4th - 5th April 2025

Saturday, 5th April: The breeze had gone back to the north-east and freshened considerably, but there was unbroken sunshine and quite warm later on.....

Selsey Bill: There was a long list this morning, with some obvious visible passerine migration, including four Yellow Wagtails, a dozen Swallows, eight Sand Martins, with a number of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs being seen coming in off the sea and dropping into shelter.

Offshore, the highlights were a distant Great White Egret, five Little Gulls and eight common Terns east and a Long-tailed Duck and two Fulmars west. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/IP/PA/AH/RWh/P&LH/SR)

(0615-1000hrs) (NE, F5-6)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 3E

Fulmar - 2W

Gannet - 22E, 27W, 4os

Great White Egret - 1E

Brent Goose - 1W

Pintail - 2E

Mallard - 1

Long-tailed Duck - 1W

Common Scoter - 29E, 2W, 40os

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 2W

Black-headed Gull - 5E

Common Gull - 18E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 4E

Little Gull - 5E

Kittiwake - 2E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 154E, 6os

Common Tern - 8E'

'Commic' Tern - 2E

Razorbill - 2W, 1os

auk sp - 7E, 6W

Swallow - 12N

Sand Martin - 8N

Meadow Pipit - 58N

Yellow Wagtail - 4N

Pied Wagtail - 4N

Willow Warbler - 11N

Chiffchaff - 12N

Willow/Chiff - 10N

Linnet - 11E, 32N

Goldfinch - 29N

Chaffinch - 1N

Yellow Wagtails (above), Willow Warblers, Meadow Pipit & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover was present early on, but not later, with, otherwise six Avocets, two Lapwings, ten Redshanks, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, c30 Shelducks and c50 Teal and Shovelers also about. (RWh/AH)

Redshanks and Shelducks on the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A male Redstart was around the paddock this morning, along with the regular pair of Kestrels, four Jackdaws, three Pied Wagtails, a Cattle Egret, seven Little Egrets, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Willow Warbler, and a few Chiffchaffs, with both male and female Marsh Harriers and two Buzzards over the reeds further back.

Elsewhere along the wall it was very quiet, with just a few Redshanks, four Teal and rwo Wigeon along White’s Creek, the usual mix of Grey Herons, Cattle Egrets and Little Egrets in Owl Copse, and a few Chiffchaffs, Cetti’s Warblers and Reed Buntings along the bushes. (DBo/MJa/CT/RHa/LP/BI et al)

Redstart (above), Pied Wagtail & Kestrel at the North Wall (LP)

Church Norton: A male Redstart was at Greenlease Farm this morning (HR/DMe), and two possible singing Whitethroats were heard briefly, but there wasn't much else about, beyond four Swallows over, and a handful of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, plus two Mistle Thrushes in the car-park.

The harbour was pretty empty in the wind, with c25 Black-tailed Godwits, a dozen or so Grey Plovers and Dunlin and a few Teal and Shelducks about it, beyond the regular redshanks and Oystercatchers.

There was also an Adder about.(AH/PB/SaH/RS/EB et al)

Blackcap (above) Black-tailed Godwits (AH) & Adder (RS) at Church Norton

West Itchenor: Six Grey Partridges were in the fields south of Chalkdock this morning. (GM)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The Least Sandpiper was on the beach very close to the breach,) with a Dunlin there for comparison.

In addition, two Sand Martins, four Swallows and the first House Martin of the year came in off the sea, along with a Chiffchaff, whilst on the Stilt Pool there were two Little Ringed Plovers and a Greenshank.

Thee was little along the banks, though, beyond c30 Yellowhammer, similar numbers of Linnets and a pair of Stonechats, plus two Buzzards and three Kestrels over. (IP/RWh/OM/TS/JMo et al).

Least Sandpiper (above) & Least Sandpiper and Dunlin at Medmerry (IP)

Friday, 4th April: A slightly milder and greyer morning, with the north-easterly breeze a little lighter, too.....

Selsey Bill: The clear highlight this morning was an Alpine Swift that flew in low from the west at 0805hrs, between the wall and Bill House - missed by those watching the sea, but luckily spotted by IP, facing the wrong way! It then gained height and headed away over the sea. This is the sixth Peninsula record, after the one at Chichester GPs in 2023, with the last one at the Bill being in May 1984.

