Sunday, 3rd May: A hazy morning of mist and the odd bit of sunshine, though quite warm in the light south-westerly breeze.......
Selsey Bill: It was another slow day, though four Arctic Skuas went east, 84 sanderlings went west, three Yellow Wagtails came in off the sea and there were still six Great Northern Divers and plenty of terns offshore. Full log below. (JA/SH/IP/BI/AH/OM et al)
(0500-1715hrs) (WSW, F2-3)
Great Northern Diver - 6os
Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 1E
Gannet - 4E, 11W, 2os
Brent Goose - 4E
Shelduck - 2
Gadwall - 2W
Mallard - 2
Common Scoter - 37E, 4W
Oystercatcher - 1E, 10W
Ringed Plover - 1W
Sanderling - 11E, 84W, 2 present
Dunlin - 2
Whimbrel - 12W
Bar-railed Godwit - 1W
Turnstone - 15
Arctic Skua - 4E
Mediterranean - 5E, 19W
Great Black-backed Gull - 4E, 1W, 15os
Kittiwake - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 9E, 44w, 11os
Common Tern - 17E, 12os
'Commic' Tern - 5E
Little Tern - 32os
auk sp - 2W
Swallow - 17N, 5 present
Sand Martin - 1N
House Martin - 8
Yellow Wagtail - 3N
Linnet - 2W
Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: A Wood Sandpiper was on the pool this morning, along with a Ringed Plover, two Redshanks, 13 Avocets, 35 Black-tailed Godwits, four Shelducks, seven Gadwall and c40 Shelducks, whilst three Bar-tailed Godwits, two Greenshanks and Whimbrel were in Ferry Channel, and another dozen or so Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits, 15 Knot and c100 Dunlin were in the harbour off the Tramway.
Also, a Cuckoo was calling from the back of the Ferry and three Common Terns went over east, with two Marsh Harriers about, too, whilst three Lesser Whitethroats and half a dozen or so Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were around the Tramway circuit, and three Reed Warblers were in Red Barn Ditch. (PA/AH)
Ringed Plover & Shelducks (above), Greenshank and Bar-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat & Chiffchaff at the Ferry (AH)
The three Bar-tailed Godwits and two Greenshank were still in Ferry Channel this evening. (AH)
Bar-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)
Park Farm, Selsey: A pair of Egyptian Geese were in the first field out from the stables; a handful of Swallows and c30 House Martins were around the buildings and two Swifts were zooming around high up, whilst a Reed Warbler was calling from the rife and four Shelducks were sat in the middle of a field, with Skylarks displaying above. (IP)
Church Norton: A lone Greenshank was off the benches this morning, with other waders including 14 Bar-tailed Godwits, two Black-tailed Godwits, four Whimbrel, a flock of 11 Dunlin, two Redshanks and a few Oystercatchers, whilst 20 Little Terns were stood together on the mud in front of Tern Island, which was crammed full of Black-headed Gulls, Sandwich Terns, a smaller number of Mediterranean Gulls and a pair of Canada Geese.
In the Severals Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers were all present along with the male Reed Bunting on its' usual bush, whilst a Cuckoo was also present with Bluebell Wood holding a Great Spotted Woodpecker, numerous Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps, with a female Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and a Kestrel also noted. (IP)
This evening c200 Dunlin dropped in from somewhere in the harbour, though couple of Whimbrel and c20 Bar-tailed Godwits were the only other waders seen, whilst the Sandwich Terns were very active, displaying and fish passing and mating around the islands. (AHu/AH)
Sandwich Terns (above) & Sandwich Terns and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: Two Cuckoos flew across the harbour this morning, with another calling from the trees, and two Swallows, a Whitethroat, two Linnets and a Jay were around the paddock, while a very pale Buzzard was high overhead.
It was just the usual mix of species along the wall though, with the reeds full of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, and Reed Buntings, the young Grey Herons were showing well in Owl Copse, and three Marsh Harriers were further back over the reeds, and there were also two Painted Ladies were along the bushes. (LP/MJa/KU/EB/SBr)
Cuckoo (EB top 2, LP lower) (above), Sedge Warbler (LP top, EB lower), Swallow, Reed Bunting (LP), Goldfinch (EB), Buzzard, Grey Heron, Cattle Egret & Painted Lady (LP) at the North Wall
East side: There was a nice selection of waders along the harbour on the rising tide, including c40 Bar-tailed Godwits, 15 Whimbrel, eight Knot, two Dunlin and two Curlews, with a few Sandwich Terns and Little Terns visible towards the harbour mouth, and there were also c40 Great Black-backed Gulls on the mud and eight Common Seals were hauled out..
