29th - 31st May

Friday, 31st May: The last day of the spring found me inland, but some coverage was achieved at the Bill this morning by a few of the stalwarts. So that's it, time to reflect on a generally cold and poor spring, work out the totals and declare the new Pom King, which will be reported in the near future. However, let none of us forget that the sea-watching is never really over and June can produce the odd good movement, an overshoot or a good seabird such as a Storm Petrel, so keep on looking...!

Selsey Bill (0730-1200hrs):  Dry, rather cloudy at first, sunny later, wind NW3. (Obs: C&ME, SR)
Great Crested Grebe - 2E
Shag - 1E
Common Scoter - 19E
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 52E, 4W
Turnstone - 9E
Med Gull - 4W
Common Tern - 10E
Little Tern - 6E
Swift - 18N
House Martin - 18N  
Swallow - 6N 
Sedge Warbler - 1 singing, gardens/Oval field  
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Thursday, 30th May: Late news received that there was some coverage yesterday morning at the Bill, but results were fairly mundane; c.100 Common Scoter and a couple of Arctic Skuas being about the best on offer. Today was worse, with rain and a NW wind, resulting in no skuas in the 3hrs I was there and little movement either. The only surprise was a drake Gadwall moving through, which dropped onto the sea for a short while before heading off strongly W.

Gadwall flying W off Selsey Bill

Selsey Bill (0645-1000hrs): Rain and cloud, dull, wind NW3   (Obs: OM)
Little Egret - 1W
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 65E, 5W
Gadwall - 1W
Common Tern - 35 fishing os/shingle bar
Sandwich Tern - 45 os, mainly roosting on shingle bar
Little Tern - 1 os
C/A Tern - 13E
Swift - 1N, plus 30 overhead/Bill House

PENINSULA: At Chi GPs Ivy Lake, a Hobby and a 1st-sum Little Gull reported from the far east end (per SOS). Also a good number of Swifts there.
At Pagham Hbr the only report of note concerned 20 pairs of Sandwich and 3 pairs of Common Terns at Church Norton fish-passing and mating, also a number of Black-headed Gull pairs present. Also in the area 3 Whimbrel, 8 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Curlew and 20 Turnstone. (AH)
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Wednesday, 29th May: I didn't visit the Bill today, so news from there awaited (assuming someone will actually put a shift in). A number of regulars all seemed to have the same idea this morning by visiting Pagham North wall and the Breech Pool - there seemed to be more birders than birds when I arrived! Waders in the area were few indeed, but a calling Cuckoo then did a fly-by, an unusual movement of 60+ Med Gulls passed through the harbour , and a Little Ringed Plover later appeared on the pool. One other non-avian highlight was a heavily-pregnant Roe Deer which apparently delivered two young this morning in the field behind the pool.

Selsey Bill and the Peninsula as it is not often seen. I stopped to take this shot from the west side of Bognor Regis this morning, whilst I was en route to Pagham. The low tide and very clear conditions made it possible to see just how prominent the Bill is and how far it actually extends from the main coastline.
 

Little Ringed Plover on the Breech Pool, Swallow at the North Wall, and female Roe Deer with two newly-delivered young (photos: Andy House)

 

PENINSULA:  Pagham Hbr North Wall/Breech Pool; Little Ringed Plover - 1, Cuckoo - 1, Common Tern - 1, Tufted Duck - 6, Curlew - c.6 on the mudflats in the heat haze, Med Gull - c.60 (mainly adults) moving through, some quite high up.

 

Selsey Bill (1720-1830hrs) Cloud, showery, wind WNW3.  (Obs: SH)
Great Northern Diver - 2os

Gannet - 15E, 9W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Kittiwake - 4W
Common Tern - 5os

Sandwich Tern - 13os
Swift  - 2N, also 70 over Bill House, and approx 150 over Selsey town
Swallow - 50 over Bill House

Selsey East beach pond has managed to attract a Reed Warbler which is currently singing well..(SR)

 

27th - 28th May

Tuesday, 28th May: Rain all morning but with a touch of east in the wind and a calm sea; it sounded promising even if a bit late in the spring, so it had to be worth a go. My last throw of the dice perhaps? Well probably, but I was there at the Bill from 0630hrs full of hope, though yet again in this crazy spring I was to be disappointed as passage was dead slow or stop for most of the time. It was a lonely vigil too, mostly spent under an umbrella or watching from the tailgate of the car, although I was glad of the company of JD/DS/GJ for a couple of hours and AH for a briefer spell. I was actually thinking of packing it in early when my pager gave news of a Pom at Portland - so I just had to hang on (in vain of course!) I eventually stayed until 1300hrs but the list for my efforts was meagre indeed and made dismal reading...... and yet when I left I did so reluctantly, still with the ominous feeling that something must happen today. Two dark-phased Arctic Skuas were about the only highlight, though another gathering of feeding terns offshore included c.120 Commons, many of them displaying on the beach and groynes.

