13th - 15th November 2016

Tuesday, 15th November: Another mild, grey and relatively still morning, though the light westerly breeze was starting to increase....

Selsey Bill: Not much moving, though there were several large Dunlin flocks, three Great Northern Divers offshore and a Reed Bunting (uncommon here) was in the gardens. Full log below.....
0730-1030hrs: (DF/OM/AH/JD/DS/C&ME et al)
Red-throated Diver - 2W
Great Northern Diver - 3os
Great Crested Grebe - 2E
Brent Goose - 3W
Common Scoter - 6E, 1W
Red-breasted Merganser - 4E, 7W, 2os
Wigeon - 25W
Dunlin - c.350W (six large flocks)
Razorbill - 1W
Auk sp - 1E, 2W, 4os
Reed Bunting - 1 Oval field and gardens

Wren at the Bill (AH)

Church Norton: The Black-necked Grebe reported yesterday was showing well in the harbour from the bench this morning, and it seems that there are two Long-tailed Ducks around, with one seen off the harbour-mouth at the same time as the one in the main channel inside the harbour. 
There were still at least eight Slavonian Grebes offshore, along with similar of Great Crested Grebes, four Red-breasted Mergansers and a Razorbill, whilst in the harbour a Kingfisher was among the waders on the metal-work, a Peregrine was sat out and there were half a dozen Bar-tailed Godwits, the Whimbrel and a few Knot among the roosting waders. A  Jack Snipe was flushed from the spit and flew off across the harbour and a Raven was also present around the spit. There was not much to report from the landside - just a Firecrest and a couple each of Jay, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest of note. (AH/OM/CRJ/BFF/DIS/DM et al)

Black-necked Grebe (above), Slavonian Grebe, Kingfisher among Dunlin and Grey Plovers, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

Raven at Norton Spit, AH and Boo his well-trained dog liaising with RSPB staff and the early morning big moon over a fairly unnatural environment! (CRJ)

Ferry Pool: There were two Green Sandpipers, four Black-tailed Godwits and a dozen Redshank among the 200+ Lapwing on the pool, and there were also six Shelduck, c30 Teal and c80 Wigeon present. (AH)

Lapwing and Redshank (above) & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

North Wall: A sad start to the morning, with a dead young male Roe Deer right opposite the Salt House that had apparently been shot very recently. 
Not a lot happening on the bird front, though before the tide came fully up there were over a 1000 Lapwing along and around White's Creek plus 140 Golden Plover. Water levels on the Breech Pool are very high with not much to see apart from 60 Teal and a few Wigeon and Mallards, with the only waders present being four Common Snipe. The Bearded Tits had been seen earlier but once again I missed them! 
On Honer reservoir there were 37 Coot, 4 Little Grebes, 2 Tufted Ducks and 2 Green Sandpipers, at the nearby Summer Lane sewage works there was a flock of 600 Starlings and a flock of some 300 Wood Pigeons were feeding on berries in Owl Copse. (JDW)

Green Sandpipers and Coots on Honer Reservoir (JDW)

Sidlesham: The big moon was impressive at dawn this morning. (AH)

Moon over Sidlesham (AH)

Chichester Marina: There was a bit of activity in the trees and gardens by the houses at the far end of the canal, including a Coal Tit (unusual on the peninsula)  c.10 Goldcrests and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Otherwise it was usual fare including three Cetti's Warblers, 15 Long-tailed Tits, the Black Swan on the canal and 20 Little Grebes in the channel.

Nearby on Birdham Pool a Cormorant roost site has now been established, with 22 Cormorants and a Little Egret present early afternoon, whilst on the pool were 10 Little Grebes, 2 Wigeon and 2 Gadwall. (OM)

Coal Tit (above with Chaffinch) at the far end of the canal at Chichester Marina - still an uncommon bird on the peninsula. (OM)

Medmerry, Easton Lane to the Stilt Pools: Quite quiet in general although there were some good size Brent Goose flocks moving towards Selsey. Highlights were a Dartford Warbler in the gorse on the way down & two Bar-headed Geese with 22 Canada Geese on the pools. (MP)

 Dartford Warbler, above, & Bar-headed Goose, below, at Medmerry west side. (MP)

Ivy Lake: The Scaup reported yesterday was present again today, and looks like a first-winter female. (BFF/DM)

Scaup on Ivy Lke (DM)

Monday, 14th November: A very still, very grey and very autumnal day, though quite mild, too....

