Tuesday, 21st April: High pressure dominating still. Rather cloudy and cool at first, the cloud giving way later to a fine day with plenty of sunshine, but with a chilly, fresh to strong north-easterly breeze.....
Selsey Bill: The first two Pomarine Skuas of the year went east this morning, shortly followed by two Spoonbills, with 202 Sandwich Terns and 70 Common Terns, plus a flock of 34 Knot among a scattering of waders also going east, whilst a Hobby, seven Swifts, a Tree Pipit, ten Yellow Wagtails and 135 Swallows came in off the sea. Full log below. (PB/PM/AH/IP)
(0600-1100hrs) (NE, F5-6)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
diver sp - 1E
Fulmar 2W
Gannet - 24E, 16W
Spoonbill - 2E
Brent Goose - 1E
Shelduck - 8E, 5W
Shoveler - 5E
Mallard - 1E
Common Scoter - 3E, 3W
Red Breasted Merganser - 2E
Hobby - 1N
Oystercatcher - 5E
Sanderling - 1E
Knot - 34E (one flock)
Dunlin - 1E
Whimbrel - 15E
Curlew - 1E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 8E
Turnstone 6E 2W
Pomarine Skua - 2E (1050hrs)
Mediterranean Gull - 4E
Great Black-backed Gull - 7E, 5os
Kittiwake - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 202E
Common Tern - 70E
'Commic' Tern - 6E
Little Tern - 8E, 4W
auk sp - 6W
Swift 7N
Barn Swallow - 136N
Sand Martin - 1N
House Martin - 3N
Tree Pipit - 1N
Yellow Wagtail - 10N
Willow/Chiff - 2N
Goldfinch - 4E
Spoonbills (PM top, AH lower) (above), Whimbrel (PM), Bar-tailed Godwits, Swift & Yellow Wagtails (AH) at the Bill
This afternoon a Sooty Shearwater went west at 1615hrs and a flock of 23 Bar-tailed Godwits went east. Full log below. (AH/AWi/SH/AW)
(1530-1730hrs)
Sooty Shearwater - 1W (1615hrs)
Gannet - 8E, 7W
Peregrine - 1E
Bar-tailed Godwits - 23E
Mediterranean Gull - 2E
Kittiwake - 5W
Sandwich Tern - 17E, 3W
Common Tern - 6E
Swallow - 2
Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Peregrine & Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: The Spotted Redshank and the Greenshank were in Ferry Channel again this morning, along with half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, whilst another Greenshank, a Little Ringed Plover, four Black-tailed Godwits, seven Avocets, three Gadwall, six Shovelers and 22 Shelducks were around the pool. (AH/AS)
Spotted Redshank (above), Greenshank & Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit at the Ferry (AH)
Mill Pond Marsh: A Cuckoo was along the lane this morning. (LL)
North Wall: A Greenshank and three Redshanks were by Heron Island, but the only other waders seen were two Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel and a Grey Plover along the East side.
A few Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats were in the bushes along the wall, as well as two Lesser Whitethroats, a Kingfisher was around, and a pair of Gadwall were in the rife at Halsey’s Farm.
Also, a Cuckoo was calling early on, and the two Brent Geese were still in the fields, but apart from the Marsh Harriers over the reeds, that was about it. (LP/MJa)
This evening a Spotted Redshank and two Greenshanks were in the harbour, along with four Little Terns, whilst along the wall were two Lesser Whitethroats, two Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, four Blackcaps, two Sedge Warblers, five Reed Warblers and three Reed Buntings, with a Marsh Harrier going over. (S&SaH)
Kingfisher (above) & Gadwall at the North Wall (LP)
Fishbourne Creek: On the low tide this morning the Glossy Ibis was in the top part of the creek, whilst downstream there were nine Greenshanks, three Whimbrel, a Ringed Plover, a Brent Goose and a female Red-breasted Merganser. (RW)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A Spoonbill was on the Stilt Pool early on. (JSm)
Later, two Cattle Egrets, a Peregrine, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Stonechat, a Reed Bunting and a Yellowhammer and a Buzzard apparently carrying a snake were also seen. (EB)
Peregrine (above), Buzzard, Cattle Egrets, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer & Stonechat at Medmerry (EB)
Little Ringed Plover (above), Gadwall & Avocet, Black-tailed Godwits and Shelducks at the Ferry (AH)
Honer Reservoir: There was no sign of the Woodchat Shrike this morning, though a Cuckoo was along Pagham Rife. (MJa et al)
Church Norton: A Nightingale was singing well late this afternoon along the path to the harbour, with a couple of Willow Warblers and a Goldcrest singing nearby, yoo.
Also, out in the harbour there were six Whimbrel, five Common Terns and a dozen Common Gulls. (PA/AH/BI)
North Wall: Two Little Terns were fishing along the wall this afternoon. (AW)
Little Terns at the North at the North Wall (AW)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - A good selection along the banks this morning included three Dartford Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, two Sedge Warblers, three Reed Warblers, six Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, 11 Cetti's Warblers and 22 Whitethroats, along with two Stonechats, a Reed Bunting and half a dozen Yellowhammers, plus six Swallows over.
A dozen Avocets were the only things of note on the Stilt Pool, whilst a Cattle Egret was on the reserve and two Kestrels and six Buzzards went over. (S&SaH)
Medmerry: Medmerry Trail to Porthole Farm - A Cuckoo could be heard to the north of the concrete road this morning, though it was always distant, whilst along the trail there were two Lesser Whitethroats, three or four Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Reed Warblers, with at least 25 Whitethroats being very conspicuous all the way along.