 

Common Tern displaying on beach groyne (above) and Common and Sandwich Terns (below)

Selsey Bill (0630-1300hrs): Overcast, with light/moderate rain persisting all morning and well into the afternoon. Wind very light, NE1 - E2, sea calm.  (Obs: OM et al).
Little Egret - 1W
Shelduck - 2 p, settled os for some while
Common Scoter - 130E, 19W
Fulmar - 2W
Gannet - 29E
Sanderling - 39E (some settled ob then moved off)
Turnstone - 20 ob
Arctic Skua - 2E
Common Tern - 15E, 120 os (slowly drifted away E)
Sandwich Tern - 15E, 30 os (slowly drifted away E)
Little Tern - 3E, 6os
Also a mixed flock of c.50 Swifts, Swallows and House Martins feeding high up in the clouds, but quickly dispersed. (And that was it - dismal!)
Evening watch: (1730-1830hrs): Wind SW 2-3. (Obs: SH et al)
Gannet - 102E, 16W
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Common Scoter - 1E
Auk sp - 4W
Skua sp - 2E (both very distant 1 at 1740hrs and 1 18.20)
Common Tern - 14E
Sandwich Tern - 8 os
Swallow - 35W (along the mile basket line)

Park Lane, Selsey - a male Pied Flycatcher seen briefly along the Lane (SH). Female Kestrel showing well (see pic)  

                fem Kestrel, Park Lane area (photo: Sam Hill)

Peninsula: No news yet, hopefully an update later. No reports of yesterday's Roseate Tern received...

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(Bank Hol) Monday, 27th May: Pleasantly sunny and dry for a Bank Holiday, but still with a fresh and fairly cool westerly wind. Sea passage at the Bill was dominated by Common Scoters (600+) this morning and other highlights were predictably few; a distant Arctic Skua, a gathering of 150+ Commic Terns feeding offshore around the shingle bars, and another 6 Jays.
Later at Medmerry a number of Avocets and a Little Ringed Plover were located, then a Roseate Tern was present for a short while at Church Norton...

Roseate Tern (right) and Sandwich Terns, Church Norton (photo: Andy House)

Quite a low tide this morning, exposing both the near and far shingle bars, which attracted feeding terns.

 

'One for sorrow' ... never a good omen for a spring seawatch when the weather vane on the Bill House tower points West and then a Magpie reinforces the message !!

 

The small gathering this morning watching intently...all except Sam Hill that is (front left) who appears to be in despair (is he crying?)

 

Selsey Bill (0530-1030hrs): Sunny, dry and breezy; wind W4-5, becoming SW5 later.

(Obs: JA/SH/PM/OM et al)

Red-throated Diver - 1 os

Diver sp - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 1 os

Common Scoter - 635E, 12W

Fulmar - 3E, 10W

Gannet - 130E, 20W

Sanderling - 8E, 1W

Dunlin - 3W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Kittiwake - 11E, 4W

Common Tern - 150 os, later drifted off E

Sandwich Tern - 40 od drifted E

Little Tern - 15 os

Swift - 2N

Swallow - 9N

Jay - 6W

 

Peninsula: A late morning visit to Medmerry (West Fields) produced a few waders (AH/OM) - we logged 6 Avocets (some defending territory), 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ringed Plovers and a Redshank. Also at least 7 pairs of Lapwing noted (one with young).
At Pagham Harbour a Turtle Dove near the North wall and other sightings include 2 Spotted Flycatchers , 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a pair of Med Gulls, 3 Brent Geese, a Whimbrel and a Dunlin. (GH)
 

Avocet at Medmerry (photo: Andy House)

 

 

AH later reported " I am pretty certain I had a Roseate Tern at Church Norton this pm. Things in its favour - all black bill, a hint of rosiness not obvious in pics but what first caught my eye, obvious long tail streamers, very pale plumage which compares well with Sandwich Terns, narrow dark wedge on wing and no dark trailing edge. Downside it was distant, there were no Commics about to compare, it was only there for about 5 minutes before all the terns (about 15 Sandwich) took off and I couldn't refind it." Not much else to report - 2 Whimbrel, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Dunlin." Andy supplied a selection of photo's (below - which I've had to compress for the blog) but there seems little doubt it was indeed a Roseate Tern.

 

 



 

Roseate Tern (right) with Sandwich Terns (apologies for quality/size of reproduced images) - all photos Andy House.

 

In flight - left hand bird.








 

24th - 26th May

Sunday, 26th May: Slowing down but still a few bits and pieces coming through, including yet more Jays. I've had a weekend off from birding, and reports received today have been few so far, so perhaps others have done the same? We must surely be due an overshoot on the Peninsula in the near future, so keep on looking; one thing is for sure - it's not over yet!!!

Selsey Bill (0530-1145hrs)  Sunny, dry, wind light SW.    (Obs: JA/GH et al)
Great Northern Diver - 1 os
Little Egret - 2N
Grey Heron - 1 p
Gannet  - small no's E & W
Common Scoter - 220E
Sanderling - 3 ob
Auk - small no's E & W
Arctic Skua - 1E
Kittiwake - 2W
C/A Tern - 54E, small flock os
Swift - 10N
Swallow - small no. in N
Jay - 9W
This evening:
Arctic Skua - 2E

No news received from the Peninsula sites - was it really that quiet today?.
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Saturday, 25th May: Just a short resume today. A sunny morning but with a fairly brisk wind.... and another slow day for passage at the Bill. Highlights in a 6hr watch this morning were a Great Northern Diver offshore, 2 Manx Shearwaters W, a Peregrine, a distant Arctic Skua and a couple of Shovelers E, a small trickle of Swifts and Swallows in N and 4 Jays W.
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Friday, 24th May: Cold, showery and dull with a strong NW wind, resulting in probably the worst day's sea-watch of the month. The only 'highlights' (and that's stretching the point) were 2 Great Northern Divers offshore in s/p, and a largish light-phased skua that passed at nearly Mile basket range and nearly got me going before I had to accept it was an Arctic Skua. The Peninsula fared little better, although 4 late Brent Geese at Church Norton were a surprise, and Ivy Lake (Chi GPs) held plenty of hirundines and c.25 Common Terns.

