Sunday, 22nd March: The spell of fine, settled weather continues, with another warm and sunny morning, after overnight frost, in a light north-easterly breeze......
Selsey Bill: Three Egyptian Geese west were unusual, but beyond a few Mediterranean Gulls and Sandwich Terns east and a Wheatear going up the beach, there was minimal movement again today. Full log below. (JA/SH/BI/IP/MO-W/AH)
(0600-0830hrs) (NNE, F3)
Great Northern Diver - 6os
Red-throated Diver - 2E
diver sp - 1os
Great Crested Grebe - 1W, 1os
Gannet - 1E, 1W
Little Egret - 1E
Egyptian Goose - 3W
Common Scoter - 2E, 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 4W, 3os
Oystercatcher - 7E, 4W
Turnstone - 3
Mediterranean Gull - 44E, 8os
Common Gull - 14E
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1E
Great Black-backed Gull - 9E, 7os
Sandwich Tern - 16E, 16os
auk sp - 1W
Meadow Pipit - 2N
Pied Wagtail - 1N, 2 present
Wheatear - 1N
Linnet - 3N
(1315-1415hrs) (P&LH)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Gannet - 1E, 2W
Great Black-backed Gull - 2os
Sandwich Tern - 3E
Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There was plenty going on, mainly in the flooded fields, this morning, including a Little Ringed Plover, at least four Ruff, two Green Sandpipers, a Greenshank, four Avocets, four Lapwings, c40 Redshanks and c35 Black-tailed Godwits, along with c60 Shovelers, c80 Teal, c150 Wigeon, seven Gadwall and eight Shelducks, plus a Water Rail, a White Wagtail and three Pied Wagtails and a Peregrine going over.
There were also a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a couple of Cetti's Warblers in the hedges. (NM/AH/HR/DM/KB/P&LH/RHa/SHa/MB et al)
Ruff (above), Black-tailed Godwits & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: Two Slavonian Grebes, two Great Crested Grebes and a Sandwich Tern were offshore this morning, and a male Red-breasted Merganser was sat on a shingle spit amongst a flock of Cormorants, whilst in the harbour at least six Sandwich Terns, a Common Gull and 100 Mediterranean Gulls were among the growing Black-headed Gull population, with seven Brent Geese, c100 Teal and c400 Wigeon about, but waders were few, though including a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Black-tailed Godwits, two Ringed Plovers, two Turnstones, ten Knot and c20 Grey Plovers.
Also, a few Cetti's Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, a Reed Bunting, 15 Linnets, a Marsh Harrier, two Buzzards, a Kestrel and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen, along with a pair of Mallards and 15 newly hatched ducklings in the field behind the Severals. (IP/P&LH)
Later, a Raven was sat on the concrete blocks, being dive-bombed by Black-headed Gulls, and there were three Slavonian Grebes on the sea. (GW)
North Wall: A Peregrine flew across the harbour early on, and the male and female Marsh Harriers were active throughout the morning, whilst on the Breech Pool there were two Little Grebes and two Gadwall. The three White-fronted Geese were with two Canada Geese in the fields, as well as ten Shovelers, a single Brent Goose and few Wigeon, Teal and Curlew, while three Sand Martins were briefly over the trees at the back.
Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets and Grey Herons were all in Owl Copse, and at Halsey’s Farm, a Kingfisher was along the Rife, a couple of Skylarks were over the fields, and a Buzzard, four Long-tailed Tits, a Chiffchaff, a Chaffinch and two Greenfinches were in the trees.
A Redwing was around the paddocks, with a Pied Wagtail, a Jay, and a Green Woodpecker also about, and another Chiffchaff was singing along the lane. (LP/MRi/MJa/AH/KB)
North Wall: A Peregrine flew across the harbour early on, and the male and female Marsh Harriers were active throughout the morning, whilst on the Breech Pool there were two Little Grebes and two Gadwall. The three White-fronted Geese were with two Canada Geese in the fields, as well as ten Shovelers, a single Brent Goose and few Wigeon, Teal and Curlew, while three Sand Martins were briefly over the trees at the back.
Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets and Grey Herons were all in Owl Copse, and at Halsey’s Farm, a Kingfisher was along the Rife, a couple of Skylarks were over the fields, and a Buzzard, four Long-tailed Tits, a Chiffchaff, a Chaffinch and two Greenfinches were in the trees.