Also, a Cuckoo was calling from the Slipe field and a Cetti's Warbler and a couple of Whitethroats were along the hedges. (AH)
A Cuckoo was calling from the west side of the caravan park by the Slipe Field this evening. (S Keen)
Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Grey Plovers, Knot, Brent Goose & Common Seals along the East side (AH)
Chichester GPs: The pair of Red-crested Pochards, plus the additional male, would appear to have got four of their ducklings across the A27 to the relative safety of New Lake, and were looking settled there this afternoon. (AHu/AH/IP)
Red-crested Pochard family at Chichester GPs (AH)
Saturday, 2nd May: After a very murky and grey start, the morning slowly improved into bright and warm sunshine in just a light south-westerly breeze.......
Selsey Bill: A predictably quiet morning after yesterday's excitement, with a Velvet Scoter and two Arctic Skuas among a very modest eastwards passage, whilst eight Great Northern Divers and over 70 Little Terns offshore added some interest. Full log below. (JA/SH/PB/BI/PA/IP/AH/MRB/AGB/JBo et al)
(0500-1530hrs) (WSW, F2-3)
Great Northern Diver - 8os
Great Crested Grebe - 1E
Gannet - 19E, 10W
Shelduck - 7E
Velvet Scoter - 1E
Common Scoter - 84E, 8W
Oystercatcher - 12E, 15W
Ringed Plover - 3W
Sanderling - 6E, 9W, 1 present
Dunlin - 1W
Whimbrel - 2E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 40E, 6W
Turnstone - 1W
Arctic Skua - 4E
Mediterranean Gull - 8E, 1W, 2os
Common Gull - 1E
Great Black-backed Gull - 2E, 2W, 12os
Sandwich Tern - 200E, 66os
Common Tern - 32E, 8os
'Commic' Tern - 2E
Little Tern - 1E, 72os
Razorbill - 1E
auk sp - 1E, 1W
Swift - 1N, 1 present
Swallow - 48N
House Martin - 8
Wheatear - 1
Highlight of a quiet afternoon watch was a Puffin that went east, well offshore. Full log below. (JA/SH et al)
(1620-1800hrs)
Great Northern Diver - 1os
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Oystercatcher - 1E
Dunlin - 5E
Whimbrel - 2E
Great Black-backed Gull - 1E, 7os
Sandwich Tern - 8E, 12os
Common Tern - 2E
'Commic' Tern - 2E
Little Tern - 1E, 24os
Puffin - 1E (1640hrs)
Little Terns (above), Dunlin & Shelducks and Oystercatchers at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There was a change this morning, with all the small waders, bar a Little Ringed Plover, moving out and 24 Black-tailed Godwits moving in, whilst there were three Bar-tailed Godwits, four Greenshanks and at least seven Whimbrel in Ferry Channel, with over a dozen of the latter and Bar-tailed Godwits and 120 Dunlin off the Tramway.
Also, 14 Avocets, six Gadwall, four Shovelers and 44 Shelducks were on the pool and three or four Painted Ladies were about, too.. (PA/AH)
Greenshank (above), Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit, Avocets & Painted Lady at the Ferry (AH)
This evening there were two Greenshanks on the pool, with two more, four Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel and three Redshanks in the channel opposite. (AH)
Greenshanks (above), Greenshank and Bar-tailed Godwit & Bar-tailed Godwits at the Ferry (AH)
Long Pool: At least a dozen Reed Warblers and half a dozen Sedge Warblers and whitethroats were along the pool and hedges this morning, together with four Reed Buntings and 20 Linnets, whilst the pair of Little Grebes had at least two tiny chicks with them and the pair of Shovelers were in Ferry Channel, along with half a dozen Redshanks, and a Painted Lady flew through.. (AH)
Reed Warbler (above), Whitethroat, Linnet, Shoveler & Little Grebe family at the Long Pool (AH)
Church Norton: A Whinchat and a Lesser Whitethroat were along the front this morning, though the hedges were generally quiet, whilst out in the harbour there were 28 Bar-tailed Godwits, eight Whimbrel, c40 Little Terns and c200 Sandwich Terns.
Also, a Painted Lady was in the car-park.(AGB/MRB/JBo/AH)
Whimbrel (above), Little and Sandwich Terns & Painted Lady at Church Norton (AH)
North Wall: A Cuckoo was calling all morning whilst moving between the paddock and Halsey’s Farm, and along the reeds and bushes there were many Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings, and Whitethroats.
Two Shovelers and two Gadwall were on the Breech Pool, but there were just six Cattle Egrets, a Linnet, and two Skylarks around the fields, whilst a Song Thrush and a Pied Wagtail were in the paddock, and two Swallows were on the fences by the stables, but the only other sighting of note was six Painted Lady butterflies on the wing. (LP/JDW)
Cuckoo (above), Swallow & Song Thrush at the North Wall (LP)
East Side: On the rising tide there were c180 waders along the East Side, including three Greenshanks, 12 Whimbrels, 16 Bar-tailed Godwits, 95 Dunlin, 36 Grey Plovers, and 19 Knot, whilst six Sandwich Terns and a Brent Goose were about, too, and two Lesser Whitethroats and two Whitethroats, plus a few Painted Ladies were along the bushes. (LP/S Keen)
Greenshank (above), Whimbrel, Grey Plover & Grey Plovers and Knot along the East side (LP)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Cuckoos were about this morning, whilst 28 Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, four Chiffchaffs, 14 Reed Warblers, seven Sedge Warblers, a Stonechat, four Reed Buntings and eight Yellowhammers along the banks.