Selsey Bill (0600-1100hrs)  Unseasonably cool, overcast and showery all morning, some brightness but rain by afternoon. Wind NW 4-5 increasing 6.  (Obs: JA/OM/C&ME et al).
Great Northern Diver - 2 os (s/p)
Brent Goose - 1W
Fulmar - 2W
Gannet - 24E, 64W
Dunlin - 1W
Razorbill - 1E, 1W
Auk sp - 21E, 11W
Arctic Skua - 1E
Common Tern - 2E, 14os
Sandwich Tern - 5E
Swallow - 4 p
Linnet - 1N
Little Tern - 1W
Additional watch 1110-1345hrs (Obs: C&ME)
Fulmar - 1E, 2W
Auk sp - 12E
Razorbill - 12E, 10W
Great Skua - 2E

Peninsula: Generally quiet at Pagham Hbr. The high-tide roost at Church Norton held 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Whimbrel, 8 Sandwich and 4 CommonTerns, whilst in the bushes a few Blackcaps and Whitethroats were the best I could do, plus a singing Cetti's Warbler.
Chi GPs - IvyLake was alive with hirundines and I estimated c.250 Common Swifts, probably 50 each of Swallow and House Martin and 20+ Sand Martins. Also a flock of c.25 Common Terns there.

20th - 23rd May

Thursday, 23rd May: The only news received so far relates to the Bill, where a Spotted Flycatcher arrived from the sea and another 4 Jays flew W. A cold, fairly breezy day with sunshine and showers - and the wind from the dreaded N/NW - so sea-watching prospects look poor.
Later update - yep, sure enough it was poor!
Selsey Bill (0645-1015hrs): Cool, cloudy, some sun and heavy showers.Wind N/NW 4
(Obs: GH et al)
Common Scoter - 27E
Gannet - 10E, 42W
Oystercatcher - 2 ob
Whimbrel - 5E
Auk sp - 15E, 10W
Guillemot - 1E
Razorbill - 5E
Kittiwake - 1W
C/A Tern - 19E
Sandwich Tern - 5E
Swift - 4N
Jay - 4W
Spotted Flycatcher - 1N (into Oval field trees)

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Wednesday, 22nd May: A rather calm and overcast morning with just a light northerly turned out to be fairly productive, producing 4 Pomarine and several Arctic Skuas, plus a bit of a movement of Commic Terns and Common Scoter. Unfortunately I misjudged things again and chose today to stay away from the Bill and do a bit of local birding with some Nightjarring in the evening. It seems most other regulars were also absent and it was left to GH, later assisted by C&ME to hold the fort for most of the day (see log below). Sadly, amongst the day's events was an incoming Spotted Flycatcher that ditched into the sea close to shore. GH mounted a rescue mission and waded in to save it, but the poor bird died soon after in the hand (see pic).

Recently dead Spotted Flycatcher at the Bill (photo: Colin Eames)

Selsey Bill (0745-1700hrs): Dry, overcast, with some sunshine. Fairly calm, wind light N 1-2, increasing later.   (Obs: GH/ CE/ ME).
Great Northern Diver - 1E, 1os
Black-throated Diver - 1E
Manx Shearwater - 4W (single flock, passed mid afternoon in a spell of stronger winds).
Fulmar - 4E, 6W
Gannet - 123E, 56W
Common Scoter - 247E
Oystercatcher - 1E, 3ob
Whimbrel - 3E
Turnstone - 9 ob
Sanderling - 3E, 2ob
Kestrel - 1 p
Razorbill - 2E, 5W
Auk sp - 9E, 29W
Pomarine Skua - 4E (3 at 0815, and 1at 0955hrs, all l/p)
Arctic Skua - 7E
Great Skua - 2E
Kittiwake - 9E, 6W
C/A Tern - 224E
Arctic Tern - 2E
Sandwich Tern - 26E
House Martin - 1N
Swallow - 17N
Spotted Flycatcher - 1N, ditched into sea, died
Evening seawatch, (1715-1900hrs):  (Obs: SH)
Great Northern Diver - 2 os
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 11E, 15W
Common Scoter - 4E
Whimbrel - 1E
Sanderling - 9 ob, off E
Auk sp - 3W
C/A Tern - 24E, 20 os
Sandwich Tern - 12 os
House Martin - 3 p

Peninsula: Pagham Hbr: On the Breech Pool (North wall) at 0830hrs were 27 Black-tailed Godwits plus a handsome summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper which flew off to the NE five minutes later (PC).
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Tuesday, 21st May: Wind still northerly but fairly light, combined with overcast skies and early murkiness over the sea, so I was hopeful of a bit of passerine arrival this morning, but it didn't materialise. Jays however were notable once again; on arrival at 0630hrs a flock of 3 were circling the Bill House tower before heading off NW, followed within the next half hour or so by further flocks of 3,4 and 6 (and possibly another 6) - giving a minimum total of 16. Just  They all seem to be coasting in a generally westerly direction, but just where are they coming from? I tried in vain to photo them passing, but couldn't lock on - this pathetic image of a single bird being the best I could do.... !

