)

Sunday, 17th November: The breeze had freshened and shifted to the north-west this morning, but it was still quite pleasant in a mix of sun and white cloud.........

Selsey Bill: The three Velvet Scoters were offshore again, but there were generally less birds about than yesterday, though it included three Gadwall east and 19 Kittiwakes and 15 Red-breasted Mergansers west.. Full log below. (SH/PB/MRB/IP/AH/JA)

(0700-0900hrs) (NW, F3-4)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 3W

Gannet - 6E, 49W

Shag - 7E, 1W, 8os

Brent Goose - 5E, 3W

Wigeon - 10E

Gadwall - 3E

Velvet Scoter - 3os

Common Scoter - 13W, 15os

Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 15W, 2os

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 1W

Grey Plover - 6E

Dunlin - 1E

Turnstone - 6

Common Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 19W

Guillemot - 1W

Razorbill - 5E, 17W, 20os

auk sp - 15E, 188W

Pied Wagtail - 5

Meadow Pipit - 2E

Goldfinch - 15

Later at 1030hrs, four Velvet Scoter flew east (per ebird)

Shag (above) & Red-breasted Mergansers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Avocet numbers were back up to 44 this morning, with 19 Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Lapwings, c40 Wigeon, c60 Shovelers and Teal and five Shelducks also about. (AH/PB/MRB)

Avocet on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Sparrowhawk was chased by a Carrion Crow early morning by the farm buildings and at midday a Buzzard was pursued over the field by two more, with, otherwise, a Goldcrest in the bushes and a Pied Wagtail on the buildings, a Green Woodpecker over the fields nearby and, at the eastern end of the fields a single Snipe flying over. (IP)

Church Norton: There was very little offshore this morning, with just a Red-breasted Merganser, a Great Crested Grebe, a Gannet and a Brent Goose seen, all in flight, whilst in the harbour on the fast rising tide there were a Greenshank, three Bar-tailed Godwits, 20 Lapwings, c30 Pintail, c50 Wigeon and a mixed flock of Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plovers.

A female Reed Bunting was again on the feeders at Greenlease Farm, with a Green Woodpecker in the vicinity, too, whilst two Stonechats and a Chiffchaff were along the front, a Water Rail was calling from the Severals and a drake Shoveler flew in.

Also, five Chiffchaffs and four Goldcrests were among a big Long-tailed Tit flock in the churchyard and c200 Brent Geese were in the field behind.(IP/PB/MRB)

Late this afternoon two Greenshanks and the Whimbrel were among the waders on the dropping tide and a least 500 Brent Geese were in the field behind the church. (AH)

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

North Wall: A very late Swallows was over the Breech Pool this morning, but there was no sign of the Bearded Tits, though a handful of Snipe and a couple of Water Rails were still present, along with c30 Black-tailed Godwits and lots of Mallards.

A Grey Wagtail, a couple of Pied Wagtails and a couple of Rock Pipits were around the sluice, whilst White's Creek and the adjacent harbour held huge numbers of waders, including c300 Golden Plovers, c1000 Lapwings, c200 Knot, c100 Grey Plovers, c500 Dunlin and 20 Black-tailed Godwits, along with c30 Pintail, c50 Teal and c150 Wigeon. (AH/LP et al) 

Later on two Bearded Tits were seen at the Breech Pool again (per ebird)

This evening three Marsh Harriers went in to roost and the murmurration of Starlings - probably in excess of1000 birds - were wheeling around over the Breech Pool. (S&SaH)

Grey Wagtail (above), Rock Pipit, Snipe, Golden Plovers, Pintail & Teal at the North Wall (AH)

Pagham Spit and Lagoon: Four Red-breasted Mergansers and a couple of Great Crested Grebes were around the harbour mouth this morning, with c200 Brent Geese on the saltmarsh and a huge mixed flock of Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plovers were roosting on the shingle bars.

Also, a pair of Stonechats and half a dozen Rock Pipits and Skylarks were along the spit and a dozen Little Grebes were on Pagham Lagoon. (AH/AJW)

Stonechat (above), Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plovers on Pagham Spit & Little Grebe on Pagham Lagoon (AH)

Fishbourne Creek: A Fieldfare was along the road to Dell Quay this morning. (PB/MRB)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A redhead Goosander was on the reserve this morning, opposite the Stilt Pool, before flying off west., whilst two Brent Geese, two Egyptian Geese, a Greenshank, two Ringed Plovers, c300 Lapwings and c500 Golden Plovers were on/over the reserve, and a Water Rail was at Marsh Farm.

Also, along the banks there were four Dartford Warblers, two Goldcrests, 11 Stonechats, eight Yellowhammers, a song Thrush and ten Chaffinches, with a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and four Buzzards over. (S&SaH)

Saturday, 16th November: A cool and hazily grey morning in just a light north-easterly breeze....

