Saturday, 18th April: A pleasant, quite mild morning of sun and white cloud in a moderate north-westerly breeze..........
Selsey Bill: A good mixed feeding flock of terns was offshore this morning, with another 38 Common Terns, four Whimbrel and ten Sanderlings east, whilst the first Yellow Wagtail of the year went over and four Wheatears were along the beach. Full log below. (SH/BI/AH)
(0600-0815hrs) (NW, F3-4)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Gannet - 3E, 16W
Common Scoter - 8E
Sparrowhawk - 1
Oystercatcher - 2E, 8W
Sanderling - 10E, 4W
Whimbrel - 4E
Turnstone - 2W
Mediterranean Gull -
Great Black-backed Gull - 6os
Sandwich Tern - 43os
Common Tern - 38E, 32os
Little Tern - 8os
Swallow - 1N
House Martin - 2
Yellow Wagtail - 1N
Wheatear - 4N
Chiffchaff - 2
Wheatears at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: A Common Sandpiper was on the pool this morning, along with three Little Ringed Plovers, seven Avocets, four Lapwings, a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, four drake Gadwall, four pairs of Shovelers and c20 Shelducks.
Also, up to six Wheatears were in the dried out field at the back, along with a Skylark, plus a Swallow over, whilst three Willow Warblers were around the Tramway. (PA/AH) .
Common Sandpiper (above), Little Ringed Plover & Gadwall at the Ferry (AH)
Honer Reservoir: A fine adult male Woodchat Shrike - the first for the Peninsula since 2007 - was in the hedges around the flooded field just south-east of the reservoir this morning, and showing well for a steady stream of observers.
Also, there were a Little Ringed Plover, a Wheatear and a pair of Shelducks on the flooded field, with a Grey Wagtail and a pair of Gadwall on the reservoir and a pair of Yellowhammers along the lane.
(JDW/BI/AH/MRe/PA/CS/AB/CD/CRJ et al)
Woodchat Shrike (above), Little Ringed Plover & Grey Wagtail at Honer Reservoir (AH)
Long Pool: A Corn Bunting was singing from the field at the far end of the pool this morning - a very unusual occurrence these days, and there were also a couple of Yellowhammers, half a dozen Reed Buntings, a Lesser Whitethroat, a couple of Reed Warblers, up to ten Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats and c20 Linnets along the path.
Also, a Greenshank and a few Redshanks were in Ferry Channel and a pair of Shovelers and a pair of Little Grebes were on the pool. (PA/AH)
Sedge Warbler (above), Greenshank & Shoveler at the Long Pool (AH)
Mill Pond Marsh: A Reed Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting and a pair of Gadwall were around the flooded field today. (LL)
North Wall: The first Whinchat of the year, three Wheatears two Linnets and two Skylarks were around Owl Point field this morning and along the reeds and bushes there were many Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings, Whitethroats, and Cetti’s Warblers, as well as a Couple of Blackcaps, a Willow Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat.
Out in the harbour, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank and a Whimbrel were by Heron Island and six Grey Plovers were further out but elsewhere it was just the two Brent Geese in the fields, two male and two female Marsh Harriers over the reeds, and a Sparrowhawk in the hedgerow. (LP/SP/MJa)
Wheatear (above), Whitethroat & Sparrowhawk at the North Wall (LP)
Late this afternoon a Hoopoe called a couple of times from near Halsey's Farm Barn, but could not be relocated. (PA/IKP)
Also, the male Whinchat was still in Owl Point field, along with up to five Wheatears, and showing well. (AB/CD/NM/PA/IP/Bi/AH et al)
Whinchat (above) & Wheatear at the North Wall (AH)
Medmerry: Coastguards to the Windmill - Five Wheatears were along the path between the Coastguard Station and the Windmill early this morning. (AW)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Yellow Wagtail was with the cows this morning, whilst along the banks there were seven Wheatears, two Stonechats, a Dartford Warbler, two or three Reed and Sedge Warblers, a Blackcap, six Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers, four Reed Buntings, four Yellowhammers and a good count of 31 Whitethroats.