 

Other than that passage at the Bill was predictably slow, but there was a small flurry of Commic Terns for a while, and a couple of Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie, before it became deadly dull again. Some observers sought other ways to amuse themselves (and us).....      

A slow sea-watch, so Papa Smurf (aka Dave Sneller) collects nature's bounty of free manure for his vegetable patch!

Selsey Bill (0630-1330hrs): Dry, mainly overcast, with a little brightness. Wind N3.
(Obs: OM/GH/DF/DS/GJ)
Great Northern Diver - 1 os (frequently flying back and forth)
Common scoter - 21E
Fulmar - 1E
Gannet - 30E, 12W
Whimbrel - 3E
Oystercatcher - 4E
Sanderling - 8 ob, off E
Turnstone - 20 ob
Razorbill - 8E, 2W
Auk sp - 2E, 3W
Arctic Skua - 2E
Great Skua - 1W
Kittiwake - 3W
C/A Tern - 152E
Sandwich Tern - 10E, 5W
Swift - 3N
Swallow - 9N
Jay - 16 NW

Peninsula: a Greenshank in Ferry Channel, at least 4 singing Reed Buntings along the Long Pool, 2 Common Terns, 11 drake Gadwall (of which several seem to be starting in eclipse plumage - failed breeders?), a pair of Shoveler (early a.m) and a Cetti's Warbler on the Ferry Pool. (AH/OM). Very little at Church Norton; about 10 Curlew, a Whimbrel, c.25 Dunlin and a few Ringed Plovers on the mudflats and just a few singing Blackcaps, a Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff in the bushes.



Monday, 20th May: A moderate northerly this morning was never going to make for a promising seawatch. Early reports received indicated there was little moving except Gannets, and a fuller report now appears below:-

Selsey Bill (0745-1215hrs): (Obs: GH only). Cloud, dry. Wind N4-5
Great Northern Diver - 1 os
Common Scoter - 25E
Fulmar - 3E, 1W
Gannet - 171E, 207W
Oystercatcher - 9E, 4ob
Sanderling - 8 ob
Turnstone - 20 ob
Razorbill - 1E, 3W
Auk sp - 10E, 7W
Arctic Skua - 1E
Skua sp - 1E
Kittiwake - 2W
C/A Tern - 20E
Little Tern - 3E
Swift - 6N
Swallow - 8N

Peninsula: Pagham Hbr was also quiet with c.12 Whimbrel, 15 Curlew, a Grey Plover, a Knot and a few Dunlin - and no sign of yesterday's Curlew Sand - plus a drake R/b Merganser this morning. (AH)
Evening walk, Mill Lane to Marsh farm, all within half a mile; 8 singing male Yellowhammers, 8 Whitethroats, Cettis's Warbler, Cuckoo, 2 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk and 4 brown hares (SH)



Yellowhammer singing, Marsh farm area (photo: Sam Hill)

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16th - 19th May

Sunday, 19th May: A rather short update today I'm afraid. A slow news day I think ....at Selsey Bill the only report of interest I received was of two Hobbies arriving (JA). The Peninsula fared a little better; at Pagham Harbour there was a Curlew Sandpiper at Church Norton,  a Knot, 6 Dunlin, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits and 3 Whimbrel in the harbour, 2 Spotted Flycatchers in Glebe Meadow and 11 Black-tailed Godwits and a pair of Redshank on the Ferry Pool.

 

 

(top) - Curlew Sandpiper at Church Norton, (centre) - Redshanks on Ferry Pool, and (lower) - Spotted Flycatcher at Glebe Meadow (all photo's: Andy House)

 

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Saturday, 18th May: A bit distracted today; having made plans not to go birding this weekend and spend some 'quality time' at home dealing with domestic stuff, I soon found my plans in tatters when a mega rarity Dusky Thrush was found in Kent! Could I ignore it? A message from ES this morning, some hastily remade promises, a few re-arrangements and two elderly twitchers were on their way to Margate at a leisurely 9am. It was successful too - as a good number of Sussex birders who were also there can verify - but there was a price to pay locally with news of a Pomarine Skua off the Bill, and then a BEE-EATER at Church Norton. Andy House describes the event.... "Having missed a Pom at a deadly quiet Bill, I decided to give Church Norton a go. The only thing of note was 3 Spotted Flycatchers behind the hide, and following one as it flicked up into a dead tree in the churchyard hedge I did a serious double-take as my view stopped on a Bee-Eater, sat on the upper-most branch. Once I convinced myself I wasn't seeing things I grabbed a few pics and started ringing people. Sadly, just as I finished the first call, to Sam Hill, it took off, circled higher and higher, calling as it went, and drifted away south and into the sun, not to be seen again (so far, at least.) "

Well done Andy, nice find, and just reward for all the visits you've made to Norton this spring.

Bee-eater, Church Norton, 18th May (photos: Andy House)

Selsey Bill  - very quiet this morning (per JA) - the highlight was a Pomarine Skua E (0823hrs) but otherwise little to report except a Yellow Wagtail in N and a small stream of Swallows arriving.