Otherwise, three Slavonian Grebes were seen, 11 Little Gulls, a Common Tern, 162 Sandwich Terns, 81 Common Scoters and 20 Brent Geese went east and 11 Great Northern Divers were on the sea. Full log below. (JA/BI/MRe/RHa/SHa/AH/IP/SR/AW)

(0620-0920hrs) (ENE, F2-3)

Great Northern Diver - 11os

Red-throated Diver - 11E

diver sp - 2E

Slavonian Grebe - 1E, 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 3os

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 18E, 6W

Shag - 8E

Brent Goose - 20E

Shelduck - 1E

Pintail - 8E

Mallard - 2E

Shoveler - 7E

Common Scoter - 81E, 48os

Red-breasted Merganser - 9E, 1W, 2os

Oystercatcher - 12E, 1W

Mediterranean Gull - 4E, 2W

Common Gull - 9E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1E

Little Gull - 12E

Sandwich Tern - 162E, 4os

Common Tern - 1E

Alpine Swift - 1E (0805hrs)

Swallow - 4N

Sand Martin - 1N

Meadow Pipit -

White Wagtail - 1N

Pied Wagtail - 2N

Linnet - 2E, 2W

Chaffinch - 1N

Alpine Swift (above), Swallow (AW), Red-throated Diver, Pintail, Red-breasted Mergansers, Sandwich Tern & Common Gulls (AH) at the Bill

Ferry Pool: Three Snipe were in the reeds, a pair of Lapwings were on the field and six Avocets and c30 Black-tailed Godwits were around the pool, along with c30 Shelducks, a pair of Gadwall, two pairs of Wigeon, and c50 Teal and Shovelers. (AH)

Snipe (above) & Gadwall and Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The only passerine migrants were the now settled Blackcap and two Chiffchaffs around the Mound area, whilst in the harbour there were c30 Sandwich Terns and c50 Mediterranean Gulls, along with six Bar-tailed Godwits, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, just a few Dunlin, Grey Plovers, Wigeon and Teal, plus a single Brent Goose, with c25 Shelducks on the concrete blocks and half a dozen excitable Ringed Plovers on the spit. (AH)

Blackcap (above), Bar-tailed Godwit and Redshank, Ringed Plovers, Black-tailed Godwit & Brent Geese at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Stilt Pool - The Least Sandpiper was reported as present again this morning, though was not seen later. (per Birdguides/RBA)

This afternoon, it finally gave itself up to be seen by more birders. (AHu et al)

Birdham Pool: Two Sand Martins and a Willow Warbler were the only things of note today. (PA)

1st - 3rd April 2025

Thursday, 3rd April: Another breezy morning in the fresh easterly, bright early and later, but with a big bank of cloud rolling westwards in between.....

Selsey Bill: It was fairly slow early on, with two Common Terns east the highlight, whilst later in the morning, three more went east along with a Garganey in a Common Scoter flock and a Black-throated Diver. Full log below. (IP/AH/OM)

(0720-1150hrs) (E, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Black-throated Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1os

Gannet - 4E

Shoveler - 8E

Garganey - 1E

Common Scoter - 66E, 40os

Red-breasted Merganser - 2os

Oystercatcher - 5E

Mediterranean Gull - 20E

Common Gull - 5E

Sandwich Tern - 45E

Common Tern - 5E

auk sp - 3E, 1W

Swallow - 2N

Meadow Pipit - 5N

Pied Wagtail - 2N

Chiffchaff - 4N

Linnet - 11N

Red-throated Diver drifting east past the Bill (OM)

Common Terns (above), Sandwich Tern, Shovelers, Mediterranean Gull & Common Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: A Little Ringed Plover was on the roadside pool early on, whilst later a Green Sandpiper popped up from the ditches in the field and there were eight Avocets, a Lapwing, three Snipe, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, a pair of Gadwall, a pair of Wigeon,  32 Shelducks, c50 Shovelers and c75 Teal around the pool. (OM/AH/IP)

This evening there were again two Little Ringed Plovers present. (AH)

Gadwall (above) & Avocet on the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: An increasing flock of Sandwich Terns was present on the sandflats early afternoon, starting with c.40 birds but eventually totalling c.120 when I left at 1400hrs. A selection of waders was also present, with a few Redshank, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover and Curlew, but also six Bar-tailed Godwits, plus the Whimbrel which posed nicely next to a Curlew for comparison. (OM)

Sandwich Terns at Church Norton, and Whimbrel together with Curlew (OM)

This evening a minimum of 150 Sandwich Terns were in the harbour, mainly on the metalwork, and there were similar numbers of Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls about, along with the wintering Whimbrel and c20 Black-tailed Godwits, whilst a Blackcap and two Chiffchaffs were around the Mound. (AH)

Sandwich Terns (above), Black-tailed Godwits & Blackcap at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: The Spotted Redshank was again by the sluice and there were 16 Redshanks, four Wigeon and 28 Teal along White’s Creek, but it was generally quiet with a Great Crested Grebe on the Breech Pool, four Grey Herons and 11 Cattle Egrets in Owl Copse, a Kingfisher along Owl Water, and a Sparrowhawk overhead being the only birds of note.