Also, ten Avocets and a Red-breasted Merganser were on the Stilt Pool, a Little Ringed Plover was on the pool opposite and two Swallows, two Buzzards and a Kestrel went over. (S&SaH/EB)
Yellow Wagtail (SaH), Avocets, Greenshank, Red-breasted and Oystercatcher, Buzzard & Whitethroat at Medmerry (EB)
Runcton: South of the village there was an obliging male Wheatear and a Whitethroat. (CRJ)
Marsh Farm Sidlesham: A flooded patch in one of the fields held ten Cattle Egrets, a Redshank, a Greenshank, and a Wheatear, whilst around the farm there were a Cattle Egret, a Reed Warbler, several Whitethroats, three Yellowhammers and ten Linnets. (CRJ)
Chichester GPs: Drayton House pits - There was a surprise on the WeBS count this morning with the unexpected appearance of two drake Red-crested Pochards - presumably the same birds reported a few days earlier on some of the other pits. Egyptian Geese and Greylags were also prominent, with three pairs of each having broods of young in tow and a number of other adults that may yet produce more.
The other regular wildfowl species were present, now in low numbers, but passerine interest was also of note, with joint totals of at least 12 Reed Warblers and six Cetti's Warblers singing and an elusive pair of Bullfinches on the North pit, chasing each other in presumed courtship. (OM)
At Drayton House pits this morning: two drake Red-crested Pochards (above), Egyptian Goose with young, and (lower) two broods of Greylag Geese with adults and a mixed flock of two broods of Egyptian Geese. (OM)
Friday, 17th April: Slowly warming up after a cool start in a freshening southerly breeze with some hazy sun amid the generally murky conditions.......
Selsey Bill: A Garganey went east with a Common Scoter early on, whilst an Arctic Skua and seven Common Terns also went east, and a Bonxie and ten Little Terns were offshore, though eastward passage remains very slight overall. Full log below. (BI/TR/IP/P&LH/AH et al)
(0600-0900hrs) (SSW, F4-5)
Great Northern Diver - 4os
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 1E
Gannet - 4E, 26W
Shag - 3E
Brent Goose - 3E
Shelduck - 6W
Garganey - 1E
Common Scoter - 17E, 1W
Sparrowhawk - 1
Oystercatcher - 1E, 3W
Turnstone - 12
Sanderling - 1E
Great Skua - 1os
Arctic Skua - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 4E, 8W
Great Black-backed Gull - 10os
Sandwich Tern - 41E, 13W, 15os
Common Tern - 7E, 2os
Little Tern - 2E, 10os
Skylark - 1W
Swallow - 2N
House Martin - 1N
Chiffchaff - 1
Linnet - 1E
Later, at 0945hrs, a smart summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver went west. (AW)
(1300-1400hrs) (P&LH)
Gannet - 4E
Great Black-backed Gull - 2os
Sandwich Tern - 2W
Swallow - 2
House Martin - 5
Meadow Pipit - 1
Ferry Pool: The pair of Little Ringed Plovers were on the islands this morning, and there were also seven Avocets, four Redshanks, 14 Black-tailed Godwits, 18 Shelducks, a pair of Teal, three Gadwall and ten Shovelers, plus a Skylark, about thje pool and fields.
Also, a Lesser Whitethroat was in Yeoman's Field and one or two Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, plus four Cetti's Warblers were around the Tramway circuit.(AH/TR/HR/P&LH et al)
Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwits and Shoveer (above), Black-tailed Godwit & Avocets and Shelduck at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: A Spoonbill (presumably the one seen earlier around Medmerry) flew over the car-=park heading towards the Ferry, whilst at least 15 Little Terns and half a dozen Common Terns were feeding around the harbour mouth this morning, with plenty of Sandwich Terns bringing in fish and displaying on the last bits of mud before high tide.
There wasn't too much else to report, with waders restricted to three Whimbrel, a Curlew, two Dunlin, two Ringed Plovers, ten Grey Plovers and a few Oystercatchers, with c30 Shelducks also in the harbour, whilst a Coal Tit, a Willow Warbler and a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were around the hedges. (P&LH/AH et al)
Little Tern (above) & Common Tern at Church Norton (AH)
There wasn't too much to add this afternoon, though two Wheatears were on the concrete blocks and three Bar-tailed Godwits were in the harbour. (AH)
Wheatear (above), Bar-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel and Curlews & Mediterranean Gull at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: A Merlin flew through the paddock pursuing a Linnet, and four Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were around the trees further back.