Selsey Bill: Very quiet, with no auks or Gannets moving - but there was a Long-tailed Duck west and four Eider and a Slavonian Grebe east. Full log below. (AH)

(0750-0905hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 2os

Red-throated Diver - 1E, 1W

Slavonian Grebe

Wigeon - 5W

Common Scoter - 3E, 4W

Long-tailed Duck - 1W

Eider - 4E

Red-breasted Merganser - 1E, 2W, 2os

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Common Gull - 1W

Long-tailed Duck (above) & Eiders off the Bill (AH)

Selsey - East Beach pond: Two Chiffchaffs were the only birds of note this afternoon. (SR)

Church Norton: The Long-tailed Duck was still in the harbour (so clearly a different bird to the one past Selsey), along with four Red-breasted Mergansers, ten Little Grebes and 50+ Pintail, and offshore there were ten Slavonian Grebes, with eight together in a tight group, plus half a dozen Great Crested Grebes. (AH/BI)
Also earlier a Black-necked Grebe was seen briefly in the harbour and four Ravens went along the spit. (IL)

Slavonian Grebes (above) (AH) & Long-tailed Duck (BI) at Church Norton

Ferry Pool: There were two Green Sandpipers, six Redshank and four Black-tailed Godwits on the pool, along with 14 Shoveler, four Shelduck, c60 Wigeon, c30 Teal and around 400 Lapwings. (AH)

Green Sandpiper (above), Lapwings & Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)

Sidlesham Churchyard:  This normally peaceful spot was completely dominated by five vocal Fieldfares - it was enough to wake the dead, although very nice to see these winter visitors.  Other birds were plentiful, but ordinary, and included a Song Thrush,  c30 Goldinches, eight Greenfinches and c20 Blackbirds feeding on the berries. (SR)

Medmerry: Breach area - Nothing out of the ordinary here, but the Black Redstart was by the viewpoint, there were at least 200 Meadow Pipits, 50 Linnets and 100 Goldfinches at the end of the caravans, a Rock Pipit flew over, and around the pools there were c40 Pintail, c20 Shelduck, a few Ringed and Grey Plovers and a flock of 80 Dunlin flew in. (AH)

Black Redstart (above), Linnets, Meadow Pipits and Dunlin at Medmerry (AH)

North Wall: A look early afternoon didn't turn up the Bearded Tits but there were four Stonechats around the reeds at the Breech pool with plenty of Teal, Mallards & Wigeon and a constant overhead stream of Brent Geese that appeared to be heading for the reservoir. (BI)

Pagham Lagoon: A pair of Goldeneye were on the lagoon today. (ARK/BI)

Ivy Lake: A female Scaup was reported to me as present today. (IL)

Sunday, 13th November: A complete contrast to yesterday - bright and breezy, with plenty of sunshine.....

Selsey Bill: Fairly quiet this morning, though a late Swallow was around the Oval Field/Bill House area and there were five Great Northern Divers offshore. Full log below. (JA/SH/IP/AH et al)

(0700-0900hrs)

Great Northern Diver - 1W, 5os

Red-throated Diver - 5E, 3W

Great Crested Grebe - 1os

Gannet - 6E, 1W, 25os

Brent Goose - 11E, 2W

Common Scoter - 4E, 10W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4W, 2os

Mediterranean Gull - 1E, 1W

Guillemot - 2E

Razorbill - 4E, 1os

Meadow Pipit  - 7E

Pied Wagtail - 1p

Swallow - 1p

Red-throated Diver past the Bill (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: The Dartford Warbler was again present in the small stretch of hedgeline east of the farm, a couple of Stonechats were near the buildings, a Mistle Thrush was nearby, a male Merlin was out hunting and there were also a couple of Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk about. (AH/IP/S&SaH)

Dartford Warbler (top SH) (above) & Stonechat at Park Farm, Selsey (AH)

Selsey: A Chiffchaff was in our garden in the north of the village this afternoon. (S&SaH)

Chiffchaff in a Selsey garden (SH)

Ferry Pool: There were three Green Sandpipers and four Black-tailed Godwits present this morning, and c75 Golden Plover were in with c300 Lapwing until a Buzzard disturbed them all. Also there were eight Shoveler, four Shelduck, c60 Teal and c80 Wigeon present, and a Grey Wagtail flew over. (AH)

Golden Plovers (above), Buzzard & Shovelers at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The Long-tailed Duck was in the harbour again, but difficult to see as it spent most of its time underwater! Also there were three Red-breasted Mergansers and three or four Little and Great Crested Grebes on the water, half a dozen Bar-tailed Godwits and a few Knot among the waders, a dozen each of Skylark and Linnet along the spit and a pair of Stonechats along the Severals.

Offshore there were five Slavonian Grebes and at least half a dozen Great Crested Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers, plus a Razorbill, and four Common Scoter flew west. (AH/IP/S&SaH/A&YF et al)

Slavonian Grebe (above), Skylark, Mediterranean Gull, Dunlin and Turnstones & Grey Plovers and Knot at Church Norton (AH)

West Side: A Dartford Warbler was down the West Side (not as colourful as the Park Farm bird, so different), and also there was a Kingfisher on the Long Pool and 150 Golden Plover and 250 Lapwing at the Ferry. (CRJ/RJS)

Medmerry: Lots of ducks around  today, including ca.1100 Wigeon, ca.200 Pintail and ca. 600 Teal spread all over the site and the other highlights were ca.280 Golden Plover roosting on the west side, a Red-throated Diver just off the beach this morning and a Peregrine out in the middle of the site at midday. (PH)

Easton lane to the Stilt Pool - Late this afternoon a Short eared Owl was briefly over Marsh Farm and the female Merlin was out on the reserve. Also about were three Stonechats, 50+ Golden Plover, 300+ Lapwing, three Kestrels and a Buzzard. (S&SaH)