Peninsula: Pagham Hbr held the bird of the day, a Bee-eater at Church Norton (see above), plus 3 Spotted Flycatchers there. A Cuckoo and another Spotted Flycatcher were near the Ferry Pool.
Chi GPs (Ivy Lake): The 1st-w Little Gull giving excellent views whilst hawking insects, c.50 Common Terns, c.75 Swifts and c.50 House Martins; a Hobby was also reported before I arrived. No Arctic Terns located. (GH)

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Friday, 17th May: An interesting day. The locals welcomed one of the Seaford regulars for the second day running, following yesterday's short visit by Ewan Urquhart, when Sharafin Gardner joined us for a while. Sea-watching started with a very early flurry of activity before things quickly slowed down, then George Heath's young eyes yet again picked up a largish raptor coming in over the sea from way out. It was obviously a Harrier and its size even at distance initially suggested Marsh, until its white rump declared it as a ringtail; its size and wing breadth sadly excluded Monty's, so it was obviously a Hen Harrier - a scarce bird at the Bill. Then a strange spring record of a flock of 17 Jays flying NW over Bill House - we didn't see any of them coming in from the sea so perhaps they were coasting, as they just suddenly appeared....this is in fact the third occurrence of Jays appearing in this manner in the last ten days or so (previously two and five). At Pagham Harbour today, a couple of Spotted Flycatchers, a Little Ringed Plover and a Turtle Dove.

ATurtle Dove spent the day in a Selsey garden (courtesy of Roland & Andrea Smith). (photo: Andy House)

Selsey Bill (0510-1300hrs): Dry, sunshine and cloud. Wind light NE1-2, then E 2-3 later.
(Obs: JA/OM/GH/SR/M&CE et al)
Great Northern Diver - 5 os (some s/p)
Diver Sp - 2E
Common Scoter - 138E
Fulmar - 5E, 2W
Gannet - 45E, 15W
Sanderling - 21E
Dunlin - 5E
bar-tailed Godwit - 4E
Whimbrel - 1E
Razorbill - 1E, 7W
Guillemot - 1E, 2os
Auk sp - 1E, 5W
Hen Harrier - 1N (ringtail)
Hobby - 1N
Sparrowhawk - 1 p
Arctic Skua - 5E
Kittiwake - 7E
C/A Tern - 94E, 80os
Common Tern - 90E
Sandwich Tern - 71E
Little Tern - 5E, 25 os
Swift - 2N
Swallow - 90N
House Martin - 3N

Meadow Pipit - 1 ob
Jay - flock 17 NW

Sanderlings on the beach at Selsey Bill, and
(below) a pair of Common Terns dispaying (lower photo: Andy House).

 

Peninsula: At Pagham Hbr a Turtle Dove was present at one site, a Little Ringed Plover was on the Breech Pool this afternoon (M&CE) and 2 Spotted Flycatchers were in the Halseys/North Wall area. Also 10 Knot in the harbour. 

Chi GPS Ivy Lake held a Little Gull and a good number of Common Terns. A couple of Arctic terns were also reported.

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Thursday, 16th May: A fine, sunny and calm day with a light S/SW breeze looked very promising, especially after a spell of bad weather and unfavourable winds, but pleasant as it was to be sitting on the wall amongst the gallery, enjoying the banter with the locals and a chat to visitors, the sea yet again failed to produce much passage. They think it's all over......it is now!  Well maybe, but personally I think it's not too late yet for a few more surprises from the sea - I hope so anyway. The Serin did not appear again so presumably it has gone, whilst the very early team scored with an incoming Hobby, a Black-throated Diver and 5 Eider before things slowed down. Most observers had drifted away by late morning, so I decided to take a break from the sea and return later, and my decision to visit Northcommon Farm (Selsey) was soon rewarded with a small fall of 3 Spotted Flycatchers. A year tick for me - and a few others too, so I put the news out (see pic's by Ads Bowley). I returned to the Bill at 1330hrs where the sun was glaring over the sea and nothing was really happening except Sanderlings, Dunlins and Turnstones dropping in on the shoreline to feed. I was about to leave when a Wheatear suddenly landed on the beach from the sea; a fairly late bird I thought and a quick glance through the bin's showed it was a female, I was immediately struck by the stance, size and height of the bird, which was clearly larger than Northern, appearing longer-legged, longer-winged and consistently rather upright, whilst the upperbreast colour seemed quite extensive for a female with traces of the colour extending down to the sides of the lower belly. Overall, I felt this just had to be a Greenland Wheatear. I tried to get a few pics (see below) but I couldn't really get close enough, then the inevitable dog walker came along, so the pics I managed are heavily cropped but they do give the idea. Never the easiest without trapping and measuring, but if you disagree I'd be keen to hear why (and disappointed!)

 Greenland Wheatear, Selsey Bill, 16th May. Note the upright, bold stance, longish legs and fairly extensive breast colouration extending to sides of lower belly.

Note the overall size, upright stance and long wings in this shot.