A Spotted Redshank was along White’s Creek, and a pair of Red Breasted Mergansers, three Great Crested Grebes, and 42 Shelducks were in the harbour, along with a group of c60 daders - mostly Grey Plovers and Dunlin, as well as four Knot and two Bar-tailed Godwits.
Six Tufted Ducks were on the Breech Pool, and the two Brent Geese were again in the fields, whilst there were lots of Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers along the reeds, a Kingfisher was about, and a Wheatear was along the rocks.
At Halsey’s Farm, two more Wheatears and two Skylarks were along the fences, and two Whitethroats, two Blackcaps, three Chiffchaffs, a Song Thrush and a Green Woodpecker were in the trees. (LP/TRH/IP/MJa)
Wheatear (above), Red-breasted Merganser, Sedge Warbler, Song Thrush, Skylark & Cattle Egret at the North Wall (LP)
Fishbourne Creek: This morning there was a Glossy Ibis at the top of the creek, with the tide rising it was later on the western bank opposite the Lavant outflow and later flying around the trees near the sewage works.
Also, 11 Greenshank were also in the top of the creek before later roosting off Dell Quay, whilst at the Lavant outflow there were nine Bar-tailed Godwits and 20 Black-tailed Godwits, plus a Black Swan was associating with the Mute Swan herd. (RW)
Chichester GPs: An adult and a first winter bird were present this evening. (KT/Birdguides)
Medmerry: A Spoonbill went over the reserve early this morning, initially making for the Stilt Pool, and then seen heading for the Breach. (AS)
Medmerry: Windmill area - Just after sunrise this morning there was a Wheatear on the beach in front of the windmill and three Shags went past heading east. (AW)
Wheatear (above) & Shags at Medmerry (AW)
Thursday, 16th April: A hazily bright and breezy morning, with a mix of white cloud and sun in a brisk and blustery south-westerly.......
Selsey Bill: It was another slow morning, with an Arctic Skua and a Whimbrel east and a Little Tern west the meagre highlights. Full log below. (AH/KT/IP)
(0700-0900hrs) (SW, F4-5)
Gannet - 1E, 41W
Common Scoter - 7E
Oystercatcher - 2W
Turnstone - 7
Whimbrel - 1E
Arctic Skua - 1E
Mediterranean Gull - 2W
Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 1W, 1os
Kittiwake - 2W
Sandwich Tern - 2E, 8W, 21os
Little Tern - 1W
auk sp - 2W
Swallow - 1N
Pied Wagtail - 1
Gannet at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: Two Little Ringed Plovers were on the pool this morning, along with five Avocets, four Lapwings, eight Redshanks, 22 Black-tailed Godwits, eight Shovelers, four drake Gadwall, a pair of Teal and 18 Shelducks. (AH)
Lapwing (above), Gadwall, Little Ringed Plover and Black-tailed Godwits & Avocets, Redshank, Shoveler and Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)
This evening, the Spotted Redshank and the Greenshank were back in Ferry Channel, along with half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and a dozen Redshanks. (AH)
Spotted Redshank (above) & Greenshank at the Ferry (AH)
Mill Pond Marsh: A Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Stock Dove and two pairs of Tufted Ducks were the highlights this morning. (LL)
Church Norton: A quick look this evening produced three Common Terns among the multitude of Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls, though a Whimbrel, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Curlew were the only waders seen.
Also, a Mistle Thrush, four Jays and a Red-legged Partridge were along Rectory Lane. (AH)
Common Terns (above) & Mistle Thrush at Church Norton (AH)
Chichester GPs: Two male Red-crested Pochards were on Ivy Lake this afternoon, with one of them flying around before returning to the other. Also, a Common Tern was flying around over the lake and a few Reed Warblers were calling along the path. (AW)
Red-crested Pochards (above), Reed Warbler & Common Tern at Chichester GPs (AW)
Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham Farm - Whitethroats were the most conspicuous species this morning, with at least 25 spread around all the hedges at both farms and the trail in-between, though otherwise it was just the expected resident species, including half a dozen Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, c20 Skylarks and c40 Linnets.
Also, at Porthole Farm, there were c50 Swallows and c20 House Martins over the settling tanks, with a few stock Doves around the fields there and a dozen Mediterranean Gulls over west, whilst at Ham there were a pair of Stonechats along the bank and a couple of Reed Warblers in the ponds. (AH)
Whitethroatr (above), Yellowhammer, Skylark & Linnets at Medmerry (AH)