A Redwing was around the paddocks, with a Pied Wagtail, a Jay, and a Green Woodpecker also about, and another Chiffchaff was singing along the lane. (LP/MRi/MJa/AH/KB)
Redwing (above), White-fronted Geese, Cattle Egret, Buzzard, Brent Goose, Little Grebe (LP) & Marsh Harrier (AH) at the North Wall
The banks were busier than of late, including a Dartford Warbler, a Blackcap, eight Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers, four Stonechats, two Pied Wagtails, five Reed Buntings, 13 ~Yellowhammers, c20 Linnets and c30 Skylarks. (S&SaH)
Saturday, 21st March: Another lovely spring day with sunshine and very little cloud in a light to moderate easterly breeze......
Selsey Bill: Numbers remain very low, but there was interest this morning, including the first Short-eared Owl of the year in off the sea at 0645hrs, three Velvet Scoters east and two Ravens west. Full log below. (SH/JA/BI/PB/IP/MRB/AGTB/JB/KT/AH/CRJ)
(0600-1000hrs) (NE, F3)
Great Northern Diver - 5os
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Gannet - 11W
Shag - 4E
Brent Goose - 14E
Teal - 2E, 2os
Velvet Scoter - 3E
Common Scoter - 2E
Red-breasted Merganser - 13E, 1os
Sparrowhawk - 1
Oystercatcher - 3E, 2W
Turnstone - 14
Mediterranean Gull - 15E, 2os
Common Gull - 5E
Great Black-backed Gull - 10E, 3os
Sandwich Tern - 8os
Short-eared Owl - 1N
Green Woodpecker - 1
Meadow Pipit - 4N
Pied Wagtail - 1N
Raven - 2W
Ravens (above), Red-breasted Mergansers, Sandwich Tern & Sparrowhawk and Carrion Crow at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: A male Blackcap was singing from the little wood behind the Discovery area this morning, with a female lurking in the bushes nearby and a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders, , two Jays were around the trees as were numerous singing Chiffchaffs.
A Sotted Redshank was in Ferry Channel and a Greenshank was in the harbour near the outflow from Red Barn Ditch, whilst n the pool, a Green Sandpiper was still about, along with two Ruff, three Avocets, eight Redshanks, c60 Shovelers and Teal, c150 Wigeon, eight Gadwall and 12 Shelducks, plus a flock of c60 Dunlin flying about.
There was also a Noctule bat flying around the Tramway. (AW//PA/AH)
Blackcap (above), Chiffchaff, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenshank (AW), Spotted Redshank & Noctule bat (PA) at the Ferry
North Wall: Three Marsh Harriers were about this morning, including the regular pair seen displaying, and there were also a Red Kite and eight Buzzards about, along with a Kingfisher and ten Cattle Egrets.
Two Redwings at Halsey's Farm were the only passerines beyond the usual, which included two Chiffchaffs and four Cetti's Warblers. (GW/PB/S&aH)
Mill Pond Marsh: There were two Coal Tits in the trees along the lane this morning, and a pair of Gadwall were on the flooded field. (PA/M&LL)
Park Farm, Selsey: A pair of Pied Wagtails were on the stable roof, three Buzzards were cruising about all morning and the fields still held a pair of Shelduck, a few Meadow Pipits and a number of Skylarks singing again. (IP)
Church Norton: There were14 Black-tailed Godwits,35 Turnstones and 2 Knot along with small numbers of all the other regular species this morning, but only one Brent Goose was seen, though there were still over 400 Wigeon and over 100 Teal spread around the harbour, along with two Red-breasted Mergansers, with four Sandwich Terns sat on the mud among c50 Mediterranean Gulls and large numbers of Black-headed Gulls.
Also, two Buzzards were over Priory Wood along with a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel, a couple of Meadow Pipits flew in, but there was nothing at all on the sea, whilst Cetti's Warblers were singing everywhere and there were a couple of singing Chiffchaffs and a few Long-tailed Tits about. (IP)
This afternoon, the four Slavonian Grebes were still offshore and a flock of 15 - presumably migrant - Bar-tailed Godwits were in the harbour. (PA)
Chichester GPs: Drayton House pits - The WeBS this morning produced two White-fronted Geese on the South pit, in amongst a flock of Greylags - the flock then flying over to the fields opposite before returning a little while later.
Other highlights between the two pits included a total of 13 Egyptian Geese - one pair having a new brood of c10 small young with them - and a total of 51 Pochard still present with 30 Tufted Ducks. (OM)
White-fronted Geese at Drayton House pits this morning, and (lower two) Egyptian Geese and brood (OM)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Little Ringed Plover was on the Stilt Pool this morning, along with four Ringed Plovers, a Greenshank, five Redshanks and nine Avocets, plus c50 Teal, a dozen Mediterranean Gulls, c50 Black-headed Gulls and half a dozen Canada Geese.
