24th - 26th APRIL

Friday, 26th April: Thanks to all who advised re. my recent email hacking problem..some security adjustments made should improve things very soon.
The weather forecast for the next week or so does not look too promising for sea passage, and with the arrival of cooler weather, rain and a N/NW wind this morning I was prepared for a pretty dire watch today. In the event it wasn't too bad; the rain was light and eased away fairly quickly, the wind was little more than a light breeze and there was a small variety of birds. (OK, I'm looking at the positives but it just might be reasonable for incoming migrants!)
Selsey Bill (0800-1320hrs): Cool, rain at first, then sunshine and heavy cloud. Wind N/NW 1-2/3.
(Obs: OM/TR/GH/AH):
Great Northern Diver - 5os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Brent Goose - 35E
Common Scoter - 15E
Shoveler - 1E
Fulmar - 1E, 3W
Gannet - 40E, 95W
Whimbrel - 12E, 2W
Curlew - 6E, 1W
Peregrine - 2 p
Auk sp - 1E, 2W
Great Black-backed Gull - 4E, 3os
C/A Tern - 15E, 2W
Sandwich Tern - 18E, 4W
Little Tern - 21E, 4os
Swallow - 3N
Meadow Pipit - 2N
Wheatear - 6 (2 ob, 4N)
Whitethroat - 3 gardens

Great Black-backed Gulls displaying, Selsey Bill beach

 

Cuckoo, Church Norton

Whimbrels, Selsey Bill beach (all 3 photos above: Andy House)

 

Northcommon farm, Selsey: Redstart - 1, Garden Warbler - 1, Swallow - 3 and a small fall of 12 phyllosc's consisting of about 8 Willow Warblers and 4 Chiffchaffs (OM/TR). 
Chi GPs: At Westhampnett pit this morning 0930hrs, c100 Swallow, c30 Sand Martin,

2 House Martin and 5 Swift. (CRJ)

Pagham Hbr: At Church Norton this morning - 2 Cuckoos, 4 Wheatears, several Whitethroats, Sedge Warbler, Chifchaff and Blackcap. In the Harbour, up to 5 Whimbrel, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit and a flock of 150 Dunlin (biggest count I have had for a couple of weeks). Last evening at least a dozen Whimbrel and 1 Brent Goose. This afternoon on Sidlesham Ferry, 75 Shelduck (AH).
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Thursday, 25th April: I've now finally completed The Archives pages and also started on updating some other stuff...also please note it looks like my personal email address has been hacked  - DO NOT open attachments from emails purporting to be from me for the time being.
Another frustrating day of coastal sea fog, whilst inland conditions were fine and sunny. I made the decision to head away from the Peninsula today (and went to Coldwaltham / Pulborough RSPB) - and it seems a number of other Peninsula regulars had the same idea! Only limited Peninsula watching took place today, and we can only guess what passed the Bill unseen in the mirk.

The Lifeboat station on a foggy day at the Bill (photo: Sarah Russell)

Kestrel (above) and Wheatear at a foggy East beach (photos: Sarah Russell)

Selsey Bill: Dry, wind SW3,  but defeated by the fog again.  Six Lnnets on Oval field along with 3 Goldfinches, 2 Pied Wagtails in the gardens and 1 Swallow heading north. Met Beryl James and we had a good chat which made the visit worthwhile! At East beach 1 Wheatear, 4 Linnets and a Kestrel. (SR).

  

Chi GPs: Ivy & New Lakes: late morning,

Whitethroat 1

Lesser Whitethroat 2

Blackcap 7

Garden Warbler 1

Reed Warbler 2

Cormorant (New) 90 nests

Plus thanks to the 3 birders who showed me the recent roadkill Long-eared Owl just 60 m south ot the Ivy pull-in. (CRJ)

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Wednesday, 24th April: Persistent sea fog and cloud contradicted the sunny weather forecast I saw last night, making things difficult and keeping temperatures down in coastal areas. Reports received today were, not surprisingly,  relatively few.
Selsey Bill: (1400-1445hrs) Mist and cloud, but dry. Wind W4 (Obs: SR who reports as follows):

Pretty hopeless today. I thought the mist had cleared so went down to the Bill 2pm but it hadn't so didn't stay long.

Gannet - 1E, 2W,

Sandwich Tern - 5W

Swallow - 2N

House Martin - 3N

Wheatear  - 1 ob

(also 5 small birds N which I couldn't id; shame about the mist as the wheatear, swallows and martins showed there was some movement. Also a grey seal unusually close in, spent most the time trying to photograph it but each time I went down to the shore it dived!) (SR)
evening watch: (1800-1845hrs):
Great Northern Diver - 1 os
Gannet - 3W, 13 os
Fulmar - 1W
Sandwich Tern - 2E, 7 os.
Then the fog came in again! (Obs: SH)

Pagham Hbr: A complete circuit of Church Norton/Greenlease Farm this morning produced very little - 3 Sedge Warblers , 2 Whitethroats, 4 Swallows , 10+ Willow Warblers and 5 Chiffs, a single Common Tern os and negative news on the Bonelli's (CRJ).
 

Chi GPs Ivy Lake:  a very obliging Garden Warbler gave excellent views for 10 minutes feeding quietly in the willows before disappearing; also 5 Bullfinch, 2 singing Reed Buntings and 9 Swifts, but no terns today (GH).