Note the large size, upright stance, longish wings, legs and amount/extent of colour saturation (despite shadowing)

 

 

 

Spotted Flycatcher, Northcommon Farm, Selsey (photos: Ads Bowley)

 

Selsey Bill (0600-1130 & 1330-1500hrs): Dry, sunny, calm, some light cloud. Wind S/SW 1-2/3.
(Obs: CG/CF/OM/JW et al)
Great Northern Diver - 5 os
Black-throated Diver - 1E
Great Crested Grebe - 2W
Little Egret - 1N
Eider - 5E
Common Scoter - 186E, 34W
Fulmar - 1W
Gannet - 5E
Sanderling - 38E, 7os
Dunlin - 25E, 20 os
Turnstone - 10 os
Oystercatcher - 1E
Whimbrel - 10E
Hobby - 1 NE
Arctic Skua - 1E
C/A Tern - 25E
Common Tern - c.100 os, most slowly drifted off E
Little Tern - 10 os
Sandwich Tern - 4E, 10 os
Swift - 3N
Swallow - 36N
Sand Martin - 1N
Wheatear - 1 Greenland  (see above)

Northcommon Farm, Selsey: 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler.

Peninsula: The only report received before I signed off for the day was from Chi GPs Ivy Lake
where a Hobby and a Little Gull were seen (JW).

 

13th - 15th May

Wednesday, 15th May: The heavy rain and overnight gales led me to hopes of shearwaters or even petrels this morning; false hopes I'm afraid as the strong, chilly WSW wind failed to live up to its promise and it was very much more of the same today. The few 'highlights' were 5 Arctic Skuas E, the steady arrival of small flocks of Swifts, and a flock of four passerines heading in low which turned out to be Yellow Wagtails as they flew over our heads. There was no sign of the Serin by the time I left (1300hrs) though it would have been very difficult to hear it in the persistent wind. The full report of the morning's watch follows ......

Selsey Bill: (0600-1300hrs): Cloud with some sun, showers, cool and windy, WSW 5-6, dec 4.

(Obs: CG/OM/SR/GH/M&CE et al)

Great Northern Diver - 6 os (some flying around then re-settling)

Great Crested Grebe - 2W

Shag - 1 os, flew W

Common Scoter - 87E

Gannet - 20E, 85W

Fulmar - 5W

Grey Plover - 1W

Ringed Plover - 1W

Sanderling - 30 ob, off E

Dunlin - 4 ob, off E

Auk sp - 2E

Peregrine - 1os, off W

Arctic Skua - 5E

Common Tern - c.70 os

Little Tern - c. 15 os

Sandwich Tern - 10 os

Yellow Wagtail - 4N

Swift - 110N

Swallow - 2N

House Martin - 16N

Sanderlings and Dunlin, Selsey Bill beach, 15th May
 

 Evening: Eighteen Sanderlings along the beach early evening (AH).

 



Sanderlings, Selsey Bill beach (photo:Andy House)

 

Penisula: Very quiet at Church Norton; no other reports received.

 

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Tuesday, 14th May: Gloomy prospects this morning; the football didn't help last night when Brighton lost to Palace (ouch!) and the forecast was for heavy rain overnight and all morning. So having decided not to go to the Bill today, guess what, I woke to find bright sunshine and a SW wind! It's 0930 now, still dry but cloudy, and I await news with some trepidation..........  meanwhile, the following was supplied by Mike Galtry (Serin photographer) ... nice one, look closely!

Selsey Bill (0645- 1040hrs): Sun, cloud, then rain by late morning.Wind SW4/5.      (Obs: GH/JD/ DF/DS/SR).
- SERIN still present (but only seen briefly flying over)
Great Northern Diver - 5 os
Manx Shearwater - 12W
Gannet - 21E, 23W
Fulmar - 1E, 3W
Common Scoter - 137E
Oystercatcher - 2 ob
Whimbrel - 1 ob
Auk sp - 15E, 122W
Razorbill - 4W, 1os
Arctic Skua - 1E
Great Skua - 2E, 1os
Kittiwake - 35W
C/A Tern - 4E
Little Tern - 20 os
Swift - 33N
Swallow - 10N 



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 
Monday, 13th May: Firstly, an update on the SERIN. The bird was still present today, but very elusive and flighty. I arrived at 0630hrs and there was no sign of it in Bill House garden, where it favours the vegetated edges of the gravel car park area (near the 'seawatch' bench). There was still no sign of it after a couple of hours, but at 0920hrs I heard a faint trill which I tried to convince myself of as being a distant Greenfinch but couldn't. I went to investigate and unwittingly flushed three birds from the ground - two Greenfinch and the Serin. It caught me by surprise and it flew off (with the Greenfinches) over the playing field east towards the houses (old Pontins site.) All I could say was - small finch, obvious yellow rump. cleft tail - don't ask me for a description on that - but realising what it was I told the others present and headed off to check the area, without success. Yes I know it sounds stringy but that's how it was. On returning to the bench we continued seawatching but keeping an eye out, then about half an hour later I and others were by the gate to the same car park when the Serin flew over  - giving a short burst of trilling which at least three of us heard - and a small bird was briefly seen disappearing westwards towards the bungalows beyond Bill House. That was the best it got for me - pretty unsatisfactory but it will have to do. I left at 1100hrs leaving several observers present and I didn't return until 1245hrs when no-one was there; however I note a report via RBA of another sighting in the interim, at 1140hrs in the garden. It had not re-appeared by the time I left at 1515hrs. We have put a small amount of seed down in the area, but if you go looking you will need patience and a bit of luck!
Other than that it was another quiet day; 4 Arctic Skuas, a Bonxie and very unusually for spring, a flock of 5 Jays heading NW over Bill House.

