23rd - 24th November 2013

Sunday, 24th November: Dry, cloudy, high pressure building. Wind N 3-4.

First report is from the Bill....see below. Two Whooper Swans were reported over the North Wall, Pagham this morning.

Selsey Bill, 0715-10.00hrs: N3 cloudy: (Obs: (JA/SH/PB et al)  

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 6os
Red-throated Diver - 12E, 2W
diver sp - 2E, 1W
Great Crested Grebe - 4E, 1W, 1os
Slavonian Grebe - 2os
Gannet - 18E, 47W, 1os
Gadwall - 13E
Wigeon - 3E
Teal - 1E
Eider - 13W, 5os
Common Scoter - 11E, 55os
Red-breasted Merganser - 5E, 1W, 11os
Shelduck - 1E
Sanderling - 1ob
Ringed Plover- 3ob
Turnstone - 7ob
Med' Gull - 2os
Kittiwake - 3E
Razorbill - 1os
auk sp - 14E, 468W
Pied Wagtail - 4ob 
Redwing - 1N.

 

 

Common Scoter flock off Selsey Bill this morning (A. House).

 

Pagham Hbr: North Wall: Peter Callis reported 2 Whooper Swans over north early this morning. Later on I had the Spotted Redshank in White's Creek, and 2 Water Rails, 12 Snipe, 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit & 1 Kingfisher around the Breech Pool (AH).

A further report from Jim Weston: The half empty Breech Pool contained 140 Teal, 53 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Common Snipe, 1 Spotted Redshank and 2 Water Rail. A Kingfisher breezed through. Along Pagham I encountered 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Peregrine and a Kestrel. On Honer Reservoir were 27 Black-headed and 5 Herring Gulls together with 2 Little Grebe. In the field immediately north of the reservoir were 1400 Brent Geese. Behind Honer Farm cottages were 57 Lapwing and 14 Brent Geese. In fields to the east of Marsh Farm were 260 Wigeon, 23 Canada Geese and 33 Curlew (JW).  This morning offshore at Church Norton were 4 Velvet Scoters (thanks Ian) 2 Eider, c 50 Red-breasted Mergansers and at least 6 Slavonian Grebes (CRJ ).

 

Saturday, 23rd November: A bright and sunny morning with a moderate but cool wind NNE 3-4.

At the Bill a couple of wintering Sandwich Terns and the Merlin put in an appearance, whilst a few Great Northern Divers were also present, but otherwise it was all fairly average. Later, SH had a surprise on his regular walk when a Great White Egret flew in off the sea at Church Norton. Then at Medmerry, Andy House was pleasantly surprised to stumble over the 4 Snow Buntings, which were still present.

Selsey Bill 0710-0915hrs: Sunny, cool, wind NNE 3  (Obs: JA et al)
Great Northern Diver - 4 os
Red-throated Diver - 1E
Diver sp - 5W
Great Crested Grebe - 1E, 2os
Gannet - 4E, 4W
Brent Goose - 1W
Common Scoter - 7W, 58 os
Teal - 5E
Wigeon - 3E
Eider - 1 os
R/b Merganser - 3E, 9os 
Merlin - 1 along beach
Med Gull - 2os
Sandwich Tern - 2 os, flew off W

Selsey - Church Norton: The regular walk by SH/SaH produced the following:
Great White Egret in off sea at Norton at 13.45 but disappeared W over trees behind second Several
Slavonian Grebe - 2 os
Common Scoter - 10 os
Eider - 12 os
Goldeneye - 1 harbour
Chiffchaff 2

Medmerry: The 4 Snow Buntings still present this afternoon on the waste ground at the end of the caravan park - pic's below (AH).

 

 

Pagham Hbr: Pagham Spit: Just a handful of finches - Linnets and Greenfinches which sought refuge in the stunted oak by the last house, while diving ducks were: Goldeneye seven (all redheads, three on Lagoon, two on Little Lagoon and two in Harbour), Pochard four on Lagoon, Tufted Duck 22 on Lagoon and Red-breasted Merganser two on sea and one in Harbour (A. Kitson/SOS ).