Selsey Bill: There was a bit of a selection this morning, including three Velvet Scoters on the sea before they flew off west and a Long-tailed Duck and as many as nine Great Northern Divers offshore, whilst a pod of a dozen Bottle-nosed Dolphins drifted slowly east. Full log later. (SH/PB/BI/IP/AH)

(0700-0915) (NNE, F1-2)

Great Northern Diver - 9os

Red-throated Diver - 3E, 1os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 3W

Gannet - 7E, 10W, 20os

Shag - 11E, 2os

Grey Heron - 1

Brent Goose -2E, 1W

Long-tailed Duck - 1os

Velvet Scoter - 3os then W

Common Scoter - 22W, 41os

Red-breasted Merganser - 7E, 10W

Turnstone - 5

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 10W

Sandwich Tern - 2os

Razorbill - 1E, 41W

auk - 34E, 327W

Pied Wagtail - 3

Chiffchaff - 1

Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 12E

Velvet Scoters (above), Common Scoters, Sandwich Tern & Bottle-nosed Dolphin at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There were just 28 Avocets on the pool this morning, along with 22 Lapwings, 14 Black-tailed Godwits, three Shelducks, c30 Wigeon and c50 Shovelers and Teal. (AH)

Lapwing (above) & Wigeon, Avocets, Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: A Grey Wagtail was seen in flight over the new houses both early and late morning, whilst a juvenile Pied Wagtail was on the stable roofs at midday.

A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were about, with a Green Woodpecker also present along with a Goldcrest, whilst a Red-throated Diver was sat off the sea of the end of Park Lane and a Great Northern Diver flew south by the cottages. (IP)

Church Norton: There were four Slavonian Grebes on the sea this morning, along with a Great Northern Diver, two Great Crested Grebes, 15 Common Scoters and four Red-breasted Mergansers, with three more of the latter flying west and a Red-throated Diver going east.

A Jack Snipe and a Common Snipe flew up together out of the horse field area and flew around together briefly before going their separate ways, whilst in the harbour there were barely 50 Brent Geese this morning, along with a few Pintail, Wigeon and Teal, whilst among the large numbers of waders on the fast-rising tide were at least four Bar-tailed Godwits, c100 Knot and Grey Plovers, 50 Turnstones and 500 Dunlin, and a Kingfisher was also about.

Also, a female Reed Bunting and a couple of Green Woodpeckers were around Greenlease Farm, with a few Stock Doves feeding on the adjacent fields, whilst a female Marsh Harrier and a Mediterranean Gull went over the first Several, where a Water Rail was squealing continuously, and a male Shoveler was asleep on the second Several. (AH/IP/AW/GW/J Hodge et al)

Slavonian Grebes (above), Jack Snipe, Snipe & Bar-tailed Godwit at Church Norton (AH)

This evening a male and two female Marsh Harriers came in to roost in the Severals, and at least 800 Brent Geese were in the field behind the church . (S&SaH/AH)

Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were at least four Bearded Tits in the reeds around the Breech Pool this morning, where there were also four Water Rails, six Snipe, a Kingfisher, 23 Black-tailed Godwits and the usual Teal and Mallards.

Also, a juvenile Marsh Harrier was over the reeds further back and a Rock Pipit was along the rocks, whilst out in the harbour there were c200 Golden Plover with the regular Lapwings and Redshanks before they were all moved off on the rising tide. (LP/SP)

Bearded Tit (above) & Water Rail and Snipe at the North Wall (LP)

Late this afternoon here was a very impressive murmurration of Starlings over the North Wall, involving many hundreds of birds. (MRi)

Starlings at the North Wall (MRi)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were a Dartford Warbler, a Chiffchaff, two Cetti's Warblers,, a Goldcrest, six Stonechats, three Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, four Pied Wagtails, six Chaffinches and two Song Thrushes along the banks this morning, along with c50 scattered Skylarks.

A few waders were on the reserve at high tide, including a Snipe, 31 Dunlin,36 Ringed Plovers, 20+ Black-tailed Godwits, c300 Golden Plovers and c400 Lapwings, with a Water Rail and two Egyptian Geese also about, along with a Peregrine, two Kestrels, two Sparrowhawks and three Buzzards. (S&SaH/PB)

Medmerry: Windmill area - A quick look this morning found the smart male Black Redstart being very active and mobile around the first houses and caravans west of the funfair. (AH)

Black Redstart at Medmerry (AH)

Chi GPs: Drayton House pits - General wildfowl numbers were surprisingly well down today (on the WeBS count), with a total of no more than 20 Pochards (all but one on North pit) and just five Tufted Ducks. There were however a few highlights, with a Woodcock - the first reported on the Peninsula this year -  a Snipe, a Great White Egret and six Little Egrets on the North pit and a delightful flock of 36 Shovelers all feeding together in a swirl on South pit. A joint total of five Water Rails were also present, plus one or perhaps two Kingfishers, and at least six Chiffchaffs in the bushes.

Little Egrets (above) and Great White Egret at Drayton House North pit