A Cattle Egret and two Little Egrets were in the paddock, as well as a Kestrel and two Jackdaws, but other than the pair of Marsh Harriers over the reeds, that was about it. (LP/JDW/CT/SP)

Spotted Redshank (above), Cattle Egret, Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets and Grey Herons, Kestrel & Great Crested Grebes at the North Wall (LP)

Sidlesham: Two Swallows went over Cow Lane early this afternoon, (PA), and two more went over Highleigh (SH).

Birdham and West Itchenor: Coal Tits were seen at both locations today. (SH)

Medmerry: Coasguard Station -  A Red-throated Diver was close inshore off the slipway this morning. (AW)

Red-throated Diver at Medmerry (AW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There was no sign of the Least Sandpiper this morning, with a pair each of displaying Little Ringed Plovers and Ringed Plovers, a single Dunlin, a dozen Avocets and c25 Mediterranean Gulls about it for the Stilt Pool

There were at least another 300 Mediterranean Gulls on the cultivated fields, and a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine and a Buzzard went over, but there wasn't much along the banks beyond a Dartford Warbler, three Chiffchaffs, a pair of Stonechats, a couple of Skylarks, c20 Yellowhammers andc50 Linnets. (AH/IP et al)

The Least Sandpiper was reported as present again on the Stilt Pool late this afternoon (per Birdguides)

Little Ringed Plover (above), Ringed Plover, Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers, Mediterranean Gulls, Stonechat and Yellowhammer & Skylark at Medmerry (AH)

Wednesday, 2nd April: After a cold start, a warm and sunny morning, the with the breeze still fresh and from the east.....

Selsey Bill: A Bonxie went east this morning, and there were a few other bits heading east, too, including a flock of 50 Bar-tailed Godwits, 63 Shovelers, five Pintail, 59 Common Scoters and 59 Sandwich Terns, with a Swallow in off the sea. Full log below. (SH/PB/IP/AH/P&LH/SR)

(0630-0930hrs) (ENE, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 20os

Shelduck - 3W

Teal - 9E

Pintail - 2E

Shoveler - 63E, 6W

Common Scoter - 59E, 6W

Red-breasted Merganser - 2E

Oystercatcher - 21E

Grey Plover - 1E

Knot - 5E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 50E

Great Skua - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 23E, 4W, 4os

Common Gull - 2E

Kittiwake - 2E

Sandwich Tern - 59E

auk sp - 1E, 3W

Swallow - 1N

Meadow Pipit - 8N

Pied Wagtail - 5N

Linnet - 15N

(1045-1145hrs) (P&LH)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os

Gannet - 3E, 1os

Common Scoter - 42E, 20os

Common Gull - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 16E, 14os

Meadow Pipit - 11N

Linnet - 5N

Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Shovelers, Sandwich Tern & Mediterranean Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The adult Spoonbill re-appeared mid-afternoon, whilst earlier in the day a Green Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank were in Ferry Channel, the two Little Ringed Plovers were on the pool and two Red Kites went over Ferry field.

Otherwise, it was the usual mix, including four Avocets, two Lapwings, c60 Black-tailed Godwits, 32 Shelducks and c50 Shovelers and Teal, but three or four singing Chiffchaffs were it around the Discovery Area. (AW/CRJ/AS/AH/BFF/IP/P&LH/SR/AB/CD et al)

Spoonbill (top two AH, lower LH) (above), Black-tailed Godwits, Chiffchaff (AH) & Green Sandpiper (AW) at the Ferry

Church Norton: A Blackcap and two Chiffchaffs were in the sheltered hedges, but the harbour was all but birdless this morning, with five Black-tailed Godwits, four Curlews and c20 Shelducks the highlights. (P&L)

North Wall: The Spotted Redshank was by the sluice again, and along White’s Creek there were 32 Teal, two Wigeon and 18 Redshanks with a few Mediterranean Gulls passing overhead.