Also two Common Terns were around the reserve, along with a Cattle Egret, two Egyptian Geese, a Marsh Harrier and a Kestrel, whilst a Sandwich Tern went east offshore. (S&SaH)
Friday, 1st May: As the wind eased, a warm and sunny morning in a moderate breeze, initially from the east before veering to the south-east.....
Selsey Bill: Highlight by a distance for a big gathering of observers were the two Bee-eaters that flew in from the south-east at 1035hrs and lingered around the area for a good 45 minutes before drifting off south.
Otherwise, there was some activity offshore, though not as much as anticipated, including a close Pomarine Skua and three distant ones, five Arctic Skuas, a Velvet Scoter, a Black-throated Diver and a few waders, plus a Hobby in off. Full log below.(JA/SH/PB/PM/BI/IP/AB/JF/RHa/AH/OM/AHu//MRe/LP/SP/JFi/JDa/KT/LGRE et al)
(0500-1200hrs) (ESE, F4)
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 5os
Black-throated Diver - 1E
Red-throated Diver - 2E
diver sp - 1E
Fulmar - 3E
Gannet - 52E, 13W
Brent Goose - 14E
Shelduck - 2E, 2W
Velvet Scoter - 1E
Common Scoter - 190E, 18os
Hobby - 1N
Peregrine - 1E
Oystercatcher - 3E, 2W
Sanderling - 1W
Whimbrel - 23E
Bar-tailed Godwit - 47E
Common Sandpiper - 1
Turnstone - 1W
Pomarine Skua - 4E (1 at 0938hrs & 3 at 0950hrs)
Arctic Skua - 5E, 1os
Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 3W
Common Gull - 20E, 1W
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2E
Great Black-backed Gull - 38E, 1W, 6os
Kittiwake - 14E
Sandwich Tern - 123E, 90os
Common Tern - 38E
'Commic' Tern - 50E
Little Tern - 4E, 32os
Razorbill - 1E
Bee-eater - 2 (1035-1120hrs)
Swift - 1N
Swallow - 9N, 2 present
House Martin - 6
Pied Wagtail - 1N, 1 present
Bee-eaters (AH top 3, PM middle 4, AB lower 3) (above), Pomarine Skua (PM), Arctic Skua, Black-throated Diver, Kittiwakes & Little Tern (AH) at the Bill
Bee-eater spotters (above), distracted by a rare moth (OM) & OM prepared for all eventualities (AH) at the Bill
(1200-1900hrs) (PB/AHu/SH/OM/I{P/JA/AH/JFi et al)
Great Northern Diver - 2os
Red-throated Diver - 2E
Gannet - 5E, 4W
Brent Goose - 16E
Eider - 2E
Common Scoter - 16E
Oystercatcher - 3W
Whimbrel - 4E
Common Sandpiper - 1
Arctic Skua - 6E, 1os
Mediterranean Gull - 10W, 2os
Black-headed Gull - 19W
Great Black-backed Gull - 7W, 8os
Sandwich Tern - 9E, 100os
Little Tern - 3E, 36os
Razorbill - 2os
Swallow - 15N
House Martin - 1
Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 2os
Arctic Skua at the Bill (AH)
Ferry Pool: There were still one Little Stint and two Wood sandpipers on the pool this morning, along with three Common Sandpipers, three Bar-tailed Godwits, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Little Ringed Plover, 14 Avocets, two Redshanks, six Shovelers, eight Gadwall and 28 Shelducks. (AH/AB/OM/KT et al)
Bar-tailed Godwits (above), Little Ringed Plover & Wood Sandpiper and Avocet at the Ferry (AH)
Church Norton: A summer-plumaged Curlew Sandpiper was in the harbour this evening, along with eight Whimbrel, a Curlew and 44 Bar-tailed Godwits, plus c20 Little Terns and c250 Sandwich Terns. (AH)
Curlew Sandpiper (above), Curlew Sandpiper and Bar-tailed Godwit & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)
West Itchenor: Two Grey Partridges were in fields just south of Chalkdock Copse this morning. (GM)
Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Along the banks today were 22 Whitethroats, two Lesser Whitethroats, four Dartford Warblers, nine Reed Warblers, five Sedge Warblers,, four Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers, five Reed Buntings and six Yellowhammers, plus Swallow over, whilst the Stilt Pool held a Greenshank, eight B ar-tailed Godwits and three Common Terns.
Also, a Slow-worm was seen and a Buzzard was seen carrying off an Adder. (S&SaH)
Buzzard with an Adder at Medmerry (SaH)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