There were also a Stonechat, a couple of Yellowhammers and half a dozen Linnets and Skylarks about, whilst a couple of Swallows, a Red Kite and four Buzzards went over. (AH)
Also, a probable Nightingale was heard singing occasionally further along the Trail to Ham. (JWo)
Sidlesham: A Cuckoo was calling to the south of Cow Lane this evening. (AH/PA)
Fishbourne Creek: The Glossy Ibis was feeding on the saltmarsh among the Little Egrets this afternoon, and a flock of 24 Whimbrel flew out heading north, whilst two Greenshanks were about, too.
Also, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler and several Whitethroats were in the hedges. (AWi)
East Head: There were 15 Whimbrel and a Ba-tailed Godwit on the high tide roost area, whilst a Common Snipe, a Greenshank and a single Brent Goose in Snowhill Marsh, with two Wheatears, a couple of Willow Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat also present. (PA)
Wheatear at East Head (PA)
Sunday, 19th April: A very pleasant and sunny morning, cool early on, but warming up, in just a light to moderate northerly breeze......
Selsey Bill: There was a reasonable selection of species this morning, including a female Black Redstart briefly in the gardens and the first Swift of the year, but sea passage remains minimal. Full log below. (SH/BI/IP/AH/P&LH/RW et al)
(0540-0910hrs) (N, F3)
Great Northern Diver - 2E, 6os
Red-throated Diver - 1W
Gannet - 2E, 11W
Brent Goose - 2E
Shelduck - 2E, 1os
Shoveler - 5W
Gadwall - 2E
Mallard - 2
Common Scoter - 8E
Red-breasted Merganser - 2E
Oystercatcher - 4E
Sanderling - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 61E, 2W
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1os
Great Black-backed Gull - 4os
Sandwich Tern - 32E
Common Tern - 57E, 35os
Little Tern - 4E, 10os
auk sp - 1E
Swift - 1N
Swallow - 3N
Pied Wagtail - 1
Black Redstart - 1
Chiffchaff - 2
Common and Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: Early this morning both the Spotted Redshank and the Greenshank were in Ferry Channel. (RW)
There wasn't too much around the pool later in the morning, with just a Little Ringed Plover, five Avocets, three Gadwall, eight Shovelers and seven Shelducks seen, with eight Black-tailed Godwits in the channel opposite.
There was just the usual mix of a few Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs around the adjacent hedges, too. (AH)
Little Ringed Plover, Avocet and Shovelers (above), Whitethroat & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)
Honer Reservoir: The male Woodchat Shrike was in the flooded field again this morning, with a Whinchat in the vicinity, too, along with a Reed Bunting, a few Linnets and Willow Warblers, up to ten Sedge Warblers and the Little Ringed Plover..
Also, a Garden Warbler, a Reed Warbler and two Blackcaps were in the hedges along the path towards Bramber Farm. (MJa/RPo/BI/MB/CRJ et al)
Woodchat Shrike (above), Woodchat Shrike and Reed Bunting, Whinchat & Little Ringed Plover (MJa), Woodchat Shrike & Brown Hare (EB) at Honer Reservoir
North Wall: A Cuckoo flew over the trees at Halsey’s Farm this morning, and a couple of Lesser Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, two Chaffinches and a Song Thrush were along the hedgerows, whilst along the wall there were lots of Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and Whitethroats.
Just one Brent Goose was in the fields, a Whimbrel was in the harbour, and four Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and two Buzzards were also about. (DHi/LP/MRi/MJa/IH/EB/SBr/CRJ)
Lesser Whitethroat (above), Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler & Chiffchaff at the North Wall (LP)
Park Farm, Selsey: Hirundines were back at the farm this morning, with, Swallows seen coming out of stables and c20 House Martins, and a few Swallows and a Sand Martin, plus a Pied Wagtail in the vicinity.
Also, a single Wheatear flew around the fields, a pair of Red-legged Partridges were at the eastern end and a few Skylarks were displaying, whilst at least two different Cetti's Warblers were calling around Park Lane. (IP)
Church Norton: A Lesser Whitethroat was in the stunted oaks next to the horse field, with a male Kestrel hunting over the field, whilst displaying Whitethroats were everywhere, along with a pair of Blackcaps and both Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpeckers in the area.
The harbour was dominated by c500 Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls and c200 Sandwich Terns, with two Common and two Little Terns among them.
There were also seven Turnstones, seven Dunlin feeding together by the metalwork, four scattered Whimbrels, two Curlews and two Ringed Plovers, with a pair of Canada Geese on Tern Island, a pair of Mute Swans and a few shelducks seen, too. (IP)
Also, along the west side, there were c100 Dunlin, six Grey Plovers and a drake Red-breasted Merganser. (RW)
Fishbourne Creek: The Glossy Ibis was reported as present again today. (per RW)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - There were two Whinchats along the banks just north of the Stilt Pool this afternoon. (HB)
Chichester GPs: A look around the Ivy Lake complex didn't produce much this morning, with half a dozen Pochard, c20 Tufted Ducks, four Egyptian Geese, including a leucistic bird and c20 Greylag and Canada Geese the only wildfowl, whilst along the path there were a Sedge Warbler, half a dozen Reed Warblers, two or three Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers and a pair of Reed Buntings. (AH)
Reed Warbler (above), Blackcap, Greylag Goose & leucistic Egyptian Goose at Chichester GPs (AH)
East Head: There were still five very late Golden Plovers present today, along with a Grey Plover, two Ringed Plovers and Dunlin and a good count of 16 Whimbrel.
Also around were a Yellow Wagtail, three Wheatears and seven Swallows. (PA)
Golden Plovers (above) & Wheatear at East Head (PA)
.JPG)