It was quiet along the wall with just a few Cetti’s Warblers, Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap singing from the bushes, and a Kingfisher flew past Owl Copse, where there were right Cattle Egrets, two Little Egrets and two Grey Herons in the trees.

A Cattle Egret and three Little Egrets in the paddock was unusual, but otherwise there were just a couple of Jackdaws, a Green Woodpecker, and a Stock Dove in the trees and a Goldcrest along the lane. (LP/MJa/JDW/BFF)

Spotted Redshank (above), Cattle Egret & Stock Dove at the North Wall (LP)

Sidlesham: A Spoonbill - seemingly not the one from the Ferry - went over Cow Lane this afternoon, heading for the harbour. (PA)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Least Sandpiper - only the second Peninsula record, after one on the Ferry in July 1995 - was on the Stilt Pool from late this morning, in the company of five Dunlin, with plenty of people heading to see it this afternoon.

This bird was probably the same individual that over-wintered in Somerset and was then seen at Needs Ore in Hampshire over the weekend.

There were also a dozen Avocets, a Black-tailed Godwit and c60 Mediterranean Gulls on the Stilt Pool, with at least 400 more on the fields that were being cultivated, and a Peregrine, two Red Kites, three Buzzards and four Kestrels went over.

A Swallow went over, too, but there wasn't too much along the banks beyond a pair of Stonechats, four Chiffchaffs, two Cetti's Warblers, four Reed Buntings and half a dozen Yellowhammers. (SH/PB/PA/MRe/BI/IP/AH/SR/RHa/AB/CD et al)

A video of the Least Sandpiper (BI) is here: LEAST SANDPIPER

Least Sandpiper (SH top two, LH middle two, AH lower two) (above), Least Sandpiper and Dunlin (AH top, Bi lower), Avocets, Stonechat & Stonechat and Linnet (AH) at Medmerry

Later, the Least Sandpiper was showing nicely along the beach (MB et al)

Least Sandpiper at Medmerry Beach (MB)

Tuesday, 1st April: Another bright, but very breezy morning, with the brisk north-easterly tempering the sunshine somewhat.....

Selsey Bill: Four Common Terns and four more distant 'Commic' Terns went east early on, with a few Sandwich Terns and Common Scoters east, too, but that was about it for migration, beyond a total of 11 Swallows in off the sea. Full log below. (PB/IP/AH/OM/SR)

(0645-1130hrs) (NE, F4-5)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Fulmar - 2E

Gannet - 10E, 2W

Shag - 2E

Shelduck - 3E

Pintail - 16E

Shoveler - 5E

Common Scoter - 101E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1W, 7os

Ringed Plover - 1W

Sanderling - 1E, 1W

Turnstone - 5E, 6W

Mediterranean Gull - 12E

Common Gull - 2E

Kittiwake - 1E

Sandwich Tern - 40E, 8os

Common Tern - 4E

'Commic' Tern - 4E

Meadow Pipit - 8N

Swallow - 11N

Long-tailed Tit - 2

Linnet - 3E

Goldfinch - 5E

Mediterranean Gull (above) & the very low tide at the Bill (AH), and (lower two)  Long-tailed Tits in a garden at Seal Road (OM) 

Ferry Pool: An adult Spoonbill dropped in late this morning - the first of the year, and a Little Ringed Plover was again present, along with four Avocets, four Lapwings, c30 Black-tailed Godwits, 16 Shelducks and c50 Teal and Shovelers. (AH/PB/M&LL/OM/IP et al)

Spoonbill (above) & Spoonbill and Shelduck on the Ferry (AH) and (bottom two) Spoonbill (OM) 

Fishbourne Creek: On the low tide this morning there were eight Brent Geese, four Greenshanks, three Dunlin, 49 Turnstones and c100 Black-tailed Godwits along the creek, and a Willow Warbler was singing near Apuldram church. (RW)

Chichester GPs: A look round the Ivy Lake complex didn't produce much this morning, with just half a dozen Pochard, a dozen Tufted Ducks, two Egyptian Geese and c20 Greylag and Canada Geese, plus a handful of Great Crested Grebes, on the water.

At least three White Wagtails were with a dozen Pied Wagtails in the horse field, but a Cetti's Warbler, half a dozen Chiffchaffs and a pair of Reed Buntings were about it along the path. (AH)

White Wagtail (above), Chiffchaff, Greylag Goose & Egyptian Geese at Chicheter GPs (AH)