A Red Kite went over east and a Sparrowhawk and a pair of Buzzards were about, but the banks were quiet, with just a handful of Yellowhammers, a Reed Bunting, a Goldcrest, three Meadow Pipits, a pair of Stonechats, half a dozen Skylarks and c40 Linnets seen. (MRB/AGB/JB/AH)
This evening there were just seven Avocets, four Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin on the Stilt Pool, a single Brent Goose on the reserve and three Chiffchaffs, two Cetti's Warblers, two Reed Buntings and c20 Linnets and Skylarks along the banks. (S&SaH)
Little Ringed Plover (above), Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers, Red Kite, Greenshank & Avocets at Medmerry (AH)
Friday, 20th March: A lovely spring morning of quite warm, if hazy, sunshine in just a light to moderate north-easterly breeze.....
Selsey Bill: A smart pair of Wheatears were around the beach and gardens this morning, and two Red Kites drifted west over the gardens, but migration was otherwise restricted to a Chiffchaff and a few Meadow Pipits in off the sea and 14 Brent Geese east. Full log below. (BI/IP/AH/P&LH et al)
(0545-0900hrs) (NE, F3)
Great Northern Diver - 4os
Great Crested Grebe - 2E, 2W, 3os
Gannet - 2os
Shag - 2E
Brent Goose - 14E
Shoveler - 1os, then W
Common Scoter - 8E, 1W, 1os
Red-breasted Merganser - 3E, 4W, 3os
Red Kite - 2W
Oystercatcher - 8W
Turnstone - 10W
Mediterranean Gull - 3E
Black-headed Gull - 59E
Common Gull - 1E
Great Black-backed Gull - 8os
Sandwich Tern - 2E, 1os
Meadow Pipit - 28N
Pied Wagtail - 1N
Song Thrush - 1
Wheatear - 2
Chiffchaff - 1N, 1 present
Linnet - 1E
Goldfinch - 2E
Also, later, a Swallow came in at the Bill and a Red Kite went east over Albion Road. (MRe et al)
Wheatears (top & lower AH, middle LH) (above), Red Kites (top LH, lower two AH) & Great Northern Diver (AH) at the Bill
The sea was particularly quiet, with just four Great Black-backed Gulls offshore the only interest, so a check of the gardens and a walk along the beach soon followed.
A flock of c30 Turnstones was present near the Hillfield car-park area, then a Purple Sandpiper was noted amongst them - before a nearby dog walker soon flushed the lot westwards, with the Purple Sandpiper re-appearing off Warner Road. (OM/P&LH)
(1200-1445hrs)
Gannet - 1E, 7W
Common Scoter - 12E
Red-breasted Merganser - 2W
Oystercatcher - 1W
Purple Sandpiper - 1
Turnstone - 30
Great Black-backed Gull - 4os
Turnstone and Purple Sandpiper (OM) (above) & Purple Sandpiper (LH) at the Bill
Ferry Pool: The pair of Common Cranes seen earlier and again later over the North Wall were seen going over the farm shop, just south of the Ferry at 0910hrs. (P&LH)
The five Ruff were present again this morning at the back, along with a Snipe, two Green Sandpipers, five Redshanks, two Lapwings and c25 Black-tailed Godwits, plus two Avocets on the pool, whilst wildfowl comprised 11 Shelducks, six Gadwall, c40 Shovelers and Teal and c100 Wigeon.
Also, a Red Kite and four Buzzards went over, and three Chiffchaffs and three Cetti's Warblers were in the hedges. (OM/AH/P&LH et al)
Avocets (above) & Lapwing and Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)
North Wall: Highlight of the morning were two Common Cranes that flew in from the north east, and over the back of the Honer fields, before heading off towards Selsey, and an hour later returning across the harbour and heading back north east.
Elsewhere it was fairly quiet, although the three White-fronted Geese were out in the harbour, as well as a few Grey Plovers and Dunlin, whilst on the Breech Pool there were five Tufted Ducks, and in the fields, a dozen Mediterranean Gulls were part of a larger gull flock, 68 Curlews were at the back, and a pair of Gadwall were on the water.
At Owl Copse, Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets and Grey Herons were all present, and at Halsey’s Farm 28 Meadow Pipits, six Skylarks, five Linnets and a couple of Long-tailed Tits were around the fields, also four Buzzards and three Marsh Harriers were seen during the morning. (LP/SP)
Common Cranes (above), White-fronted Geese, Gadwall, Redshank, Linnet, Mediterranean Gulls &Y Cattle Egrets at the North Wall (LP)
Church Norton: There was little to report this morning beyond a few waders, including ten Knot, c40 Dunlin, c50 Grey Plovers and c25 Turnstones, plus six Mediterranean Gulls and a few Wigeon and Teal. (P&LH)
East Head: There was Wheatear here this morning. (PH)
