29th - 31st MARCH

Easter Sunday, 31st March: Yet another Black Redstart found by Sarah Russell - this time in her garden at East beach! Also 1 Wheatear at the nearby kids cycle track. 


Black Redstart, Selsey garden, 31st March (photo: Sarah Russell)

Selsey Bill (0635-1000hrs): Dry, cold, sunny, NE3. (Obs: JA/SH et al).
Med' Gull - 15E & 8 os,  Curlew 2E &1W, Chiffchaff - 1N,  Black-headed Gull - 33E, Common Gull - 11E,  Woodpigeon - 38E, Great Crested Grebe - 1E & 2os,
Brent Goose - 155E, Common Scoter - 16E, 5W & 98os, Gannet - 31E, 13W &4os, Sandwich Tern - 11E &15os,
Ringed Plover - 2ob,   Rook - 1N, Oystercatcher - 3E,  diver sp. - 9E, 3W,
Great Northern Diver - 6os,
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E & 13os,
Red-throated Diver - 1E, Meadow Pipit - 4N,  auk sp. - 7E &1W,  Fulmar - 1E & 1W, Wigeon - 2E, Pied Wagtail - 3E &3N,  Slavonian Grebe - 1E &2os, Lesser Black-backed Gull - 7os, Herring Gull - 539 and Yellowhammer - 1.
(1530 - 1600hrs) : Cormorant - flock of 16 flew in from the sea and headed N and Curlew - flock of 9E. Also of note; apparently celebrity birder Simon King (and a flash Porsche) paid a visit to the Bill this afternoon (per Paul, Bridgette and Beryl James). Other info:- Selsey West Beach - Great Northern Diver - 2 os (1 in summer plumage), Stonechat - male, Chiffchaff - 1.
Sidlesham Ferry - Dunlin - 4, Black-tailed Godwit - 1, Long Pool - Bearded Tit - heard,  Raven - pair over heading N.  Pagham Harbour - Avocet - ca. 14 roosting at high tide disturbed by a passing Merlin (P&BJ).
Selsey West Fields/Medmerry: (AH): I did go to the Westfields this morning (from Ham Farm) and had the following - 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 6 Snipe, 20 Curlew, 1 Ringed Plover, 20 Lapwing, 1 Wheatear, 150 Teal, 2 Pintail, 6 Gadwall, 80 Wigeon, 12 Shelduck & 4 Buzzard.
Blackcap in garden,male
Selsey to Church Norton, 10+ Chiffchaff, 1 male Stonechat, 2 Ravens 3 Red-throated Divers flying east. Male Blackcap in Selsey garden again (S&SH),  Thanks as usual to all contributors.
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Saturday, 30th March: Selsey Bill (0530-1200hrs):Cold, dry, cloudy with some sunny spells later. Wind fresh NE 4-5. (Obs: JA/SH/C&ME/GH/OM). A cold morning yet again with a predictably slow sea-watch; when will we get some warm southerlies and a bit of spring-like weather?  Totals were:-
Black-headed Gull - 47E
Red-breasted Merganser - 15E, 2W & 12 os
Great Northern Diver - 5 os & 1W
Med' Gull - 16E & 8 os
Sandwich Tern - 58E
Common Scoter - 3E, 2W & 51 os
Pied Wagtail - 5N
Slavonian Grebe - 4E & 3 os
Gannet - 42E & 14W
Brent Goose - 14E
Great Crested Grebe - 8E & 2 os
Red-necked Grebe - 1 os
Meadow Pipit - 42N
Fulmar - 2E & 1W
Auk sp. - 12E &7W
Red-throated Diver - 7E & 1os
Diver sp - 1E
Skylark - 1N
Blackcap - 1 gardens
Ringed Plover - 4 ob
Sanderling - 1 ob
Wigeon - 2E
Pintail - 2E
Shoveler - 6W
Mallard - 5 over beach/gardens 
Woodpigeon - 18N
Sparrowhawk - 1 over gardens
Northcommon Farm (Selsey): I checked out the area and the only spring migrant to be found was a single Chiffchaff; however a lingering flock of 25 Redwings was a bit of a surprise - perhaps they think it's still winter. Also singles of Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker there.
West Fields/Medmerry: Good info received that up to 5 Garganey have been present over two sites in the (RSPB) area during the last couple of days, plus 16 Golden Plover and 1 male Wheatear. 
At Pagham Harbour 15 Avocets roosting, and a pair of Marsh Harriers at Church Norton (over the Severals). Lastly a male Blackcap in a Selsey garden (S&SH).
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Good Friday, 29th March: Selsey Bill (0530-1000hrs): Dry, cloudy, some brightness, NE4/5.
(Obs: PB/SH/IP et al).
G/N Diver - 9 o/s &1W
Med Gull - 6E & 2ob
Diver sp - 5E
Sandwich Tern - 19E & 40 o/s [roosting on exposed rocks by the Mile basket - then took off E/W]
Auk sp - 3W & 2E
Common Scoter - 75o/s & 46E
Slav Grebe - 2 o/s [both coming into SP]
R/b Merganser - c15o/s, 7E & 8W
Pied / Alba Wagtail - 8N
Greenshank - 1N
Wigeon - 2E
Velvet Scoter - 3W landing on the sea
Meadow Pipit - 303N
Gannet - 2E & 2W
Black-throated Diver - 3E
Red-throated Diver - 7E & 2W
Brent Goose - 94E & 5W
Razorbill - 1W
Sanderling - 1 o/b
Chiffchaff - 2N
(1015-1330hrs) Additional watch (C&M E, et al) produced Brent Goose - 194E, R/b Merganser - 4E & 16W, Pied Wagtail - 1N, Meadow Pipit - 137N, Velvet Scoter - 2E, Common Scoter - 95E and Red-throated Diver - 8E.

At West Wittering 60 Golden Plover and 6 Wheatears (GH).

Little Owl, Selsey area, 29th March (photo: Andy House)


Ventured onto the Selsey West Fields from the coast and from inland today. This morning from the beach, 1 Wheatear, 8 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 20 Skylark, 2 pairs of displaying Lapwing, but sadly not Sarah Russell's smart male Black Redstart. This afternoon around the Sidlesham sewage farm, 1 Barn Owl, 6 Chiffchaffs, 20 Meadow Pipits 20 Stock Doves and a huge flock (1500 approx) of Wood Pigeons sat on a bare field. At a further private site the Little Owl was still present, looking less pleased to see me than I was him! (pic attached), along with more Chiffchaffs, 4 Reed Buntings & 1 Common Snipe. (AH)