Selsey Bill (0630-1100 & 1245-1515hrs): Cloud and sun. Windy and cool. WSW 5-6.
(Obs: OM/SR/CRJ/IML/GH et al)
Great Northern Diver - 3 os
Shelduck - 2 p
Common Scoter - 120E
Fulmar - 3W
Gannet - 40E, 65W
Sparrowhawk - 1 p/gardens
Auk sp - 16W 
Razorbill - 3W
Oystercatcher - 2E
Whimbrel - 1W
Arctic Skua - 4E
Great Skua - 1E
Common Tern - c.150 os
Little Tern - 30 os
Kittiwake - 1E, 7W
Swift - 18N
Swallow - 12N
Jay - 5NW
Serin - 1 gardens (see above notes)
male Sparrowhawk on Oval field (photo:Andy House)

                                                                                                                                                                                              

additional watch 1hr: (Obs: IML et al)
Gannet  - 27W
Arctic Skua - 2E
Great Skua - 1E
Kittiwake - 1W
Swallow - 3N
Evening sea-watch (1800-1900hrs)  (Obs: SH et al)
Manx Shearwater - 1W
Fulmar - 4W
Gannet - 7E, 25W
Auk sp - 3W
Guillemot - 1W
Kittiwake - 2W
Swift - 3N

 

Common Terns off the Bill, 13th May (photo's: Ivan Lang)

 

Peninsula: Nothing much to report around Church Norton - a calling Cuckoo and a few Whitethroats and Linnets along the west side, 2 or 3 Sanderling in with the Dunlin, about a dozen Bar-tailed Godwits and a half dozen Whimbrel in the harbour being the best. (AH)

Chi GPs (Drayton Pit) held c.30 Swifts with a few House and Sand Martins.
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9th - 12th May

Sunday, 12th May: I've been unable to get to the Bill this weekend (having torn a muscle in my leg which restricts mobility) - all very frustrating, but having just spoken to JA it seems I chose a good time to do it! A fresh WNW wind ensured that passage was minimal early this morning, the best on offer being a couple of Arctic Skuas offshore, c.50 Little and 100 Commic Terns likewise, a few Common Scoters and a small arrival of Swifts and Swallows. It's an ill wind that that blows nobody (sea-watching in the south that is) any good - needless to say it has a silver lining for others though, as observers in the far north-west apparently recently logged 600 Poms and a load of Long-tailed Skuas moving past the Western Isles. Happy watching !!

1100hrs - at home, just had news of a SERIN which flew in off the sea and went into Bill House garden...seen by several obs and photo'd, currently not showing........ UPDATE ................
I headed for the Bill but didn't arrive until about 1145hrs when it was too late... no sign of it by 1430hrs in the increasingly strong W wind despite a search of the area by several observers. (I also received a good deal of banter from the regulars as I hobbled about with my walking stick!!) As I understand it, the Serin was first picked up by Steve Hooper coming in off the sea and the bird was then observed to land in Bill House garden (very well done Steve). Thereafter it was seen on and off for an hour or more, sometimes feeding on the edge of the gravel carpark area, before flying off and returning a couple of times. I think it was last seen around 1030hrs, when it flew a short way inside the garden - it didn't give brilliant views most of the time but some photos were obtained - herewith...





 

Serin, Bill House garden Selsey, 12th May (both photos: Mike & Karen Galtry)

 

 

 

Sign of the times - beware everything whilst seawatching here!

(Photo: Mike & Karen Galtry) 

 

 

 

 

 



Selsey Bill: No detailed sea-watch log details available from this morning, though it was basically more of the same including a couple of Arctic Skuas, then events were upstaged by the Serin. Another couple of Arctic Skuas also passed whilst I was there this afternoon.
Evening seawatch: (1550-1830hrs): (Obs: SH et al)
Manx Shearwater - 8W together, within 300yds os
Fulmar - 1E, 3W
Dunlin - 1W
Arctic Skua - 2E
Kittiwake - 3W

Peninsula: At Pagham Hbr a Common Sandpiper and 43 Shelduck on the Ferry Pool, with Lapwings and a displaying Redshank in the field. Seemed to be good numbers of Sedge and Reed Warblers singing, also some Common and a Lesser Whitethroat. In the harbour itself, a loose flock of about 2-300 Dunlins and 40 Ringed Plovers, several summer-plumaged Grey Plovers, nine Bar-tailed Godwits, a Sanderling, a few Oystercatchers and Curlews and two Whimbrels. Opposite the path from the Church Norton car park 17 Sandwich, six Little and five Common Terns on the mud, and later as the tide flowed in at least ten Little Terns diving in the harbour mouth. Also singing Cetti's Warbler and Cuckoo. (SG/JD/DS). 
Chi GPs: Ivy Lake: 60 Common Terns and 90-100 Swifts  (S.Gilbert)

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Saturday, 11th May: Cool again with a brisk SW wind, but some passage by 0900hrs, including several Arctic Skuas and 2 Bonxies, 5 Manx Shearwaters, a trickle of Common Scoters and c.200 Commic Terns moving or lingering offshore. Full details now available:-

Selsey Bill (0500 - 1030hrs):  Squally showers then sunny, wind SW5: (Obs: JA/SH/PB et al).

