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.