Great Northern Diver - 4os

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 69E, 201W

Fulmar - 3E, 22W

Manx Shearwater - 1E, 4W

Brent Goose - 2E

Common Scoter - 181E

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1W

Dunlin - 1W

Turnstone - 3ob

Oystercatcher - 2ob

Great Skua - 2E

Arctic Skua - 10E

Kittiwake - 6E, 3W

Sandwich Tern - 22E, 10 os,

Commic Tern - 111E, 50 os

Little Tern - 13 os

Razorbill - 1E, 4W

Auk sp - 14E, 32W

Swift - 44N

Swallow - 22N

House Martin - 6N

and one Bottle-nosed Dolphin offshore briefly.

additional report (1145-1320hrs): (Obs:M&C McKee)
Shearwater sp - 1W
Gannet - 16E, 17W
Auk sp - 2W
Arctic Skua - 4E
Little Tern 1W
Evening watch (1550-1830hrs)  Showers, SW5/6 (Obs: JA/SH et al)
Gannet - 34E, 117W
Fulmar - 13W
Manx Shearwater - 1E, 3W 
Common Scoter - 20E
Kittiwake - 27W
Little Tern - 9W
Also several Razorbills W and a few Swifts arriving N

Peninsula: It appears to be another of those slow days with no reports of interest received from anywhere, including Pagham Hbr. Even regular peninsula birders such as AH were to be found inland today, seeing very little! Migrants are certainly sparse this spring and we can only hope it will improve soon. No photos to display either today I'm afraid.

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Friday, 10th May: Early morning update (0500-0900hrs) is that there is little passage in a strong WSW wind, with just one distant Arctic Skua and a Bonxie logged and a few Swifts and Swallows arriving. Amazingly though, a count revealed eleven Great Northern Divers are  still present offshore - some now in superb summer plumage - surely exceptional on a national scale? Oh, the observers present also reported the non-avian highlight of a full-scale Lifeboat rescue of a yacht in difficulty off the Bill.  Further updates received show that it remained a decidedly slow day overall, as is so often the case here when a brisk wind from the west appears.

Selsey Bill (0500 - 1000hrs): Cloudy, windy, WSW6/7.  (Obs: JA/PB et al)

Great Northern Diver - 11os

Red-throated Diver - 2E

Diver sp - 1E

Great Crested Grebe - 2W

Gannet - 26E, 109W

Fulmar - 7W

Common Scoter - 64E

Dunlin - 9W

Great Skua - 1E

Arctic Skua - 1E

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 12W, 18 os

Little Tern - 7W, 4 os

Common Tern - 17W, 10os

C/A Tern - 16os

Razorbill - 3E

Auk sp - 1E, 6W

Swift - 23N

Swallow - 26N

Wheatear - 1ob.

(1000 - 1240hrs):   (Obs: GH et al).
Manx Shearwater - 2E

Common Scoter - 7W
Gannet - 25E, 21W

Fulmar - 2W

Arctic Skua - 1E

Swift - 3N
Swallow - 14N
Evening watch:  (Obs: SR/SH)
a couple of hours added a few more Gannets and auks, a few lingering Commic and Little Terns and several Swifts arriving, but nothing of significance.


Peninsula: A slow news day with no reports of interest.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Thursday, 9th May: Two early Pomarine Skuas this morning started the day with a bang - but we so nearly missed them. I arrived at the Bill about 0630hrs as did Brian Coates; there was no-one else there and as we got out of our cars it was immediately obvious there was a strong SSW blowing. I casually decided to have a quick glance at the sea with bin's, before setting up or deciding where it was best to watch from for maximum shelter, whilst Brian did the same. There were a few Gannets but just then BC drew my attention to a bird straight out passing east over the shingle bar. Long story short - bit of a panic - then realised there was a second bird and they were Poms - then realised my scope was still in the car - after a while grabbed his scope but couldn't then couldn't get onto the birds - further brief view through bins, and they were gone. Must be a moral in there somewhere. After that we settled to another early morning flurry including a number of Arctic Skuas, before things slowed right down as the wind increased. Although sunny for most of the day, conditions deteriorated by early evening, to become wet and very windy (SW gale force 8); it did not however produce much, a Manx Shearwater being the only bird of note. Totals were:-

 

Selsey Bill (0630-1200hrs): Sunny, bright, dry. Wind SSW5-6, increasing 7. (Obs:OM/BC/CG et al)
Diver Sp - 1E
Brent Goose - 1E
Common Scoter - 20E
Manx Shearwater - 2W
Fulmar - 1E, 1W
Gannet - 60E, 190W
Bar-tailed Godwit - 1W
Sanderling - 1E
Dunlin - 30E
Auk sp - 20E, 3W
Arctic Skua - 8E
Pomarine Skua - 2E (0633hrs)
Great Skua - 1E
Kittiwake - 5E, 1W
C/A Tern - 25E, 10W
Sandwich Tern - 16E, 3W
Little Tern - 20E, 11W
Swift - 4N
Swallow - 21N
Evening sea-watch (1700-1915hrs): Wind strong/gale SW 7/8. Rain later.  (Obs:JA/SH)
Great Northern Diver - 7 os
Manx Shearwater - 1W
Gannet - 8E, 11W
Kittiwake - 1W
Swift - 10N
Swallow - 3N

Peninsula: Generally very quiet with little of note today. At Chi GPs Ivy Lake 50+ Swifts this morning.

Of interest, the following was received from JA our trusty log-keeper:

5^th May 2013, 05.15 to 20.20 (over fifteen hours, great log-keeping folks) – Commic Tern – 3,391 east.

Research still ongoing but I think this is a day record for the Bill, (previous was 2,808 east on 11/5/81).